Experience with " near miss grades " for uni, advice on what to do?

[Bagpuss555]

OK long story short, DD pretty sure she won't make AAA offer possibilities more likely be AAB or AAB, her condition didn't include equivalents. If on results day she gets rejected with those grades but the B is close to an A is it worth ringing up the uni to ask them to reconsider or maybe go for remark? Any success stories ? DD offer isn't from Oxbridge or top 5 uni. Any advice is appreciated, might be of help to others who may be of a similar dilemma.

[Figmentofmyimagination]

I'm sure others will come onto this thread with more experience than me. One of my friends' DDs had an emergency remark (w/n 7 days) three years ago when she unexpectedly missed her offer - she was unexpectedly awarded a low grade in her degree subject - and went up a whole grade on the remark. Her place was kept open for one week pending the remark. She had to pay on the day - £50. (She's since graduated with a first, which just shows you ( and terrifies in equal measure!)). Your DD's school will know what to do.

[GeorgeYeatsAutomaticWriter]

Cap on student numbers is off, and there will be intense competition between institutions for candidates. Depending on the subject, there's a good chance that your DD will be accepted anyway. Otherwise, she's in a good position to get a place elsewhere via adjustment & cleaning.

[NiceCardigan]

DD2 got AAB instead of AAA and her first choice uni took her without us having to do anything.

[Bagpuss555]

Crikey £50 for remark, its history that DD thinks she's not done so well in. We just hoping she will still have a chance if she's not too far from the A grade. By the sounds of it we shouldn't lose hope.
So does cap removal of student numbers mean uni might want to over recruit? So means uni might let in more students even with slightly missed grades?
Would be amazing if DD could still get in with AAB. Fingers crossed she's so stressed, shes not really wanting to go to insurance, so clutching at straws.
If she was to miss her grades, would AAA be looked on more favourably than someone who got AAB any admission might know??

[MadamArcatiAgain]

In a subject like history, it is nigh on impossible for her to gauge how she has done.Keep faith!!

[GeorgeYeatsAutomaticWriter]

It depends if her chosen subject requires an A.

If not, then at my institution it wouldn't matter.

[Bagpuss555]

Her condition didn't specify A grade in any particular subject and the * (star) can come from any subject too. So she's not doomed yet as thinks.
DD says history is an evil subject, can do crap get good grade, then just when you think you've done great, get rubbish grade no way to tell. Very hard subject to nail competently and consistently.

[Bagpuss555]

Thanks battlemum DD seems to have the world on her shoulders, the pressure is getting to her. She will be so gutted if one exam meant she has to go to her insurance.

[goingmadinthecountry]

So glad dd2 is away at a festival this week keeping her mind off all this horrible stuff. Or trying to.

History is indeed evil, but can work both ways. Dd1 was disappointed in her B for AS but got a very very good A* at A level without any re-takes. Coursework is apparently key. Good luck!

[DoctorDoctor]

Don't panic yet. She has a good chance of still getting accepted. Check it first thing on the day and get her to ring them if needsbe and have a speech ready about why she is really keen to do that particular course at that institution - but hold your nerve. If she's not accepted, look around at other places if she's gone off her insurance.

[elephantoverthehill]

The school/college staff will be there to advise you on results day. If the school thinks DD should have done better and have predicated this then they will pay for the remark.It is their interest to do so. I have known of several remarks at A' level and GCSE supported by the schools where mistakes have been found an students have made the expected grades. If DD does not get the grades for goodness sake don't get on the phone she needs to do it. Unis don't tend to react well to students who can't speak up for themselves. And I am bricking it for 13th as well.

[Bagpuss555]

Thanks doctordoctor good idea suggesting DD think of a good speech to try and convince uni to reconsider her, better than having to panic on the day of what to say if worse came to the worse.
DD is very glum, down in the dumps, she doesn't think she will look as competitive as her counterparts if admission has to compare her with another near miss candidate since she's hasn't done a EPQ or extra curricular like Duke of Edinburgh. She says lots of kids do 5 AS, 4 A levels, which she hasn't. As you can see dd is getting herself in a tiff.
elephant agreed, no way will I be phoning admission. I wouldn't know what to say. I think DD should do it too. Good luck to your dc

[DoctorDoctor]

She definitely has to do it. I wouldn't offer a place to anyone if I had only spoken to their parent. In that situation I wouldn't be asking about extra curricular stuff; I'd want to hear a candidate say why my History course was so attractive to them and why it connected well with their own interests, strengths etc. Get her to look at the course info again and then write herself some notes for the day. With luck she won't even need them.

