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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

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Original poster

University application didn't arrive! Anything we can do?

53 replies

peaceanddove · 02/01/2022 11:07

DD2 applied to the LSE at the start of November to study Economics. It's her first choice. She's heard nothing from them since, though she has now received offers from all her other choices.

She's just noticed on the LSE website that she should have received an automated email acknowledging her application as soon as they got it. Then a further email saying her application had been downloaded by LSE and was being considered. She should also have been given a log in to their online portal. She's had nothing.

She's contacted LSE but no reply yet. She's heartbroken now, panicking that there was some sort of glitch at LSE and her application never got there. She's in tears.

Does anyone know if schools receive an official receipt confirmation from the universities they send applications to? I can believe they don't, otherwise they're just blindly sending applications off into the ether!

If her school didn't receive any confirmation from LSE and didn't immediately chase it up then I just don't know what on Earth to do (apart from detonating like a small nuclear bomb in the sixth form office).

OP posts:

Hercisback · 02/01/2022 11:10

This is all sort outable. Firstly calm down, it really isn't the end of the world for anyone. Secondly university applications are for the applicant to sort. Yes schools support with the process and often do more of the admin than they really should, but ultimately dd is responsible for her applications.

Did she apply via UCAS? The fact her other applications arrived is a good sign.

Leafsontheline · 02/01/2022 11:14

Has she checked her junk folders? Automatically sent emails like acknowledgments often end up there, even if from a ‘proper’ source.

If the other universities have responded it’s unlikely that the LSE one didn’t get sent as well. Isn’t it all on one form? So if the school sent the form off, which they must have done if responses have been received from others, then it sounds like they did what they had to do..

Original poster

peaceanddove · 02/01/2022 11:17

Sorry, just been told that both her and her school received official confirmation from UCAS that they'd received all her choices. All her other choices received her application and have since made offers. So, I just don't understand why LSE didn't receive one?

OP posts:

Rummikub · 02/01/2022 11:19

The school send it Ucas
And Ucas send it to unis.
Your dd can check on Ucas what’s happening with her application.
Or call Ucas.

Also agree about checking junk emails.

Ovenaffray · 02/01/2022 11:19

If her application has been downloaded that means they got it.

They just haven’t offered her or declined her yet.

Be patient.

Original poster

peaceanddove · 02/01/2022 11:20

Thank you. I have told her to check all her junk folders. She applied via UCAS so it makes no sense that all her other choices received her application correctly, but not the LSE?

OP posts:

LIZS · 02/01/2022 11:22

Don't panic. It is quite common not to receive acknowledgements or immediate offers. Some popular unis and courses wait until after the deadline to review them, even up to Easter. They may even invite to applicant days and interviews first.

Original poster

peaceanddove · 02/01/2022 11:23

@Ovenaffray

If her application has been downloaded that means they got it.

They just haven’t offered her or declined her yet.

Be patient.

She hasn't heard anything at all from LSE, at all. Apparently she should have been receiving automated messages telling her that her application had been downloaded, was being considered etc. But she's never received a single thing. And she applied on Nov. 1st.

OP posts:

Ovenaffray · 02/01/2022 11:23

www.ucas.com/ucas/events/find/scheme/undergraduate/type/key-date

That’s the key deadlines for this year.

Applications aren’t even closed yet, and the unis have until May to make decisions.

ShinyHatStand · 02/01/2022 11:24

Many unis are processing applications and making making offers later this year due to increased uncertainty this year about student numbers, assessments etc. Especially unis that over recruited last year.
Don't panic!

Ovenaffray · 02/01/2022 11:24

downloaded by LSE and was being considered.

She’s had that email. According to you in your first post?

Original poster

peaceanddove · 02/01/2022 11:28

@Ovenaffray

downloaded by LSE and was being considered.

She’s had that email. According to you in your first post?

No, I said she's just seen on their website that she 'should' have received an automated notification saying it had been received/was downloaded etc. But she hasn't.

OP posts:

Ovenaffray · 02/01/2022 11:30

My mistake.

Regardless, applications don’t close for almost two weeks yet. Calm your jets.

