A level results day 2021 support thread

Ds was predicted AAB but we are nervous about geography. The "teaching" was SO dire...ugh

I've been kept awake the last couple of nights by non-A level matters, and now that they're on the way to being sorted, I can let my frazzled brain flit between the prospect of disaster for DD and the notion that whatever-ridiculous-percentage will be awarded A/A* grades. It's possible, I find, to have the same worries simultaneously. What larks.

I'm off for a massage at 4pm...

I was feeling pretty calm up to now, but starting to get quite stressed! Two sets of A level results here! DD1 wasn't given high enough grades last year (despite what teachers said to us and in her reports about how good she was) and has resat the year only to have exams cancelled again! And DD2 is "taking" them as well. I only hope the school have been accurate with their progress grades given up to March. I'm starting to get worried that dd1 is going to be screwed over again!

Oh no @RainBow725! I hope your dc I isn’t too poorly!

Ugh.
I feel sick 😒

Our dinner for tomorrow has just been cancelled, entire restaurant closed due to Covid. Assume they were all pinged .

Ds has finally decided to refine his clearing choices.
I thought I was going to have to do it for him.
I've bought Kalms for myself. (And wine)

Today is going to drag. Good luck to everyone

We're all still in self-isolation following DS' positive result last weekend. We don't get out until Wednesday - good job his results are being emailed!

Hope they're not too poorly with it and no one else catches it.

Anyone else's DC tested covid positive the day before results day? Because we needed more stress... 🙄🤦🏻‍♀️

The complete University Guide uses UCAS points. I thought the better universities stuck with their required 'grades', even in clearing? Or are they more lenient?

apple.news/AQZePC5AWRDuc_E1iD_82Hg

I have used the complete university guide to look at Universities in clearing. If you put the subject in the search, you can see which universities have that course in clearing.

I've only looked quickly and it appears to be fairly accurate.

Many courses in clearing will only reduce by a grade, however in recent years unconditionals and large ucas points drops for short term gain has knocked some universities reputations even within the Russell group. This is only really important if the degree is in high demand and it’s just as important where you get the degree as the grade. For most clearing is an excellent opportunity especially for anyone having regrets on their firm.

I've just had a nose through clearing and DS's firm choice is there (on whatuni). What does that actually mean? That there are spaces even after they've had applicants results? Does it mean he's likely to have got his place?

I went through clearing back in the dark ages 90s but that was because I'd changed the subject I wanted to study, so I've no idea how clearing works these days.

Neither my ds's firm or insurance are in clearing. It makes me nervous because it might mean that if he doesn't make his grades, the universities ( Warwick and KCL) are going to be harsh. I'm worried about tomorrow but putting on a cheerful face, which I suspect ds has noticed. He always knows when I'm putting on a front, but I need it as much for myself as I do for him.

Also please don’t feel your dc will be looked down upon for having to go through clearing. It’s never been an issue for ds2 (see my previous posts)

Had to Google 'esoteric'

intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest.

How ironic!

😱 when I mentioned whatuni I didn’t think people would feel misled by it.
I used it with my child so she could see that the,”I didn’t get the grades” scenario wouldn’t be the end of the world. As I said, it showed her that there were still a lot of courses available at a lot of good unis and as someone else said, it really isn’t the end of the world if she doesn’t get her first choice.
However, we thought being prepared for the possibility that she didn’t get the grades she wanted was important and meant that she could make informed choices on Tuesday if things didn’t pan out.
If it’s of any interest, a friend who works in ‘student recruitment’ at a Russell Group Uni thinks whatuni is useful.
However, it works on UCAS points, which isn’t what most unis do eg if you want to study German and are offered ABB, the uni might specify an A in German, not Chemistry.
Ultimately, Tuesday’s UCAS is the holy grail in terms of websites.
However, if your child just misses out on their preferred choice, please do encourage them to call the university and plead their case.

Tbf dds course is an esoteric humanities course so was almost a given it would end up in clearing somewhere!

Wow, I wasn't aware of that, quite shocked to be honest. Hoping my child won't need to go through clearing then if he's only going to end up being looked down upon

well to be fair nobody will know your child got the place thruogh clearing, and I haven't found any historical data about what universities put what courses into clearing, so I guess that once the process is over for a year, the data has gone, so employers wouldn't be able to trawl through and find out if there was a chance that you were "let in" on lower grades.

Appledrop

Sorry new to this but what is the problem with a course going into clearing?

It's a status thing.

Hypothetically, a course could ask for 3 x A* for offers, and then put the course in clearing at 3 x B. It is seen as lowering the course status.

Wow, I wasn't aware of that, quite shocked to be honest. Hoping my child won't need to go through clearing then if he's only going to end up being looked down upon.

Thanks BigWoollyJumpers for enlighting me.