Offers

[boocha]

Hi
Never been involved in the university application system before, my daughter has just submitted her ucas application and I was having a look on the website with regards to the different replies that could be received from unis.
I was wondering (couldn't find an answer online) what if you are made an unconditional offer but only on you making it your firm choice?
What would happen if you made it your insurance, would it then change to conditional? Would they then put grades on the offer so you could see what its conditional on?
Hope this makes sense!
Thanks

Ds had an unconditional offer last year. It would have reverted to a graded offer if he had put it as insurance. In the end he decided on the unconditional as firm , it took so much stress out of the exam and results period. He could apply for accommodation early and got his first choice. He started a few weeks ago and appears happy so far.

AFAIK there is only one university that gives truly unconditional offers, as in it is still unconditional if you put it as your insurance, Leicester. All the others will only give out unconditional offers if they can ensure that you will go there. It is a slight marketing ploy but can take a huge amount of pressure off the students.

They give you an offer. They then contact you and say they'll make that offer unconditional if you put them as firm. You don't get unconditionals put straight on Track, unless you've already taken your A levels.

Thanks for your replies.
Ok. I didn't know that an unconditional offer wouldn't go on track at first. on the ucas website it says unconditional is a possible reply to an application?
Thinking about it,I realise you don't have to firm or Insure anything until all offers are in anyway?

Yes you don't need to respond on Ucas until around beginning of May. (May vary for medics, vets, Oxbridge et al)

yes of course unconditional is a possible reply - if you've applied after you've done your A levels and you're holding 4 A grade A levels you'll have (probably) met any conditions!

However where the unconditional is only offered where the applicant firms, there HAS to be a grade or point offer first, as the university doesn't yet know whether the applicant will firm, insure or decline the offer.

What does unconditional offer mean ? Does it mean that if you firm them you can go there even if you do not get the grades of standard entry requirements for the course you have applied for ? Going to a Y13 parents information evening tonight so maybe will gain some insight there .

Yes busy - that's exactly what it means. But if you're predicted two Es you won't be getting an unconditional from an RG institution! If you're predicted 3 x A stars and your AS/GCSE profile supports this you might.

Thankyou titchy. My Dd is already at a RG uni 9Aand 3A's achieved at GCSE and applied with predicted grades of A A* A which got her 5 offers from RG uni's 3 of which gave her reduced offers. She never got any Unconditional offers though, but some of her friends did. We now have DS looking at applying for unis but is not looking at RG units so just wondered what unconditional actually meant and what would happen if he actually got one. If it meant that they will take them no matter what grade they get for A level would they remain motivated to pass ? Also would be concerned that they would not cope with the course so what is point of going ? DS is very clever but very lazy ! ( according to nearly every teacher he has had since Y7)

I am a teacher in a secondary school and have seen the effect unconditional offers have on pupils. Without exception, they achieve far lower A level grades than predicted. This is disappointing for the school and teachers as we work hard too. It will also have an effect further down the line for the students as they will have to declare their A levels in graduate job applications .

DD had two unconditional offers 2 years ago. Leicester and Birmingham the one from Birmingham was a conditional offer that would become unconditional if she made them her firm. Leicester, as I said earlier, was always unconditional. It appeared on track first as her offers came in. As to why she had these offers she had a predicted grade of 42 points (she did the IB) and a phenomenal personal statement. There is also an element of luck she didn't know about the possibility of unconditional offers when she applied.

UEA have made 'unconditional if you firm' offers in the past couple of years (with an initial conditional offer) . Out head if 6th form said that he hates unconditional offers especially for boys who are more likely to stop working before exams, which then affects them later on with job applications and do on

Interesting comments on unconditional offers - these are common in Scotland, as offers are made on the basis of the achieved Higher results. The universities send out a letter saying "we still expect you to work hard for your Advanced Highers". I don't know of anyone in DS's year who took their foot off the gas because they had an offer in the bag.

A benefit of a Scottish education is being able to apply to Scottish Universities with known grades.

Some universities who make unconditional offers then offer a financial incentive to get good grades. DS had an unconditional from Sussex (he declined) but they offer something like £1k cash plus £2k off accommodation fees in year one if you get AAA.

It's a bit of a mixed blessing - it's a hugely stressful time anyway without the additional worry of having to decide whether or not to go for an unconditional, which may not be your 1st or even 2nd choice.

They give you an offer. They then contact you and say they'll make that offer unconditional if you put them as firm.

Yes, this is how dd's worked. She firmed them and took the unconditional - definitely lightened the pressure for her and it was nice to have her first choice accommodation confirmed well before results day.

She did get a slightly lower grade profile than she'd hoped for, but it wasn't because she stopped working. She worked ridiculously hard tbh. She also got (or will get!) some money for exceeding the original offer.

I think if it's your first (or maybe second, persuadable up to first) choice, then an unconditional offer is great. I wouldn't advise my child to be swayed by one if there were courses or institutions that they clearly preferred.

DS' friends got unconditional offers for Lancaster as their firm, they only do unconditional on some courses. They got three thousand pounds if they still achieved the standard offer, who h is a great incentive!