CUCAS & UCAS

[Comefromaway]

Am I correct in thinking that part from needing a second mortguage for all the fees that if you apply to CUCAS & UCAS you get more choices (eg your CUCAS choices are not deducted from the 5 options you get with UCAS. Plus the couple of colleges that have direct application as well.

So if/when your child gets offers can you hold a firm and reserve with both?

Sorry, that should read CUKAS & UCAS.

My friend’s DD has done just that, comefromaway. She has an offer from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and is still going through UCAS, ‘just in case.’ She is a bit torn, as she’s a high achiever academically as well as being a talented singer so she’s not making a decision until A level results day.

Thanks - I thought so but wasn't sure.

There is a restriction that you can’t hold unconditional offers, though. If you accept or firm an unconditional offer you have to relinquish the conditional offers from both systems. I guess conservatoires might offer unconditionals if they are dependant on auditions rather than exams results?

www.ucas.com/conservatoires/how-apply-through-ucas-conservatoires/ucas-conservatoires-when-apply

There’s a tab part way down, ‘Are you applying through any other UCAS services?’ which explains this.

From what I gather conservatoire often give very low offers rather than unconditionals. So EE or PPP (Btec)

That’s ideal then. Easy to hold offers right up until results day.

It is also INCREDIBLY difficult to get in!

Yeah, not that sort of easy!

My husband went to the Abbatoir (nickname) many moons ago (it wasn’t Royal back then and now there is a shiny new building.)

I wonder if the shiny newness will swing it? I might not mention the Abbatoir nickname to them. 😂