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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?

OP posts:
hellsbells99 · 01/08/2016 09:37

I think the universities are thinking similar to us as DD2 has just received an email from her insurance choice! It states:
If your results are not what you had hoped for, your first action on A level results day should be to contact your firm choice institution. If, however, your offer is unsuccessful, make a note of the following numbers to contact the University of Xxxxxx ........ And then contains a list of numbers

Ohtobeskiing · 01/08/2016 10:14

This will be second time around for me - I am so glad I only have two children as I'm not sure I could stand the build up to results day again!

When ds got his results 3 years ago he missed his grades for his firm choice but Track had not been updated - we had already been told by them that this meant they wanted to talk to the applicant so ds got straight on the phone to them. They offered him a place on a very similar course which he accepted straight away. He has just graduated Grin

Dd is taking a gap year and will apply to uni this autumn with her results so the pressure is slightly different for us. She know what she wants to do and where she wants to do it so still has target grades to meet.

Decorhate · 01/08/2016 11:47

Good advice from Hellsbells on being prepared in case clearing is needed. But last year a huge number of my dd's friends dropped a grade or two and still were accepted by their firm.

It does depend on the course. But dd's insurance took her even though they specifically said on their website that they wouldn't take her particular combination of grades. And that was for a very competitive subject.

From what we've seen, the trick is to get the offer. They seem very likely to take a dropped grade if they have decided they like you enough to make an offer.

homebythesea · 01/08/2016 12:57

decor this is what I feel desperately hope DS course only has 80 or so students, he went to the offer day and schmoozed a bit etc to show willing: if they gave him an offer to me that indicates they think he's a good prospect so hopefully there will be some wriggle room on the day!

NickyEds · 01/08/2016 13:01

Dp is a lecturer and August is a nervy month at universities too! No university wants empty places, none, they want to fill them so unless they are massively over subscribed they do have some leeway with grades. Admissions is the job that no one wants!

Cocolepew · 01/08/2016 13:09

Can someone explain clearing to me please?
Blush

dreamingofsun · 01/08/2016 13:39

coco - its where unis fill any spare places they have. if a student hasn't met the grades for their first or insurance offers they can go through clearing. places are advertised on the ucas website and also the uni's websites. You contact the admissions team at the uni's advertising places and see if you can convince them to take you. If they agree then the offer/acceptance goes through the UCAS website. I think you can also go through clearing if you have just decided to try for uni as well.

NickyEds · 01/08/2016 13:41

Clearing is the system universities use to fill places on courses. As a student you would use it if you have no offers so are applying late or if you haven't got the grades you needed to get onto your firm or insurance choices. Most students access clearing through UCAS but you done have to, you can call the uni direct too. So if you don't get the grades you need you would usually call your firm choice first and ask if they will accept your lower grades, if not then move to your insurance, if they pass then you would enter clearing. UCAS will have the website up and running on results day and you would select other, similar courses or other universities to try and find a place.

hellsbells99 · 01/08/2016 13:45

Coco - this link gives a good explanation
www.thestudentroom.co.uk/content.php?r=15485-introduction-to-clearing

Original poster
Poppledopple · 01/08/2016 13:53

Janjan - she can call the department now and ask as a general anonymous enquiry what was the lowest grades that they have taken in clearing over the last two years. That will put your mind at ease. Mine has a AAA offer and the dept told him when he asked this Q that they have accepted to clearing grades of BBB - so he took some comfort from this as if he got BBB he would be in ahead of clearing candidates at his firm choice.....but obviously nothing is guaranteed and it is all a numbers game and depends how the other offer holders do this year - but going on past years there were clearing places available at BBB. Hope this helps

OP posts:
Cocolepew · 01/08/2016 14:07

Thanks for the explanations and linkSmile
I don't think DD is bothering about clearing. If she doesn't get on her course she wants to try for it next year.

Decorhate · 01/08/2016 14:15

Coco, is she planning to resit her exams next year if she doesn't get the grades she needs this year?

Cocolepew · 01/08/2016 16:24

Yes she has a place at college to do 2 A levels as fast track.
She only applied to one university because she doesnt want to leave home.
If her grades are awful I think she will take a year out to re-think .
She has worked incredibly hard so I hope they are the grades she needs.

Coconutty · 01/08/2016 16:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Cocolepew · 01/08/2016 16:47

Thanks Smile
The other DD is going into fourth year and couldn't care less about exams Hmm, she wants to leave school, they are so different Grin

HocusLotus · 01/08/2016 19:42

With all the experience of 1 DC and one year hence here - I wish you all well.

FWIW DS decided last year (had he not got the grades ) he would take a year out and re-evaluate what he was going to do , simply because if he didn't get grades which would get him in to 1st or 2nd choice then he would have to think again. He , too, had both offers at the same grades ( so no nice fall back option) , he hoped the 2nd would give him a little more leeway. It worked out as it happened - I hope it does for all your DCs .

Good luck all

HocusLotus · 01/08/2016 20:30

I post that in the spirit of OP's post. Yes it is (or indeed can be ) jittery over these next couple of weeks. I will cross fingers for all.

raspberryrippleicecream · 01/08/2016 21:46

Nerves building for OFB here too. He needs A*AA, or AAA for insurance. He reckons he has either ok for Firm or has misjudged and crashed and burned!

School opens at 7.00 Am, so will be there by then. Good advice about having PS to hand. DS insurance also sent him a nice letter saying what had impressed them at interview, might be handy to have that to hand to.

We also have GCSE results!

Janjanmama · 01/08/2016 22:40

Thank you all for the kind advice! I'm feeling much better now.

home dd's course is not a competitive one so I hope her firm uni will be more lenient. However, a predicted A drops to C is still horrible!

hells she has received an email from her insurance too, giving her instructions if she misses her firm. Sounds encouraging.

popple I did not know that we can call the department on this enquiry. I will ask dd to call. If they are willing to answer, this will definitely help ease my nerve. Thanks so much. Smile

hellsbells99 · 02/08/2016 09:39

Raspberry, DD2 says she is not going to get her results until after she has been able to access Track to see whether she has got a place first! Last year, a few students had emails welcoming them to their university (depending on the uni and the course) - the emails arrived sometime after midnight and before Track opened (DD1 didn't but kept checking!).

Original poster
Poppledopple · 02/08/2016 09:39

raspberry - lucky you 7am - we have to wait for UCAS update at 8am and school to post online at 8!!!! another hour more than you!!

OP posts:
hellsbells99 · 02/08/2016 10:37

Popple - Ucas Track was online for approx 7.30am last year so tell your DCs to keep trying everyone!

Janjanmama · 02/08/2016 10:44

Popple - some updates from dd - she has found out there is no clearing for her course either in firm or insurance choice. That means, she has to look for other unis.

homebythesea · 02/08/2016 11:52

I've had a peek at the UCAS clearing list for DS subject and his first only choice does not appear which indicates they think they will fill all the places with current offer holders (is that a correct assumption?). I'm hoping this is a positive and indicates a willingness to be flexible clutches at straws

I'm amazed that the course on the so-called aspirational place, (top tier RG) which offered higher than the rest but which DS didn't like on visiting IS showing places in clearing for that course which suggests that one might get a place with considerably lower grades than you might think Hmm

hellsbells99 · 02/08/2016 12:40

The clearing lists will be updated between the 15th and 18th of August, after the universities have received the A level results (which I believe happens on Sunday 14th).

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