A level results day ( part 2)

[Twiglets1]

A thread to carry on discussing A level results and Uni applications as the previous one got full 😀

My DD had a gap year. She made some very useful savings working for Costa and its been really helpful applying for summer jobs being able to point to work experience.

@Twiglets1 gives great advice above - she will get into a decent uni with those grades as its unlikely things are going to change radically before next year - and can make a decision about resits once she's processed things a bit.

Just got the contract through for DS's accommodation. First instalment is due 19.09 so 4 days after the start of his course. Will his loan have arrived by then or is it an unknown?

The maintenance loan normally comes through a few days after the student has fully enrolled on the course. This could be a little while after the first instalment is due, but that won’t be a big issue if it happens because the uni accommodation staff are used to the system.

Your son could just delay paying for his accommodation until his maintenance loan comes through as there shouldn’t be a long wait. He could email the accommodation office and explain that he is waiting for his student loan, if it doesn’t come in time. In most cases they students will already be living in the accommodation by the date the first instalment is due & the accommodation office have zero interest in evicting any of their freshers or upsetting them just because their loan hasn’t come through in time.

My DD just got her remark back and went up a grade in biology. Which is amazing but annoying as if she had this on Thursday she would have had more options.

Congratulations to your daughter @halloween67 . I can very much understand the mixed feelings.

That was quick @halloween67! Glad it was good news for her but definitely frustrating for it to not have been there on the day.

I think I might be needing some moral support in the next few weeks. DD is off to uni and I am going to miss her so much. Three weeks today we will have dropped her off.

Definitely frustrating but great news anyway.

Southampton has Biology and Marine Biology still available and Lancaster has Biology with Psychology. Either of those of interest?

Yikes @NoNameisGoodEnough it's 4 weeks here and that's too soon for me

@halloween67 that’s absolutely fabulous and bloody frustrating in equal measure. And just goes to show what a ridiculous system we have when it comes to A Level grading. Had a different examiner marked the biology paper with the correct grade in the first place you’d have been in a totally different position on results day.

Having said that, there are still lots of great courses in clearing, so if she’s not happy with her current university it might be worth your DD making some calls on Monday, even if the ‘advertised’ clearing grades are higher than hers. After the initial clearing frenzy of Thursday and Friday things should be a bit calmer next week, but universities will still want those places filled - she could even be in with a better chance of a place than if she’d had her ‘correct’ grades last week.

That’s good news anyway but yes frustrating you had to fight to get the correct grade.

@halloween67 I haven't seen your earlier posts, but assume your DD missed her firm (and maybe insurance) places.
Have you tried calling them up with the remarked grade?

halloween67 wrote: 'My daughter was predicted AAB and was consistent with the marks in mocks etc. She got BCD. Her firm wouldn’t take her, she doesn’t want her insurance as since applying doesn’t want a campus.

She is stuffed as no one will take her as she wants bio related and she got a C in biology and everyone wants a B. She can’t get anyone to offer her in a city.

She was 2 marks of a B so asked for priority remark and also for the D subject.'

So she now has BBD which is great news and certainly gives her more options. What was the result of the priority remark of the D? @halloween67

We haven’t had that back yet. Just scrambling now to see what uni’s are left that will take her. She really wanted booked but not much left now and to be honest the ones that are weren’t on her list. So it’s doing research about the uni etc. she really wanted a city.

Do you mind saying which uni she Firmed? I’m only asking because that would help get an idea of what sort of city appeals most so we can suggest alternatives in Clearing.

Sorry meant to say biomedical.

She firmed Glasgow to study Immunology.

Her friend dropped 2 grades and still got into Oxford, I suppose all depends on the course and demand at the time.

Yes absolutely it does.

Does she really want to study in Scotland or any big city?

Just a big city if possible, doesnt want a campus.just is really into immunology so that why she chose Glasgow. We live hours away from Scotland, so doesnt want Scotland now.Wants biomedicine ideally, it’s just hard.

Queen Mary University of London are asking for BBB at the moment, but could be worth her filling out their clearing form if London is of interest as clearing grade requirements can change and she has the all important B in Biology now (& a remark being done).

Sussex wants BCD for Biomedical with the B in Biology. It’s a campus uni and a small city but it is a very vibrant city with lots of pubs, clubs, shops etc. Quite quirky and full of independent places. My daughter applied there & she was a party animal at the time.

Honestly, the vibe I'm getting here is that she's not really liking the options open to her and the understandable disappointment is maybe not helping there.

Gap year seems like a good idea. She won't have a problem getting somewhere decent with the existing grades - and it will feel better for being a positive choice rather than a scramble - and if a resit/s does give her better grades -all to the good.

Mental health wise a gap year would not suit her at all. Called places today and it’s the D that is the issue now. I am trying and she knows she won’t get what she wants do has to compromise.

How about Queens in Belfast @halloween67 ? Its a city campus, cheaper living costs and has a solid biochem and immunology research arm. It RG but always less popular due to Belfast legacy. Its a beautiful campus and a lovely city though.

Thank you so much, yes they are on her list to call tomorrow. It just depends if they take the D grade in physics. Thanks

Their England/Wales/Scotland clearning pages says they'll take BBD for Biochem and Biosciences. Non NI and ROI applicants pay the full £9k fees and not the NI reduced fee, so they seem little more flexible to lure people in!

Thank you so much