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Higher education

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

Original poster

A Level Results Day

479 replies

3catsandadog · 30/07/2018 09:50

Hi If UCAS does not update first thing before the school opens for result is it a bad sign that the offer has been missed.
Good luck to everyone awaiting results :)

OP posts:
NoHaudinMaWheest · 30/07/2018 15:17

3cats I did the 3 years spacing and then ds had to have a year out for medical reasons so I still ended up with A levels and GCSEs the same year. We did survive though.

LoniceraJaponica · 30/07/2018 15:27

This is one of the many reasons why it completely baffles me that some people want loads of children Grin

MarchingFrogs · 30/07/2018 16:35

You should worry. I have one daughter getting A-level results on the 16th and another getting GCSE results on the 23rd..

We've got that next year with DD and DS2. With the added frisson of a slightly hazy World Challenge 'window', which may possibly see DD not getting back until the next day (I suspect that there is in reality very little danger of this happening and they just leave that hanging to worry us. Or at least, that's what I'm telling myself).

LeiatheSchnauzer · 30/07/2018 19:12

Nervous here too! Not sure how ds is feeling as he doesn't want to talk about it. I think he will have done well but his first choice needs silly grades so he's not overly confident. Followed the UCAS recommendation of chatting with him about how clearing works -just in case - but think it just made him more stressed.
He's said he might avoid emails till he's been to school to collect results but I won't be able to wait that long!

goodbyestranger · 30/07/2018 19:58

In the case of my DCs, UCAS has always updated early morning before going in for results (although DD1 chose not to look before going in - the other six all have). I'd certainly be concerned if it didn't.

Fifthtimelucky · 30/07/2018 20:12

A three year gap isn't brilliant either. We have had finals and A levels this year. At least the wait for results isn't as long with finals.

goodbyestranger · 30/07/2018 20:18

I can't remember which was the most results intensive year but probably the year with GCSEs for DS4, ASs for DS3, A Levels for DS2, Ist BM for DS1, Finals for DD3 and Masters for DD2. The way to avoid this collision of results is not to have eight DC.

LoniceraJaponica · 30/07/2018 20:24

8 children is a lifestyle choice these days.

Fifthtimelucky · 30/07/2018 20:33

Goodbyestranger: I don't think anyone else will top that!

goodbyestranger · 30/07/2018 21:17

Well yes indeed Lonicera. Not sure that that knowledge helped much with the tension but still :)

It was quite a year Fifthtimelucky! Good luck with the A levels and I hope the Finals were fine.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 31/07/2018 10:20

I really wish they would say 'surprise, we are going to do results day this afternoon' instead. I don't want to wish holiday away. But....
It's the if there's a slight miss that worries me, then it's a really anxious time being in limbo while their first choice makes up their mind.

I think it's horrible for all of our kids. It's a long old wait and no matter what their aims are its an anxious time.

goodbyestranger · 31/07/2018 10:26

That method just leads to sustained strain though OYBBK. That's how it sometimes is with uni exams when the actual date of results isn't known, just a general week or two. This way, with a clear date, it's possible to put it on a back burner until the day before, when it shoots back into sharp focus. Although that's not how it seems to be working for you, which is a shame.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 31/07/2018 10:31

I do remember standing outside Chancellors house waiting for my results and they didn't come that day waaahhh.

I didn't mean in general that it's a surprise, just this year as a one off Grin I don't think it's just me that it's come into focus early. Else this thread wouldn't be in existence.

toomanytolist · 31/07/2018 10:56

I'm with you OYBBK, I keep shoving it all firmly to the back of my mind and it keeps reappearing!

OhYouBadBadKitten · 31/07/2018 11:17

It's good to have a place to chat, so that we can then be calm with our dc. We can wibble together toomany.

I was fine until I got back at the weekend from being away. Then it crashed in. Partly because I'm a bit laid up at the moment and so I can't use my healthy coping strategies nor get out and do fun stuff so much. Work is very quiet at the moment too.

Pomegranatemolasses · 31/07/2018 12:42

I have lurked on your other thread OYBK (apologies if that sounds creepy and stalkerish!). DS has an offer from Cambridge, and may or may not make the required grades. I quite literally feel sick with nerves when I think about results day, and I too worry about the 'slight miss'.

To complicate things further, we are in Ireland which of course has a completely different exam system. If he misses his offer he plans on requesting a remark, but in our ridiculous system remarked results are not issued until Oct 15th.

His only 'advantage' is that results here are on August 15th, so we have one less tortuous day to wait!

goodbyestranger · 31/07/2018 12:49

If it's any reassurance DS2 missed his grades slightly and I had no idea until much later in the day because UCAS (which he gave me the log in for - I was away with the rest of the family) had updated to confirm his Oxford offer by 7.30am. They have meeting to decide which near misses to take earlier in the week. I have heard of some of the big name schools applying wizardry to those who miss their offers who the colleges haven't been inclined to take but that's what you pay for I guess! DS2 got a First so I think the college knew from his interview and his aptitude test that he was a reasonable bet. It's the UCAS thing which is all important, for ordinary students, more so than actual results.

goodbyestranger · 31/07/2018 12:53

(When I heard what DS2 had got I asked his Ho6 to phone up the college to ask if UCAS was correct - I had visions of DS2 turning up for freashers' then being kicked out, having missed his insurance - and the Ho6 asked if I really wanted him to rattle the boat. I did, so he did and it was all fine).

goodbyestranger · 31/07/2018 12:55

Pls ignore SPaG.

Pomegranatemolasses · 31/07/2018 12:56

That's a great story goodbyestranger!

janinlondon · 31/07/2018 14:54

I am becoming wildly neurotic, reading and re-reading everything about clearing and insurance choices and grade boundaries. Currently I am focussing on this from poster up^^ thread somewhere, and wondering if it is actually true that they hold a place if you are having a remark? I dont think it is true for all? Anyone with any knowledge?

"students who ..apply to exam boards for remarks.. mean the places they were offered can't be offered to anyone else who's closer to meeting the requirements until the results of the re-mark are received, as long as this is no later than 31 Aug."

OhYouBadBadKitten · 31/07/2018 15:17

That's tricky Pomegranate re the remark. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

I think I'm going to go and tidy out a cupboard. I can empty it on to the floor and sift through it. At least then whatever happens I'll have tidy cupboards.

BagelGoesWalking · 31/07/2018 15:34

My DD is also convinced she won't get the grades. I'm really hoping she will (obviously) but her 1st choice uni did hint on offer holders days that they would often/probably/maybe accept once grade lower in one of the subjects, so I'm clinging onto that like Rose on the door. She didn't have any really awful exams and overall was pretty happy with them so I hope her pessimism is unfounded.

We've asked my DS26 to come down the night before so he'll be around to help with clearing (or to celebrate!!). She'll be so crushed and I know she'll be very difficult to talk to, so he'll be the best person to comfort and help her.

Honestly, I feel my stomach churning at the thought of the 16th 😩

Hoveringhobbit · 31/07/2018 15:40

I had a DD waitinf for A level results last year, DS1 waiting for results this year and DS2 sitting them next year. DD and DS1 sat some GCSEs a year early. So that means I have had/will have Results Day from 2014-2019. Bad bad bad planning.

goodbyestranger · 31/07/2018 15:45

I don't think it is correct jan. In recent years the DC have known people at school who've lost their places at Oxbridge pending remarks. The worst situation is where a coursework remark is put in for, because that takes longer.