10 STRATEGIC TIPS FOR UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS IN THE COMING YEAR 2014...ALSO TO BE READ BEFORE FILLING YOUR JAMB REGISTRATION FORMS!

[caption id="attachment_8515" align="alignleft" width="412"] UNIABUJA-JAMB-EXAMINATION-[/caption]

How to be successful in Jamb 2014 Examination

Tip 1. Following the words of the JAMB Registrar after the 2013 exercise, Prof Dibu Ojerinde said: “We have gone digital in JAMB.” What he meant by ‘going digital’ is that  in the Jamb 2014/2015 UTME examination the Computer Based Test is likely to be more popular than it was in 2013 . To avoid surprises in the exam hall, we encourage participants to learn how to operate a computer system which is as simple as ABC. In the examination hall, your computer will be “timed”  and when it reaches the allotted time, it will switch off, even if you have not answered any question! So the call to be fast is important.

Tip 2. All admission-seeking candidates in the Jamb 2014, mostly candidates from  the Southern states are advised to make early registrations  to avoid missing out on available centers. Last season (Jamb 2013), with a record number of 1.8 million candidates centres were exhausted  within three months of beginning of registrations, and late registrants were pushed to the North, north east and north central zones  to take their examinations.If you are not used to the the north, why risk going there to write your Jamb exam? A lot of candidates missed  last year’s jamb exams due to this problem.So we encourage you to purchase the form  and register VERY EARLY!

Tip 3. Applicants who wrote the JAMB 2013/2014 UTME examination and selected the Paper and Pencil Type (PPT) were basically victims of various inefficiencies of by the board, with majority of them, forced to settle with scores that are not theirs. We therefore advise candidates applying for the JAMB 2014/2015 UTME to thread carefully, on what  type of exam to select, We recommend the Computer Based Test (CBT) and if you are good with computers, and there is no need to be scared of it. From last year’s experience, many candidates who chose CBT came out with flying colours.

Tip 4. From statistics, over 1.8 million students registered  for the 2013 exams but less than 500,000  were going to be admitted.Let us also note that  about 1.2 million students may also be in their final secondary school years now.So more than 2 million candidates may  participate in the next exams in 2014. We therefore suggest an all-round  preparations by candidates. One way to beat  JAMB is to read more tips on http://lagosbooksclub.com  and her sister blogs.


Tip 5. Only very confident candidates should select from the most popular institutions such as UNILAG,OAU,UI,UNN,UNIBEN,UNILORIN,UNIZIK,FUTO,UNIPORT,ABU...


These are about the most popular institutions in Nigeria. The reason why we recommend that you stay away from these universities is to boost your chances of admission and not because you are not intelligent, Admission slots are very limited and the competition for these institutions is fiercer. Also if a Federal University is not your catchment area, then your chances of getting admitted is equal to zero. But still, if you must choose any of them please also look for courses that are not too competitive. Take note of all these before you register.


Tips 6. All candidates  are  also advised to be very careful in their selection of courses.It is no news that the following courses USUALLY have the highest number of applicants.
• Medicine And Surgery
• Economics
• Accounting
• Law/Civil Law
• Pharmacy etc.
• Mechanical Engr/Civil/Elect Elect etc.

Selecting one of the above means you will be competing with thousands of candidates for the space, which is likely to be lesser than hundreds in all the Institutions. But if you are however interested in any of the above courses, you must learn how to balance your selections appropriately to increase your chances of getting admitted. Ensure you also select courses such as EDUCATION that have fewer numbers of candidates. By so doing, you can be sure of a higher probability of admission.You may thereafter apply for a change of course after been admitted. This suggestion is to  boost your chances of and not because you are not intelligent.The reality is that the slots of many of these courses are limited, competition is higher and you are getting older.After factoring in ASUU there is a possibility may get discouraged or age  before ones time. Hence, make hay while the sun shines.

Tip 7. These days it has also become important  that you know about the accreditation status of the course(s) you want to apply for in your choice Institutions before submitting your application.

What is accreditation of  a course?
Some university offer courses that have not been approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC), and if you end up in one of those departments not eventually approved you would have wasted your years for nothing. You won’t be given any original certificate by the University! For example; Medicine and Surgery has NOT been accredited in the Benue State University, BSUM and many others Universities, and candidates  admitted there might  end up spending 8+ years in vain.

