Do All Schools Use Same Method For Admissions/Post-UTME?

I've been contacted by students seeking admission into various universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education to know if all schools follow the same procedures in admitting aspirants.

Some candidates had seen their friends being asked to obtain post-UTME forms online, prepare for post-UTME, and write entrance exams before they could expect admissions. They want to know if their own schools will do the same. 

Some had seen students who scanned and uploaded O'level/A'level results, testimonials, LGA identification, birth certificates, etc. online. Their schools don't ask for this during the online application. Hence, they want to know if they have missed something.

Some students had heard from friends that they were called for physical checking of their documents. Their schools never called for this. Must they go to school too for this? Or will their schools also ask them to bring their credentials too?

Having heard that others are writing post UTME, some confused candidates are asking when their own exams will come up too. 

This post will address this confusion and shed more light on certain concerns.

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Admission Methods Among Schools Differ

It's easy to think that all schools will use the same methods to admit students. But, that's not true.

Almost all schools will ask their students to fill out forms online, a few will add post-UTME, while some others will not call for physical screenings.

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If Your School Is Among Those Calling For Post UTME...

For schools that called for post-UTMEs (which are usually computer-based entrance exams), this will follow the online filling of forms. 

For this set of schools such as Obafemi Awolowo University(OAU), University of Benin (UNIBEN), Federal Polytechnic Ede, etc., the exam date will be announced usually,

1. immediately after submitting online forms and printing the acknowledgment slip of application, or 
2. a few days before the exams (just like in JAMB)

The smartest way to know if your school will conduct post-UTME is to ask those who have processed its admission in recent years. They know the method being used. 

You can also ask cafes around you. These people are familiar with methods being used by different schools. 

Searching the internet, especially a regular visit to the school admission portal, will also keep you updated if there will be exams and when.

Recommended: How To Know My Post UTME/Screening Dates and Venue

If Your School Is Among Those That Are Not Calling For Post UTME...

Where a school, after filling out the online application, won't call you for the post-UTME, the school will likely go for "screening" instead.

Yes, any school not using post-UTME to admit will adopt the screening method which may or may not require you to visit the school for any exam or activity.

Let's break the screening into two usual methods.

1. Online Forms (with/Without Uploading)

If your school uses this method, all you're required to do is fill out the online form and wait for admission. No exam, no physical appearance on campus, no interview, or any related activity before you're admitted.

The Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara State will ask you to scan and upload a security form, O'level result, and testimonial after filling out forms online. That's the end. Just wait for the admission after that. 

For the Federal Polytechnic Offa admission, some students chose to go to the campus, after doing the needful online, for physical screening. This is not compulsory. Whether you go for the physical screening or not, you'll be offered admission if you merit it.

Osun State University (UNIOSUN) only requires you to fill out forms online and never to scan and/or upload documents. A few weeks before they'll upload admission lists, you will need to visit the admission portal and print your result based on the filled JAMB score and O'level grades. Then, you can sit back and wait for admission. This is the same method being used by the Federal University of Oye Ekiti (FUOYE).

Lagos State University (LASU) will ask you to fill out the form online, scan and upload your O'level result together with the JAMB result and print your screening result immediately. Then, sit back and wait for admission. This is the same method being used by the Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti and Ekiti State University (EKSU).

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2. Online Forms With Physical Screening

Apart from filling out online forms, some schools will ask their students to be physically present on campus, not for exams though, but for physical screening.

Through the physical screening, the schools will announce the specific dates when candidate when aspirants must come on campus for the physical checking of their credentials. The announcement of the exam date may not be before filling out the online forms, they will announce that on the admission portal, usually in the screening advert/notice or later on the official website.

For example, Federal College of Education (Special) Oyo, Osun State College of Technology, Esa Oke (OSCOTECH), Osun State Polytechnic Iree, etc. are a few of such schools that their aspirants are expected to go to the campuses for physical screenings. For OSCOTECH, you don't have to wait for any screening date to be announced. You can go for the physical screening as soon as you obtain the online form. If OSPOLY has conducted the scheduled screening before you obtain your form, you can, at any time after obtaining yours, go to the campus for your own screening. Oyo Special will show you the screening date on your printout after submitting the online application.

The physical screening is just the one-on-one checking of your papers. Papers to be taken along will include your online screening form printed, the payment receipt (if any), O'level result, JAMB result, local government identification, birth certificate, etc.

The officials, usually at various departments or dedicated centers on campus, will check and clear aspirants for admission Then, they can return home, sit back, and be waiting for their names on the next admission lists.

Recommended: Polytechnics and Colleges That Do Not Write Post UTME

Schools Calling for Post UTME May Not If There Is a Need

Although we know universities that will surely conduct post-UTME (entrance exams) after filling out the online forms, these schools may decide not to if there is a cogent reason to skip it for any year.

For example, due to the gone COVID-19 and its disruption of academic activities, some universities conduct their post-UTMEs online (online CBT) instead of calling candidates to come on campus e.g. University of Lagos (UNILAG), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).

During the same pandemic, some schools skipped post-UTMEs and went for the online screening only e.g. University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Ladoke Akintola University, Amadu Bello University (ABU), etc.

Similarly, as a result of the ASUU strike, a few universities, for the 2022/2023 admission, gave up exams and went for online screening only.

For example, the University of Lagos, Ladoke Akintola University, etc., which are known for post-UTME, gave into screening because there was no time after the union called off the strike.

Recommended: Can I Upload Results to the JAMB Portal By Myself

Do You Have to Really Sit Back and Wait for Admission

That's it, in the real sense of it. Yet, while waiting for admission, there are a few things you should be doing.

1. Be checking your JAMB CAPS if your school usually offers admissions, first, on the JAMB CAPS e.g. UNIOSUN, OSCOTECH, Special Oyo, etc.
2. Make sure you upload your result to the Jamb portal
3. Make sure you're checking your school portal for any updates
4. You can even visit the school among other 7 activities you can engage in

Conclusion

Because your friends' schools are doing certain things, as part of their admission processes, doesn't mean that your own school will or should do the same.

Each school has its own method. You don't have to be confused. Just confirm the method and processes being followed by your own proposed course and follow that through.

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