Don’t let your matric results wreck your university plans
Not being accepted into your university of choice is something that can crush your feelings, but don't let it crush your plans.
With the matric exams done and dusted, thousands of learners are now starting the long wait to see how they performed in one of the most important assessments ever.
But there are also thousands of learners who realise, without even having to wait for January to roll round, that they did not perform well enough to pursue the plans they had and who need to figure out their next steps sooner rather than later.
These learners, as well as those who have received or will be receiving rejection letters from their universities of choice in coming weeks, should take heart from the fact that they do have other avenues to pursue, and that this bump in the road does not spell catastrophe for their futures and education.
“There are many reasons why a learner’s application may be unsuccessful. Sometimes learners left their applications too late or didn’t meet the specific institution’s entry requirements.
Very often, specific courses are simply oversubscribed. Whatever the reason, the disappointment will be real but learners should know that this is not the end of the world,” said Peter Kriel, General Manager at the Independent Institute of Education, South Africa’s largest private higher education provider.
Peter said that Krugersdorp matriculant’s finding themselves in this situation should identify the reasons why they were not accepted, then focus and work on the alternatives related to the reason for their university of choice declining their application which include marks being lower than the minimum required by an institution.
Peter said that each higher education institution sets its own minimum criteria and they vary between institutions.
“An institution where the demand outweighs the availability of space may set this bar quite high, which means they are likely to accept only students who are academically strong. Other institutions may have made provision for students who require more support and will therefore have more accommodating admission requirements. That means it may not be necessary to repeat Grade 12 or rewrite a subject as there could be alternatives available in your chosen field of study,” Peter told the News.
He advised Krugersdorpers to place their hopes in more than one institution and check whether it is accredited and registered online at www.saqa.org.za.
Not achieving a Bachelor Degree-endorsed pass
Few parents and learners are aware of the fact that a one-year higher certificate will also give you access to degree studies. Peter said that the SAQA website has a comprehensive list of available higher certificate courses at public and private campuses throughout the country. He advised Krugersdorpers considering this route to ensure that the higher certificate they are considering has excellent value as a stand-alone qualification.
“This means that a student can enter the world of work after only a year of study, which is great news for those who may need to earn while they learn,” said Peter.
Not having the correct school subjects for entrance into the qualification choice
If you didn’t have mathematics and want to do a science degree, you may need to reconsider your career choice altogether.
“As with entry requirements for grades, school subject choice requirements vary between institutions. Often the same degree may be designed slightly differently at another institution or another institution is better equipped to support students and that could result in slightly different requirements,” Peter advised.
Not having applied on time
Peter advised not to make the mistake of leaving applications too late. Some institutions may still be accepting applications but it is imperative that learners approach institutions as a matter of urgency to find out if they have any space left for the 2017 academic year. “Often students apply and get accepted at more than one institution so it is likely that some space may become available in coming weeks,”said Peter.
While it may be painful to let your original vision go, learners will be surprised at the bounty of opportunity that is actually out there that can help them make a successful start to the next chapter of their lives.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at krugersdorpnews@caxton.co.za or phone us on 011 955 1130.
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