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Higher education

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

Original poster

A level Results - 18 days - anxiety rising....anyone else??

999 replies

Poppledopple · 31/07/2016 13:31

Maybe because it is August tomorrow - but seems to have come round quickly. Had a nice break not thinking about anything since last exam and after full on year choosing, applying, getting rejected, getting offers etc....

Might as well switch off and try and get distracted for the next 18 days....as either way it will be v busy few days/weeks after results to get started on next phase of his life.

PFB -- any old hands out there want to give me a slap?

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dreamingofsun · 13/08/2016 13:54

originaldoozy - what's the best way for my son to contact people if he has to go through clearing - he will be on holiday in Spain so hanging on via a mobile for hours is going to be a bit impractical (I did point this all out to him at the time, but his mates family asked him and it was his only holiday).

do people deal via email or is it just all phone? Any tips please?

dreamingofsun · 13/08/2016 13:57

popple - my oldest went through clearing (last year when the fees were cheap, so it was total chaos). He phoned the uni, told them his grades, asked if they would consider him. Person said, hang on a minute I'll check and she came back and offered to him. He wasn't asked any further questions at all. Russell Group Uni as well.

Original poster
Poppledopple · 13/08/2016 14:23

wow dreaming that is reassuring to hear!

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Original poster
Poppledopple · 13/08/2016 14:31

dreaming - just seen this link at Uni of Kent which allows you to apply online - it is disabled currently until Thurs - so there is an online process for this Uni - might be worth getting a shortlist of clearing options for your son so that he can apply online on Thurs as well as call .... no idea if one communication method trumps the other tho?

www.kent.ac.uk/clearing/

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Cocolepew · 13/08/2016 14:51

So, if DD hasnt heard she should phone at 8, but if she has been told no then there is no way she will get on even if she phones at 8?

Original poster
Poppledopple · 13/08/2016 15:13

Coco - my friends son was rejected by his firm choice due to grades - he called them and told them about what he had been doing over the summer (conservation project) - and as this 'added" to his PS - they then gave him a place. So with this single, anecdotal insight I would say make the call....nothing ventured nothing gained.

Just looked at the clearing opportunities for the course that my DS wants to do - his firm and insurance are in clearing and they are 9th and 10th in the rankings for this course but all the first 8 unis are full/not listed in clearing for 2016 - so I would imagine that pressure for the 9th and 10th places will be intense? Is that how I should read it or am I speculating in a panicked way?

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Coconutty · 13/08/2016 15:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Cocolepew · 13/08/2016 15:18

Thanks popple.
That must have been incredibly stessful for her coco.

Original poster
Poppledopple · 13/08/2016 15:28

Coconutty - was she able to have a conversation beforehand and get a verbal indication from the clearing options as to whether they would be interested in her IF her uni who had her on hold rejected her?....or would they not even talk to her until she was released?

Looks like the original uni was waiting to see how many came to them on clearing before letting her go .... torture ... just a numbers game really.

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Coconutty · 13/08/2016 15:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hellsbells99 · 13/08/2016 16:24

Thanks for the update Doozy.

dreamingofsun · 13/08/2016 17:09

if they don't quite get the grades they need, they can always take a gap year. Earn some money to put towards the costs, do a bit of travelling, retake an iffy subject. Its not the end of the world and may be a blessing in disguise

Coconutty · 13/08/2016 17:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Poppledopple · 13/08/2016 17:17

Its good to know ahead Coconutty that that situation is possible and to be prepared that decisions are not made instantly.

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Hassled · 13/08/2016 18:31

Thank you so much to everyone who's posted the useful facts we need to know - although for some reason the fact the universities already have the results has broken me out into a cold sweat. DS2 remains chilled and unbothered - I'm so wired that I'm finding his laid-back-ness, especially as there is no real Plan B, infuriating, but am working very hard at not saying "FGS why aren't you more stressed? Why is it only me?" :o

Peebles1 · 13/08/2016 18:37

So can they check online to see if they're in from 12 midnight, or 7am? Bit confused.

EllenJanethickerknickers · 13/08/2016 18:42

I thought track doesn't open until 7.30? Confused

Original poster
poppledopple · 13/08/2016 18:49

Hassled - thats why I think that we need to be on the ball - they may have no clue how complex this is to navigate and how quickly decisions will be made - and as they will have missed their grades (if they are in clearing) they will likely be in a really negative emotional /distressed place which is not the best place to be to start trawling the net and finding phone numbers to put your pitch in for a place.

It would be real shame if they missed out just due to inexperience, timing not knowing the system, being complacent. If we do the admin/prep ahead then if/when push comes to shove on Thurs we can hand them the info to get on with it -- or not!!

I have just looked at clearing options for my DS. For the course that he wants to do there are only 3 now showing on clearing that he would want to go to (2 of which already made him offers which he rejected) - so its actually a v simple situation in his case...ie...3 phone numbers to hand.

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homebythesea · 13/08/2016 19:00

dreamingofsun that is exactly my DS plan - he has said he won't go through the clearing process and reapply next year, retaking anything he needs to along the way. His personality is such that he needs to be certain of where he will live, get a feel etc controlfreak so the inherent uncertainty and having to make swift decisions that the clearing process entails is not for him I might well eat my words come Thursday in the heat of the moment

Original poster
poppledopple · 13/08/2016 19:02

8am according to UCAS website - but think others have said it has gone live a bit before this in the past?

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Original poster
poppledopple · 13/08/2016 19:08

homesbythesea but if clearing for his subject was similar to the situation my DS's is (ie v restricted and in places he has already applied/been offered) it might not then be in uncertain places or making swift decisions - he could think through over the next few days if he would take x course at y uni or not.

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originaldoozy · 13/08/2016 19:17

popple - I can only speak with regard to my Universities systems and processes which has a centralised clearing operation. We simply natch applicants to places. The vacancies we have are clearly advertised on our website, with the grades required and any subect specific requirements. If a caller has the grades and anything specific that the departmsnt has stipulated they get an offer. No selling of themselves needed!! They then have until 9am the next day to accept the offer on track. If they miss the deadline they can call us back but we may not have places left at that point.

originaldoozy · 13/08/2016 19:18

dreaming - in my experience they need to call on the phone. The first piece of advice we give students is to absolutely not go on holiday over results day. However as someone has already pointed out some universities may allow enquiries/give offers over email. I don't know how long it would take you to go about finding out which ones though!

Janjanmama · 13/08/2016 19:26

Really... ?! The universities already got the result? It is 2:30 a.m. now but I'm too nervous that I can't go to sleep while Dd is too clam and is sleeping soundly. She does not even think of the possible clearing. I almost want to call the department and ask if my dd receives this, this and this grades, will you still offer her a place please... Sad

Original poster
poppledopple · 13/08/2016 19:51

origin.....can the student call multiple unis and have multiple clearing offers made to them on track - and then just choose the one they want?

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