University with better grades at A level

[Thisthatandtheotherones]

My DD has just finished her first term of 6th form. Her report is outstanding and her teachers think she could achieve 4A* at level next year ( it is early yet of course).

She is achieving the top marks in her college in 3 of her 4 subjects and is not far behind in her 4th.
She is working incredibly hard and loves the college. Her previous school (private boarding) was a misery and we regret sending her but felt trapped until the GCSES were over.

Her results were far from her potential and I am aware this will affect her university choices but she is on top of the world and is now talking about applying to top universities in the UK and USA..

Her self esteem is very high at the moment and she is very proud of her achievements this term. We have our happy girl back .Can anyone with experience or insight offer advice? Her subjects are Maths / further maths /economics and English literature.

What advice do you want exactly?
Its great she’s happy and thriving now but what do you want advice on?
Which Uni? It will depend on what course she wants and if she wants to live in a certain area

Her GCSES don't match her A-level's so any advice so we are not sure what to do.

She is interested in applying to Cambridge for economics and also the London university LSE and UCL.She also wants to try for a few US universities.

The college should be able to advise but while having good GCSEs helps with Uni applications (especially in the subject they want to take) A levels are more important, especially if there is a reason why GCSEs weren’t as hoped that can be evidenced
I have no idea about US applications but her college may have an Oxbridge pathway, she may not be on it now due to her GCSEs but she should speak to her tutors about itb

When you say they don’t match what do you actually mean? What are her GCSE grades? Did she pass maths and English?

GCSEs aren’t an entry criteria for Cambridge, so there’s no problem in her applying and being considered but they are in the broader context of the student, so she could want to ensure she’s impressive in all other categories

For other universities some may have GCSE requirements in maths for an economics course (I think requiring a grade 6 is common) but you’ll need to check individual universities.

Im not sure about American universities, but you could contact the Fulbright Commission for support with this.

@Bunnyannesummers they weren't that bad just not what she should have achieved. She got mainly 8's , two 7's and two 6's.

Maths and English were two of her 8's. The degree she wants to study at university is very competitive moat will have lots of 9's.

Most unis aren't too fussed about GCSEs (even Cambridge aren't) but I believe LSE are one of the few who do, as they want mainly 8s and 9s.

The best advice with UCAS application is to apply to at least 1 or 2 "safer" choices - in this case that will be unis that don't stipulate high GCSE grades. LSE is a risk, tbh. Cambridge is a risk too, as they are so competitive generally. Your daughter should be a bit more cautious in some of her other choices. By which I mean unis like Kings, Warwick, Bath.

I used to have C grade English GCSE but needed to get B+ for my university course so I did GCSE English in post 16 while I was doing my A level then I achieved grade A. What didn’t you consider doing that?

Why*

US unis won't care much about GCSEs but it's all down to the SAT or ACT. You'll have to get in touch early with the university and find out how your dd can sit the college entry exams in the UK, I know that some private boarding schools arrange them sometimes, maybe they take external candidates, otherwise, do you have to go to an embassy or something? but with your dd A level choices she should be good at these tests! Worth practicing for and aiming for ACT of 33plus, you can retake them, so start early to get the highest score. For UK unis, she can apply now or take a gap year and apply after her A levels, then GCSEs shouldn't matter anymore.

Google says there are ACT test centres in London

Some universities want all exams taken at the same time and all exams taken declared. You cannot necessarily hide a low grade.

Warwick for economics IS elite. That would make 4 elite.

My DD has decided to apply for university after she has her A levels ( both in the UK and US).
Hopefully with 4's and an A in EPQ.

Sorry not an A in EPO an A*

She'll need a plan for her year out then. What is she proposing to do?

She's obviously doing very well but do bear in mind that it is far more common to get A stars nowadays and lots of kids are rejected from Oxbridge, St Andrews, Durham etc even with 3/4 A star predictions, particularly if they are looking at very competitive courses like economics or PPE. Demand simply exceeds supply and competition is worldwide.

@NellyBarney she has been practicing and sores very highly in ACT and SAT's , we do need universities here also so hopefully applying with the A levels in hand will help.

Four A levels and an EPQ might actually kill her off before she gets the grades. Think very carefully about this. That's the equivalent of four and a half A levels and she needs a life outside of studying.

She is very determined to do this. She has a plan for her year out relating to her chosen university course and will work part time also.

It's such a shame. Sorry, I know it isn't the accepted way of thinking but most courses won't require her to have 4 A stars and an A star at EPQ. Plus what is even the point of an EPQ if she's certain she'll get 4 x A star? The only point of an EPQ is to get a lower grade offer for some university courses at some universities. She doesn't seem to need this.

Social life is so much more important.

Apply for top unis would be my advice. I don't think GCSEs grades are taken into account for most unis/most subjects. It will say on their websites if they do.

She should apply to the top unis after she’s achieved her A Levels. They all use GCSEs as filters for predicted A Level grades but once the result is achieved they don’t matter.

You can do this in several ways:

1. Her grades are high enough and subjects numerical enough that she could easily get a junior data analyst temp role (or even an industry apprenticeship with the likes of Pwc etc). She could work for a year (or longer if the company sponsors her) & apply for next year’s intake. This route is an incredibly good way of getting noticed at LSE, UCL, Imperial, and Oxbridge.
2. She could apply to mid-range unis this year & then move to top unis next year. But she will have to maintain top grades across her first year & choose a degree that aligns closely to the one she wants to do.
3. A 3rd option is to look internationally. Ivy leagues for example only consider A Levels and if she wants to do a STEM degree she may even qualify for a women in STEM scholarship making the degree cheaper than the UK. This route requires a bit of research and you may want to approach unis directly for support with personal statements / references. Again if she is working in industry it would look really good on her application - particulatly if in a technology role.

Sounds a tough system where A levels to that standard may be hampered by this

Good advice below though

Thank you for all the good advise.
This is so helpful @RunLolaRun102 , she is interested in the US along with the UK but your suggestions are not something we had thought about.

They are a risky strategy though. Who’s going to give her that useful job? Swapping universities is also risky. If it was easy everyone would swap into Oxbridge.

I recruit data analysts in finance for a big 4 (not pwc, our programme isn’t as big as theirs). There is such a shortage we’re targetting STEM A Level students & offering to pay for their degrees. And yes swapping universities is risky but can be done depending on the course / uni / experience of the student. A couple of my interns moved from Coventry / Nottingham to Oxbridge with a strong portfolio of work experience. Several have moved from DMU / Leicester to LSE too.