Ucas / Results 2014 (carrying on Ucas Forms Sent.... thread)

[Littleham]

Thought we might need a new thread for the results...

I found this helpful answer from last year (studential.com site)

How long is Clearing open?
Clearing officially closes on 20th September 2013. However, most people won't take that long to find a suitable place. It depends how quickly you can make your mind up where you want to go. If you're absolutely sure you’ve found the right university and course for you, it can be done within a few days.

However, if you are undecided, it’s best you take a bit longer. Many people wish to visit several universities, and they may have special open days set up to help with your choice.

Of course, if you entered Clearing by getting released from your firm or insurance choice then you might not actually be eligible for up to 2 weeks after Clearing has opened. In this case, the Clearing process will take longer for you.*

Here is the link if you want to read the full advice...

www.studential.com/applying/Clearing-guide-2014

Ds didn't have to wait for clearing at all last year. He got released from his unconditional firm a few days before results day as he had his grades and had decided during his gap year that he wanted to trade up. He had contacted the uni he wanted asking if they were likely to have vacancies for his course and was offered a place later the same day. He had to wait for results day to go through the formality of clearing but if you know where you want to go and they are happy to take you, it can be done relatively easily and quickly.

Not sure why the studential site states that you may "not eligible for up to 2 weeks" ucas doesn't say anything like that, as far as I can see

Had a lovely day with DD1, DD2 and DS1 at the coast ! Ideal results distraction ! DD1 asked for a "proper " family day out at the coast before Uni ( only about 90 mins drive) . So we have sat on the beach,dipped our toes in the North Sea (brrgh) had fish and chips for lunch, played on the two penny falls and finished with an ice cream ! Think that was a "proper" seaside day out !!

What happens at school on results day if they don't get the grades required and end up in clearing. Are teachers on hand to give them some guidance or are they better off coming home and working through it with parents? I'm undecided about if I should drive DS to school and hang around until he has his results. Then I can leave him to it if he has what he needs or drive him home to start the clearing process if he has not. Does anyone have any experience of how helpful teachers are in this situation?

forgot to say my dream last night was that he got one grade lower than required in each subject!! Ds as usual is not worrying (or admitting to it) and will not discuss what he wants to do if he does not get the grades, even though he thinks he may have messed up at least one subject.

Not sure why the studential site states that you may "not eligible for up to 2 weeks" ucas doesn't say anything like that, as far as I can see

I'm very glad to hear that, as we want to go away in the very last week of the holiday (possibly bad planning on our part). Perhaps some universities don't release students into clearing as quickly as others? I don't know.

Found this on student room as a case study, so I think it depends on the university.

Durham behaved absolutely appallingly to students with offers and those in clearing last year. Dealt with clearing really terribly. leaving existing offer holders hanging on for ages was not on at all.

For anyone reading this thread, if your university have not made a decision on results day, and won't make a decision pretty much ASAP, you might be better off just asking them to release you, rather than holding on and missing out on clearing too.

Absolutely right. It was heartrending dealing with people who were kept hanging on to be dashed at the end. Just dreadful. I hope Durham've learned something from it.

Oh no! I feel sick.

I think the Durham debacle last year was mentioned in a MN thread or two. Was it their first year in Clearing? although that is hardly an excuse. For a university of excellent repute their admin processes at times leave a lot to be desired. Although people I know who've studied at Durham cannot speak highly enough of their time there.

The same thread indicates that it has happened in other years at Durham (although not on such a big scale as last year). I think if you actually manage to get in, you have a great time - but I hope it is worth the risk!

One question - does the insurance university choice update immediately, or do they have to wait for the firm choice to make a decision?

littleham - the insurance choice only becomes relevant if the firm doesn't take you - it won't show anything until the firm shows no - you essentially get 'released' to the insurance if you get rejected by your firm, so they don't even start to consider you until then.

By titis automatics if you've met their grades......

Just to let you know that last year my dd got a text message from her 1st choice university stating welcome to university before she got her results or had a chance to log onto ucas. She woke us up to tell us she got in but didn't know her results. Took a lot of stress out of the day.

minsmum that would be lovely but as far as I am aware my DDs firm don't have her mobile number so unless they email her that's not going to happen here ! She did have an email from them yesterday wishing her good luck for Thursday and with the info about what to do in best/worst case scenarios.

Durham would be DS first port of call if he fails to meet his insurance. Not encouraging.

That's very worrying about durham. It's ds's first choice and he has an A* offer so very hit and miss - there's no way you can be confident of meeting it. What's worrying to me though is that his insurance requires accommodation to be confirmed before the 19th August (or around then, I can't quite remember the exact date) so if DS was held on by durham, only to be dropped at the last minute, he could potentially lose his insurance accommodation.

I would advise him just to be released from durham if that were the case but he loves it and he has his reservations about his insurance choice.

Sorry to worry you all, but perhaps it is best to know what happened last year than to sit and wait for two weeks. At least my dd did the Irish applications and she is quite keen on one of those, so if the worst comes to the worst there is a small possibility of bailing out to Ireland.

I'm going to talk to dd about setting a deadline for Durham to reply. Whether she will listen is another thing!

Ds also had a place in Dublin - the deadline to reply to the offer was 26th August last year as they do a second round of offers. Certainly not long enough if you are hanging around for Durham to make their minds up.

Oh - that's bad news. Thanks for letting me know. If the same happens to my dd, she might be best taking a definite offer than waiting around for who knows what.

I think the only past Durham real delays have been around clearing places. If Durham is a DC's firm offer, given for most courses Durham makes considerably more offers than it has places, then there probably won't be much if any delay on decisions. Rather brutal but reality seems to be if you don't make the offer grades then no second chance - of course there will always be the odd exceptions, but I think they really are the exceptions not 20% to 30% of those who are accepted onto most Durham courses.

Bit of a gloomy post , and speculation, of the vaguely informed at best variety given the offer stats publicly available, on my part. Hopefully one of the uni insider posters can come and bring some properly informed views.

Brutal would be good in this situation because it would mean being able to move on to another choice.

I'm also undecided about what to do on results day ICan'tFindaFree NickName. What have other people done on results day?

What's worrying to me though is that his insurance requires accommodation to be confirmed before the 19th August (or around then, I can't quite remember the exact date) so if DS was held on by durham, only to be dropped at the last minute, he could potentially lose his insurance accommodation.

friendface The deadline for applying for accommodation at my DS's insurance (Bath) was in July, but only if it's your first choice - I thought it was the same everywhere. They state that if you don't have them as first choice they don't guarantee accommodation, you have to go on a waiting list and may have to find your own if they have nothing left on campus. That's what's worrying me about him not getting into his first choice..

Littleham absolutely. Just want to know one way or the other. The only upside in all this that I can see it that at least GBBO is on Wednesday evening :)

timetraveller this is my worry as DD has Bath as her insurance - a good 4-5 hour drive from here so not easy to nip down to organise things ! Just keeping fingers crossed that she makes her firm offer !

timetraveller yet her firm already have said there will be spaces in halls for those coming in via clearing and adjustment ! They must all do it differently !