DD is on a science course (medicine) at Bristol with quite a high proportion seemingly on contextual offers or who have arrived through access courses. I understand some have found it tough.
A personal view is that it might be wise to take a step back and consider why her grades may be lower than her peers. Is it that she is just as able, but has suffered from patchy teaching, a wide ability range in her A level group, etc. Or could have worked harder. Or did she have sound teaching and worked very hard but still found it a stretch.
Then acknowledge that she may have some gaps to fill and consider how she might do this. For example by selecting a hall favoured by 'boring' scientists and accepting that the balance between work and play might be more work focussed, at least till she finds her feet.
Bristol will presumably stretch her more. But perhaps for her to decide whether this is right for her.
The status of the degree is one thing, but the class is also important, as is feeling comfortable and engaging in wider university life.
DD never mentions what school she went to and most of her friends went to state schools. It is not an issue. For her or the one or two others within the group who went to London private schools. Indeed her friends were surprised when, during a conversation about a rather posh campus character, DD confessed to having been in the same A level class. Yes some will stick to their own tribe, but Bristol is a big university so lots of scope to make friends through course or mutual interests.
Dd will be paying £100pw next year in rent, 10 minutes walk from campus. I don't know how that compares with Sheffield. She has not found the City that expensive, in part because she cooks from scratch and takes sandwiches in, and because her social life revolves round sport rather than clubbing. There are huge differences in the ammounts different students spend. And it not always the ones with better off parents who spend most.