Uni admissions - will they make an offer if DS has slightly lower predicted grades than their typical offer?

[namechange7711]

Hello. Is there anyone from Uni Admissions who could advise please?

DS wants to do a relatively unusual course which is only offered at a few institutions. All of the institutions have a "typical offer " of ABB or higher. The problem is that it looks likely that DS will be predicted ABC. Rather annoyingly the teacher who is predicting him a C says that is a minimum target and he should really be aiming for a B if he applies himself.

My question is will universities look at him if he's predicted slightly less than their typical offer or will he fall at the first hurdle? We wouldn't mind at all if they make him offers for ABB because then that would be something to aim for. I'm just worried he'll be rejected automatically.

As a second query, what happens if all 5 of your universities reject you??

Thanks.

[namechange7711]

Just wanted to come back to you lovely people who advised on this. DS went back to the teacher who was predicting a C and asked what he would need to do to get her to increase it to a B. She asked for two months of improved homework/test results. So DS buckled down and did it.

Just before Christmas she increased her prediction to a B, DS then submitted his UCAS form and he's now got a handful of offers.

Of course, he still needs to get the actual grades in the summer, but at least he is in the system at this point.

[RedJellyCrush]

Speak directly to the Admissions Officer in the Department offering the course usually an academic, and explain this

IF you take this advice, it needs to come from the potential applicant not a parent. "Getting your name in front of the Admissions tutor" will not gobe a good thing if it's the parent's name.

[user1471531877]

Yes that is true ,in reality though children could be predicted AAB by some teachers with these grades at AS (ABC)Many Universities have been known to drop 2 grades. It just seems a bit odd to have a system with such wide variation.
This could mean candidates predicted lower grades(ABC ) from the same AS results may not apply to these universities and could potentially miss out and have to take a forced gap year.
I think in this case it is worth advising students not to be put off applying to one or two Universities with a grade below the requirements , as there will probably be many a student applying with the same AS grades but higher predicted grades.

[user1474361571]

Candidate A gets same AS grades( ABC) as Candidate B both want same first choice uni and course normal offer ABB
A predicted ABB ( begs teacher) gets offer -then gets ABC at A2 but gets let in
B predicted ABC ( no budge teacher) no offer , gets ABC but has to go to 2nd choice uni as not offered at first due to predicted grades.

But in fact your scenario is not realistic, as most courses offering ABB are actually offering to anyone with achieved/predicted grades in this ballpark so wouldn't distinguish between ABB and ABC predictions.

And candidate B does have the option to release himself from second choice, apply during adjustment and re-apply the next year.

Meanwhile in an alternative scenario candidate A could well find themselves being rejected from top choice for having a C and finding themselves without many choices in Clearing i.e. being over-predicted is also harmful.

[stonecircle]

Totally agree user. DS's predicted grades were AAB. The B was a bit surprising as he was one mark off an A in the (non-linear) AS. We assumed it was because the teacher is only recently qualified and doesn't know the 'drill'. DS spoke to him and he agreed to change to an A. Then DS told me he'd asked his maths teacher to increase her A prediction to an Astar. Apparently she wasn't that keen as she doesn't feel he tries hard enough. But she agreed.

So DS has talked his AAB predictions up to Astar AA. It's a fairly poor system imo.

[user1471531877]

This is where the whole teacher predicted grades is a farce
Candidate A gets same AS grades( ABC) as Candidate B both want same first choice uni and course normal offer ABB
A predicted ABB ( begs teacher) gets offer -then gets ABC at A2 but gets let in
B predicted ABC ( no budge teacher) no offer , gets ABC but has to go to 2nd choice uni as not offered at first due to predicted grades.
Predicted grades system is unfair as not all teachers use same methods to predict .

[Tartle]

It totally depends on the university. I work at at top 5 RG and we won't consider anything below entry requirements without extenuating circumstances. Other unis it depends on the demand for the course. Nottingham used to make offers to students with one grade below in some subjects but not others. Sometimes a uni won't drop a grade in a particular subjects even if the course is undersubscribed as students need that grade in order to cope with the work. This is often the case with subjects that require maths or physics.

It is a buyers market this year though as there is a population dip in school leavers so I would say it's worth chancing your arm. Just make sure you have one realistic back up.

[user1474361571]

For physics, apart from the handful of top places, it is straightforward to get offers. Look up the offer percentages - they will typically be very high, 80s and 90+% of applicants getting offers. This implies that anybody with predicted grades close to required grades is getting an offer.

[Coffeewith1sugar]

My nephew has gone to bath for physics. He got 2A*B maths, economics and physics in that order of grades. His condition was to to get A in either maths or physics and the star in any of the subjects. He got B in physics (low B) and they let him in. He didn't do FM either. However he did do EPQ related to physics and got a A in that. So that might have saved his bacon. But I wouldn't say Bath is really strict in physics. But I think EPQ is regarded there they offer one grade lower in some of there degree's including physics I believe.

