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Higher education

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Original poster

If you are predicted ABC is it worth applying to a uni that asks for AAB?

36 replies

Miladymilord · 07/09/2018 08:32

Dd has one a level - a C but is taking two more next year - predicted AB (she had gf and changed subjects)

The course she really wants asks for AAB.

She's also doing an epq.

Is it worth applying to a uni if you are a couple of grades below?

OP posts:
titchy · 07/09/2018 09:02

Depends on course and subject!

Original poster
Miladymilord · 07/09/2018 09:32

Why?

OP posts:
LIZS · 07/09/2018 09:38

Possibly list one or two unis higher than predicted but the rest within. It will vary whether unis will offer in the basis of lower predictions, depending on demand and how strict they apply criteria at this stage. If she had a higher offer she needs to think realistically about whether she can achieve it.

LIZS · 07/09/2018 09:39

And some will look for A levels grades achieved in one sitting, although her ps could explain it.

Original poster
Miladymilord · 07/09/2018 09:42

She hasn't spent 3 years on any, she's done the normal a level syllabus. Can't see any reference to one sitting on entry requirements. She might go for one at AAB and the rest want 120 tariff points which is fine.

OP posts:
negomi90 · 07/09/2018 09:42

Not unless you have other things which stand out in the relevant subject.

Original poster
Miladymilord · 07/09/2018 09:44

She's had a lot of relevant experience in the field she wants to study (sport) eg work experience in a school, a coaching qualification, qualifying for national champs? She's not Olympic standard though Grin

OP posts:
BossWitch · 07/09/2018 09:51

I would take a punt on using one of the spaces for the higher requirement uni, make sure she's also applied to a lower one as an insurance, the remaining in line with her predictions. Just make sure she's realistic about it and wont be heartbroken if she doesnt get an offer from the higher one.

titchy · 07/09/2018 12:15

Why does it depend on course and institution?

Because some courses and some institutions are very competitive, others are desperate to fill places. Obviously.

Why do they want to see three taken in one sitting? Because anything else is not a normal full time study load, and they want be be sure that applicants can cope with a full time study load.

Sports Science is competitive. I doubt Loughborough would drop two grades. On the other hand Nottingham Trent almost certainly would.

Your problem is having the poor grade in hand - it leaves very little wiggle room. Universities don't generally make offers lower than their standard entry requirements, and as she already has a C grade they can't very well offer her AAB as it's not physically possible for her to get those grades. And they wouldn't offer AA as that's reducing their entry requirements to AAC.

Can she resit the C subject?

PipeTheFuckDown · 07/09/2018 12:19

Go for it.

Uni admissions aren’t just on grades contrary to popular belief on here. I missed my grades by quite a fair amount and still they accepted me (RG Uni so not a “desperate” one)

I disagree with Trent - they are now 16th on the Guardians list for 2019. So don’t think they’re “desperate”

Original poster
Miladymilord · 07/09/2018 12:27

Because anything else is not a normal full time study load

She was studying three subjects, just took one exam.

OP posts:
titchy · 07/09/2018 13:24

But she's only doing two now - which is two thirds of a normal load.... I understand the reasons, and I'm not saying it's a massive problem - but it does need mentioning.

titchy · 07/09/2018 13:25

I disagree with Trent - they are now 16th on the Guardians list for 2019. So don’t think they’re “desperate”

Guardian league table (as with the others tbh) means fuck all when it comes to hitting recruitment targets. They'll be in clearing next year....

BossWitch · 07/09/2018 13:43

No one on here will be able to tell you for sure if the uni she wants will consider her. There are things about her application tbey might like, things they might not. All you can do is decide if its worth one of the spaces on the form and wait and see.

PipeTheFuckDown · 07/09/2018 15:29

Several RG Unis have been in clearing this year. Mine got over 1,000 students via clearing.

thesandwich · 07/09/2018 15:36

Have a look on unistats to see the tariff points of students they have accepted in the past to see whether they take dropped offers.

ErrolTheDragon · 07/09/2018 15:46

In addition to the suggestions made already, given that she has mitigating factors maybe it would be a good idea for her to email or phone the admissions tutor of the course she's interested in? Their job is to try to get the right people on their course. The worst that can happen is that they ignore her (which tells you what you need to know) but they might be encouraging or have some useful suggestions. They are actually human beings, some of them seem rather nice!

rainbowstardrops · 07/09/2018 15:47

It might be worth aiming for the higher one but thinking more realistically after that. My DS needed AAB for sport and exercise science at Loughborough but still got in with ABB.
He had excellent GCSE results though and a really good personal statement etc and has played adult cricket for several years, which I'm sure all helped.
Nothing ventured nothing gained in my opinion.

ErrolTheDragon · 07/09/2018 15:58

But what was your DS predicted to get? The problem for the OPs DD is that unless she can effectively highlight the mitigating factors behind the C, she may well not get an offer.

errorofjudgement · 07/09/2018 16:30

In addition to the suggestions made already, given that she has mitigating factors maybe it would be a good idea for her to email or phone the admissions tutor of the course she's interested in?

Echo this advice, seems the most sensible way forward.
Also, it sounds as though your DD is taking 2 new subjects to A level in one year? I think that’s very impressive, perhaps that would offset the C?

Original poster
Miladymilord · 07/09/2018 16:31

She does a lot of sport, is doing an epq as well. She likes Nottingham Trent - which was in clearing, but then so were Bath and Loughborough!

Emailing the admissions tutor is a good shout. Don't think she's ever considered doing that,

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 07/09/2018 17:33

I don't think it does occur to many students. The UCAS system can, I think, all seem very large and impersonal (and some of it is 'computer says no' I think) - so the idea that there are actual human beings who may be interested in their potential students may be novel! I think it was suggested to me on an MN thread some years ago when DD was weighing up A level choices - at the end of yr 11 she sent a few emails to some admissions tutors for courses she thought she might be interested in; most sent back very kind, helpful replies.

ErrolTheDragon · 07/09/2018 17:35

Of course, they'd probably get quite hacked off of every potential student asked them for info they should be able to find on the internet, but I don't think that applies in your DDs case.

Marmie4 · 08/09/2018 07:55

The EPQ if she gets a decent grade, will definitely lower the offer for a fair number of universities including several Russell groups. Only trouble is the C might hinder the chance of a Russell group/Loughborough initially as a lower grade would probably equate to an ABB offer. If her results are ABC she has done really well and deserves a decent place which she probably would get through clearing anyhow. Good luck to you.

BossWitch · 08/09/2018 08:57

Some uni's really lile epq, some couldnt give a shit. None of them.can make it an official part of their offering system because not all schools offer it, so it's unfair on students who had no opportunity to do one. Don't rely on it making the difference on an offer.