Uni Entry System about to Collapse (SMH) - (re: UNSW) (1 Viewer)

[stazi]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/uni-entry-system-close-to-collapse/2007/01/18/1169095908939.html

Holy crap. This completely undermines the HSC. If UNSW told students that they need to do best in English (Advanced) and Maths (Advanced), then that would be a different story. I can imagine a lot of students who decided not to take maths, being very disapointed now. I didn't take maths, but believe I can do my commerce degree just as well, if not better than, 4U maths students.

 

[jasonmatthew]

Maths shouldnt be a prerequisite for commerce, because as you said, its not all maths. And sometimes if their is Maths it isnt difficult at all and would require a few weeks of a bridging course.This move will change the lanscape of the UAI system and i predict that if they continue with this scheme, in a couple of years the whole system will be scraped or revamped.

 

[brightsea]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/uni-entry-system-close-to-collapse/2007/01/18/1169095908939.html

Holy crap. This completely undermines the HSC. If UNSW told students that they need to do best in English (Advanced) and Maths (Advanced), then that would be a different story.

Agreed. If they were suggested or required prerequities in the UAC handbook, then fair enough. But UNSW can't just decide to "hand-pick" students because they performed well in 4U Maths without telling students. Talk about a hidden criteria.

The UAI was suppose to be the great leveller, that's gone now.

EDIT:

[And sometimes if their is Maths it isnt difficult at all and would require a few weeks of a bridging course.

Well, they've just screwed themselves out of $300 for every student who didn't get in because they were overlooked for those who performed well in Maths.

 

[uhawww]

People who made the UAI should be fine regardless.

 

[Riviet]

It's absolutely astounding but I'm not complaining as I happened to be one of those that got into commerce @ unsw with a UAI below the latest cutoff.

 

[juzmister]

Lol, a nice way to tell us. I came from abroad, I don't have an "Advanced English" or a "4 unit Maths" course on my transcript because they were not offered. I assumed that it was a level playing field with the UAI...

 

[stazi]

Also a point for discussion: is looking at English Advanced marks a form of discrimination?

I believe that in business, you do need good communication skills, so this on one hand, is a good measure. On the other, some people don't have great written communication skills (such as immigrants) but may speak fantastic english (such as immigrants from countries in which it is compulsory to take english classes from primary school.

Finally, a good point my girlfriend raised: does everyone know what they want to study at uni in year 10 when you're choosing subjects? I had no clue i wanted to do business.

 

[Captain Gh3y]

Postings on the Boredofstudies student website include: "I know three people who got an offer for commerce at UNSW but their UAI was below 95.10."

One student claimed to have scored a UAI of 95.3, which is above the cut-off mark, and failed to gain entry into the UNSW commerce course, despite it being listed as the first preference on their application.

Well isn't that a reliable source, hearsay (heartype?) on an internet forum.

 

[stazi]

People who made the UAI should be fine regardless.

It seems that they inflated this UAI - no way should it have been this high. If they didn't take people in of UAIs in their 80s, then it would have been lower, meaning that people who are more deserving of this course didnt get in.

Furthermore, this is like a flexible entry scheme. However, all other flexible entry schemes tell you the requirements (e.g. we may make exception for band 6 students in chemistry/present a portfolio of your work in journalism). This is a hidden criteria they they did not communicate.

 

[sunjet]

Hopefully they take the ability to socialise and converse next (RE: UNSW).

 

[juzmister]

My Maths and English grades were really good...Why didn't I get in? International Locals have so many disadvantages...

 

[neo o]

Heh, I'm not suprised. As I said last night, it's not suprising that UNSW would try to inflate their cut off considering how low it was last year.

 

[stazi]

My Maths and English grades were really good...Why didn't I get in? International Locals have so many disadvantages...

well of course they'd try and please domestic students first.

 

[breaking]

hay stas, i was playing xcox togay and it said you were playing test drive but i couldnt figure out how to race u

 

[Smeed]

I totally agree with the article (despite finding the quoting of BOS hilarious) and others on this thread. The whole idea behind the complicated scaling processes resulting in the UAI was meant to be that it represented our performance compared to others in the state regardless of subjects taken. But if they begin specifying performances in certain subjects regardless of UAI than it undermines the idea of a UAI completely.

I think our system is becoming more and more like those in America and Britain. I think eventually the UAI ranking will be replaced by scores/bands relating to direct performance in exams and based on performance in all or some of these exams as specified by Unis places will be offered. I also think that eventually all university applicants will be required to do some form of interview/submission (ie. essay).

However, while this may happen in the future, it seems ludicrous that UNSW could just implement a new selection system without any warning whatsoever. I mean, naturally you would expect at least 2 years warning for something like this so people would know which subjects to pick to assist them in receiving offers for their desired course. However I saw no mention of anything either in the UAC 2007 Guide or the UNSW website. I mean what about all the people who didn't focus on Maths or English because they didn't think it would help them get into B.Com at UNSW. Similarly there are those who may have aced Maths and English but didn't do so well in other subjects and got a lower UAI so they cut UNSW B.Com. from their preferences because they thought they had no chance of an offer?

Oh well I guess now we just wait to see what results from all of this.

 

[juzmister]

I pay Aussie taxes, I do the same as any other kid, I just did my last couple years of school overseas. My UAI on the UAC guide was around a 94.?...

 

[stazi]

yes but you did your HSC overseas. It's hard for UNSW to say "ok, your maths mark in asia of 80 is equivelant to our maths mark of 85.4" as theres no standardised system of conversion

 

[juzmister]

Yeah, I assumed the UAI was a level playing field...

 

[sunjet]

Yeah, I assumed the UAI was a level playing field...

It was until this year, hence the large commotion.

 

[juzmister]

It was until this year, hence the large commotion.

Do you think anything will come of this?