Clearing choices for Maths

[peanutcookie]

DS1 has decided that he doesn't want to do Economics anymore and wants to do Maths instead so we will have to join the Clearing fray. Never done this before as my other 2 got their first choice. We are expecting great results from him (unless something went terribly wrong) and he wants a Russell Group uni. I've just had a quick look online and some places did have some clearing courses listed but not the ones he is particularly interested in. I know some never go into clearing eg LSE/UCL but do universities always list beforehand or is it a case of checking on the day? Eg KCL doesn't have anything in clearing at mo but I know from talking to his Maths teacher that there have been courses in the past. Any suggestions/advice would be appreciated. We are going to be ready with our phones and laptops to each start calling around but what else would be helpful to do in advance/on the day?

Many require entrance tests. Did your Ds do TMUA or anything? It’s worth looking at all entrance requirements. Last year Liverpool and Birmingham were in clearing for maths, if that helps

Also Nottingham, and Exeter. My ds is doing maths at Warwick, and these were the places we looked up just in case. Liverpool doesn’t require entrance tests and is a great uni.

I think only Cambridge, Oxford, Warwick and Imperial require additional entrance tests such as TMUA and STEP to be eligible for offers. However, these unis and others such as Durham and U of Bath are unlikely to have places in clearing.

The tiers further down (from a mathematical perspective) such as U of Nottingham, Lancaster, Exeter, U of Southampton have often, in the past, had places in clearing - though often for 'Maths only' and not for 'Maths &' or 'Maths with' courses. Clearing offers at this level have often been ACC, with the A in Maths.

If your son has firmed and insured Econ courses for certain unis, has he approached them about switching. It may be too late now and, yes, the full range of clearing courses only become available on results day. If he is able to do so, he should perhaps visit the locations he had in mind so that he is not applying entirely blind.

Is he sure he wants to switch from Econ? Many Econ courses allow for the selecting of maths-heavy modules, albeit with a bias to stats. A switch to Maths means much more exposure to pure maths. Did he sit Further Maths and did he particularly enjoy the Further Maths pure components?

Has he done FM?

I have just been looking at clearing for maths, just in case DS doesn't make his offers.

I was interested to see that the universities were listing UCAS points rather than grades as their requirements. I think that the discussions on here last year were about grades rather than points, that is an interesting change if so. There didn't seem to be mention of maths or further maths required to a specific level.

It looks as though there are some quite decent universities offering maths courses, but not Imperial/ Cambridge/Oxford? Warwick.

For example, Manchester, Southampton, Queen Mary London, points 144 or lower.

OP, if your son has a place a a Russell Group University for a competitive subject, it might well be asking whether they would allow him to switch. Of course, they may say no, but there is no harm in asking.

A schoolfriend was allowed to change from Law to English at Oxford (many years ago) for example.

If the university in question asks for maths entrance papers etc, then it may be more complicated, but it is worth exploring.

Call the unis now re changing over to Maths and you can change it on UCAS straightaway if they agree.

He will need to have done TMUA

Is reapplying next year an option? It would be a shame if he ended up going to a uni he would never have chosen because he had to go through clearing.

NB only a small number of universities require TMUA or similar. Most Russell Group universities don't require this for maths.

Hi, OP -

I am a former RG STEM admissions tutor and DH is an emeritus Maths professor, also RG.

Firstly, very few unis require admissions tests. However that list is slowly growing. I cannot recall a School using such a test going into Clearing, and I am not just thinking of Maths. This worry is likely to be a red herring.

The suggestions you’ve been given above are for the most part excellent. Amongst them, Lancaster and Birmingham have really come on in recent years. Lancaster is now a UK Top 10 in research and has put a lot into Teaching and Learning recently. Birmingham has always had quiet strengths, partly complementing its outstanding Computer Science, so it is nice that recognition is now coming.

I don’t think there is a bad one in the lot, though I don’t think of STEM as one of Exeter’s particular strengths. The others defo have solid maths.

Does DS have FM? If not, I hope he will give some thought to choosing a programme where the majority also have not had it. When a significant majority have had FM, the Teaching and Learning style inevitably accommodates them. Those without FM lose out - in theory they get all the background they need, but it takes a combination of very high ability, very high confidence, and a lot of work to process it all properly. We get many posts on the FE boards from Maths and STEM alumnae who never found their feet because of this.

If FM is not a barrier, I agree with everyone who says it is worth attempting an internal transfer at the current uni, which would prefer to retain DS’ tuition fees (assuming this is desirable). When I was an admissions tutor we made these trades frequently. Economics is so competitive that unless there is an admissions test for Maths that DS lacks (or FM is a barrier) or policy is very rigid, I would expect chances to be high that he satisfies the Maths admissions requirements.

If this is not feasible or does not appeal, then it would be great if DS could visit a few places if he has not already done so. This could do a lot to inform his choices.

Best wishes to him