A level results day 2021 support thread

[Mrs08]

Hi 👋
I thought it might be nice to have a support thread for us parents? (Can't see one in further Ed yet??)
It's been such a difficult time for our kids - and for us! - but the end is in sight!
Ds will get an e mail at 8.30am (apparently) and can go into college in person if he needs help/advice.
Good luck everyone!
X

@whatisthisinhere I'm sorry to hear that My DS has had a terrible two years as well. It so hard to bear.

Here's wishing good results all round, they deserve the break

Thanks to whoever posted the clearing videos - very helpful. DS is now prepared (he tells me) as he will be overseas on hols when results come in (on his own with GF). He's taking his laptop so is ready to action clearing if needed. TBH I'm not particularly happy with that arrangement but he's an adult and what can I do ? Nerve wracking.

Glad to have found this thread - I'd like to join too. I have twins getting their results on Tuesday, both needing AAA.

I'm not too worried about DT1 but there's a pretty strong chance DT2 might get a B in chemistry. He's doing a humanities subject at university so it wasn't the most obvious A level choice and he's struggled with it. Typically it's been the most chaotic department in a chaotic school, with hardly any online teaching in either lockdown, then 14 assessments (!), and no hints about relative weightings of all the tests, previous work etc. So we just don't have a clue and DT2 didn't know if he was coming or going by the end of it all.

I'm definitely thinking about results more than they are. DT2 has promised to look at UCAS and find out what he needs to do if things don't go according to plan, but he's mainly been watching sport. His firm uni has had clearing places in his subject so we're hoping that's a positive sign there might be some flexibility.

Hope DT1 isn't overconfident as his uni has just said it won't be going into clearing at all, which is v unusual for them (not Oxbridge, Durham etc). Worried that they might be oversubscribed and that might have implications for accommodation and so on.

Never expected their Year 13 to be so stressful and the grade inflation headlines are definitely not helping.

My son needs BBB for his offer for 2022z Based in the grades he’s had and the exam percentages the school have sent us He and I think he’s going to get CDD.
I am unsure what to do on Tuesday apart from wait to see the inevitable reject from his offer Uni appear on track .
He’s had such an awful 2 years - he’s trying very hard to be brave for me - despite all my “ it will work out for the best “.
Does he just re-apply for 2022 or does clearing work for those who want to defer ?
Not been through this myself so no past experiences to help him . Thanks

@Charlieandlola

My son needs BBB for his offer for 2022z Based in the grades he’s had and the exam percentages the school have sent us He and I think he’s going to get CDD. I am unsure what to do on Tuesday apart from wait to see the inevitable reject from his offer Uni appear on track . He’s had such an awful 2 years - he’s trying very hard to be brave for me - despite all my “ it will work out for the best “. Does he just re-apply for 2022 or does clearing work for those who want to defer ? Not been through this myself so no past experiences to help him . Thanks

I am no expert but I'd say no deferring and clearing straight away

That is what my friends dcs did last year

Youngest lad has to go to school for his results on Tues - he also gets the results of his step exams, cos he applied to Cambridge, and his insurance is Bath. He did 4 A levels ( why? 🙄🤔) and is going to do maths. When I asked how he was feeling about it all, he got that 'rabbit caught in headlights' look, and said " okay, I guess ? 🙄". I'll be taking the day off work that day...

I’m a self employed sports coach so have booked no work in Tuesday

50% of my job is racket stringing and 4 rackets came in yesterday so that will keep me busy tomorrow and my mind off Tuesday

I am expecting dd to do well. She got 100% in four of seven papers for one subject. I am still petrified and if she randomly hasn't done as well as she hopes I have no idea what state she's going to be in.

Its so unlike a normal exam year.

Add to that the DfE who seem to enjoy torturing kids/teachers/parents eorh their last minute pronouncements and u turns its a very stressful time.

Ds very quiet. We are off out today so that'll kill a few hours.

Physics here ( integrated masters so might be 5 years)
I’m going to have to work for longer to fund it , he is my youngest of 3.
So twitchy haven’t even started having empty nest thoughts

Ds2 said to me today, oh, two days till results, which is the first time he has mentioned it. He is a bit of a closed book so it's hard to know what to say.

He has a (very wet!) sports fixture today so that may help take his mind off

[quote Oldowl]A useful video student video all about Clearing (how it works and advice).

