2025 A Level Results Day and Sept Uni Starters - All Welcome

[SlightlyJaded]

I couldn't see board specifically dedicated to results day for our DC who have sat A levels this spring. And I know some of us STILL have questions about Uni starters.

DS has Liverpool as his first choice and Notts Trent as his insurance - both to study History. Anyone who recognises me from previous boards might remember the hell we went through with DD a couple of years ago, so DS has applied quite a lot of caution to his choices - perhaps too much, perhaps not enough. Neither of us have any idea what to expect with his results. He has genuinely fluctuated between a D and an A in some of his mocks....

I still haven't done anything about accommodation which is one of the reasons I am starting this thread.

But mostly, it's for nail biting, relief, tears, support, advice and all the other things needed to get us through the next few weeks.

Welcome :)

Anyone's YP going to anywhere in London?

Ds is. Rose Bruford, which is Sidcup. It's not central London, but does still get the London weighting for the loan.

Congratulations on the Rose Bruford offer! I applied there years ago and didn’t make the full day of auditions.

That sounds exciting!

That’s great re EPQ. I’m sure that reduces the stress slightly. What does she want to do at Leeds?

That’s great re EPQ. I’m sure that reduces the stress slightly. What does she want to do at Leeds?

Checking in, DS waiting for A Level results to pursue a creative subject at University of Creative Arts in Farnham as firm (BBC) or Bath Spa insurance (BCC). He has ASD, and I’ve got no idea on how he’ll have done - he was predicted BBC, but I just don’t know. Also don’t know how he’ll cope at Uni, but he’s keen to go, and I’m keen to support that. But he’s barely left his room this summer without a LOT of persuasion, so a little concerned about motivating himself at Uni. Anyway, we’ll see what happens. Been through it all 2 years ago with DD, but her path is much more academic, she’s not ND, and is a real self-starter, so not quite the same concerns!

Waiting for results here too. Maths at Warwick if all’s gone ok. Starting to feel a bit anxious. Not sure how DD will cope if she misses her offer. I remember your thread from two years ago @SlightlyJaded. That must have been a v tough day. I think I’ll book the day off work in case needed.

Signing up to the thread as well. DD needs Astar AA for chemistry at Durham and based on her comments after the exams I’m not sure she’ll get that. I’m hoping that the fact that Durham have Chemistry in clearing (albeit at the same grades) is a hopeful sign that if she doesn’t get her star they may still offer. Birmingham is insurance and she should get the grades for that. If she doesn’t she has no clue where uk go. She mutters about retakes but I’m pretending not to hear! Accom wise her Durham college allocated to her is very much not what she wants, but Birmingham will be v different too.

Joining... nailbiting stuff

DD1 has firmed Swansea (for Nursing). Loved the course and campus, and the fact that Wales pay fees for healthcare helped too. Her insurance is Nottingham, which seems to surprise everyone, but she gets a contextual for English unis and not Welsh ones so her main is BBB and her insurance BBC.

She's currently very worried about Biology, where she is obsessing about one bad paper.

I also have a foster daughter from Ukraine, who has firmed Sheffield for languages and insured Manchester. So I've got twice the likelihood of both joy and stress on the day. She also gets contextuals though Sheffield were really unhelpful on her fee status when we had to get an extension for her visa under the Ukraine scheme - like pretty much every ukrainian student who came over at the start of the war.

Student Finance still arguing the toss over how much her loan will be. Stressful, given I'm not her mum and her mum and dad don't speak any english.

Oh yay! I have been looking for a support thread! DD has firmed Lancaster and accom is booked and deposit paid. Second choice is York but the same grades so no real back up.
Just hate the waiting before you can get on and plan, plus DD is anxious about results so feels like a weird limbo we are in.
I went to Liverpool many moons agon and DH went to Lancaster both really enjoyed.

@Becs258 What accommodation did your DS go for. We are looking now.... NTU is DS insurance but he bloody loved it. (He would be city campus)

DS can't decide if seeing his subject in clearing already at his first choice (Liverpool) is a good thing or a bad thing. On one hand it suggests they might be more flexible with grade boundaries, on the other hand, it might mean they fill up spaces with people who have grades in hand, so are able to be more 'fussy' on results day.

I said it two years ago, and I will say it again - there HAS to be a better way than this. Applying with grades in hand (without the gap year) would surely be better?!

Waiting on exam results here too, but for thr Irish leaving cert which are out on 22 Aug. Dd wants to go to the UK so I'm praying for good results as clearing will have been running for a week by the time we'll know if she needs it, who knows what will be left.
DD keeps dreaming she's done poorly, which is giving me the fear!

