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

[Littleham]

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

Prettydaisies
DS1 has just graduated from Southampton in Geography and he was really happy with the course, and it is a fab place. Good course- offers both physical and human couses and you can mix and match.

DS2 has a 3a offer but got 2A and 1c and has got into his first choice Russell group uni to do history. Admittedly he was diagnosed as dyslexic in December and all departments said they would take this into account. So relieved - it has been particularly traumatic.

Wow Timetraveller - 4 A*s is incredible! I'm going to Bath (as a mature student) to study psychology. Bit worried I'm going to be the thick one amongst all these teens with amazing A levels!

Hi - yr12 parent here, reading with interest., some amazing results.
Congrats to all those with places confirmed and hope everyone else gets sorted.

I was shocked to see so many rejections through a single dropped grade, when other grades more than compensated for it, and the main subject was on or over requirement.
Just wanted to ask, if applying to Unis which are typically asking for say ABB, would an AAC prediction still be given an ABB offer or would they ever offer AAC?

I have heard STEP mentioned but don't really know what it involves but to get 4 x A* and to be turned down from any university sounds bonkers.

Littleham so happy for you.

prettydaisies AAB are fab grades for geography. I am sure your DD will have a good chance of finding a decent place in clearing. Also, is it worth remarking the B paper? My DD had no place in her first year of application (not even any offers) but was inundated as a post A level candidate and is now blissfully happy at MedSchool. It can and will work out. Just be careful: your poor DD will need a lot of support for a while - mine got really quite depressed for a while - your DD, like mine, is probably used to success and being top. A rejection at 18 is a big shock.

Congrats to all with good results, and heartfelt hugs to those still waiting or disappointed.

Tea Yes it seems hard to explain why you failed to get into Cambridge when you got 3 or 4 A*s and others got into Cambridge with offers of 3As.

STEP is a series of three additional maths exams required for offers to get into Cambridge, Warwick and Imperial. It's assumed that students who go to these places to do Maths will all achieve As in Maths and further maths and the universities use STEP to select.
Cambridge is the toughest. You have to get grade 1s or Distinctions in STEP II and III to get in. Maths students there are very, very exceptional.
Unlike entrance exams for medicine which are taken in the autumn before the offer is made, the STEP is taken after A levels.
It's a high risk. The student has to accept the offer knowing that to get As in their A levels is not enough. Also knowing that two thirds of Cambridge Maths offer holders fail to get in.

Some students at fee paying schools will have intense coaching in the STEP exam, although it is supposed to be possible to do it without. Others like my DS may be the only one in their school or college doing it.
There was not a single teacher at my son's college who could help him. Nevertheless there is help on-line and DS worked more hours on his STEP than on all his other 4 A levels. On the day of the 3rd exam the pressure got to him and he did badly. He didn't get the grade he needed for Cambridge but got enough for his insurance (who wanted a lower grade of STEP.)

No regrets here though. DS feels thrilled about going to Warwick and all the extra maths he did will stand him in good stead. He fully accepts that he may have been out of his league at Cambridge.

Edinburgh have said no to DS despite a huge effort on both his part and that of his teachers, although they kept him waiting they said that even if he had A* for everything else the C let him down so just really wish it had been a no from the start rather than 24 hours of waiting. Anyway at least he has his insurance which if I am honest is probably the better option for him anyway and a year less of debt at the end!
Situation was not helped at all as his gf with an A*AA offer from Cambridge got in with AAB! Just shows there really is no way of working it out whatsoever!

secretsquirrels Thank you for that explanation. It is just so tough to get into Cambridge for maths, it's not like any other subject. The entrance exam is really hard, as it has to be harder than A level maths.

It's not easy seeing friends get into Cambridge for other subjects with lower grades. But we always knew STEP was a risk.

I'm sure he'll be happy at Bath, it's an excellent university for maths, as is Warwick.

onadifferentplanet So sorry about Edinburgh. how near a B was he - any chance of a remark?

Thanks squirrel, that's a really tough thing to go through but as you said I'm sure it will stand him in good stead.

Warwick is lovely and I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason.

I heard someone saying that life is like looking at the back of a tapestry, we see and feel all the knots but at the end when it's flipped over, it's perfect, exactly as it should be.

