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

[Miladymilord]

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?

[FrameyMcFrame]

Look at the offer calculator online
It varies by course a lot.
Many unis don't use predicted grades. Glasgow for instance.

[BossWitch]

Don't forget there's the upwards version of clearing now too, for if they get better grades - adjustment i think its called.

[Miladymilord]

bosswitch yes there will be many better qualified candidates! I think she'll probably play it safe and apply to places with lower entry requirements. If nothing else I am sure she will get something through clearing with ABC even if the timescale is skewed by the GF.

[ErrolTheDragon]

That would all be fine if the offer from universities was 3 A levels and not 3 and an EPQ.

The only cases I've heard of have been to still make the offer on 3 A levels but discount one of them by one grade if they get a good grade in the EPQ. So I don't think it does more than slightly offset for the extra workload.

[BossWitch]

I've got late pregnancy brain melt, but I am really confused by the time scale/ time line of her study! She will need to be really good at explaining it in her personal statement (am assuming gf is glandular fever? She may need to supply medical evidence of how severe, how much time lost etc.) Otherwise unis will be unlikely to want her over a student who got the same, or better, grades in the traditional 2 year time frame.

[Miladymilord]

She hasn't taken an A level early. She took it at the end of 2 years study BUT had GF so missed so much work in Yr 12/13 she took two new (easier) subjects at the beginning of year 13, carried on with 1 which she took at the end of year 13 and has stayed for an extra year (so Yr 14 of you like).

[BubblesBuddy]

That would all be fine if the offer from universities was 3 A levels and not 3 and an EPQ. The EPQ is optional and not always avsilable in less good schools. It clearly disadvantages their bright students if they apply to a university that lowers offers for an EPQ. Any qualification that is impossible for some students to access should not be part of the selection process.

Not much point in taking an A level early and getting a C though and then thinking an EPQ makes up for it. As others have said.

[Miladymilord]

BubblesBuddy: the lower offers along with an EPQ would be because if the huge extra workload in doing an EPQ. So students disadvantaged by not doing an EPQ will be advantaged by having extra time at their disposal to study A levels

Exactly. A lot of schools don't offer it because it takes away from valuable study time. Because dd is only studying two subjects she is taking an epq to look more attractive to unis. If she was doing a straightforward a level 2 year course then she probably wouldn't have bothered.

[KnotsInMay]

BubblesBuddy: the lower offers along with an EPQ would be because if the huge extra workload in doing an EPQ. So students disadvantaged by not doing an EPQ will be advantaged by having extra time at their disposal to study A levels.

At Dc school only a set number of students are allowed to do an EPQ because of the workload for teachers. They have to apply to be allowed.

[BubblesBuddy]

It’s interesring that Bath and some other universities lower offers for an EPQ. Am I correct in thinking it’s the better schools that offer this? Therefore it’s selecting by post code. I think it should be discounted if it’s not available to all. It certainly ensures they fill up with a more educationally privileged student by taking it into account and it’s also a qualification where informed and academically able parents can help it along .

[LeiatheSchnauzer]

Bath like the EPQ but she'd need to get an A in it for it to make any difference and even then it only drops the offer by one grade (for Physics this was from a standard a star aa offer to aaa but no idea for other subjects).

[BossWitch]

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.

[Marmie4]

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.

[ErrolTheDragon]

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.

[ErrolTheDragon]

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.

[Miladymilord]

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,

[errorofjudgement]

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?

[ErrolTheDragon]

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.

[rainbowstardrops]

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]

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!

[thesandwich]

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.

[PipeTheFuckDown]

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

[BossWitch]

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.

[titchy]

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....

[titchy]

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.