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Original poster

EPQ - DD17 did not apply need good news stories!

52 replies

Flyhigher · 16/01/2025 15:25

Hi,
Daughter forgot to press the right buttons and now hadn't been accepted into the EpQ.

As she didn't apply.

Angry

So I need good news stories please - did yours do well in A levels anyway?

She wants to go to Leeds or a Russel group.

Good news stories please!

I'm stressing now that she's missed out on a great opportunity and also that she's made her A levels more stressful!

Help!

OP posts:
LIZS · 16/01/2025 15:32

Do you need to apply formally? Neither dc did epq, school did not offer it.

xmasdealhunter · 16/01/2025 15:33

My DD didn't do an EPQ and got offers from 4 Russell Group unis. Some unis don't offer reduced grades anyway, even if the student does an EPQ, so don't stress!

HaroldMeaker · 16/01/2025 16:00

Ds did actually do an EPQ but he found it a complete pain in the arse and wished he hadn't bothered in the end. He managed an A but none of the RG's that he applied to gave him a lower grade requirement for it. He was able to use it well in his ps but that was all.

Original poster
Flyhigher · 16/01/2025 16:02

Thanks.
Need more good news stories on successful non epq applications!

OP posts:
clary · 16/01/2025 16:03

No need to do an EPQ. It’s a good idea if someone has a passion and can fit it in as it teaches good skills.

But if it steals time from A level study to the detriment of grades that’s not good.

My uni-headed DC didn’t do it and between them got offers from Warwick, Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham, Newcastle and Loughborough so no worries op.

Was there something she especially wanted to do? She can still do the research ad talk about it on her PS.

Original poster
Flyhigher · 16/01/2025 16:03

HaroldMeaker · 16/01/2025 16:00

Ds did actually do an EPQ but he found it a complete pain in the arse and wished he hadn't bothered in the end. He managed an A but none of the RG's that he applied to gave him a lower grade requirement for it. He was able to use it well in his ps but that was all.

Brillant. What subjects was he applying for?

OP posts:
FiveTreeHill · 16/01/2025 16:03

Unless things have changed in the last few years EPQ is utterly pointless in terms of applying for uni

clary · 16/01/2025 16:04

Flyhigher · 16/01/2025 16:02

Thanks.
Need more good news stories on successful non epq applications!

It’s fine honestly. She’s probs made her A level journey less stressful.

22nws · 16/01/2025 16:04

My ds is at a great uni, no EPQ.

My younger one isn't doing an EPQ either.

WoahThreeAces · 16/01/2025 16:06

FiveTreeHill · 16/01/2025 16:03

Unless things have changed in the last few years EPQ is utterly pointless in terms of applying for uni

Not entirely true, my son's offer was lower if he did well in his EPQ. But obviously he would have got an offer without an EPQ too, just would have needed slightly higher grades.

That said, he is the only one of his friends to do an EPQ and they all went to uni!

littlemissprosseco · 16/01/2025 16:08

Non of mine did epq, school did offer it!
All got into Russel group unis. She could look at things like olypiads and MOOCs to show her passion for her subjects. Work experience. EPQs can be a real pain, I wouldn’t worry. Her actual grades are more important

Original poster
Flyhigher · 16/01/2025 16:30

Thanks am calming down a bit.
Saw this as a way to help pressure off getting 3 A's at A level.
Btw on ucas when it says tariff not accepted.
Does that mean they don't accept EPQ?

OP posts:
Arseynal · 16/01/2025 16:39

Eldest did one and got one reduced offer out if 5 applications. It wasn’t included at all in other offers. It also took up a couple of lines on his personal statement - can be a good or a bad thing. My personal thoughts are its absolute guff. Ds said the marks were mostly for filling out a log of what you did. He did get an A* but didn’t really enjoy it or learn anything but neither did he spend much time on it. He doesn’t include it on his cv as an adult. Non of my younger dc have done it or plan to.

clary · 16/01/2025 17:00

Flyhigher · 16/01/2025 16:30

Thanks am calming down a bit.
Saw this as a way to help pressure off getting 3 A's at A level.
Btw on ucas when it says tariff not accepted.
Does that mean they don't accept EPQ?

It means I think that the uni does not accept UCAS points? Some unis want a certain number of points made up in any way - others want AAA or whatever and Astar AB won’t do. Which unis say tariff not accrpted?

EPQ will lower the grade at some unis if you get an A star in it. IMHO the game is not worth the candle for that small win.

lifeturnsonadime · 16/01/2025 17:02

Son didn't do an EPQ he decided to focus fully on his 3 A Levels instead.

He's now at UCL.

EPQ isn't mandatory. Some universities don't accept them as part of an offer anyway.

Original poster
Flyhigher · 16/01/2025 18:06

@clary Leeds says tariff not accepted.

OP posts:
redskyatnight · 16/01/2025 18:13

OK, so I know you asked for non-EPQ stories, but hopefully mine also counts ..

DD did do an EPQ but found it incredibly stressful, it took time away from her A Levels and having it reduced the "wrong" universities by a grade meaning her UCAS choice was incredibly difficult.

lifeturnsonadime · 16/01/2025 18:13

Flyhigher · 16/01/2025 18:06

@clary Leeds says tariff not accepted.

If tariff isn't accepted then they are looking at grade based offers.

I don't think you can change it now but if you want confirmation contact their admissions team.

Original poster
Flyhigher · 16/01/2025 18:14

redskyatnight · 16/01/2025 18:13

OK, so I know you asked for non-EPQ stories, but hopefully mine also counts ..

DD did do an EPQ but found it incredibly stressful, it took time away from her A Levels and having it reduced the "wrong" universities by a grade meaning her UCAS choice was incredibly difficult.

Thanks. That does help.

OP posts:
clary · 16/01/2025 18:26

Yeah Leeds won’t accept UCAS points, so they require specific grades, whatever it might be - DS had AAB from Leeds for axSTEM course - so AstarBB would not have done. Or maybe not. UCAS points can also include things like music grades. They are most commonly accepted at less popular unis like NTU, UWE etc.

Please don’t worry about not doing an EPQ at all @Flyhigher it will not be an issue.

wizzler · 16/01/2025 19:03

Dd decided not to do Epq. She's applying for chemistry and has received 5 offers from RG unis

chickenpieandchips · 16/01/2025 19:11

My DS didn't even consider EPQ. Has offers from Russell groups. But also there are non Russell groups unis (and even RG) that are still great and offer lower. DS has an offer from Lancaster (top 15ish) AAB and ABB if he firms as a first choice.
Think it might lower one grade? But seems an awful lot of extra stress.

Beamur · 16/01/2025 22:35

DD is just finishing hers. She's really enjoying doing it and learnt some really useful skills around research and references especially.
At least one if not 2 of her Uni offers (RG) have offered a grade less on their offer for a B or higher in the EPQ.
It's not essential and only makes a modest change to an offer, but if there's something you're really interested in it can be a good experience.

JamNittyGritty · 16/01/2025 22:42

Dd isn’t doing an EPQ & has offers from Oxford & 3 Russell group unis

TheaBrandt · 16/01/2025 22:47

Definitely a nice to have certainly not essential though. Dd dropped a grade and still got into her very competitive first choice we think her top mark EPQ may have helped but who knows.