Children who know at 10 that they want to go to university are twice as likely to go to a selective one than those who decide at 16, a survey says.
A study of 16,000 students suggests the younger they decide, the more likely they are to attend a university with tough entrance requirements. The university admissions service asked students what motivated their choices and what had deterred them. It found the most advantaged youngsters were most focused on university. Those from the poorest backgrounds were least focused on higher education. The University and College Admissions Services (Ucas) surveyed students who had applied to undergraduate courses, whether they ended up attending them or not.