Reapplying to uni- same course

[thesandwich]

After disappointing a2 grades caused by a number of factors dd has decided to take a year out, do some retakes and work experience and reapply to the same course.
I would really appreciate thoughts on how the uni will treat her application- will they discount her or give a higher offer? It was an engineering type course at a RG uni- a quite specialised course.
Should she speak to admissions? All advice welcome- thank you.

Thank you bruffin. I will help him to compose another email requesting him being allowed back as a guest and as a mentor for other students. We have already said that we will pay any exam fees. Fingers tightly crossed.

Hi thesandwich, sorry to derail the thread but I'm just at a loss atm.
My ds has ADHD and traits of Asperger's and we are so proud of his achievements as it has not been an easy ride, to say the least! He needed ABC in his A Levels to get into his firm and missed it by 3 marks off an A in his maths papers. These were remarked but stayed the same grade. He declined his insurance choice as he really wants to go to his firm and feels anxious about going anywhere else. Transition is particularly hard for him and as he has been on many visits to his firm he has more chance of success by going there. (Plus, at a cost of at least £27,000 he needs to pass his degree!)
This is the first year that his school has stopped doing retakes for year 13 so we are now stumped. He has said that he will self-study and get work experience this year but he struggles with staying motivated when there is a lack of structure and I am concerned that after all these years of trying to ensure he reached his potential he falls at the last hurdle.

Is your dd organised and motivated enough to go it alone do you think?
Good luck to your dd too- fingers crossed we'll be back here next year discussing what they need for starting uni!

Hello niknak! Don't worry you are not derailing! Bruffin's advice has been really useful to me too.
Your ds has done brilliantly- it is so hard when they miss entry by so little. And with all his other challenges. You must feel very proud but sad that it wasn't quite enough. And picking them back up is tough too.
Was your ds's school supportive? Could they make him a special case because of his sn? If this is a change in policy this year could you appeal to governors/ sn governor?
Has your ds's choice uni made it clear how they will treat his re- application? Dd's has now which helps.
With regard to self study- we are not totally confident as dd found the work not hard but revising excruciating- but as dh teaches she we plan for her to go in once a week to give some structure. Also school have offered revision sessions in history(!) for her because of the appalling results- which they are still challenging. We also plan to use a tutor to give structure/ deadlines etc.
fortunately one or two of Dd's close friends are taking gap years or doing art foundation courses locally- it will be hard when all their mates head off.
How is your ds feeling? What does he want to do?

Thanks thesandwich It is really frustrating- several of my ds's friends resat year 12 due to poor AS results and are now going into year 13. With hindsight it would have been better for my ds to have done the same. As it is, I believe his head of year feels that the school have fulfilled their obligation and are happy to just wish him luck for his future.

My son also wants to do engineering and we believe that retakes won't be an issue.
It sounds like your dd has lots of things to help keep her focus over the next nine or ten months until the exams so that should help? When will your dd start to revise? Does she have a timetable to follow?
My ds was convinced that he would be able to retake year 13 so has now come down to earth with a bump.
We have emailed school requesting they consider the option of him sitting in lessons as a 'guest' and mentoring younger pupils in his free periods and are waiting with baited breath for a reply!
We now have to cancel his tuition loan and his maintenance loan and grant and inform the Disability Support people that he won't be going this year.

I was hoping that the stress and worry would get easier as they got older!!

Hi niknak. It does sound tough for your ds. I would certainly escalate enquiries with school and request a meeting- particularly as this is a recent change of policy. Dh has advised that dd does not cash in any of her a levels- she plans to resit at least a module in each and then as he says all a2's will be taken effectively in the same year. Looks better on applications etc further on.
Will school support his ucas application etc? It is really tough for them on their own.
There is no clear plan on when revision etc will start- need to sort out the practicalities first- get textbooks etc and reapply via ucas- and make some contacts re work experience etc. dd has also .looked at some on line courses via future learn and is starting to learn coding- trying to get a structure inlace. Do pm me if I can offer any help! Blind leading the partially sighted!

Hi thesandwich. Thank you for your advice. We have now escalated enquires, as you suggested, and emailed the headmaster. I think I'd lost my fight for a little while there- I am just so tired of everything being a battle- but you have given me the push I needed, so thank you. Who knows whether we will be successful but we will give it our best shot.
It is interesting to hear about not cashing in A levels yet- it's not something we would have thought about.
My ds seems to think that school will support his ucas, fingers crossed, as it is all quite daunting.
Have you heard anymore about your dd's history results? Have you queried the remark? Is she quite motivated at the moment?

Hi niknak. Just hear from school that you cannot not cash in grades- not what dh said but will check. Keep pushing?