Page 40 - FWG Issue 10 November 2024

Today’s Child

NAVIGATING THE COMPLEXITIES OF

UNIVERSITY ADMISSION – A PARENT’S GUIDE

rade 11 and matric are stressful “First of all, do not take it personally or view whether they will achieve the necessary
years for pupils and parents it as a failure. Of course, it is frustrating not results to secure a place at a university.”
alike. The anxiety can be to be able to cross this item off your to-do-
Goverwhelming not only because list, especially if you have worked very hard She urges parents and students to
of the pressure to perform well during and were not accepted while many of your remember that there are many pathways
exams and assessments, but also because peers have already received offers. But see to success and that a university or college
of the complexities and uncertainties this as a temporary hurdle rather than a acceptance is not the only – or even the
brought about when applying for university permanent roadblock.” best – route to a fulfilling and successful
placement. career. Consider the following alternatives:
South Africa has 26 public universities and
Besides the stressful and exhausting they only accept about 210 000 first-year • Technical and vocational training
application process students have to make students annually. This is the reality, and colleges
to various universities involving different so families worry about what will happen if Vocational training programmes and
qualifications, many students have to the matric pupil’s plans to attend a public technical colleges offer specialised
endure the disappointment of not being university unfold differently from what they education in various fields such as
placed in the universities they applied to. expected. engineering, healthcare, information
They then have to decide on the next step. technology and the arts. These institutions
“The reality of the admissions process is that often have more flexible admission
“Thousands of prospective students only a small number of students will receive requirements and provide practical, hands-
throughout South Africa are now facing this an acceptance letter from their preferred on experience that can lead directly to
situation,” says Dr Linda Meyer, managing institution for their preferred degree,” says employment.
director of IIE Rosebank College. “While it Dr Meyer. “The competition is intense, with
feels like an intractable problem for pupils thousands of matric students vying for a • Distance learning and online education
and their families, it is important to put the limited number of spots. It’s natural for Distance learning and online education
matter into perspective. parents and students to feel anxious about have become increasingly popular and

Fourways Gardens • 38 • November 2024