Just warning you, if he gets into Bath as insurance, accommodation is a genuine nightmare. DD missed her firm offer last year, accepted her insurance offer at Bath, and we thought that was it. Nope- we spent the next month stressed out of our minds not sure if she was having to take a gap year or not because they couldn’t confirm if she had accomodation until the week before she was due to move in. The communication was an utter disgrace. Luckily, she got some, had a fab year and can’t wait to go back in September, but I think last August/September took years off my life 😅 Like you, we assumed if we needed to we would book Bath accomodation on results day but they don’t even allow you to until about a week later, even then there is very limited options available (no en suite on campus at all) and then you join the waiting list 😬

Joining too. I shouldn’t be stressed as I have been through this before but I am. DS has heart set on Sheffield but HIGH grades required.

I have got 2 waiting My DD is resitting 2 as she missed the grades last year. She’s got a firm for the original course and an unconditional for a related course so she knows she’s going somewhere
My DS has got 4 offers in four different subjects in 4 different cities, firmed and insured reluctantly on deadline day and won’t discuss further! I think he is really hankering after Oxford as he was rejected post interview this time. He seems wildly confident he is getting A stars but is also autistic so just going to have to wait and see what evolves !

Deposit paid? <gulps>

Anyone from Bath - is this the same for you? DS applied for accommodation at the end of May and he hasn’t said anything further about it.

I said it two years ago, and I will say it again - there HAS to be a better way than this. Applying with grades in hand (without the gap year) would surely be better?!

I agree.

Apparently only 16% get predicted grades - other research figures suggest 21% get predicted grades or higher.

We were lucky with DD1 - she missed the grades wanted but they took her anyway. She doing really well - so worked out.

Not sure what will happen with DS - his grades are expected to be higher - but who knows what will happen. He's first offer is Sheffield and he's booked accomodation but that was hard enough so didn't push with Liverpool his second choice.

I've given him same advice as DD1 - look at UCAS site first so we know where we are. All the universities he applied to for his subject are in clearing - some with lower grades some with N/A - so assume that a place holder for them.

DH - in HE - say it maybe down to department quotas - he says every year in his last Uni his filled courses got extra added as faculty was below required student numbers - it annoyed him as they didn't offer more resouces. He's not a huge fan of clearing TBH but with funding potentially changing in Wales next year after elections it's something DS will consider if neccesary.

One Uni he applied to didn't offer the undergraduate course he applied to but a foundation year at much much lower grades than predicted. He went with other higher offers. They are in clearing one grade lower than orginal requirments and have written to him - he's away so don't know why.

We haven't paid anything yet for DS or so far as I'm aware been asked to.

We paid for DD1 - I think at start of Sepetember so after results but not that long after - it was before she got any grant/loan money - luckily we had savings to cover it.

I do know Bath accommodation can be an issue - one of DD1 friend is there and they had to start looking for year 2 accomodation very soon in first year. It prompted DD1 to look earlier than orginally planned though her city has not got the same problems.

I agree there should be a better way to deal with the process.

DC's firm and insurance have very different term dates so no clue when help with moving in may be needed.

No idea what the deal is with accommodation for the insurance choice.

My son is waiting on results for Medicine at Bristol (firm) or Sheffield (insurance). Worst part is that he will be on a 6 day wilderness hike thru the Canadian Rocky mountains (with Air Cadets) when the results come out so he's leaving it all to me! And even when he returns to civilisation, theres a 7 hour time difference. Picking up his results, accommodation at Sheffield, clearing (if needs be), freshers events will all be down to me. Apparently I also need to check the grade boundaries and arrange re-marking if necessary! He is pretty chilled (and excited about his trip) but I am stressed out of my mind!!! 😱

I was surprised to have to pay a deposit at Lancaster but I think it's refundable if things don't got to plan. DD is really keen on Lancaster so we hope if results aren't what she hopes we can try through clearing.
She also did an EPQ which has helped reduce her offer grades slightly.

Another one here hoping for Lancaster. We've also paid a deposit for the accommodation and DD has been allocated a college. If they don't make the grades they do get the deposit back.

Having seen friends struggle last year at other Unis because accommodation couldn't be booked until after results day, I'm really glad that we could sort it early!

Haven't even thought about accommodation at DD's insurance but I think they guarantee it for all first years not just those who've firmed them.

Checking in, DS1 was v stressed during exams so don’t know if he will make his grades.