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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Butterflies

184 replies

LondonMother · 30/07/2012 20:10

17 days to go. Anyone else getting nervous about A level results day?

All the evidence suggests he'll get the grades he need for his first choice. But logic doesn't count for much at these times, in my experience, going all the way back to my own results days!

OP posts:
creamteas · 30/07/2012 20:40

If it is any consolation, I work at a uni and we are also on tender-hooks!!

This year with the twin changes of increased fees and the AAB students being outside of the quota we have for home/EU students, we have no basis to predict what position we will be in on results day.

sandripples · 30/07/2012 20:45

Hi, yes its getting a bit closer now but still feels a long wait and then - in our case- knowing we'll be at the empty nest stage makes it all feel a bit scary. Has your DC got a good insurance option if he/she doesn't get first choice?

Original poster
LondonMother · 30/07/2012 20:54

Creamteas - best of luck to all in admissions! Must be a very hard job.

Sandripples - yes, he has, thanks, from Lancaster. We liked Lancaster a lot when we visited for the UCAS day but I think we'd all be gutted if he didn't get his first choice.

We won't have an empty nest as our daughter is living at home while studying (so far) but it will be a huge wrench to see the lad leaving home, even though it is only for a few weeks at a time really.

How's the first choice/insurance choice situation with you?

OP posts:
outtolunchagain · 31/07/2012 07:57

Was wondering if anyone was going to start a thread.I was mrswoodentop in previous life,namechanged as children started stalking me Grin

Like the OP all the evidence says ds should be OK but you never really know .Ds on the whole has been pretty good,the odd hour of worrying but trying to ignore it. But he's starting to get a little nervous now ,I just keep stressing that it's not the end of the world etc if plans have to change,but I know he's ready to fly the nest now.

Also I like to be organised and I need to know so that I can plan the rest of the summer!

Original poster
LondonMother · 31/07/2012 08:13

My son is showing no sign of nerves at all, but then he never does - I can usually only tell after the event from minuscule changes that he was a bit tense before. He'd make a fortune as a poker player if a poker face was all that was required!

OP posts:
hollolew2 · 31/07/2012 08:42

Hmm think I may be more nervous than him. Although he has gone into hibernation mode since coming back from holiday doesn't particularly want to do anything bar watch the olympics. I on the other hand have done the UMS variations on everything in my head about 20 times.He nor anyone else knows that it's just fixed grin and appear to be relaxed so much has hinged on his last exams ho hum !

hollolew2 · 31/07/2012 08:57

P.S he has no insurance both courses are at the same uni the only uni he wants to go to and the only courses he wants to do!( same grades for both courses) so considering the hike in fees we felt there was little point putting down something he didn't want to do oor a uni he didn't want to go to so it,ll be gap year and resits :/

fussychica · 31/07/2012 12:16

Really feel for you as here in the UK - the wait is sooo long. Last year only had to wait a couple of weeks between exams and results for DS as in Spain Bachillerato results out end of May after exams in April and even that was awful. I was definitely more nervous than him - he is always really laid back about things. Such a relief when Track turned Unconditional!!!
Good luck to all your DC (& you!)

creamteas · 03/08/2012 19:14

Thought some of you might be interested in the university perspective in THES

Original poster
LondonMother · 04/08/2012 09:33

Thanks for that, creamteas! I'm so glad I don't work with undergraduate admissions.

OP posts:
gelatinous · 04/08/2012 10:49

Logic may say no need to worry, but I think a bit of anxiety is normal until you see the results sheet in black and white. In our house we are more concerned about GCSE results day than A level, but they are both whizzing towards us far too quickly and although I'm impatient for the results I don't want to wish my summer away.

I really haven't got my head around ds moving out soon though. He's still my baby, all 6 foot of him!

Original poster
LondonMother · 04/08/2012 14:35

Yes, it struck me this morning I'm going to have to get to grips with the Freeview recorder when my son goes away!

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MedusaIsHavingABadHairDay · 05/08/2012 22:39

I'm just beginning to twitch!! I went though this 2 year ago with DD1 and the morning of her results we were in a field with dozens of friends at a rally camp.she stayed home to get her results before joining us and I was actually sick with nerves before she rang (it was for Medicine so straight AAA needed) Luckily she had the grades and all was good.

