I work in university admissions AMA

[UniAdmissions]

Hello

Ahead of A Level results day, I thought I'd see whether anybody wanted to ask any questions about university admissions or clearing.

I only have experience of one university so obviously can't answer for all but will try my best with any general questions.

I'll be working long hours for the next few days helping students who have just got their results but for some reason I thought I'd offer my services early!

[UniAdmissions]

@happinessischocolate That's great news, congratulations to your dd! And enjoy the big bedroom!

@Lollypop701 So sorry to hear about the burglary, what a horribly stressful time for you. I hope things get sorted and are calmer for you soon.

[happinessischocolate]

@UniAdmissions

Thanks for taking the time to reply, DD got her notification this morning so all is good. One month till I can move back into the big bedroom 😁

[Lollypop701]

Can I thank everyone that has commented and helped me. First time I have done this bet you can’t tell . Lancaster is a great university and he will be fine, it’s just hard to give up on the ‘dream’. No idea how close he was on maths but will check with college, it would be useful to know… he thinks it was only mechanics so if he was wrong then will help him And me accept the new course is better suited for him . I really appreciate everyone’s help (separately I was burgled yesterday, which is being sorted, and think this is impacting my usual practical self)

[Justcannot]

@Lollypop701 economics? It happens a lot. They won't shift on the requirements for a B so he needs to either ask for a remark in Maths if he's close to the boundary, or accept the BA course. It's still extremely good! You should also know that there are econ students with A* in maths A Level that really struggle with the maths in an econ degree. So if was on track for a B, then the BA might still be a better fit.

[UniAdmissions]

@Lollypop701

He was offered ba rather than bsc. He’s ok, I’m just gutted he got the ucas points but not the maths grade and it was only one paper in maths that he panicked on. He really wants Lancaster and there’s places on the course he wants but can’t get it . I’m frustrated for him as I know he’d be ok😫

Ah ok, what I was thinking of isn't relevant then. I'm sorry he hasn't been accepted. I hope his alternative option turns out well, it usually does!

[Lollypop701]

He was offered ba rather than bsc. He’s ok, I’m just gutted he got the ucas points but not the maths grade and it was only one paper in maths that he panicked on. He really wants Lancaster and there’s places on the course he wants but can’t get it . I’m frustrated for him as I know he’d be ok😫

[UniAdmissions]

@Lollypop701

the course offered is bsc not sure if that makes a difference

Has he been offered BSc rather than BEng by any chance?

[brookstar]

Thank you all so much for the help! Hopefully final question, if he has accepted a course can he still do clearing to see if he can get the other course.. there are still places available

If he's been rejected for a course he can't then apply for that specific course, at that university through clearing.
He can try a different university though.

[Lollypop701]

the course offered is bsc not sure if that makes a difference

[Lollypop701]

Thank you all so much for the help! Hopefully final question, if he has accepted a course can he still do clearing to see if he can get the other course.. there are still places available

[Justcannot]

@marcopront clearing starts on 5th July (or around then) for everyone, so students who got their IB on July 6th could start looking straight away. However, many unis didn't know how many spaces they had so there werent quite as many vacancies as there are today, and anyone taking IB as a home fee student was normally told to wait until today before offers can be made in clearing.

@butterflyflutterby123 if she reapplied she won't have predicted grades in her UCAS form, just her achieved ones. And many universities do prefer it (as she's a safer bet than someone predicted the same grades but might not actually get them).

And sorry for jumping on, I'm not the OP, but I do work in the same field, only the other side of the desk!

[SeasonFinale]

@Sellie555

@SeasonFinale she is fluent written and spoken English and has her ILETS (or whatever it’s called!)

she was happy to start from year 1; she didn’t expect to skip any years

she won’t move away from her mother and little sister; they are refugees and need to be together right now due to that situation. That’s her priority ( and i totally understand that) So she needed a uni she can travel to everyday

Yes I have a guest staying with me who has an offer at a uni 300 miles away, just 18 but has decided to go because they consider it an offer of a lifetime but I understand if she isn't comfortable with it.

[brookstar]

@Lollypop701

My son got AAC, C in maths and needed a B. They offered a slightly different course and have said he needed the B- we called. Is there any chance of changing the university’s position as he overachieved in the 2 other A levels?

That is up to individual admissions tutors but if they've rejected and offered and alternative I would say they are unlikely to change their mind. They will need a B for a reason.
Clearing could still be an option though?

