Given the problems getting into university, the UK's Higher Education Minister, David Willetts, encourages students who haven't made the grade to consider alternatives to university, such as
apprenticeship
s and studying at home.
"There are a range of
option
s available," he says. "People are able to reapply. They should think how they can spend their year adding that bit to their CV, which would help their application – getting practical work experience or extra skills – anything that
strengthen
s their chances next year."
But some commentators say that rising university costs, poor long-term job prospects, and a drop in graduate
recruitment
mean it's the worst time to be a university student in the UK.
如果不能进入你第一选择的大学,你会怎么办?这是每年数千名英国学生面临的困境。
许多学生向Clearing求助,该服务帮助学生在最后一刻寻找入学机会。如果他们的分数不够第一意向的大学,Clearing帮他们寻找其他学校的入学机会,尽管他们可能要就读另外一门专业。
但是今年,申请大学的人数达到创纪录的高度。这与经济疲软,就业市场不确定和大学预算削减综合起来,意味着对入学机会的争夺超过平时。一些消息来源称,每一个本科就读机会就有六个人申请。
英国大学招生服务机构UCAS表示,今年仍有四分之一的申请,也就是190,000人没有机会就读学位课程。比去年增加了46,000人。