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Higher education

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Original poster

Can anyone talk me through the relative merits of going through adjustment vs applying again for 2016

38 replies

basildonbond · 05/07/2015 18:36

Ds has just got his IB results and has done much better than predicted

His school's suggesting looking at adjustment as he's now got the points he'd need for places like Durham but there's no guarantee the course he wants will be in adjustment

The other option is he has a gap year and applies for 2016 entry - he has an Australian passport and lots of relatives there so would be relatively easy to arrange

Just wondering what the pros and cons would be

OP posts:
Decorhate · 05/07/2015 21:03

What a nice predicament to have! I suppose it depends on whether places such as Durham are much better than where he was planning to go for his subject and/or he would have loved to go there but didn't think it was achievable?
Would he be 100% sure of getting an unconditional offer for next year or would it depend on interview performance as well?
All things to consider.

hellsbells99 · 05/07/2015 21:16

Has he looked at Durham? My friend's DS loved it but my DD didn't like it.

Original poster
basildonbond · 05/07/2015 21:17

Well the course he originally opted for is very well regarded but the standard offer is lower than Durham's. He's going to talk to the head of sixth form and discuss it in more detail. He's now got a higher mark than Durham standardly ask for and did especially well in his extended essay - he comes across extremely well at interview so that shouldn't be a problem

I would be happy for him to stick to his original choice as I think it was a good fit but it's obviously his decision in the end

OP posts:
senua · 05/07/2015 21:46

he comes across extremely well at interview so that shouldn't be a problem

It is a bit of a problem: he has to either delay travelling or come back from wherever he is.

Well done to him! I'd encourage re-applying and travelling so he can get on a better course and see a bit of the world.
If he goes for adjustment then accommodation might be a problem whereas a unconditional offer next year means he can apply before most others.

GypsyFloss · 05/07/2015 21:58

If he applies to Durham through adjustment then accommodation will come as part of the offer but at whatever college has a space rather than him having a choice, in as much as there is any real choice there tbh.

senua · 05/07/2015 22:24

If we are talking Durham in particular, it does have a reputation for being very slow with its offers - will that be a problem if he is (or wants to be) on the other side of the world?

Are they quicker if the applicant already has grades in the bag? Anyone know?

Kez100 · 06/07/2015 06:03

Do Durham not have some sort of Skype system for interview? How do they manage international offers?

Sounds a great position to be in and I'm a great supporter of well used gap years. Depends if he wants to go to Durham though - you do need a bit more than simply reputation if you are going to spend three years there. That said, everyone I know that has been there has loved it.

Gemauve · 06/07/2015 09:22

Do Durham not have some sort of Skype system for interview?

Do Durham actually interview for first degrees? For a handful of subjects, perhaps, and for students applying with unusual qualifications, but for a home candidate with a mainstream qualification applying for anything other than medicine, I find that hard to believe.

DoctorDonnaNoble · 06/07/2015 09:25

The limit on places for people with good results has been removed so he stands a good chance. I have students do both happily! The student who got into Bristol through adjustment has just passed with a first and is on the way to Cambridge for his masters.

spinoa · 06/07/2015 17:19

If you said which subject it is, people could advise better, in particular, on how likely it is that the course will be available in August.

GypsyFloss · 06/07/2015 20:09

Durham I think interview for languages if you've been out of education for a year or more. I know DD will need to plan to keep her French up if she ends up with a gap year this time round.

alreadytaken · 07/07/2015 08:29

when you say he has the points for "places like Durham" are you thinking of appying there or elsewhere? What subject? If appying for maths a gap year will not generally be seen favourably. For medicine adjustment doesnt apply and turning down a place is foolish. For MFL a gap year can be very useful. Otherwise

Adjustment - no risks other than not having accommodation or if you haven't visited finding they dislike the place once they have started. Make a quick visit now. Not many places gained this way.

Reapply - the declared points and what succesful applicants actually have can be rather different. Oxbridge expects people to exceed their offers therefore they expect a higher level from reapplicants to compete.

Existing place may not be offered again so can end up in extra or clearing.

Need a gap year so out of step with friends. However may be more mature and work harder once at university.

Can work and have cash in hand to enjoy their time at university but lose a year in making pension contributions and earn less in gap year than an extra year as a graduate. Or go abraod and enjoy an extended holiday while they can, probably helping the maturity issues.

I gather the accepted offer is Exeter so the perceived increase in prestige may not translate into an improved job offer.

