Unconditional offer and grades well below preficted

[dollysmum222]

My DS has an unconditional offer after predicted grades of ABB ( which was always unrealistic- head of 6th was very generous) I was always concerned whether he should accept it in case his grades fell well short. So his results are CDD! He's very disappointed but still wants to fill the place. I have suggested that he speaks to someone at the university for advice. Is anyone else in this position ? TIA

or what about a foundation year, although that would cost extra. Still might be worth it to reassure himself that he wants to do the course in the first place? I think if ds (with an unconditional) had got D,E I would have made him do a Foundation or resits.

Agree with others, don’t overthink it.
Uni is a doddle compared to A levels for most. Fewer subjects and usually one you actually like!
I’m in HE, we really don’t care what they turn up with (within reason), we wouldn’t make the unconditional offer otherwise (and we all really need the numbers this year!)

Why did he speak to clearing? He's not in clearing?
DS did just this, relaxed with an unconditional and got dreadful grades. Loving his course & achieving good grades. Similar predictions & similar results

He spoke to clearing as that was who answered the number he rang today. Nobody was available from the course. It reassured him just speaking to someone from the university.

Well he will be there with students who bailed their A levels. He will obviously know this. It sounds like his school over gilded his likely results.

Universities shouldn’t give unconditionals for predicted ABB either. It’s truly a bums on seats policy - so that’s what they have got. If they don’t, it’s staff redundancies presumably! Which is the lesser of the two evils?

No to the idea of a foundation year - £9k extra for no reason. The most important thing is to support his mental health right now - which may have taken a battering, and be the supportive mum. There is a massive shocking rise in anxiety in students, so you don't want to feed that.
Clearing and adjustment WERE the right people to speak to - this stuff is what they advise on... why not have a tiny celebration that he's starting a new phase of life, and don't dwell on the past. Uni is very different to A levels.

Yay enjoy pokemon go and preparing :) Good luck from me to you son!

Thank you so much 😁

My DD is in exactly the same position as your DS. She is bitterly disappointed in her grades which are well below her predicted. But she accepted an unconditional offer way back in February. Accommodation and Finance all been in place for ages. With hindsight she took her foot off the gas and pretty much gave up on one of her A levels (which she hated). But her teachers assure me her grades don't reflect her ability in her chosen subject by a long shot and she should put her results behind her and enjoy studying a subject she loves. Our main problem is convincing her that she is "worthy" of studying at degree level (and she absolutely is). Has been a tricky day ☹️. Some of the comments here have been immensely helpful and I shall be quoting them to her when I get the chance. The very best of luck to your DS x

Thank you mrs. Best wishes to you and your DD too. That's the power of Mumsnet. I've been a lurker for many years and found so much help from reading other OPs.