Does it matter where you were educated?
Discussion
Hi. A quick question if I may? What is the general consensus on where one is educated, specifically for A Levels? Are employers or universities swayed by whether a normal (i.e. not privileged, money no object), bright individual gained their results in a comprehensive, a grammar school or a technical college? Assume identical, good grades were obtained in any of the three examples given. Thanks in advance for any sensible feedback.
A-levels only really matter for universities I think, employers are much more focussed on the degree and the university - obviously these all lead to each other. Do you have an idea what you want to do at university? If so, do some calling around the places you're interested in and see if it matters to them...
They are, officially, not allowed to be. Are they? Probably.
I work for an education equal access organisation - whilst still being a student, at a modern university. What we see, from a university's point of view, are the recruitment offices looking at people with the right number of UCAS points, and increasingly 'better' Highers/A-Levels. The school is not important, in the slightest, if you're applying to a modern university. If you're applying to Oxbridge it does have an effect. It shouldn't, but it does. This is masked by the fact that students that are coming from the public schools are the ones getting the grades, and being able to afford the fees anyway - generally speaking.
Put it this way, if you're at a state school, getting the grades and making the right sort of moves, in an extra curricular respect, as well as having a good personal statement you will have a good chance getting where you want to. Oxbridge and the like all have to meet quotas when it comes to recruitment from state schools. It is probably more complicated than that, but I that is how I understand it.
The system is in turmoil anyway, it will likely all start to change soon.
I don't think it matters from an employers point of view. They are more concerned about marks on their own merit, rather than 'pedigree/class etc.' You will find employers that aren't, in the 'old-school tie' areas.
HTH
I work for an education equal access organisation - whilst still being a student, at a modern university. What we see, from a university's point of view, are the recruitment offices looking at people with the right number of UCAS points, and increasingly 'better' Highers/A-Levels. The school is not important, in the slightest, if you're applying to a modern university. If you're applying to Oxbridge it does have an effect. It shouldn't, but it does. This is masked by the fact that students that are coming from the public schools are the ones getting the grades, and being able to afford the fees anyway - generally speaking.
Put it this way, if you're at a state school, getting the grades and making the right sort of moves, in an extra curricular respect, as well as having a good personal statement you will have a good chance getting where you want to. Oxbridge and the like all have to meet quotas when it comes to recruitment from state schools. It is probably more complicated than that, but I that is how I understand it.
The system is in turmoil anyway, it will likely all start to change soon.
I don't think it matters from an employers point of view. They are more concerned about marks on their own merit, rather than 'pedigree/class etc.' You will find employers that aren't, in the 'old-school tie' areas.
HTH
On the topic of Oxbridge degrees. They do matter, and the reason for this is that only the best students actually get to study there, the degree programmes ARE tougher and as a result their graduate are very well sought after. I actually work with a large number of Oxbridge graduates, without being one myself, and they do seem to have the better intellectual ability in terms of knowledge.
Now, huge intellectual knowledge doesn't always pair with common sense, managerial and personal qualities. As a result I have witnessed on a number of occassions where these graduates lose out. Without getting into sweeping generalisations, as 'geeks' attend all universities, as do social rejects and those lacking common sense, or even a sense of reality; jobs are only awarded on personal skills once you get to an interview.
So my final comment here is to make sure that you do the best you can on the application form, but make sure that you stand out at interview. It doesn't matter if you bought your GCSEs online, if you demonstrate that you are the best option then you get the chance (unless you have clearly lied on your application form....)
Now, huge intellectual knowledge doesn't always pair with common sense, managerial and personal qualities. As a result I have witnessed on a number of occassions where these graduates lose out. Without getting into sweeping generalisations, as 'geeks' attend all universities, as do social rejects and those lacking common sense, or even a sense of reality; jobs are only awarded on personal skills once you get to an interview.
So my final comment here is to make sure that you do the best you can on the application form, but make sure that you stand out at interview. It doesn't matter if you bought your GCSEs online, if you demonstrate that you are the best option then you get the chance (unless you have clearly lied on your application form....)
JeS10 said:
Oxbridge and the like all have to meet quotas when it comes to recruitment from state schools. It is probably more complicated than that, but I that is how I understand it.
The system is in turmoil anyway, it will likely all start to change soon.
No, they accept those that meet the requirements. I went to a comprehensive school and sixth form. The year above me had 60 students, and 20 of these went to Cambridge. This was just a standard sixth form, nothing special- the students just happened to be VERY bright that yearThe system is in turmoil anyway, it will likely all start to change soon.
JeS10 said:
If you're applying to Oxbridge it does have an effect. It shouldn't, but it does.
You're right, but you're also wrong. It does have an effect, but it's the other way from the way you think, and as such it's a damn good thing. Here at Oxford there is an official (internal) grade translation system - a student with 10 A*s at GCSE from a rough state school translates into a better 'score' than a student with the same grades from a public school. The student from the rough state school is probably far more capable than the student who managed the same grades under much easier conditions, and this is duly reflected in the assesment of that candidate.
There is active discrimination in favour of the educationally disadvantaged candidate. In my mind it doesn't go far enough (I don't think they give enough extra weight) and I think they need to start making differentiated offers, but at least they're doing something.
I can only speak with authority for my own institution, but I believe Cambridge have similar principles.
In the educational authority I grew up under, all 6th Forms were separate colleges anyway, so we had to.
However, that said, those 6th Form days were the happiest of my life, a large factor of which I put down to it being distinctively separate from 'school' - no uniforms, surrounded by intelligent hard-working people all of my own age, freer timetable, staff trusted the students more, you used their first names, and you could generally get on with your work and your life in an environment that treated you like an adult.
On reflection it was a kind of proto-university, a stepping stone to higher education. Mine operated a Grammar-school-style selection system based on GCSE results and a huge proportion of the students went on to Russell/1994 Group and even Ivy League universities. They all came there from state comprehensives.
As testament to the place I still keep in touch with a couple of my tutors from there. I absolutely loved the place and would, given the deep flaws in the current system, recommend separate 6th Form colleges to anyone, even if they're in a school with its own 6th Form.
However, that said, those 6th Form days were the happiest of my life, a large factor of which I put down to it being distinctively separate from 'school' - no uniforms, surrounded by intelligent hard-working people all of my own age, freer timetable, staff trusted the students more, you used their first names, and you could generally get on with your work and your life in an environment that treated you like an adult.
On reflection it was a kind of proto-university, a stepping stone to higher education. Mine operated a Grammar-school-style selection system based on GCSE results and a huge proportion of the students went on to Russell/1994 Group and even Ivy League universities. They all came there from state comprehensives.
As testament to the place I still keep in touch with a couple of my tutors from there. I absolutely loved the place and would, given the deep flaws in the current system, recommend separate 6th Form colleges to anyone, even if they're in a school with its own 6th Form.
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