How will you know if your course has been accredited in your choice institution?
You can know this from the Jamb 2014 Brochure that will be given to you when you purchase the Jamb 2014-2015 UTME Form.


Tip 8. Most Institutions require a cut-off of 240 in the JAMB-UTME. (example of such institution is University of Ilorin) the minimum cut off for Medicine in Unilorin is 240 and 220+ for major courses, while admission at the University of Ibadan and Unilag begins with your O-Level results, therefore, its very important that you have the basic requirements of the Institution before applying for admission. In fact, this apply to almost all the Institutions in Nigeria. Ensure you have your COMPLETE O’LEVEL RESULTS for your chosen courses before buying Jamb, if you don’t have… you are only going to frustrate yourself. Even when you are admitted, you will be screened out after they collect your acceptance  and school fees.

Tip 9. DO NOT apply for admission into Institutions outside your catchment areas.You lower your chances of being admitted by doing so

What are catchment areas?(See your Jamb Brochure for more notes in this)

Tip 10. Take note: Once you have submitted your application form for the JAMB 2014/2015 UTME and gotten registered through an approved centre there is no more opportunity to initiate any change.Therefore, we advice candidates to check all the fields properly, including passport, names,  institutions of choice and fingerprints before submission.This is because all would be verified one time or the other along ehe way before you are admitted for the Examination.

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UNILAG REGISTRATION FOR 2013/14 ACADEMIC SESSION BEGINS

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="175"] University of Lagos (Photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption]

 The Admissions Unit of the University of Lagos, UNILAG has released the registration schedule and procedure for candidates (UTME & DIRE CT ENTRY) offered provisional admission to various degree programs for the 2013/2014 Academic Session.

The registration exercise will commence on Monday, November 18, 2013 at 8:30 a.m. at the Multipurpose Hall, UNILAG, Akoka. The registration schedule and procedure can be found here.

Each candidate is expected to submit the under-listed documents at the point of registration to the Registration Officer:

a. UTME JAMB result slip / Direct Entry JAMB Form.
b. Admission Letter printed from JAMB website.
c. UTME candidates: UNILAG post-UTME result slip

UNILAG Direct Entry candidates: NCE, OND, HND or First Degree result.

d. SSCE/GCE/NECO Statement of Result/Certificate
e. Clear copies of computer printout/internet copy of candidates’ result duly certified by the principal.
f. Letter of reference from a reputable clergyman/ imam lawyer/ senior civil servant.
g. Birth Certificate/Sworn Declaration of Age.
h. Testimonial from secondary school attended.
i. State of Origin Certificate.
j. Passport photographs (12 copies)
k. Screen form (3 copies) to be downloaded HERE (Please Click the Link).

B. Successfully screened candidates should comply with the following steps:

STEP 1: SUBMISSION OF BIODATA

I. Fill IT data capture form;
II. Proceed to Information Technology section;
III. Take digital photo, fingerprint and other mini biodata;
IV. Collect a printed copy of the mini biodata which includes the JAMB registration number, password, surname, course of study, Faculty and passport photograph.

STEP 2: PAYMENT SCHEDULE: Information on this step will be provided at the screening centre.

STEP 3: DEPARTMENTAL REGISTRATION: Candidates are requested to contact their Department for Departmental registration.

STEP 4: FINAL ENROLMENT:
Final enrolment is compulsory for all fully registered students. This will commence on December 2 and end on December 13, 2013. Further information on this step will be provided on this web site. During this stage of the registration exercise, all candidates (UTME/DE) are expected to submit two (2) copies of the following documents to the Registration Officers:

I. Completed and duly signed Students Biodata;
II. Completed and duly signed Students Information Form (SIF); and
III. Payment Acknowledgement Receipt.

PLEASE NOTE THAT:
1. All candidates MUST adhere strictly to the Registration schedule/time table and procedure.

2. Impersonation is a serious offence and anybody found guilty of this offence will have the offer of provisional admission automatically withdrawn; further to which the person will be handed over to the police/law enforcement agent.

3. Candidates must have attained the age of sixteen (16) by October, 2013 to be eligible for registration

4.The mode of dressing is formal and candidates not properly dressed will not be attended to.

5. Parents/guardians/members of staff not connected with registration are not expected at the venue of the registration exercise.

Good luck!

AS UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN GETS SET TO ADMIT ONLY 3000 THIS YEAR...UNIVERSITIES WARN PARENTS AS SCAMMERS STEP UP THEIR ANTICS!

