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Higher education

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

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Original poster

Two identical offers... what to do?

36 replies

daughterofliz · 04/02/2015 21:24

DS1 has applied to 3 unis, 2 that he really likes and 1 that he is less keen on and just put down as a safety net really. He thinks there is absolutely nothing to choose between the 2 he likes better and was going to decide his preference based on the offers they sent.

He has had exactly the same offer from the 2 that he likes (conditional, but easily achievable by him), and an unconditional offer from the one he doesn't like as much. This means he can't sensibly firmly accept one of the ones he likes and keep the other as his insurance choice - if he doesn't get in to one, he doesn't get in to the other. As far as we can work out, his only way forward is to choose between these two, firmly accept one of them and completely discard the other one and provisionally accept the unconditional offer just in case, even though he doesn't really want to go to that one. This is going to be hard as likes them both so much and literally cannot work out which one he prefers.

I would rather not name the unis or the course as it's quite identifying, but does anyone see any other way round this situation? DH thinks he should approach one of them and ask if they can amend their offer slightly but I just don't think they are likely to do that, and it wouldn't reflect well on him if he suggested it.

OP posts:

uilen · 07/02/2015 20:46

If a student applies and gets rejected because of a C grade, retakes an a level, or indeed takes a new a level, and comes back the next year to reapply without the C, but hopefully with a B or an A instead, will the previous sighting of a C be held against her?!

In practice most universities cannot afford to turn away qualified candidates, so no it wouldn't be held against the student.

However, for a competitive course in which academics are selecting from candidates with the same grade (predictions) having originally gotten a low grade and then done retakes might affect the outcome.

SunTree · 07/02/2015 20:57

bruffin that is very good news, and good work. Thanks for responding. Currently waiting to hear about DD's applications, and I'm quietly thinking ahead for Plan B for her, if her C grade blocks her path.

Using the year well for chosen subject is a very good point.

sorry for tangential -ness,OP

TravelinColour · 07/02/2015 21:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SunTree · 07/02/2015 21:01

uilen.....Yep. I understand. Was hoping for a magic wand response, but, Yep...makes sense.

The whole picture will be taken into account, including less than stellar results, and what has been done in response to said results.

Original poster

daughterofliz · 07/02/2015 23:27

If the grades are 'easily achievable' then what's your worry?

It wasn't really a worry as such, it was just that if you have the opportunity to make two choices it makes sense to use it, and until several people here convinced me otherwise I had the impression that one of the two would be a "wasted" choice. I'm leaning more and more to the idea that he may as well pick the two he likes, but wait until he's been to the offer holder days to decide which order to put them in.

Because one is significantly cheaper to live at (transport / rent / food), then that would probably be a wise choice

If he doesn't come up with a preference on any other grounds, this will probably come into play. One city is definitely cheaper to live in and also nearer to where we live, which would keep transport costs down. DS2 is only one school year younger so it's going to be an expensive few years! But I wouldn't put pressure on him to choose that one if he showed any sign of actively preferring the other. It is also important that he should be happy!

OP posts:

Sleepyhoglet · 08/02/2015 08:07

Are they both campus unis? Are they both large eg with varied subjects. I didn't study music but it was important to me to go to a university with a music department as it meant the music society was thriving.

Original poster

daughterofliz · 08/02/2015 09:58

They are both campuses but the cheaper and nearer one is right in the city centre, the other one is a long bus ride from anywhere, which to me would be a point in favour of the near one, as DS can be a bit shy and lazy and possibly wouldn't go into town much if he had to make that much of an effort. Both cities seem to have quite a lot going on culturally.

I think I have talked myself round to a point where I know which one I prefer - but it's not my decision!

OP posts:

Sleepyhoglet · 08/02/2015 16:06

Can you tell me which unis they are. It's wasn't so long since I left (finished masters a year ago) and have step brothers and sisters at uni.

Original poster

daughterofliz · 09/02/2015 18:08

Sleepyhoglet, I'll PM you.

OP posts:

mumahead · 09/02/2015 20:19

call uni admissions.

I did and asked:" on previous year experience will your uni accept one grade lower on results day"? Both unis gave a clear answer. One said almost definitely but it could be all students get *s this year, in that case no. The other said at this stage we would say they need full offer.

Which website shows you what are the typical grades of students on the chosen course - illuminating - much lower than general offers as far as I could see.

Put down where he/she really wants to go. Chance clearing if not. Just horrible to go to a course you are not inspired by.

JudgeRinderSays · 18/02/2015 17:10

My DS1 got 1 offer A AA and then four of AAA (mech eng). He didn't like the AAA place at all when he looked round subsequently.At the post-offer open day they held 'chats' with each applicant and one of the universities said that if he firmed them they would let him in if he 'missed a grade or 2', and that swayed him.

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