David Grant's contribution brings into question the issue
of how admissions cope with applicants with non-standard
entry requirements. While many maturer entrants perform
extremely well and their determination helps them over
the hurdle of a long gap since leaving school, we have had
experience (as I am sure many others have)of students being
accepted who have no formal qualifications and who
subsequently turn out to be unable to cope with the
intellectual demands of their chosen course. This, for
someone who has often had poor educational experiences
previously, simply reinforces their sense of failure.
Coming through Access routes, with a steady build up in the
level of achievement is one thing. Embarking on an HND or
degree course cold is another. Even if applicants are
interviewed by course staff it is often difficult to
assess just how competent they may be without any definitive
framework on which to make that judgement. Refusing
entry to someone when depts. are all under pressure to keep
their numbers up can be difficult, especially if the
applicant is hell bent on getting on the course.
Does this not suggest the need for the introduction of some
pre-entry aptitude tests? Some colleagues and I have been
discussing this in respect of particular courses where
there are certain elements which can prove especially
difficult, if not impossible, unless the student has a
definite ability in that field and our consultant
Educational Psychologist has offered to devise an
assessment which would give an indication of the
applicant's capability and suitability. That could
certainly make it easier to refuse entry to someone on
solid grounds, rather than just a "gut feeling". For
example, someone in this situation who applied and was
accepted on a course, struggled, was assessed and proved to
be dyslexic, but the assessment also showed them not to be
of an appropriate level for HE and they subsequently
dropped out. Had some pre-entry testing been done, this
could have been prevented.
--
Eleanor Drummond
Heriot-Watt University
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