Now I'm waiting for DD2 who is off to do Nursing. She should be ok but her biology is her weakest subject so that is the one in the balance...her insurance choice will be fine but the thought of trying to sort accommodation there makes me quiver with terror!

No one warned me that it would this stressful Grin

JustGettingByMum · 06/08/2012 11:49

Good luck to everyone waiting. This was us last year, luckily it "only" AS results this year.

Can I just share our story? DS needed 3xA last year, and missed his third A by 1/2 (0.5) of a percent, but the uni wouldn't budge. He got the paper priority re--marked and we then had an anxious 2 week wait, but it was worth it. An extra 6% was found, and so he got into his first choice.

MNetters were fab, and it was down to MN that I knew we needed to press for the re-mark. I think some schools are really clued up about these issues, but others are less willing to push for this. I know the head teacher was shocked when the re-mark came through, and I think he didn't really expect it would make a inference. It's hard to be firm and push for that last chance, but it was so worth it.

So if you find yourself where we were next Thursday, please don't give up!

gelatinous · 06/08/2012 12:57

Thanks for sharing that JGBM. It's a sobering thought just how vulnerable to examiners error they are, this time around in particular. Very good news that your ds got things sorted in time though.

fussychica · 06/08/2012 14:58

Thanks JGBM I'll pass that on to my friend who has sons waiting for results. Out of interest, did it change your DS view of the Uni that they were so rigid and tough on him?

JustGettingByMum · 06/08/2012 15:12

No. It was the last year of the £3k fees so there were a record number of applicants o I guess they could afford to be so fussy. Did colour my view though Grin

fussychica · 06/08/2012 17:19

JGBM it would have coloured mine too but glad it all worked out for him. What a relief!

creamteas · 07/08/2012 00:21

Obviously I don't know if this is the case, but uni's get fined for each student that are over their quota. When we make offers we do so on the basis of the average numbers to accept and get the grades based on past experience.

If more students than usual accept or get their grades, you have to choose between declining students who just miss the grades or big fines. It is crap, but government policy.......

JustGettingByMum · 07/08/2012 06:30

Interesting point. I think that's probably where he fell foul. Although according to DS there are 300 students on his course where the prospectus states 180 so I think they have definitely gone over, but not sure how the number of international students affect this.

quirrelquarrel · 07/08/2012 08:30

:( don't have butterflies but still don't want results day to swing round! drawing ever closer.....
I don't need anything terrifying (AAB) but my parents are expecting much more than that....so I'm not too scared about not getting into uni, just the "what is the meaning of this?" disappointed looks.

goinggetstough · 07/08/2012 08:33

Do you think this year though it will harder for those who just miss their offer due to the new AAB ruling. As I understand it universities have no cap on the number of AAB candidates they can admit so surely it would be better to take these DCs through adjustment or clearing than someone who has just missed their offer. What do the experts think or have I misunderstood?

Good luck to all those who are patiently waiting, its only 9 days to go. It will be our last August waiting for results. It gets to be a pain after 7 years, but I know there are other Mumsnetters who have done it for far longer.

gelatinous · 07/08/2012 09:20

No one really knows quite what difference the AAB ruling will make to clearing. I have heard from a RG science lecturer friend that the admissions cycle was very strange this year. They did not have the usual number of good applicants that they would usually make offers to early on and so around January they lowered their standards slightly and made offers to candidates who were predicted slightly lower grades than they would usually accept. Then there was a late surge of good applications (presumably they held back at the start due to the uncertainty over fees) so now they are in the position that they have made (and had accepted) far too many offers and certainly won't be doing clearing (they don't usually anyway) or accepting anyone who misses their offer (which they sometimes do). The AAB ruling makes no difference to them as the numbers they can take are limited by lab space rather than anything else (even though all their entrants meet or exceed this threshold). I would have thought that such physical limits (labs, lecture theatre sizes etc.) will apply to quite a few courses.

quirrelquarrel · 07/08/2012 09:55

Could you explain what the AAB ruling is? Bad surprise?

gelatinous · 07/08/2012 10:02

It's a change in how universities receive funding. Previously, each university had a quota of students they were allowed to accept and if they exceeded it they would be fined. Now if they go over quota, then so long as the extras have achieved grades AAB or above in their A levels they will also be funded. What it means (I think) is that universities are free to expand courses as long as the extra students are well enough qualified.