Admission: Varsities warn parents against unnecessary pressure

Though this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is yet to be concluded, National Mirror can reliably say that some candidates, aided by their desperate parents, are already working on ways to make sure they are offered admission by different universities and other tertiary institutions of their choice.

Since May 3rd, when JAMB released the results of the 1,644,110 candidates who sat for the Paper Pencil Test (PPT) and the Dual Based Test (DBT) modes on Saturday, April 27, various candidates, especially those with low scores, have been reportedly seeking means of influencing the post-UTME examinations to be conducted soon by the various institutions.

Many of the candidates, who have been busy applying for change of their preferred institutions and courses of choice, to meet the two-week ultimatum set by the examination body, are also said to be doing so based on the instructions they received from their contacts.

It would be noted that this year’s UTME will be rounded off on Saturday, June 1, when  about 90,000 candidates who applied for the Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode,would have finished the spatial mode. Soon after, institutions are expected to conduct their post-UTME.

Ahead of these post-UTMEs  various people and workers of some institutions are already reportedly making advances to unsuspecting candidates, guaranteeing them  admission or placements in them while some even pledge to jerk up their UTME scores for them once the required charges are paid.

Similar situations had happened during the last examination held on April 27, when many candidates were found to have paid into accounts of swindlers who sent in suspected fake answers to them on the day of the examination through some websites created for the purpose by the fraudsters.

In its response to the allegations of malpractices during the examination JAMB had disclosed that the results of a total number of 68,309 candidates from various centres across the country were still undergoing further screening to find out their culpability .


Some of the universities contacted by National Mirror have not denied that some desperate parents do attempt to influence admission processes by hook or crook but they gave the stern warning to anyone including parents, guardians and even candidates already making efforts to corrupt the system to desist from such practices.

They claim they are now more vigilant and ready to prosecute any individual or agency found guilty of any allegation of fraud. In an interview with the Registrar, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Mr. Oluwarotimi Shodimu, he said the development is not strange to the institution considering the high figure of candidates applying to the university every year.

He said the university has a well-laid down structures and procedures for conducting its admission activities, which he said are handled by men and women of integrity “who would never attempt to soil their reputation.”

“There is really nothing new about this at all. We are used to it and this year cannot be different. In fact, we have in the past, investigated such cases of parents offering as much as N500,000 to secure admission for their wards.

That is what our country has steeply degenerated to. Corrupt parents make sure their children inherit their corrupt character and this is telling on the larger society because everywhere you go, you are stunned at the massive fraud going on,” Shodimu stated.

Talking about the integrity of the university’s entrance examination, the registrar said not even the vice-chancellor of the institution has knowledge of the questions to be set because “we have a pool for our questions which are securely guarded and can hardly be hacked into.” He added that, though nothing is impossible particularly in this age of technology, he said the university is very proactive and can address any emergency situation.

Similarly, the authorities of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, have enjoined parents to stay away from the university saying all efforts are on deck to stave off undue influences.

According to the university’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abiodun Olanrewaju, the institution deploys computer to conduct its examination and releases the results less than 48 hours after.

“Within these 48 hours, the results pass through series of scrutiny.

So, where is the room for any syndicate to influence the results?” Also, the University of Ibadan spokesman, Mr. Olatunji Oladejo told National Mirror yesterday that the university knows how to block loopholes for malpractices in any of its examinations including post- UTMEs. He also added that students admitted by the university over the years were always consistent with their results upon which they were admitted throughout their studies period.

“Now the university’s standing committee in charge of admission is about sitting for this year’s admission process starting with the post-UTME,” he noted, adding; “And the university is looking towards admitting about 3000 candidates.”

In his own contribution, The Ekiti State University’s Deputy Registrar in charge of Information and Public Relations, Mr. Ajibade Olubunmi said the institution is not unaware of the development but insisted that the procedure its examination takes these days would definitely make it difficult for anyone to perpetrate fraud.

Olubunmi, who frowned at the desperation of those he described as unqualified candidates seeking university admission, blamed the country’s reward system for the development. He charged the policy makers to develop the nation’s vocational educational system that will adequately reward skill workers and allow them to reach the peak of their career like their counterparts in the universities.

Shodimu in his own submission, would expect Nigeria to step up its campaign against corruption and create employment for the teeming population of her youths whom he alleged  deploy their idle hands to engage in corrupt practices.

MOJEED ALABI/NATIONAL MIRROR