Today the wildest fighting ever seen to enter university will begin. Although it became known that universities will have more places than predicted for high-fliers, thousands will still miss out their places.
According to the custom essay by the head of the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, more places are expected to be available in clearing process by universities that are looking for pupils with 'exceptional' A-level results who failed to get their university place.
The lifetime will become a great advantage only for top students but the number of places available for those who fear to know A-level results will surprise many applicants.
The chief executive of Ucas, Mary Curnock Cook, said: "I must say that I have really reserved my judgment on how big clearing will be this year. A whole lot of people are saying there are going to be fewer and fewer places in clearing. I've heard that some institutions are deliberately keeping some places in clearing in the hope that they can pick up some well-qualified candidates. It's very difficult to call what clearing will look like."
In spite of the clearing, universities have a different number of places available for students, for example Cardiff University said it would have around 260 places while Newcastle around 100 places available.
Such a strong competition for university places this year means that many students will probably miss out their first chances to enter universities. As many universities have an increased number of applicants this year, many elite universities are likely to attract these students.
As the number of students who will miss out their place this year will be almost 170,000 pupils, The University and College Union said that 2010 will be marked as the year when a record number of high-achieving candidates failed to get their university place.
Sally Hunt, General secretary, said: "It is quite tragic that thousands of students will miss out on a university place this summer, though they have achieved good A-level results and been encouraged throughout their academic career to aim for university."
Curnock Cook induced all young people with good grades who will not enter the university this year because of high competition will have an opportunity to apply next year. As the government has funded 9,000 extra places this year, the total number of places available for students at English universities will be nearly 365,000.
