Applying but Missing out on University
Often at this time of year, newspapers report on disappointed year 12 students who have missed out on a place in universities. A study released by ACER included 8000 students evaluates those who were unsuccessful.
The study, Unmet Demand? Characteristics and Activities of University Applicants Not Offered a Place, was released by ACER in December 2005 as part of the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY). It included almost 8000 young people who were in Year 9 in 1998. Most completed Year 12 in 2001. A relatively small proportion of the group, around 5 per cent, applied to enter university but were not offered a place. This amounted to about 10 per cent of all Year 12 university applicants in 2001. These unsuccessful applicants are commonly referred to as indicating ‘unmet demand’ for university places. The study followed members of the unmet demand group from 1998 until 2003, which was two years after Year 12 for most of them.
