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Higher education

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

Original poster

It's August ..... the countdown begins

556 replies

doglover · 01/08/2017 15:53

How's everyone feeling? My dd was pretty much able to forget about results during July but said in a very quiet voice this morning, "I'll find out this month where I'm going."

Is anyone doing anything yet in preparation for 17th? Should we be doing anything yet in preparation for 17th?!

OP posts:
Lucysky2017 · 13/08/2017 13:22

Mine have said they willn ot wake any earlier than usual on results day and not before 8am so I suspect I will hvae a longer wait than most. They intend to drive to school for about 9.30am (they should know from UCAS track by then if they have a place). If they don't have a place then they are happy I go into school with them for advice. If they do then they will go in alone which is a pity as it would be my last time at their school but I suppose I'll be working and there won't be much for me to do anyway if they have their places. If they don't then I should be there they agree for background advice on where to go if clearing is needed etc.

tobee · 13/08/2017 13:30

Ds can log in to school at 6.30.a.m

tobee · 13/08/2017 13:31

Ds can log in to school at 6.30.a.m

pericat · 13/08/2017 15:08

DS has told me that some of his friends last year knew they had a place at their first choice Uni through the UCAS tracker? Does anyone know what time that information is available? (Ds is hoping for midnight so if he gets his place at his first choice Uni he can have a lie-in!)

Blogwoman · 13/08/2017 15:30

I've had a quick look on UCAS to see if they say what time they can find out if their place has been confirmed but I can't see it. I'd like to know that too!

titchy · 13/08/2017 15:31

Track is up from 8am (often from 7am...) and will show whether your firm or insurance (or neither) have made your offer unconditional.

pericat · 13/08/2017 15:46

Titchy - thank you. Looks like there is no lie-in for ds!!

Lucysky2017 · 13/08/2017 16:13

Mine say rightly as they are not allowed into school until 9.30 and looking early will not change the result they will wait as they need their sleep, but I am hoping that is just bravado and as soon as they wake they will check on UCAS which will say if they have their places (but not the grades).

TheMightyMing · 13/08/2017 20:21

I feel a bit sick. AS didn't go that well last year so I'm praying for a good day this time. My sons really keen to go to Sheffield.

Travelledtheworld · 14/08/2017 09:30

My DD has been very cool until this week but yesterday she admitted she and her friends are all feeling very anxious.
Letting her sleep in this morning, time goes by......

sadusername2 · 14/08/2017 09:50

My daughter is definitely getting worried now. She has just applied for accommodation at her insurance university which means she is acknowledging that she may not get first choice. We have pushed the fact that she may not get insurance to the very back of our minds. However, I have had a sneaky look around clearing and there are places at quite a few RG universities. However I think she is quite sure she doesn't want to go into clearing.

One interesting fact I have come across is that Edexcel are allowing schools to download copies of students papers for free this year . This will be very useful in deciding whether or not to go for remarks. I am not sure what the situation is with other boards though. I am off to see what the situation is.

OddBoots · 14/08/2017 10:15

A daft question, if you go on the UCAS search ( search.ucas.com/ )and tick the box 'clearing 2017' are all the degrees that come as a result of a search in clearing?

If so then if someone has a firm for a degree that is in clearing does that give them a better shot of getting in if they have slipped a grade or two?

Gannet123 · 14/08/2017 10:21

At this point, clearing lists are based on predictions/likelihoods. Universities got the results on Saturday and will have a clearer idea of where they are now., but accurate clearing lists won't be released until Tuesday or Wednesday.
In addition, if you look at my post upthread, you can't draw any conclusions from whether or not a course is in clearing - they may be trying to fill up places (and would always prefer to fill up with near misses who made them their firm choice rather than clearing choices) or they may just be in the market for one or two adjustment candidates who have done better than expected. You can't tell.
Really sorry - I know it's hard - but trying to second guess things from clearing lists at this stage is the road to madness Smile

OddBoots · 14/08/2017 10:28

Thank you Gannet :) I fear I am a long way along the road to madness but thankfully DS is chilled so I will keep my madness to myself.

stonecircle · 14/08/2017 10:34

Thank you for asking the question oddboots - I've been wondering that too.

Managed to put Thursday out of my mind until a few days ago, but the Clearing guide falling out of Saturday's Guardian did for me ...

Eve · 14/08/2017 10:41

joining - picking up a no doubt whiffy DS from Boomtown this morning.. and now the wait til Thursday!.

Tawny75 · 14/08/2017 12:17

The waiting is getting to DD, she burst out in floods of tears yesterday over the most silly little thing. Proper sobs and everything, but after a cuddle with me, then boyfriend, then Dad she calmed down. It doesn't help that she has to have an operation tomorrow either so has a lot going on. Thursday morning at 8 am cannot come soon enough for us.

UCAS track will open then and her school will email her the results.

Whileweareonthesubject · 14/08/2017 12:57

I well remember results day. And how it feels when things don't go to plan. DC didn't get the desired results, after a tough year. All was not lost. Took a year out, found a job and applied again for the following year with the not stellar results. Was offered places at all five universities. Chose the one that had been the aspirational choice, where the interview had given DC the opportunity to explain the very genuine reasons for the grades. Went on to get a masters degree in their subject. Followed up by doing post grad at an outstanding uni and is now extremely successful in the career they always wanted.
I hope all dcs get what they want/need on Thursday, but please, if they don't, reassure them it's not the end of the world.
Flowers Gin

a1mary · 14/08/2017 13:09

I know exactly how it feels - I was in the position of waiting to receive my A Level results this time last year. UCAS track became available at around 7:30am (I'd been awake for hours refreshing it and wasn't expecting anything until 8am). Got accepted to study Law at Uni of Sheffield and then picked up my results at sixth form from 9am... if it helps anyone at all, I missed my offer by two grades (entry requirements AAA and I was accepted with ABB) - might just be helpful to remind that although it's horrendously nerve wracking, even if you miss the grades it's not always the end of the world!!

user7841794168 · 14/08/2017 13:48

We looked at clearing the other day and DS's firm has no listings in clearing at all but his insurance does, as do the three he turned down - two of which are RG unis.

Blogwoman · 14/08/2017 13:58

Thanks for the positive stories While and a1mary. Sorry to hear your DD has to have an op tomorrow Tawny - hope all goes well for her.

jeanne16 · 14/08/2017 16:57

Anyone have any positive stories about Cambridge taking pupils who miss the grades? I am feeling increasingly sick about my DS's offer.

tobee · 14/08/2017 17:42

I feel ghastly. It's like waiting for medical test results! DS articulated his preoccupation this a.m. I felt guilty coz I changed tack when he started predicting his results because he's always a little bit over optimistic. I feel bad for saying that! I just trotted out the "whatever happens, good or not so good, we can all deal with it". I want to show faith but I'm a bit superstitious.

Eve · 14/08/2017 19:31

just checked - DS preferred course is not listed as being in clearing! :-(

tobee · 14/08/2017 19:57

Same here!