Rejected from all five choices

[Rolla23]

So I’ve no experience of further education and totally unsure how it works. My DD is at college and has applied through UCAS to university. She didn’t know her predicted grades before she applied so applied to 5 universities. She found out today that she has only been awarded a pass grade ( as a predicated grade) so this means she hasn’t been accepted to any of her chosen unis. They aren’t big posh ones I don’t think they are just normal ex poly type ones.
she has said no one gets rejected from all 5 choices.
Obviously her actual grade would possibly be different.
Do people get rejected from all five? If she does only get 75 ucas points can she still go to uni?
she said her chosen uni take people on a first come first served type offer so even if she passes now with a higher grade she won’t get in? Is this true?
if anyone could help a confused parent that would be amazing!!

I'm assuming she's doing BTech. If so by now, she should have a rough idea what grades she'll be getting. 75 points is pretty low.

I think some parents on here are over involved in their kids lives and the uni threads are a bit mad sometimes but this seems super hands off. Your kid is young, still figuring stuff out and is not an adult who is equipped to make massive decisions on their own but they've apparently been left by their parents and their college to apply for courses they have zero chance of getting onto.

I know a lot of colleges put less support in than 6th forms so maybe they have fucked up but surely parents should have some involvement with the process. Research, open days etc

Your poor DD. I would be taking this up with the college who have been worse than useless. It is part of their job spec to advise students and help them with university applications. Did they not have a parents evening to explain how it all worked? Did you go to any open days?

Students need to know their predicted grades so that they know which universities to apply for. All universities post their grade requirements on their websites so that students don't waste applications by applying to courses that want higher results than they are predicted.

The college's behaviour is shocking. I would definiteky take this further.

It is not on that the tutor shouted at your DD. It sounds like the tutor was the one who messed up.

You have had some good advice on here already.

Hi all. Thank you for all the advise.
So she has had problems with the tutor. That is another story but probably hasn’t helped this.
she absolutely did not know her predicted grade, the tutor only went through her personal statement two days before it was submitted. The tutor told her that she wasn’t worried as she’d get accepted to one. The tutor is an ‘ industry professional ‘ and I am wondering maybe she isn’t very clued up.
i am going to email the principle and try and arrange a meeting to find out what’s gone wrong but also what she can do to bring her grade up. She has a final piece that gets submitted and that would be her final grade.
so as above I think it’s best focusing on that for now.
She has been very proactive and has done two internships already and has one coming up and is going to Paris fashion week with a brand so she’s got that to look forward too.
She also works for a company that has influencers and she does content on their social pages so worst case she can do that for a year and work on her CV.

The fashion marketing courses are really competitive. They often read Personal Statement carefully and request portfolios .

The Nottingham you refer to must be NTU?

It doesn't sound much like she did much research herself... try to encourage her to be more proactive.

and I am wondering maybe she isn’t very clued up.

@Rolla23 There is no "maybe" about it. She is as useless as a chocolate teapot. She clearly hasn't a clue.

Why doesn't the college have a dedicated UCAS advisor?
What open days did your DD go to?
Was there a UCAS parents evening?

You can't apply to any university unless you know your predicted grades because you wouldn't know which ones to apply to.

I am shocked and disappointed at the lack of support your DD has had, and I would absolutely complain about the tutor to the principal. I would be spitting feathers over this debacle.

At DD's school 6th form the assistant principal was in charge of all UCAS applications. The students worked on their personal statements at the end of year 12. They wre invited to a UCAS fair in the next city which was held in the June of year 12. We had a UCAS parents evening (I can't remember when). Basically the school were keen to support university applications because it made them look good to get as many students into RG universities as possible

Her parents have some responsibility here too, not just the college. It's a bit late now to start querying why she hasn't got any offers.

I think she should consider whether university is the right choice for her at all. Someone who is predicted to get the lowest grades at A level would struggle at university IMO.

Just to say I studying fashion marketing and MMU and it was brutal!! I was bullied and the kids were mainly from VERY wealthy backgrounds (mainly boarding schools).

