April 1 marks the end of an intense period of reflection for this year’s 650,000 Parcoursup candidates. If the die is now cast, by June 2, the date on which the teams will send their first proposals, you will have to have considered your choices. Jérôme Teillard, Parcoursup project manager at the Ministry of Higher Education, sheds light on the main points of the coming weeks.
THE PARISIAN. An intense moment for the candidates ended on April 1st. Is the effort over until June 2?
JÉRÔME TEILLARD. First, there is an important element to note for candidates: apprenticeship wishes can still be made after April 1st, the time frame is not the same. You should therefore not have the impression that the door is closed for this type of training.
Then, obviously, there is an examination of the wishes by the training courses. It is not a Parcoursup algorithm which decides, but their future teachers who will examine the applications and submit a ranking at the end of May. Some of the candidates will take school competitions or interviews in institutes, so written and oral exams, it’s a step very concrete for them, which will take place in April and May.
On the Parcoursup side, we are making a training site available to everyone from April onwards which allows them to see how the next stage works, well before the June deadline. The idea is to show how the admission phase actually works and thus dispel any anxiety by explaining what it means in concrete terms to “receive a proposal” or even “respond to training”. With this site you can consult very simple quizzes and concrete situations to understand everything.
What is the objective of this site?
May candidates be reassured about the functioning of Parcoursup so that candidates can be calm and concentrate on the questions of their choice between the courses for which they will receive a proposal, because the admission phase which begins from June 2 is a phase of choice.
Until then, we must also start thinking about the ranking of wishes?
Between now and June, you must prepare to choose, and therefore think quietly about what is most important to you. Parcoursup is not finished, we are not putting thoughts aside.
If there is obviously no immediate choice, it is useful for high school students to be able to resume their wishes at the end of May, to prepare you to choose… The procedure goes quite quickly and leads high school students to make choices: in 2025, 67% of high school students received at least one offer on the first day, and more than 80% the first week, all baccalaureate series combined.
For example, there are questions to ask about local training and others more distant: we must bear in mind what it means in concrete terms to study independently outside the family home. It may seem a little theoretical when you formulate wishes, but when it becomes concrete, it is no longer that much. It’s good to share your thoughts in advance and above all to discuss so as not to be left alone with your questions.
Who to exchange with?
High school students can talk with those around them of course, but also at school, with their main teacher to ask for advice. The orientation process is a process of progressive questioning, so it’s good not to get stuck in questioning without a solution. The exchange is reassuring. Advisors from the Parcoursup toll-free number are also present during this period to support those who wish.
We will make resources and videos available on Parcoursup and in high schools so that everyone can be informed and reassured. We ensure that the admission procedure in June is clear, precise and unambiguous so that everyone can concentrate on the basic question: “what do I want to do?” » without being bothered by peripheral questions. From June 2, candidates will be able to make choices, accept training, keep pending wishes that interest them. The prioritization of pending wishes is part of this progressive choice process which makes it possible to reduce waiting lists and ensure that the greatest number of high school students have a proposal before the written tests of the baccalaureate.
How can we approach the next phase when the die is now cast?
Stay calm because the high school students have already passed the first stage! Then keep your thoughts on what interests you. I want to reassure candidates and parents who are sometimes obsessed by the fear of not having a proposal: in 2025, 93% of high school students had at least one proposal, and on average, they received six, which means a real opportunity to choose. The question for most high school students will be to choose and for those who do not have a solution at the beginning of June, they will be able to be supported in their high school or by the academies. We will support anyone who asks.
A final word to reassure: this choice on Parcoursup remains a first choice of access to higher education and is not a definitive choice. Keep in mind that you will have other possible choices. We can then discover new training courses and reorient ourselves or find bridges. In our journey, we grope and we have the right to change.
