Applying for Uni 2019 entry Part 4, UCAS & offers (and thinking about exams)

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Following on from the previous thread.

It’s a minefield this whole university business

Warwick was definitely on the slow side. St Andrews don't make many offers before the 15th January deadline.

But I know students accepted with massively dropped grades on results day last year at Durham. One way of maintaining the reputation for not needing clearing to fill places...

Durham are being naughty putting that woman down like that. When they know how the system really works.

"When they know how the system really works*.

Not to mention, when one might expect them to display better manners...?

Danglingmod - that's interesting. What type of grades did the young people get and what subjects did they apply for? I've heard that Durham can take up to a week after 'Results Day' to consider whether to accept those who may have dropped grades (by which time I would have thought that many of the best courses in Clearing would be snapped up).

until DH chokes on £5900 accommodation fees. He's not alone, Piggy.

Could anyone give me examples of dropped grades allowed at Durham? Ds is thinking of letting his Durham offer go because we don’t think he will make the grades (long story) and have heard they are inflexible and take ages on results day. When I rang them I got nowhere.

Also Durham University has a huge expansion programme over the next few years and there are lower levels of 18 year olds around this year. All might make dropped offers more likely I would have thought

Friend’s dd missed her Durham offer initially. She went for a remark & her grade went up to what was required but they said the place was gone by then so she decided to take a gap year. I think it was treated as deferred entry rather than having to reapply. This was a few years ago.

This happened to a friend's DD as well Decorhate

She went for a remark Gosh not that additional expense again...

I do understand why young people want so much to go to Durham, and why parents are keen. But everything I hear on here does confirm my impression (longstanding) that they are a very arrogant institution, more so than Oxbridge.

That happened to my niece too, Decorhate (could be that it's the same child I suppose!)

I totally agree piggywaspushed

Not prepared to be too exact but both dropped three grades, eg offer of a star, a, a and student got a, b, b. BUT these were not STEM subjects, one humanities and one languages...

I know a girl who had to take a gap year due to poor marking too - she'd be finishing this year if she hadn't.

DDs mocks went really well - if she gets the same in the real thing she might reapply. She worked really hard over half term and has been focusing on her own needs this year and these changes are paying off.

"But everything I hear on here does confirm my impression (longstanding) that they are a very arrogant institution"

That's very polite Piggy, my impression was more along the lines of what a bunch of wankers :p

DD is in a sort of limbo now - deferred entry so she doesn't apply for finance or accommodation this year. Mocks were generally okay, she'd get in if she got those grades but the school is having massive staffing issues after the chemistry maternity cover teacher walked out less than a week into term.

They now only have one chemistry teacher for A level - they've combined classes (over 30 in the class) but the y12s are totally screwed while they struggle to cover the year 13 work. They've missed a massive number of lessons & the stress is immense. There's a knock on for physics & biology too as the 6th form teachers are now covering GCSE chemistry classes. DD's restarted with her chemistry tutor & I guess there's no point in being angry but it's so disappointing for all of the kids.

(will go back & catch up on the thread now)

Dd has just found out she got almost full marks for the coursework part of her Sports A level. I'm relieved as I didn't even know she'd done the video although I knew the analysis took her ages . She has to discuss with an examiner next week but the teacher said last year there were no changes.

That sucks laniakea. The government sorely needs to address funding, and teaching retention issues across the sector but they are too busy with Brexit...

Laniakea that’s a horrible situation to be in. Canthe parents perhaps get together to arrange some group crash course tutoring since you’re all in the same boat?

School have arranged a couple of sessions over half term & the kids have been organising study groups (using the notes that dd’s tutor has given her!). So far this week dd has had two classes cancelled completely & just messaged me to say they are doing cover work today while the teacher is split between their class & a year 12 one.

They sound like an extremely driven bunch of kids.
I hope all their hard work pays off. Their approach will certainly hold hem in good stead for university.

I think there was a communal ‘oh fuck’ moment when the mock results came out - chemistry grades were one or two lower than expected for pretty much everyone.

Your poor dd laniakea. She sounds fab though and I'm sure she'll get through it. I wish there was a way for uni to know these things!

This is a true case for contextual offers.