[Lollypop701]

My son got AAC, C in maths and needed a B. They offered a slightly different course and have said he needed the B- we called. Is there any chance of changing the university’s position as he overachieved in the 2 other A levels?

[marcopront]

@UniAdmissions

@marcopront Yes, absolutely. It's a very well respected qualification worldwide and I'd be surprised if any UK university didn't accept it.

Does clearing for them start in July?

[Sellie555]

@SeasonFinale

Has she done any form of English proficiency test? That usually forms part of the offer too. Many Ukraininan universities unfortunately are not recognised for certain courses here. For example, medical degrees from only 4 I think unis there are recognised here.

It is up to individual unis to decide whether they are prepared to accept any time at a Ukrainian uni as equivalent to foundation years.

Why can she not take up her LSE place? She should have home status and be able to access student finance in the same way an English student would.

@SeasonFinale she is fluent written and spoken English and has her ILETS (or whatever it’s called!)

she was happy to start from year 1; she didn’t expect to skip any years

she won’t move away from her mother and little sister; they are refugees and need to be together right now due to that situation. That’s her priority ( and i totally understand that) So she needed a uni she can travel to everyday

[percypig]

Just to add to the query above about the 8am UCAS embargo - I’ve had pupils every year who have got emails from universities just before they officially log in to UCAS, or in some cases UCAS has been slow.

I’ve also had pupils who missed really important emails re clearing because they had gone into the junk mail.

Schools (or more accurately some staff who have access to UCAS) will be able to see their pupils’ status on UCAS from 7.30 tomorrow morning, but sharing this info is strictly embargoed until 8. The extra 30 mins give us a chance to identify which pupils will need extra advice and support before the results are out.

[SeasonFinale]

@Sellie555

I have a 19 yr old Ukrainian girl staying with me. She been studying economics at uni in ukraine the last 2 years. She is extremely intelligent; she got the top marks in her high school diplomas (she got the equivalent of straight ‘9’s across the board). She also has received the highest marks in her urkainian uni so far and actually won a scholarship to study there

she wants to continue her studies here in sept. I can’t go into too much info on here but LSE accepted her to study there. She is not in the position to move out of the home away from her mum and sister and so we been looking at a local university to study economics (definitely not a top tier uni to study economics at compared to LSE!)

however, this uni refused saying simply ‘you do not meet the entry requirements’. As they didn’t expand on that I contacted them, they said they don’t accept the Ukrainian high school diploma. Even tho she also has two years of an economics degree behind her…

i don’t understand why such a competitive distinguished uni like LSE would take her but the local uni refuses ??? 🤷‍♀️ They are missing out on a gifted student

Has she done any form of English proficiency test? That usually forms part of the offer too. Many Ukraininan universities unfortunately are not recognised for certain courses here. For example, medical degrees from only 4 I think unis there are recognised here.

It is up to individual unis to decide whether they are prepared to accept any time at a Ukrainian uni as equivalent to foundation years.

Why can she not take up her LSE place? She should have home status and be able to access student finance in the same way an English student would.

[butterflyflutterby123]

Oops message cut off. Was gonna say we wil try that thanks. And if she applies next year with the same achieved Garde as predicted, Wil she be more attractive to the uni

[butterflyflutterby123]

Tysm @UniAdmissions

[Flesh]

Are you on WIWIKAU lots of uni staff on there tonight.

They just noticed York don't have any places for home students and lots of speculation as to why.

[UniAdmissions]

@Soscrewed

A family member who works for a respected ancient University told me that they disregard qualifications in native languages (eg Welsh or Scottish gaelic) as they aren't viewed to be as high brow as modern languages or Latin. Is this true where you are? I'm pretty disappointed this view is taken.

No, this isn't true where I work and I can understand your disappointment if that is the case elsewhere.

[FloozingThePlot]

Admissions Tutor for a professional course here. In addition to GCSE and A-level / BTEC etc results, Personal Statements are needed for some courses including the one I manage. Clearing applicants may need to have one at the ready or be able to write one fairly quickly.

[Soscrewed]

A family member who works for a respected ancient University told me that they disregard qualifications in native languages (eg Welsh or Scottish gaelic) as they aren't viewed to be as high brow as modern languages or Latin. Is this true where you are? I'm pretty disappointed this view is taken.

[Weekendersonourown]

@UniAdmissions

@Weekendersonourown Ah if it's based within a traditional academic dept then you should probably ignore my tips and just focus on reassuring them that you will never ever make any changes to their ridiculously outdated processes ;)

Hahaha! I will keep that in mind ;)