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Original poster

University Letter - can anyone explain

34 replies

jewel1968 · 30/06/2018 20:01

Hi. DS has a conditional offer from Royal Holloway and today he got a written communication in the post that started by saying ' We wanted to say congratulations on gaining your place to study with us' It goes on for a bit and then finishes with 'In the meantime keep up the good work and we'll see you soon '.

So he phoned their admissions and they check their systems and he is still down as a conditional offer. Does anyone have any idea why their written communication makes it sound so definite when he is on a conditional offer. Thanks.

OP posts:

LonginesPrime · 30/06/2018 20:06

I think the middle bit might be important too - the rest just sounds like (nice and positive) filling as opposed to the reason to write to your son.

Twistedinknots · 30/06/2018 20:10

As he has received an offer I assume they are saving him a spot on the course. They are acknowledging the conditional offer and encouraging/reminding him to continue working hard in future.

Original poster

jewel1968 · 30/06/2018 20:30

The middle bit is about - can't wait to welcome you on campus and how he will develop his sense of purpose. Also offer a student chat online thing if he had questions. Thing I his exams are over now so not much point in encouraging him to work. It just reads very much like they are expecting him to join them.

OP posts:

LonginesPrime · 30/06/2018 20:33

It just reads very much like they are expecting him to join them.

Well they are, aren't they?

Assuming he gets the grades, they obviously want him to go there, so it makes sense that they'd say that and make him feel welcome.

LIZS · 30/06/2018 20:36

Is it his firm choice , if so has he already booked accommodation . The assumption is they will attend until results suggest otherwise ( and even then RHUL are often slightly flexible)

Original poster

jewel1968 · 30/06/2018 20:41

I guess I don't see the point in them writing to him as he had made them his first choice and if he gets the grades (fingers crossed) he will definitely go there. If he doesn't get the grades he won't so why do they bother sending these type of communications when anything can happen. Many a slip twixt cup and lip....

OP posts:

kalidasa · 30/06/2018 20:46

It's a 'keep warm' letter. Now that students can trade up as well as down after results universities put quite a lot of effort into making sure that students feel excited about their choice in the run up to results.

Original poster

jewel1968 · 30/06/2018 20:48

Ah that makes sense Kal. I guess he could trade up if he got higher grades. Thanks

OP posts:

RoyalHolloway1886 · 02/07/2018 16:14

Hope you don’t mind me chiming in on this, but I just wanted to clarify the purpose of this letter and answer any questions.

This particular communication is sent to applicants once they choose Royal Holloway as their Firm choice as a pre-welcome before we meet them on campus. It is designed to give them a little taste of the community spirit we’re so proud of here at Royal Holloway. We’re aware that anything can happen between now and results day, but making your Firm choice is a big step on that journey and we just wanted to acknowledge this with our applicants.

We’re sorry if the message didn’t quite come across as we hoped and we will bear this in mind for the future. In the meantime If you have any questions about this or anything else Royal Holloway, related please don’t hesitate to ask. There is also a lot of information on our website www.Royalholloway.ac.uk

Cat Cole
Undergraduate Admissions Manager
Royal Holloway, University of London

Xenia · 02/07/2018 17:02

He hasn't gained a place really and perhaps it just Royal H just needs to speak to some English or grammar or law lecturers to vet their letters!

LonginesPrime · 02/07/2018 17:06

Well, this is awkward...

MissCherryCakeyBun · 02/07/2018 17:25

scaryteacher · 03/07/2018 20:18

Ds had one of these 4 years ago. He is now in the last stretch of his MA there, having got a First in his BA at RHUL last year. He loves it there, (despite his issues with the lack of Taught MA study space in the library), and I will have to drag him out kicking and screaming when he finishes at the end of August.

jumblefun2 · 03/07/2018 20:22

I think the "gaining your place to study" is misleading. Maybe a "thank you for making us your first choice" would be better.

LolaLilo · 04/07/2018 20:34

My nephew just graduated from there, absolutely loved it.

Best of luck to your DC

Xenia · 04/07/2018 20:59

Basically it breaches trade descriptions law surely and is in effect a lie and they need to correct the wording ASAP as it hardly makes them look good.

LonginesPrime · 04/07/2018 21:22

it hardly makes them look good.

Well, I thought their response here made them look very attentive and I thought they clarified the position well.

OP - what do you think?

LetticeFortescue · 04/07/2018 21:55

Basically it breaches trade descriptions law surely
No it doesn't Xenia

kalidasa · 05/07/2018 13:14

Ha, I think the official response from Royal Holloway confirms my explanation!

Xenia · 05/07/2018 13:19

It says he has a place when he doesn't have a place. Is that lawful? Obviously I expect the detailed UCAS terms probably say you can ignore lies for universities who cannot write English and the only thing that counts is the detailed terms and conditions but it's pretty appalling.

jumblefun2 · 05/07/2018 13:20

I would say it's not trade descriptions but a contract maybe Xenia? So they have made a binding contract by the use of the phrase "gaining place to study"?

heatwave2018 · 05/07/2018 13:23

They always assume you will get the grades. If they kept putting hopefully all the time it isn't very positive. Unless you already have the qualifications or your child is a genius then it's always a conditional offer by universities

Xenia · 05/07/2018 13:25

They can get out of the contract argument probably by saying the UCAS terms prevail although may be not because of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 perhaps -that it would be unreasonable that anyone would think the very clear you h av a place means anything than you have a place come what may; that is why I suggested trade descriptions - the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 but that is more about misleading marketing . Either way trading standards might want to have a look as that kind of bald statement wihch says you have a place when you don't either means someone is misleading students or needs grammar and legal advice before they send things out. We must not let standards slip.

jumblefun2 · 05/07/2018 13:27

I agree Xenia if I was Royal Holloway I'd be bricking it

JennieLee · 05/07/2018 13:31

I think a contract is about both parties keeping their side of the bargain.

The conditional offer makes it clear that it is the student's 'job' to get the required grades. The university's job is to reserve a place for that student - even if more students than expected get the required grades.

It's similar to a letter offering employment in that there, there are also conditions. The references have to be satisfactory and if the applicant turns out to have provided incorrect information as part of the application, the job offer no longer stands.

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