His decision but sometimes they need parents to point out things they may not have considered before they take the decision

thatsshallot · 07/07/2015 08:40

Have you asked Durham if they will be in adjustment? I work for another RG and we are always so oversubscribed we never go into adjustment, and if we do have or think we have any spaces don't allocate until a level results day - as we always over offer to make up for those who do not make their offer. It's a fine art juggling offers v spaces, and would imagine unless it's a v niche and undersubcribed subject that Durham would also wait until a level results before offering out places.

Well done though, doing better than expected in IBs is something to be v proud of :) And what lovely options he has whilst waiting.

And YY, we Skype interview anyone not in UK so that shouldn't be a problem - and again we guarantee all UGs with a confirmed place by end of August a place in Halls so would have thought Durham would too.

Original poster
basildonbond · 07/07/2015 08:53

He's thinking of reapplying for English and history - he got v good 7s for both those and a v high mark in his EE.

He's pondering whether or not to try the Oxford HAT as it's the kind of test which suits his abilities and he interviews well. He's also thinking of Durham as he likes the sound of the course but he's not been to see it yet.

His accepted offer is for history and int relations at Exeter with a year abroad (prob Germany as he's been studying German) but he's really good at English and is now slightly regretting not going for English and history this time round

Ho hum ..

Just when we thought he was all sorted!

At the moment his plan is to do law conversion after university

OP posts:
serendipity200 · 07/07/2015 09:50

I was told by a teacher in one of DCs schools that adjustment was only for State school pupils. I was a little sceptical? Can anyone who knows the system well enlighten me? Well done to your DS basildonbond, your DS is (I think from previous posts) at the same school as my DS1, although we have to wait for August, and I fear will be looking more at clearing than adjustment, but fingers crossed.

Gemauve · 07/07/2015 10:03

I was told by a teacher in one of DCs schools that adjustment was only for State school pupils.

Cobblers.

www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/apply-and-track/results/adjustment-–-if-you’ve-done-better-expected

I suspect it's more likely to be used by state school pupils, because private sector applications tend to be more aspirational, but it's available to any UCAS applicant holding conditional offers.

thatsshallot · 07/07/2015 10:07

It was brought in to help state school pupils who are perceived as being disadvantaged by our current system of basing offers on predicted grades – indie schools often over predict and state under. So, those state pupils who had not applied to top level unis due to bad advice/predictions got another bite of the cherry.

All well and good IF unis hold places over especially for Adjustment. Many don’t so you’re not better off!

Gemauve · 07/07/2015 13:51

All well and good IF unis hold places over especially for Adjustment. Many don’t so you’re not better off!

Not quite.

Adjustment is, from the universities' perspective, just another trigger for clearing. Most universities (I think the exceptions now are Durham, Oxford, Cambridge, UCL and possibly Imperial) now go into clearing. There's then a stream of applicants who have either missed their offers or who are eligible for adjustment because they have exceeded their offers. There are plenty of AAA courses in clearing now, and whether the reason you're applying for them is because you missed your higher offer or exceeded your lower offer is irrelevant: you're just someone with some A Levels and a story asking for a place.

thatsshallot · 07/07/2015 13:55

Aah but I work for one of the ones you've mentioned and I would hazard Durham doesn't hold them either

Gemauve · 07/07/2015 14:40

Aah but I work for one of the ones you've mentioned and I would hazard Durham doesn't hold them either

Yeah, sorry, I'd forgotten this discussion started with Durham as its focus.

spinoa · 07/07/2015 16:50

Durham was in clearing both in 2013 and in 2014, for some courses.

thatsshallot · 07/07/2015 16:53

Which is why the first thing to do is ask Durham

alreadytaken · 07/07/2015 22:13

law is possibly the only subject where I'd think reapplying worthwhile if he has a stab at Oxbridge, especially if you read the comments on mumsnet about prospects for lawyers. I'm told by people who have been there that Oxford history undergraduates can be wined and dined by law companies almost as much as the lawyers.

He should talk to or email some admission tutors and go to visit any place he might consider.

A historian friend (not a Christian themself) complains abut the lack of understanding of the influence of religious belief on history and an inability to recognise biblical influences. Perhaps your ds should spend part of his gap year on reading the bible.

hellsbells99 · 07/07/2015 22:24

Clearing is already open for IB students I believe. The course my DD is hoping to do (a STEM one) is listed as in clearing for Durham.

hellsbells99 · 07/07/2015 22:26

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