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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:
user7841794168 · 14/08/2017 20:02

Where are you checking?

user7841794168 · 14/08/2017 20:03

I mean, which website not which university.

tobee · 14/08/2017 20:15

Just googled ucas clearing and went to ucas site. Not really sure what I can take from it anyway. If I read it correctly, the uni ds flipped a coin to choose between there and his firm is in clearing, but again, not sure if that takes us any further forward. I'm definitely one of those who looks up grade boundaries to see if I can deduce anything. May as well find out if Saturn is aligned with Uranus. Confused

user7841794168 · 14/08/2017 20:15

Ah, I've just found the UCAS clearing 2017 search, DS's chosen subject has four different RG unis listing vacancies including his firm and insurance choices.

That's good, right?

tobee · 14/08/2017 20:15

That's in answer to your question user

tobee · 14/08/2017 20:16

X post!!!

user7841794168 · 14/08/2017 20:21

tobee I'm like that as well, I'd look up the stuff for anything and everything if I thought it'd be of any use.

boys3 · 14/08/2017 21:35

a year off for good behaviour here, just AS. Having been a few years back where the rest of you are Gin Wine Cake helps. Best wishes for all your DCs come Thursday morning

toomuchtoast · 14/08/2017 21:49

I'm not sleeping for worrying about results!
I'm hoping my DD isn't aware as she's working all hours at the moment to make a little nest egg for herself.
DD has asked her insurance uni to let her go straight into clearing if she doesn't get her firm choice uni. She's positive she's doing the right thing and if she doesn't get it then she's going to work for a year.

I bought her a card today... I've tempted fate haven't I? Confused

TheMightyMing · 14/08/2017 21:55

Arrrggggh, three more sleeps 😫

chelseahotel · 14/08/2017 22:04

Jeanne I think Cambridge are different in that very near misses are "pooled" and don't get either accepted or rejected straight away. Worthy of a whole new thread.
Maths in particular is tough as they can get all A*s in their A levels but also need high marks in STEP.

user7841794168 · 14/08/2017 22:16

Hang on, you can't go into clearing without asking your insurance? Shit.

Ds's firm have vacancies in clearing so does that mean they might accept him through clearing if his insurance agree?

titchy · 14/08/2017 22:40

The firm gets first dibs on an applicant who's missed their grades. It's only once they've made a decision not to accept that the insurance gets to consider that applicant. If the insurance then decides to offer, and the applicant no longer wants the place, they MUST ask the insurance to release them into clearing.

BizzyFizzy · 14/08/2017 23:41

Not sure that's right, Titchy.

DS1 got a Congratulations from his insurance on Track. He obviously thought he had dropped a grade. When he picked up his results from school, they matched his firm offer, so he was definitely in. It took his firm until a Sunday to update Track.

I've heard elsewhere, probably here, that if the firm is slow to confirm, the insurance will jump in with an acceptance.

user7841794168 · 15/08/2017 07:43

Presumably an acceptance from the insurance won't stop the firm from later accepting ?

sadusername2 · 15/08/2017 07:53

Jeanne16, there is a thread on the Student Room which has useful information on how Cambridge manages missed offers. The information comes straight from Peterhouse admissions.

www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4869518#primary_content

titchy · 15/08/2017 07:55

That's the insurance trying their luck (naughty!). They couldn't have actually ever been in a position to make his offer unconditional until the firm had rejected him.

Every university you apply to gets your results from UCAS which means any of the five can email you with your results and a tempting offer.

titchy · 15/08/2017 07:56

slightly regrets not making dc apply to my institution...

BizzyFizzy · 15/08/2017 08:05

Two more sleeps 😴 😴

Blogwoman · 15/08/2017 08:12

That's interesting that all unis applied to hear what the applicants grades are. My DD been so calm until last night. Really cares about her grades, not just getting her uni place...

MrsSchadenfreude · 15/08/2017 08:15

From an IB perspective- DD1 and her mates got their results last month. Every one who didn't get the grades they needed for their first choice got accepted anyway. Some missed by 5 points and still got in. And these are all RG universities, so maybe they are expecting to have to lower grades for A levels? DD1's friend was required to get 40 points for medicine, and got 36 - she got her first choice.

dingit · 15/08/2017 08:53

That's interesting about the IB. But if some of them have missed their required grades, surely the universities must wait until the a level candidates get their grades before they fill their spare spaces? (Iyswim)

MrsSchadenfreude · 15/08/2017 08:58

Apparently not!

Carriemac · 15/08/2017 09:33

That's a great link about Cambridge and missed grades, is there an Oxford equivalent?

user7841794168 · 15/08/2017 09:41

Now that there is no cap on numbers there are effectively unlimited spare places aren't there ? They can take as many as they can cope with, though I don't think that's good.