It's a been a long day and I could do with some advice.
DS applied for uni this year and got a mix of conditional and unconditional offers. I was surprised by unconditionals since he hadn't taken his A2s but googled and saw they are now being offered so thought no more - stupid!! He accepted an unconditional offer in April.
Exams were a nightmare as his grandfather died mid exams and he was not fully functioning but at least he didn't have to worry about uni as he had an unconditional offer - or so I thought. He got confirmed accommodation and I'd paid the deposit. He was invited to pre season trials for his sport. All looking good.
3 weeks ago (20 Jul) the uni got in touch and said there was an error on his application form. Somehow his AS results had been entered on form as A2 (by him), school had not picked up during checking and uni hadn't noticed either.
Uni didn't notice because they don't read personal statements or references - they just look at exams on UCAS form. They pointed me to a small paragraph on their rather large website I would never have found which actually said this (so why do we waste so much time on them? But that's another thread) and said he had to accept a conditional offer or else they would withdraw offer completely. Offer was "aspirational" (not sure what you can aspire to once exams are done apart from blind and generous marker). UCAS agreed (apparently unis aren't required to read the total application even though for us it's mandatory!)
I went back and said surely they couldn't do this as exams had been and gone and anyway he would have accepted other offers if they hadn't offered unconditonal. The said rules are rules and pointed out even more obscure clauses on truly vast website. And that was that.
And guess what - today he missed the offer by 2 UMS (whatever these are). So uni declined and because he had previously had to reject every other offer he had to accept the unconditonal he had no insurance. Now no uni at all this year.
Urgent remark of one module requested to try and find these 2 points but I'm not hopeful. School on the case but based on my previous experience with uni admissions I'm not holding my breath. Still can't believe uni could back out at such a late stage - too late to apply to any other unis. His course not normally offered through clearing.
DS devastated of course - at end of school he had guaranteed place, now absolutely nothing and all his friends got places (congrats all).
So what do I do?
Do I appeal to uni based on (1) he's disadvantaged as had to reject insurance offers who would have taken him with these grades when their offer was accepted in good faith (2) it's 2 marks and (3) grandfather's death is extenuating circumstances. As expected course not coming up through clearing and I don't want him to take just anything - seen too many friend's DCs do this and leave within a year but still have to pay back fees.
Or do we just say sod it and plan a gap year (and a retake for these bloody 2 UMS)
DS says its just not fair and for once I agree with him ????
Any other similar experiences?