[elephantoverthehill]

Thank you Bagpuss. I've just been informed by DS1 that he will be working a festival on results day so could I pick them up? I will obvs get written confirmation from him to show. But why do I have to do this? It was bad enough the first time around for mine!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am sure your DD has done excellently but clearing can be serendipitous.

[Bagpuss555]

We have a slightly upbeat dd today, ive relayed what doctor doctor advised, she's alot happier, I think more from hearing that admissions aren't so scary, they will listen, I've told dd just be frank and honest with speaking to admission, if she has to on the day, she loves everything about her firm uni living and studying, they can pick certain modules so can specialise it's a lot less of a generic course like other unis are offering for the same degree course. The dept has that certain energy, enthusiasm that she loves. DD has a "to do list" today so much better than the hopeless dd we've had for the last 3 days since the nerves started to kick in big style!.
elephant are you having to open his results and tell him too? I'd need a stiff gin and tonic to do that you have my sympathy

[eatyourveg]

This link appeared on one of the other threads - reassuring reading for anyone who may have dropped a grade

[HowardTJMoon]

From what I've heard many universities are going into clearing with a lot of places to fill. It was the same last year. If her grades are close then it's definitely worth a phone call.

[Elledouble]

Definitely worth a phone call. That's what my brother did when he just missed his grades, and it was fine. Otherwise clearing.

[betternextlife]

If she has not had a decision, then it is worth a phone call.

But if she has been rejected, then please do not ring and ask for reconsideration. Unless there is something to add about the missed grades (going for a remark, or there were extenuating circumstances that can be verified by the school), you will just irritate the extremely busy admissions staff who will have already reconsidered your application. You would be better off ringing other places.

(oh and in case they are on MN, to the person last year who rang 3 times themselves, had their mother, aunty and brother all ring separately and then turned up at the university in person just in case we really didn't understand how 'special' you are; this really did not impress the admissions staff, and you became the least likely person to ever be admitted)

[Bagpuss555]

eatyourveg thanks for the link!! Inspires some hope for everyone, was a bit gobsmacked with comment on 1st page of the thread about a certain uni lecturer at a good uni saying that, uni's purposely inflate grades to make the uni look more prestigious, so kids would firm them, but they would take lower grades. Wonder how true is that for many uni? There's a you tube video supporting it. Gives DD some hope. What's the chances of 170 students all getting A*AA for her course
better if DD misses by say less than 4ums would it be worth ringing? Would the uni know it was a very near miss? DD is mindful that admmision will be mega busy with lots of distressed kids in the same boat as her. Umm wondering now after your post whether it's wise to. So only ring if shes been put on hold on ucas. If she's far from the A grade she says she will accept she wasn't good enough.
Feel for you guys at admission must be the hardest job in the world dealing with irrate mums, dads uncles and aunties as well as distressed teenage kids on results day.

[hellsbells99]

I know a friend's DC who had an offer of AAA from Nottingham a couple of years and got rejected when she got AAB - on a happier note, she has loved her insurance choice. Last year, I know two people who both dropped 2 grades and got into Birmingham and York respectively. Another friend's DC dropped 2 grades and didn't get into Sheffield - she ended up going through clearing, getting a place for the same course at a good RG university and has thoroughly enjoyed her first year.
At the end of the day, they are all happy with where they are, however they got there!

[Bagpuss555]

hellsbells I want to go hibernate on results day, I know DD isn't going to sleep, then there's grade boundaries that come out the day before results day, going to be 2 sleepless nights! Unless she can find something in clearing she likes, or she miraculously falls in love with insurance, I really don't know what's her future good job I've not bought the pots and pans for her yet??
I've just read an article on mail online, wish I knew how to link?? Saying some top Russell group uni are reserving some of there courses on clearing, only for international students hope that's not true it's daily mail!!

[cathcustard]

I'm feeling sick at the whole thought of Thursday.
DD has a notion that tracking at some unis goes live at midnight. Does that sound right ?

[Headofthehive55]

It wasn't live last year until 8am. We had the awful dilemma of picking results up from school at 7am or waiting until we knew via track.

Lots of unis dropped grades, but not always. I did wonder if my DD would have been better ringing up unis but she was took emotionally distraught to make a sensible decision.

You can get your scripts back very quickly, within a few days. Your teachers can then tell you if they think you should remark. We found my DD had written the answers correctly, only those answers were not on the marking sheet so no marks awarded. Still can't get my head round that!

you can go straight to a priority remark if you prefer.

Fingers crossed for you all.