[/quote] Thank you for this. Very helpful and some useful info in the comments such as:

Universities Not in Clearing (Aug 2021)

Bath - We don't expect to have any vacancies
Cambridge: No adjustment or clearing spaces. They do run a special adjustment scheme for rejected applicants meeting certain criteria, but you will have been contacted about this if eligible.
LSE: "We do not envisage being in adjustment or clearing this year."
Imperial: No clear statement as yet. Suggested wording that they won't be advertising Clearing vacancies.
Oxford: Does not participate in clearing, extra, or adjustment.
UCL: No statement yet - occasionally limited adjustment places.
St Andrews: Doesn't usually have clearing spaces.
Durham: No clearing or adjustment spaces.
Edinburgh: No clearing spaces.
Leeds: No clearing spaces.
KCL: No clearing or adjustment spaces.

Back up plan: have only just convinced daughter to go on to Whatuni and check out what’s in clearing and might be available if she doesn’t get her grades so that she has a thought out back up plan for Tuesday, with all the relevant phone numbers, and isn’t panicked into making decisions. Obvs hoping she won’t need it!
It usefully tells you if you’re “likely” or “very likely” to be accepted for the course through clearing eg Manchester 128 ucas points “likely”.
She’s pleased she’s done it now, as she realises that there are a lot of good courses at good universities still available and the world won’t end if she doesn’t get her first choice!

Ds seems OK
I've not even mentioned clearing to him tbh
I'll deal with that when I need to 🥺

Thank you for the Whatuni tip- just had a peep

Very helpful

The Whatuni site is really helpful. Thank you

Ds's firm isn't on there 😬

Dds firm is, which she won't be happy about but I am happy about

Just checked Whatuni and the UCAS clearing site. DC course was in clearing last week and now isn't. Now really beginning to panic.

@Clearingpanic can see that by your user name

My DS2 ended up in clearing 2 years ago and he’s at a uni that I think in the end was a better fit for them than either of his firm or insurance. Even if your DC doesn’t get results/uni they hoped for, it will be ok. There are many paths and options they can take

DS firm and insurance are both in clearing.
The subject grades stated on UCAS clearing for one uni are higher than those stated on the clearing page of the uni website itself?
I know this means the courses currently have spaces. Have they already factored in a certain % of students who wont be taking up their offer for whatever reason?

I think in ‘normal’ years the universities receive the results the Friday before the students receive them on the following Thursday. So assuming they’ve had them sometime last week I’m guessing the universities know ( or are working through) what conditional offers have been met ( and what near misses they’re going to accept) ready for ucas updates on Tuesday morning and how many spaces potentially they may have on courses 🤷‍♀️

Does anyone know what the difference is between the What Uni and the UCAS Clearing lists? They seem to have different courses showing. Somethings are showing in the WhatUni lists that aren't on the UCAS page. Any idea which is the most up to date or right?

[quote NotSorry]@Clearingpanic can see that by your user name

My DS2 ended up in clearing 2 years ago and he’s at a uni that I think in the end was a better fit for them than either of his firm or insurance. Even if your DC doesn’t get results/uni they hoped for, it will be ok. There are many paths and options they can take [/quote]
That's very true. Even though we had a difficult day on results day two years ago, I am relieved overall that DD ended up where she did (clearing place) - her firm choice would have been too full of high-flyers, I suspect, and also further away. She ended up at a uni that is commutable from home and that's what (for a number of reasons) she will be doing for her final year so it has worked out well.

@Babaloola

I think in ‘normal’ years the universities receive the results the Friday before the students receive them on the following Thursday. So assuming they’ve had them sometime last week I’m guessing the universities know ( or are working through) what conditional offers have been met ( and what near misses they’re going to accept) ready for ucas updates on Tuesday morning and how many spaces potentially they may have on courses 🤷‍♀️

I think this year the Universities received results on the 4th and that’s when the embargo started.

Thanks for your well wishes everyone. DD is a little better today and even managed to have a shower, although she is absolutely wiped out again now.

I've just scared myself by looking at UCAS clearing again and seeing that DD's course is no longer there! They must have removed it/filled all the places since getting the results in as it was still showing in clearing last week. She is hoping to do Modern History & Politics at Cardiff but if it's not in clearing anymore I guess that means less or no leeway for missed offer grades.

Oh well, what will be will be... with her current health issues it may be that she needs to wait a year anyway, but I so want her to get her grades/firm offer, it would be just the boost she needs right now.