[stonecircle]

Agree that Nottingham physics will accept way lower than they admit due to the shortage of candidates for physics. I think Nottingham were taking ABB in Clearing this year

It's not so much accepting grades lower than offers on results day that I'm concerned about - it's getting the offer in the first place!

I know a lot of places - maybe not Bath - will still accept students for physics who don't quite meet their offer. But will they make an offer in the first place to someone who isn't quite predicted to get their standard offer. That's what's worrying me!

[Camembertie]

The KIS data is normally pretty good - have a look here: unistats.direct.gov.uk/subjects/entry/10007850FT-UUUN1-F300~USPH-AFB01/ReturnTo/Search

Else just ask the Unis directly - we get FOIs (Freedom of Information rquests) for this info all the time, mainly from lazy journalists and ex applicants . . or ask the Depts themselves. As a PP said it really does you no harm to contact them directly, and may save an awful lot of pain

[user1474361571]

Bath don't seem to drop grades, for physics or anything else. Agree that Nottingham physics will accept way lower than they admit due to the shortage of candidates for physics. I think Nottingham were taking ABB in Clearing this year.

Many people on this thread ask questions without specifying subject/university (for privacy) but the answers vary wildly according to the actual courses of interest. A course which has a 90+% offer rate won't care about one predicted grade below standard offer; a course which has a 50% offer rate almost certainly will.

[titchy]

LOL - he'll be fine with Physics offers trust me! They're desperate...

[stonecircle]

Thanks Camembert. Do you know how I would find their stats? It's physics he wants to do and Nottingham and Bath are the two who ask for a 'star'. He said he was going to try and talk his maths teacher up a grade this afternoon...

[Stopyourhavering]

I would point out that there can sometimes be a discrepancy as to what is listed on sites such as what uni/ which uni and even UCAS when it come to what grades are required and even what subjects
My Ds is applying for quite a niche subject- Forensic anthropology ( requiring A level biology and another science- he's doing physics and geography)
When he went to the uni open day and spoke to someone in admissions to clarify what A levels were required and what grades as there was some very conflicting information on these websites!...

[Camembertie]

Stonecircle you really need to ask the Uni that - or have a look at their stats. If it's an oversubscribed subject I would say don't waste your choice, esp as grammar (if the Uni is known to pay more than lip service to widening participation) - if it's a less popular subject and he can demonstrate keen then yes worth a pop.

[Bobochic]

ChathamDockyard - I have often called or emailed university admissions on behalf of French applicants and have always found them helpful and understanding. TBH applicants are at school all day during university working hours so opportunities to call are limited. Email isn't always the easiest way of having a conversation to clear up confusion and discuss details of specific candidates.

[stonecircle]

Camembert - sorry to derail, but can I ask if you think it's worth DS applying to universities whose standard offer is Astar, A A - AAA when he is predicted AAA. He is at a grammar school so am assuming he needs the star predicted in one subject or may be rejected outright.

[Camembertie]

Sorry - I meant we only make offers to applicants we have interviewed on the whole, so you would still have to perform at interview to get an offer

[Camembertie]

I work at a RG Uni and I am afraid with those grades it may be unlikely UNLESS the reference or statement (or both) flagged up issues affecting the Predicted Grades.

We invite all applicants to interview though - so it may just mean more likely to get an interview than normal, no other allowances until a level results in which case a slippage in a grade MAY be looked at more sympathetically.

It is all, however, academic really as we are so oversubscribed that we normally don't have to accept much in the way of lower grades.

like others I think if the teacher is saying with application a B is possible then a B should be predicted if it will open up more opportunities, but like a PP said please be more realistic when looking at the insurance place.

[justarandomer]

Thanks

In regards to offer ranges etc,

My dd called UCL to ask if she'd be offered AAA or AAA as standard offer is AAA-AAA. The chap was unforthcoming and even unwilling to tell her how they decide who gets what. Perhaps on a different day someone else would've been more helpful:)

[ChathamDockyard]

The potential student should contact and not the parent.

this is true but I stepped in a couple of times with my DC on occasion and never had anything other than a really helpful and welcoming experience from admissions staff. It's not the MN done thing but I don't think in RL it is disapproved of quite so much especially if there are particular reasons for doing it. Maybe it's a complete no no at Oxbridge etc but elsewhere I haven't heard of it being a problem. Yes it's best if the DC call but if not then I wouldn't worry too much.

[Mittensonastring]

They have to fill their spaces as bums on seats means money. I was an admissions officer for quite a few years.

Its all about the numbers so one year he would get in with lower grades and in another he wouldn't.

I always remember having to turn down one girl because in that year we were stuffed to the gills she took it with such grace and was so mature. I hated it because in the previous year her grades would have easily got her in. I still wonder 10 years later what happened to her.

Academics do have the final say but their actual involvement depending on them varies. I think back to one who prided himself on never reading a personal statement.

The potential student should contact and not the parent.

[scaryclown]

just as a moan, my predicted grades by my bastard teachers was B, U, U and i got AAC , ended up overqualified for all courses at my uni, but had a thoroughly life changing and brilliant experience so go figure!

[scaryclown]

good work justarandomer! that bristol quote is v. illuminating :)