I did work in fashion for my 20s but quit due to how horrible the industry is. I was called fab, common, crass just to name a few 😂. Unless she is extremely passionate, I would recommend an internship to see if she likes it or work her way up in retain or something similar for now.

I honestly wouldn't recommend it.

That's obviously meant to say fat and not fab however I will now call myself fab 😂

@lavenderphase I didn't have a clue where to start when it came to university applications. I never went, and DH went to university in 1970 and wouldn't have known either. The guidance from the school was invaluable, as was the experience of other parents.

I get that but clearly the OP hasn't done their research either. They could have read up about courses and entry requirements, helped book open days to learn about the universities, done UCAS parent events. There's lots of ways parents can learn about how to support their child. You can't just hand all responsibility over to the college.

Is there a possibility of a L3 apprenticeship and any if the places she did internships? It would be repeating L3 but it may be easier yo get a degree apprenticeship from there. I don't know much about the fashion industry, although I think the foundation year course is the same as the one my DS was considering in games art and design, just a separate branch.

Fashion marketing? Can she get an apprenticeship/internship instead and go from there?

Best typo of the week.
You are fab for that alone!

OP you and DD need to think very carefully whether University is the best next step right now.

Not to keep banging on but honestly the industry is brutal. I had to work 7 days a week for over a year when I graduated so I could be an intern and then work the other days to pay my rent.

There will be plenty of people who can afford to work unpaid and live in London, Paris and NYC for free and that's what she will be competing with.

Also the drug culture is still very much a thing and I was the only one not on coke....I would highly try and discourage your daughter, especially with how expensive the fees are now!

Foundation Diploma in Art year is funded if under 19

😂 thanks @Lifeinlists my angry fingers were working at lightening speed

Unfortunately, in most creative/marketing jobs, apprenticeships are very very rare. There are so many degree courses in those areas now that many companies prefer to recruit graduates rather than train their own. Supply and demand.

I really believe in learning on the job. It's what I did (after a BA degree). I'm very successful in my field but don't hold formal qualifications in it. Perhaps just lucky.

I hope she gets sorted OP and finds her career path.

Op
Apologies if I missed a post, but your daughter is spinning you a line.

I have experience with many colleges, and I’ve never come across one where students weren’t aware of predicted grades.

The grade requirements are very clearly marked on ucas and university course pages.
There is guidance all over UCAS on how to choose courses.
There are parent guides as well.
Open days discuss grade requirements.
Her story doesn’t ring true.
Are you really saying that after a year of receiving average grades, her final grade would be enough to get to those universities?
I work in a college and see this all the time. Student knows they aren’t doing well, but can’t face the reality and applies for top unis. Then when they start being declined, they start blaming staff.

It’s ok if you and your daughter couldn’t be bothered to access all the resources available online to see how the system works, but don’t blame others.

Don’t get disheartened. IF she gets 5 rejections then probably the best strategy is go all out to get the best grades she can - prove she can exceed expectations maybe.

then apply next year , grades in hand knowing she can tailor applications for a win.

plan a good gap year either positively earning and saving - remember time in any employment will put her head and shoulders above other students when applying for any jobs either whilst at uni or after ….. or go travel and have a cracking time !

this is not a “ disaster “ it’s a change of path with many positives.

the talk of changing to applications with grades in hand has come and gone over years

To my knowledge, Nottingham and Leeds are two of the highest ranking universities in the country, it’s not surprising they wouldn’t take someone with super low/no grades.

I mean this kindly but are you sure university is the right path for your DD if she’s getting low grades, she would only struggle?

As a PP has said, Nottingham doesn't offer Fashion Marketing, so that would be Nottingham Trent. Both Leeds and Leeds Beckett do, though.

There is a difference between an Art Foundation course and degrees with Foundation Years. The former is free and usually available via local Further Education Colleges but the latter has fees as part of a uni, especially if you live away from home.