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Original poster

Help! Please - Anyone from university admissions.

28 replies

Latelatelate · 12/05/2021 20:23

I need advice.
My DS has been waiting for an offer for a place on a course at university.
The course is not part of the UCAS process and is applied for directly.
Having not received an email he searched for the name of the university in his inbox and found an offer letter in junk mail.
The deadline for accepting the place was 2 and a half weeks ago.
He is beside himself and has written explaining what has happened.
What on earth happens next?
Please please can anyone talk us down. He is so upset and so am I!

OP posts:
thefelineofthespecies · 12/05/2021 20:30

I would say it's completely dependant on the institution, how competitive it/the programme is and what their own internal deadlines and processes are. He's contacted them and explained which is the correct thing to do. All he can do now is see what they say. Flowers

Original poster
Latelatelate · 12/05/2021 20:32

I just can’t bear it.
He worked so hard for the place and has been checking his emails every day.
I just can’t believe it was there all the time in junk mail.

OP posts:
mindutopia · 12/05/2021 20:35

I would email them politely and explain the situation and have him explain how interested he is in the course. We absolutely wouldn’t revoke someone’s offer in that situation. Many universities are competing quite hard for the students they want so I can’t imagine they’d not honour it. The key is being really polite and professional about it.

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Higher education
Original poster
Latelatelate · 12/05/2021 20:42

He has explained and told them how shocked he was to find it in junk mail.
He has apologised for the delay accepting the offer and has told them how delighted he is to have been offered the place.
He also said that he hoped it hadn’t affected his application.

I can’t tell you how upset I am for him.

OP posts:
IEat · 12/05/2021 20:56

Why not just call the admissions drop, it’s a lot quicker than an email

Original poster
Latelatelate · 12/05/2021 21:02

I think I’ll call tomorrow on his behalf - only
because he has exams all day. He would call normally.

OP posts:
Original poster
Latelatelate · 12/05/2021 21:20

Does anyone else out there know what happens in this situation?

OP posts:
Cornishandproudofit · 12/05/2021 21:21

Honestly I think it would look better if he called

omgwhy · 12/05/2021 21:21

My son did the same for his a level college, I recall that sinking feeling only too well.

It all worked out he was given the place, I really hope it's all ok!

Cornishandproudofit · 12/05/2021 21:22

Also I agree with PP, it’s entirely dependent on the uni and the course admissions process, competitiveness etc.
I hope he gets the outcome he wants, it sounds like a really stressful situation

16purplecolour16 · 12/05/2021 21:27

He will need to call unless he emails first to give authority for the Uni to share information with you (GDPR)

Original poster
Latelatelate · 12/05/2021 21:28

@Cornishandproudofit

Honestly I think it would look better if he called
I wouldn’t dream of it normally. He has 3 exams tomorrow with15 min breaks in between so would have to wait until Friday. I don’t think that’s a good idea.
OP posts:
Original poster
Latelatelate · 12/05/2021 21:28

@16purplecolour16

He will need to call unless he emails first to give authority for the Uni to share information with you (GDPR)
Oh dear.
OP posts:
Original poster
Latelatelate · 12/05/2021 21:30

Does that apply to under 18s?

OP posts:
HTruffle · 12/05/2021 21:34

Having worked in university admissions I would think that they will do their best to help him and would only be a major issue if the course is full. Even then, they may operate a waiting list.

thefelineofthespecies · 12/05/2021 21:43

Yes, I'd also agree with Cornish - not just better that he contacts them but they may not even be willing/able to speak to you due to data protection considerations.

My experience is in a highly competitive specialist field/institution which is why I'm cautious about being too encouraging, but as others have said it may not be all doom and gloom.

I'd encourage him to deal with it himself, to be honest about what's happened, sincere in expressing his wish to take up the place, and ask without expectation if there is any way that's still possible. They'll do everything they can to help. And I'd say email may well be preferable for them too as it's much easier for them too (as well as giving you the assurance of having conversations documented).

I hope you get the outcome you want.

TakeYourFinalPosition · 12/05/2021 22:09

They probably won’t accept an email granting you permission to talk to them - because you could have written the email. Unless I’ve just dealt with very overzealous places!

Maybe ten minutes in a break would be enough... or that they’ll be able to come back to his email tomorrow, if it’s not.

Bless him, I hope he gets a place. It’d be a really harsh lesson for him not to.

Ormally · 12/05/2021 22:17

Does that apply to under 18s?

I worked in FE quite a while ago and pre GDPR. They were super strict even then about only giving information over the phone to the potential student. Quite a few people tried to get round that (often more mature male partners wanting to know what their women were intending or trying to wangle them up a waiting list).

Blueeyedgirl21 · 12/05/2021 22:19

Is he sitting actual external exams or are they set by the college/sixth form he is at ? I’m not aware of any actual exams being sat , but colleges and schools are setting their own under exam conditions , unless you’re not in UK?

If he is sitting an exam that his sixth form or college have arranged, see if you can speak to his head of year or head of pastoral or student services first thing tomorrow or send an email tonight, saying can he have an extra five minutes in between to make an important phone call

Where I work we would be more than happy to accommodate this and would support with what he was supposed to say in the phone call etc

Original poster
Latelatelate · 12/05/2021 22:25

Is he sitting actual external exams or are they set by the college/sixth form he is at ? I’m not aware of any actual exams being sat , but colleges and schools are setting their own under exam conditions , unless you’re not in UK?

A level exams set by the college. Final assessments for grade evidence. Very formal.exam hall.

OP posts:
Original poster
Latelatelate · 12/05/2021 22:32

I think I’ll call his college tomorrow morning and talk to the tutor in charge of university admissions. DS won’t be in a position to go and find this person and have a proper conversation until late in the day so I will let them know what has happened. His exams are back to back.

They might be able/willing to make a call.
I know that the admissions team at university talk openly to the admissions team at college. They did so during the application process.

OP posts:
Blueeyedgirl21 · 12/05/2021 22:40

The college will be more than happy to help. The exams might be formal but they aren’t national exams they are set by the college there is flexibility

Cornishandproudofit · 13/05/2021 16:12

Any luck ?

Original poster
Latelatelate · 13/05/2021 17:43

@Cornishandproudofit

Any luck ?
Yes! DS phoned them straight after his first exam during their 20 min break and they: a) confirmed receipt of his acceptance e-mail b) told him that they had completed the selection process and he has his place. c) the date given in the e-mail for replies wasn’t correct. The time was too close to offers going out.

Thank God!

OP posts:
aibutohavethisusername · 13/05/2021 18:18

Fantastic news.