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Higher education

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Original poster

A Level Anxiety

895 replies

Toffee22 · 14/08/2011 22:42

Only 4 more "sleeps" until the A level results come out - not that I will be doing much sleeping...

Eldest son wants to study medicine. 3 "A's" required no slip ups allowed. Have just checked and most medical schools don't accept re-sits. How can I face looking at the cold hard facts at some point on Thursday. I'm sure it will be difficult for my son too! When I tried to talk to him about it today instead of a response he said he would do an "impression of a tree". It wasn't even a very good impression. What does this mean?

OP posts:
ImperialBlether · 16/08/2011 16:02

Just looked it up on UCAS. It's called Adjustment.

To be eligible to use Adjustment:

?your results must have met and exceeded the conditions of your conditional firm (CF) choice; and

?you need to have paid the full application fee (£21 for 2011).

If you have paid the single application fee (£11 for 2011) and want to use Adjustment, you need to pay an additional £10.

You are not eligible to use Adjustment if:

?you are confirmed (UF) at your firm choice but did not exceed the conditions of the offer
?you have a confirmed place on a changed course offer
?your original offer was unconditional.

You cannot adjust your insurance choice.

About time they did this, in my opinion.

ImperialBlether · 16/08/2011 16:03

How long ago was that, Rose? I've only just heard about it now, though most of my students go to the local universities so they probably wouldn't want to swap about.

RoseC · 16/08/2011 16:14

Ah, 2006 - I just gave them a call. However I exceeded the conditions (by far - I got AAC (A2) and AAC (separate subjects, AS) whereas 1st choice wanted UCAS points to value of BCC at A2) and met the conditions of insurance (ABB equivalent).

I think I would still be eligible to use Adjustment if the same thing happened this year, although most people put their highest offer as first choice so I might have come unstuck with that. Certainly I had to call the second choice to stop going there by default once I'd de-registered from the first choice.

Pagwatch · 16/08/2011 16:19

Oooh fellatio. Take a deep bend and unclench girl. or kill him Grin

Ds seems calm but what do I know....

Currysecret · 16/08/2011 16:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

drcrab · 16/08/2011 16:29

if you do remarkably well (better than predicted), then the department will have the leeway to offer you a place especially if they say, have 20 spaces, and are innundated with students with AAB (and you were predicted say BBB). Lots of students go through clearing for various reasons. We had some who had to go through clearing even though he got into a university 'up north' because his parents moved down south and he wanted to be nearer to his parents. And of course, other sillier reasons like I want to be in the same university as my girlfriend/boyfriend/my father wants me to come to his alma mater...etcetc.

If the university/department can take you in, they will.

lostmymind · 16/08/2011 17:18

This is my fourth year of either GCSE or A level results. Had the worst case scenario with dc1 last year, luckily she'd sort-of anticipated not making the grade, and had all her uni options via clearing up and ready to go for results morning, had even contacted selected uni admissions beforehand to talk about the course aka 'register' her interest.

Make no mistake, clearing is hell, and the better places go incredibly fast - like within the hour from track and admssions offices opening. DC had us executing a double attack - me to collect results from school in case they were released before track had been updated, whilst DH sat ready at home to calm hysterical teenager. Be ready to go from early morning, like 7:30 (dc1 had two phone going would you believe), and let your dc do the talking, dh did try but they wouldn't discuss with him at all - rightly so really. The irony for DC? Has got a temp job at her uni answering the phone from frantic clearing applicants on thursday...

Please God I dont have the same again this year, DS has worked so incredibly hard and really deserves this (have to say dc1 had not been quite so - uh - persistent) but as it's medicine the chances of re-applying are slim to none.

Sod the Brew, I need Wine and lots of it.

lostmymind · 16/08/2011 17:20

And fellatio? i'd string him up. And the other mum who was fool enought to book the flights. Breathe....

lostmymind · 16/08/2011 17:24

This may help [http://www.ucas.com/students/nextsteps/clearing/]
and this too [http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/aug/15/clearing-university-admissions-advice]

FellatioNelson · 16/08/2011 17:37

oh hello Pag. I thought you'd emigrated!