Thanks squirrel, that's a really tough thing to go through but as you said I'm sure it will stand him in good stead.

Warwick is lovely and I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason.

I heard someone saying that life is like looking at the back of a tapestry, we see and feel all the knots but at the end when it's flipped over, it's perfect, exactly as it should be.

Well done to your ds timetraveller for getting into Bath for Maths and to secretsquirrel's ds for getting into Warwick for Maths. Fantastic!

Like you zizza we are into sorting out accommodation, which luckily seems quite straightforward. Just an e mail & she is not fussy so likes most of the remaining choices.

Well done purplepenguin - glad it all went well.

What was the insurance choice onadifferentplanet? I'm sure your DS will be really happy.

onadifferentplanet That's tough. I've heard so many of near misses getting into their first choice and your DS has been rejected.
Doesn't it require careful parenting skills to celebrate success and manage disappointment at the same time.

littlemissmaths DD is getting paper remarked but it's physics so not really holding out any hope. She found the exam difficult at the time too. She's had a look at places in clearing. She went to Southampton for a headstart course last summer and didn't like it so doesn't want to go there. My DH who works in that field says some excellent students come out of there but it's her choice I guess. Manchester is too big a place for her and she has said no to Lancaster although she did originally apply there.
It's very difficult but I think she'll reapply next year possibly retaking some physics modules or just applying to universities with slightly lower grades.
Now she has to work out what she's going to do in the meantime. It'll be tricky when her younger siblings go back to school and then when her friends go off to university. Any ideas gratefully reveived! So far we have come up with driving lessons.

Sorry to hear that prettydaisies.

My daughter went on a RYLA course (with Rotary club) and they do amazing volunteering trips abroad. Some of them are paid for by Rotary as part of their Youth Development / Young Leadership programme. My dd made loads of friends through this as well.

DS is going to the UEA which for a long time was his first choice only the Edinburgh bursaries swung his thinking. The only real down is how close to home it is but he seems very positive this morning. As it looks like he will now be living at home for the first year younger DS has generously given up the bigger bedroom he was looking forward to having next year. All in all things are good it means he can continue with a lot of local things he enjoys such as sport and his present part time work. although yesterday it didn't feel like it I think it may well turn out for the best in the end.

Snap. Bristol is quite close to our home too, but I don't think that it matters. I don't think we will see her anyway. Think of all the money he will save!

prettydaisies, work for a ski firm like Ski Esprit?

Or if she is sporty why not get a coaching qualification. The basic ASA level 1 swim teacher qualification is about a week full time and is gives access to great flexible work when at Uni.

DS said one reason he did not want to take a gap year was because I would "encourage" him to improve his languages. However Geothe Insititut organise really good in-country language courses for young people. A chance to hang out with people from all over the world.

DS said one reason he did not want to take a gap year was because I would "encourage" him to improve his languages.
Snap!

onadifferentplanet
what a lovely younger bro!

onadifferentplanet you must live near me! DD's younger sister has also realised that she will be sharing for another year, but has been very kind about it and I know she'd made new plans for the bedroom.
I'm getting a good list of things now. Thanks.
Driving lessons
Sports level 1 coach-maybe netball or hockey
Swimmng ASA level 1- very possible
Being a 'gappy' at her school
Volunteering possibly ryla but it looked as though you had to be 16 or 17
Improve her languages

Thank you for your suggestions.

Oh and ski espirit but that would be really new. She's never skied before but I'm sure she could manage the chalet stuff. Maybe she'd like to be an au pair in France.

Has she looked at the international citizen's service? It includes fundraising before you volunteer as well as some community work when she returns so a lot to fill the year. Not sure of the specifics but here is a link.

Here is the International RYLA link. It is for 19 - 30 year olds, but I think they have only just done one. Worth enquiring when the next one will be though. If you contact your local Rotary club, they will be able to point you in the direction of courses, volunteering etc.

www.iryla.com/#about

My DC have worked for 2 years as lifeguards at the local pool (well it's half life guarding and half cleaning!) but they have enjoyed it and saved a lot of money. They've had free use of the pool and gym, vastly improved their swimming and learned first aid skills. They've also learned how to clean, though they're not keen on practising at home, unfortunately. Plus time management skills as they juggled work and A levels.
They also have an NPLQ which they can use to find work while they're at uni.