Mumsnet Talk

thanks Newferry, had heard similar so time will tell....

Hi Mabs, I think a lot will depend on the Uni, how popular the course is, and how many students meet the grades that the Uni have already offered, and students accepted, places on.
In other words, the proverbial how long is a piece of string.......

2 years ago, so the last year of lower fees, DS was initially rejected from his first choice becuase he was 0.5% away from his grade, so had AABC with an AAA offer.
BUT it was a particularly busy year, and applications were very high, and it was/is a popular course at a well regarded Uni.

This year, DS2's first choice have said that if you narrowly miss the offer they will look at their "firm" applicants ahead of other students for any places as these are the students who have committed to the Uni, and who the Uni has comitted time to with post-offer days, countless emails etc. plus there are comparatively fewer students compared to 2 years ago.

It's all such a worry though isnt it?

thanks so much for the info. We feel she may miss her first choice by just one grade, but her insurance grades needed are pretty low so she 'should' outperform that. Do you think we stand any chance of first choice taking her if she is just one grade down? sure that is a stupid question, but please humour me!!

A different strategy might be to accept the insurance place and then try to transfer to a different institution at the end of first year. This is in principle possible - I know people who have done this - but it requires quite a lot of hard graft.

From the UCAS FAQ

I didn't meet the grades for my firm choice but I don't want to go to my insurance choice - can I apply elsewhere?

You have made a commitment to your insurance choice so if you no longer want to attend you should contact the university or college to discuss your situation. If they agree to withdraw your offer, you can then apply for another course in Clearing.

Accepting a UCAS offer is a bilateral commitment. The Uni has to admit you if you get the grades, and you have to go if you get them. However there is some flexibility but you have to get the Uni to agree to a withdrawal before you can go through clearing (the process by which under filled courses are filled). If you outperform your first choice grades there is a new process called Adjustment that might allow you to trade up but I have no experience of this.

Hi all - can anyone talk me thru results day? if she doesn't get firm choice grades and gets higher that insurance grades, is there a way to consider anywhere else? thanks

Thankyou!

Party went off well, and oldest DS home for the weekend too. Sadly the BBQ part was DH stood under the sun awning, cooking burgers while sheltering from the torrential rain.
The 18 year olds were much more sensible and stayed indoors waiting to eat the food as it was cooked
Maris, will pm u later x

NewFerry happy birthday to DS for tomorrow! Good luck to his exams .

DD3 finally decided on Bolton as her first choice, the uni furthest away and Glamorgan which is a few miles away from us as her insurance, She doesn't have exams as she is doing a BTECH extended diploma but has a load of assignments to finish.
I'll be glad when she's finally finished college as it's very stressful in this house at the moment. It also looks like she'll get DSA which is good.

She is married and half way through the Teach First Training programme at a school in outer London. I am a MIL!

Yes, DS did History & Politics at Warwick and is now working for a major publisher in London and DD did psychology at Exeter and is now a recruitment consultant in Reading. They both moved out last autumn, both living in shared houses with friends, though they both come to visit every so often - in fact DD is here this evening. What's your DD doing now?

Thanks Rusty!

How are your 2 getting on now? Have they completely flown the nest?

My first post on Mumsnet was congratulating your DS on getting in to the grammar school, Milliways! Hope I'll be congratulating him on getting into Manchester come August!

Thanks IsingSoprano - DS is very motivated and has stayed home alone the last 2 weekends when we have been camping. He is taking a break to watch The Apprentice though

Happy 18th to NewFerry DS, Milliboy turns 18 the same week the results come out. Manchester is his firm, with Southampton as Insurance.

Popping in to say good luck to all.
DS doesn't have an exam until after half term, so carrying on with revision here. However, it's his 18th birthday on Friday, so he's having friends over for a BBQ. I suspect he won't get much revision done on Saturday!

Well, it's 8th May and DS has finally decided: it's Nottingham first choice and Exeter second. He is set on Nottingham, so hopefully, it will give him the incentive to work to get there.
So onto the next hurdle. I hope everyone else's DCs are now settled with choices and happy!

Ds has his first exam next week too. Revision is going quite well - he seems very motivated and has a good balance of work and relaxation. How 'bout you Milliways?

How is the revision going? DS has his first exam next week.

Melodyangel- Thank you and well done to your DS I think I would still be dancing, how absolutely fabulous

greyvix - I think the deadline is 8th May

www.ucas.com/students/importantdates

DS1 has accepted an unconditional offer from Queen Mary to do a masters in Chemistry. All very delighted and relieved. It has been a worrying time since he missed his grades last August but all go now. Got the news while at a school thing on Friday - they may have been a spontaneous outburst of dancing

MABS - How is your DS doing? I do hope he is on the mend. Thoughts are with you all. Has your DD's college been supportive? I hope she receives special consideration for the Jan exams, sounds like you have all had a torrid time.

minsmum - Well done to your DD for getting the highest grade in her year!

Good luck to all you DC's.

DS gutted that he got a rejection from Bristol on the weekend. So it's Nottingham first choice for Economics. He then has to decide between Manchester, Exeter or Cardiff for insurance. I like Exeter, but (probably because I like Exeter) he's favouring Manchester- though he's never been. When is the deadline?

good luck Minsmum with that.

Hopefully they will manage to get it Mabs. It would seem to be only fair.

My dd got a B in her Jan exam not great but the highest in her school. She has decided that her firm is going to be UAE with brighton as her insurance. Like all the rest she just needs to get the grades

sorry for silence, ds been hospital again. school are trying to get special consideration for her from exam board due to ds problems. we will see...

JellicleCat they are not the only one DD3 and my niece are still waiting to hear from Kingston.