Lilymaid · 16/08/2011 17:43

To put a brighter side on it, the scenario could be for many similar to that of DS1: - Woke up early, checked UCAS and saw that his offer status had changed and that he was accepted (and therefore had his 3 As). Later in day disappeared to booze fuelled party for 24 hours.
DS2 did retakes after A2s and narrowly missed (by 1 point in one subject) to get 3 Bs and a place at his preferred university. We think this was actually fortunate as he ended up doing a more suitable course.
I remember that horrible feeling hanging over the family in August as results day approached - it is a pivotal moment for the DCs as they launch out into their futures.

CrosswordAddict · 16/08/2011 17:44

Fellationelson I'm just joining this thread. My DCs are still only 13 soI don't really have an axe to grind. Just very keen on education in general. I am so sorry for you and your position. Think I'd be on valium or its equivalent if I was in your shoes.
Well, anyway I suppose it's good that he is so confident. Also console yourself with the thought that "que sera sera" and he will come back refreshed from a great holiday ready to face whatever life has to offer him.

Ponders · 16/08/2011 17:46

Pag, DS2 is completely unfussed too.

I could just scream

Ponders · 16/08/2011 17:50

and he is refusing to look at track first thing Thursday to get a head start if he does miss out.

he's going to go into college & get his results "like everybody else" (except Fellatio's DS & friends of course...I suppose I should just be thankful he's still in this country Confused)

carpwidow · 16/08/2011 17:51

Thanks Lilymaid for this. DS's school not open until 9.30 for results collection. Therefore, are you saying that he could he know sooner by logging on to UCAS to see if his status has changed to unconditional?

MABS · 16/08/2011 17:53

Hi all - dd is only at GCSE level so we have another week to go, but i am so with you all in spirit :)

melodyangel · 16/08/2011 18:13

Awaiting AS results for DS1.

Good luck everyone!

FellatioNelson · 16/08/2011 18:14

Yes carpwidow I believe that is how it works. So you could know whether you have your firm place before you know what results you have.

What is unclear to me though, is does that mean your results are as per the offer? If they were to accept you with lower results would that only happen after contacting them and negotiating?

RustyBear · 16/08/2011 18:23

Carpwidow - yes, that's what DS did - he looked at UCAS early on the Thursday morning and his offer had changed to unconditional, so he knew he'd got his grades. DD got hers from the school website at 8am - I don't think she actually went in to college to pick up her results at all.

I was here five years ago when DS was waiting for his results, now he and DD are both graduates (she finished this year) - it only seems like a few months ago!
I started this thread then, which has been going intermittently ever since -Liliymaid was one of the first posters, with her advice that chocolate cake and vodka was the best icebreaker for new students....

ImperialBlether · 16/08/2011 18:25

I've known a lot of students who've come into college, completely bemused because they've had two letters in the post - one with their grades (which were lower than required) and one from the university saying they are in.

Not sure what will happen this year though, with the fees shooting up next year.

mumof3teens · 16/08/2011 18:59

Can I join? DS3 (and me & DH) waiting anxiously for A level results. Don't feel as stressed third time round, but obv want him to get what he wants. DS1 & DS2 both found out on track that they had been accepted, but DS3s school doesnt let them get their results until 10.30am, so a bit worried that he will be at a disadvantage if he needs to look at clearing (if there is anything).

Ponders · 16/08/2011 19:06

I've just been informed by DS2 & a friend that UCAS won't be updating track until noon this year - anybody know anything about that?

Currysecret · 16/08/2011 19:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

susiefen · 16/08/2011 19:37

Hi
My DS has an offer for a deferred place at UEA in 2012. He thinks he may miss by one grade, so should he still ring and check? Does anyone know if they will make a decision for a 2012 course or would he have to reapply?