Thank you for talking sense into me when I was trying not to be disappointed in the uni course my DD wanted to do. I have another question if you don't mind

[minsmum]

After reading all the good advice that I got from you lovely people I took my DD to visit Lancaster, Exeter and East anglia. She loved them all and after the visit to Lancaster was very positive. However her school are saying that they will only predict on the AS grades received as A2 results normally drop. Does this mean she should only apply for universities where they want ABB. I have no idea how it works, as I think I said no one in the family has ever been to university so completely clueless.
She is a bit down today as UEA state they want 3 A's, Lancaster say they want 3 A's & so do Exeter. I don't want to tell her anything stupid and the school are not giving any advice but leaving it up to the child.
Sorry if this is a question you have been asked a million times

You get 5 choices of uni. The best strategy I think is to apply for two 'aspirational' places, two in line with the predictions and one below as a for safety net.

When the decision has to be made next year, most people have a better idea of how the year is going so can pick their firm and insurance from these.

You of course don't have to accept any offer so if you don't get the 'right' offers, reject them all and go into Extra and/or clearing.

Dd1 got CCCC at AS and Exeter wanted AAB. We went in to see the teachers and they predicted her grades (ABB) based on what they felt she was capable of and not her AS grades. Exeter offered a place with ABB. She got those grades at A2 and is having a ball there! So, it is worth appealing to her teachers?

Agree with creamteas strategy - dd2 will be doing just that this year with her applications.

Hi I didn't read your first thread, but am in a similar position,
I don't have the experience either, perhaps we can hold each others hands?

My ds's tutor also advised 2 high, 2 mid and one insurance (ABB) as creamteas says. However,his ucas advisor advised differently, not to apply for anywhere he wouldn't be happy with, so he dropped the ABB and chose 3 high, and 2 middle.
He is now thinking he should aim for where he really wants to be first, if he doesn't get them then think again, either clearing or reapply next year.
Hope you find some answers. What does your dd want to study by the way?

I agree with creamtea regarding spreading the choices.

My ds2 goes to Lancaster minsmum and he's loved it, did a year in Canada too as part of their study abroad scheme.

see that is so unfair! predicting a' C' at AS up to an 'A' at a2, when so many school predict the same or down.Do universities take account of these different prediction policies?

Do you (and she) think she might be capable of 3 As? On a good day, with a following wind? If so, then don't let her sell herself short by only applying for things she can definitely manage - include places she would like to go if her results are at the top end (or slightly above) her highest expectations. But also, as others have said, include some that she'd be happy to go to if her results are a bit less stellar. A spread of levels will make it more likely that some or all of them will be available to her when the time comes.

But there's no point in applying to universities or courses that she just doesn't want to do, they need to all be things she can see herself being happy with, if that's the kind of results she gets.

Thank you all for the replies. I haven't been able to get back on as she has been using my laptop to write essays and would kill me if she thought I was talking about her.
Her geography teacher is happy to predict her with an A based on the work she is doing at the moment and providing she retakes one of her modules.

AMum I think she does feel that she could get 3 A's if she puts in the work and she is working very hard at the moment so thats a good thing.

As usual you have empowered me to be able to help her if she asks me for help so I would like to thank you for that.

Crisis she wants to study English Literature, when I spoke to a lecturer at Exeter he said exactly the same about going through clearing , extra or applying again next year. The important thing, he said , was to work like stink to make sure you get the grades. What does your DS want to study?