STAR student Steven Garry has given up his dream of studying law, because his four A-grade A-levels are not good enough.
The 18-year-old applied to Cambridge, Durham, London, Manchester and Nottingham universities last year. But despite grade A predictions, his tutors were baffled when he was rejected by all of them.
This week, he was awarded straight As in English, law, business and general studies and telephoned the universities as well as another six others, but still could not find one to which would take him.
Steven's plight follows criticism that too many students are getting the top grades and there have been calls for each grade to be broken down, with individual marks revealed so the very best candidates can be identified.
Steven, a student at Bury College, has now given up his plans to do study law and accepted a place on a politics course at Lancaster University.
Talent
His college principal Helen Gilchrist, said: 'It is a waste of talent and achievement if a student with four straight As cannot study for the course of their choice. at university. Steven has outstanding results and his ability makes him a prime candidate for law."
Steven, from Middleton, believes his case shows up illustrates the failings of the university admissions system. He says it would be better if students applied for their courses after they had their results.
Across the UK more than one in five exams (22.4 per cent) were awarded top A grades this year. And the continuing increase in the number of students being awarded the top grades has prompted renewed criticism that A levels are getting easier.
Steven's local MP Jim Dobbin says that in light of Steven's experience he intends to raise the issue of the universities' admissions process with Schools Standards Minister David Miliband.
Coun Colin Lambert, Rochdale Council's executive member for children, schools and families, says he intends to contact a number of universities in a bid to discover how widespread the problem is.
Popular
When the M.E.N contacted the universities Steven had applied to, they could not comment on individual cases, but many pointed to the large numbers of students applying for their most popular courses, who all had impressive predicted grades.
UCAS, the organisation that administrates the university admission process, said they could not comment on the decisions taken by the universities. They said the offers were personal contracts between the applicants and the individual universities.
A spokesperson for Universities UK ' which represents the country's universities - said: 'There are always more applications that there are places on the most popular universities and that's what clearing exists for.
'The clearing process exists to provide the opportunity for those students who have unfortunately been unsuccessful in their application to find a place that is right for them, for which there are still places available.'
A spokesperson for the Department for Education and Skills said they were currently waiting for the outcome of two reviews that could impact on this sort of situation. The Schwartz Review is currently considering how the university admissions process could be made easier and the Tomlinson Review will consider how the most able pupils could be distinguished.
UCAS has set up the One Life helpline for students, which can be reached on 0808 100 8000.
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Surely the more students quite deservedly passing A level at a good grade is great. It shows how this years students have excelled themselves.
The problem is in weeding out the wheat from the chaff, previously done by the bell curve where only a percentage were allocated to the top grades.
I feel that it is a real shame to fill these kids heads with the promise of working well and studying at school would open doors for them. Is it because as in the case of this student he was educated in a college??
We have correlation year on year with the new tests. UCAS have had several years to address this as have the university admissions. They need to use the 15 pound per application in some joined up thinking, otherwise the drive into further education may be seen as another massaging of figures.
Education or babysitting - I wonder
Coming up with a secondary grade would reestablish the old system. A
Steven should re apply when he is 21 and considered a 'mature student' and not just go for the first uni. that excepts him as he may regret it in later life. Universities want to attract older students (as they get more funding). I got into my first choice and went to Durham as a mature student to read archaeology, five years ago. With 4 grade 'A's he should have got into one of the law schools and its a disgrace he has not.
Steven is not the only student who didn't get into Cambridge with four A's this year. He can stiil do Law later with a degree in Politics. If you want it badly enough, Steven, this won't stop you. Good luck.
MAYBE EVERYONE ELSE THAT APPLIED HAD 5 A'S! THIS IS THE PROMBLEM NOW ANYONE AND EVERYONE HAS A'LEVELS AND A DEGREE. SMARTER THAN AVERAGE PEOPLE ARE BOARD BY THE UNCHALLENGING STUDIES THAT ARE TOO EASY FOR THEM. THEY ARE ALSO FORCED TO DO POSTGRADS AND STUDY FOR EXTRA YEARS TO PROVE THAT THEY ARE IN FACT SMARTED THAN AVERAGE. IF 50% OF PEOPLE GET DEGREED THEN HAVING A DEGREE PROVES YOUR OF AVERAGE INTELLIGENCE AND NOTHING MORE! HOW ARE THE GOV GOING TO ENSURE WE CAN WORK OUT WHO IS IN THE TOP 5% NOT THE TOP 50%