Students - oh, they're just a necessary evil!

I frequently get on my high horse about the fact that insufficient (or in fact, no) provision is made to ensure that children leaving primary school get a place at the secondary school of their (or their parents') choice.  We now seem to have a similar situation regarding university places.  The question of how and by whom universities should be funded is a matter for debate, but if you have somebody who wants to go to university, has reasonable grades and is prepared to meet the cost, whatever it may be, it seems to me to be scandalous that they are prevented from going simply because there is no place available for them.  Once again, you get the impression that students exist for the benefit of schools and universities, rather than the other way round, as it should be.