Original poster

peaceanddove · 02/01/2022 11:30

@ShinyHatStand

Thank you. That does make sense. Except according to their website they have processed/downloaded all applications received by Dec. 15th, so far. But she's had no acknowledgement that her's had been processed/downloaded - and she hasn't received a log in to their online portal either.

OP posts:

SallyOMalley · 02/01/2022 11:34

I agree - no need to panic yet. Mid/end of the autumn school term and right up to end of Jan is a peak time for receipt of applications through ucas. Also, many universities close over Christmas week, and some have taken two weeks this year. We're not back to work until Tuesday.

We don't involve schools in the applications process (unless we need further info for some reason). Some courses may send out offers pretty much immediately, while others invite to interview first which can delay an offer. When we interviewed in our dept, applications coming in before xmas might not get an offer until Feb, because our two interview days were in late Jan / Early Feb to avoid A level mocks and uni exam periods.

Does your DD's dept of choice have its own admissions team or coordinator? Contacting them might elicit a quicker response than emailing the university's 'central' team.

SallyOMalley · 02/01/2022 11:36

I know this sounds obvious, but have you checked that your DD's email address is correct on the ucas form? You'd be surprised how many bouncebacks we receive because of typos!

MadameMinimes · 02/01/2022 11:46

Universities don’t send confirmation of receipt of applications to schools. Schools send applications to UCAS and can see confirmation that they have been sent to the universities but any “your application has been received” emails go to the applicant and not the school. I’ve never received one. Don’t panic, we aren’t even at the deadline yet, so there is plenty of time to sort it if there has been an issue, but it won’t be an issue at the school’s end. It will be LSE or UCAS. Schools only send an application once. If her other choices got her application then the school have sent it correctly.

Rummikub · 02/01/2022 11:49

Can see status if application on Ucas track

belimoo · 02/01/2022 11:53

If LSE was definitely on the UCAS application and that was received by the other unis then don't worry, it's likely they just haven't processed it yet.

Can your dd log into UCAS Track and check the status?

I'd get your dd to give LSE a call on Tuesday and just check they've got the application ok.

Some university's admissions processes can be quite slow and disorganised at times so it's possible that whatever it says on the website doesn't match with the reality.

Original poster

peaceanddove · 02/01/2022 12:42

Thank you so much. I've managed to calm her down now she knows she has until the 26th to sort it out. She thought because LSE encourage students to apply early that they will just disregard her application if it arrives now. But I really don't think this is the case? Aren't they meant to give equal consideration to all applications received before Jan. 26th.

She is going to contact LSE and UCAS again on Tuesday just to double check what the status of her application is.

OP posts:

SallyOMalley · 02/01/2022 13:36

@peaceanddove

She is going to contact LSE and UCAS again on Tuesday just to double check what the status of her application is.

That's correct. It should really make no difference whether an application arrives at the beginning of the cycle or at the end of January. As long as it's in the system during the period of equal consideration, it will be processed using the same criteria as everyone else's.

SallyOMalley · 02/01/2022 13:39

same criteria as used for* everyone else's

gogohm · 02/01/2022 14:07

It's common for more selective universities to wait until January to process applications, Durham is the worst culprit by far! The application deadline hasn't even passed yet

MehMahMoo · 03/01/2022 08:31

DD’s Uni don’t make any conditional offers until after March (admissions had told us this at the open day) and it was only then that they gave access to the portal. Hopefully they will reply to your dd before too long to let her know what’s happening. But if she can see it there on UCAS Track then that is what matters - is it there? Should say something like ‘awaiting decision’ until the either invite for interview, make an offer or decline. Nail biting when (as was for dd too) it’s your preferred choice you are waiting for. If it’s not there, and she’s only applied to 4, she should be able to add it before the UCAS deadline. Oh and guess what, you can still apply after that date, just that for more competitive courses, offers may have gone out, but even then it is still possible. Good luck to your dd.

CovidCorvid · 03/01/2022 08:34

She can email/ring admissions at LSE and see what’s happening. They’ll probably be open tomorrow.

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