Missed place - worth contacting department directly?

[emkana]

Called clearing hotline - one mark off their offer. Is it worth contacting the department directly to make your case?

[emkana]

Clearing is open until the end of September
She emailed Friday, 24 hours after getting results

[rainandshine52]

Wasn't clearing a week ago? What's taken so long?

[stucknoue]

Always call, it shows they are determined and use their initiative. Under no circumstances should parents call (happens every year here, never works!)

[ifonly4]

She won't know until she tries. Phoning might give a quicker response, if they're interested they may want a chat about her and the course. If not, they can say so

[Marmie4]

My DS's friend has just done a foundation course in a science related subject at a lower ranking uni and has got 4 offers from decent RG universities to continue into 1st year, she was a few marks off a first, so foundation is definitely worth consideration.

[TanMateix]

Emkana, just one point to consider, some RG departments take a number of foundation students but are extremely selective at choosing which students in their own foundation course are to progress into year 1, despite the student doing very well.

One thing to ask before she goes the foundation route is how many places there are and what percentage of students progress into year 1.

[MrsMozartMkII]

All crossed!

[emkana]

Thank you!

[Boyskeepswinging]

Ah, that sounds positive. I hope it works out for her. Best of luck!

[emkana]

Thanks for asking! She had an email reply and there might be options - eg adding a foundation year. Fingers crossed- hopefully we can work out a solution!

[Boyskeepswinging]

@emkana Sorry, bloody phone!

[Boyskeepswinging]

@Emkana How did your DD get on today?

[TanMateix]

^^ that 50x

[titchy]

Has she started the ball rolling with her insurance place? The danger in holding out for the firm is that applicants don't sort out their insurance accommodation till much later, end up in distant or unpopular halls, don't engage with any of the social media groups that are set up now and just aren't mentally prepared for the insurance place.

[emkana]

Yes I told her not to hope too much but we just thought there's nothing to lose in sending that email.

[OhtheHillsareAlive]

she has BBC, the offer was ABB

BBC is quite a drop from ABB (especially for an elite/research-intensive university). I can see why they didn't confirm her place. They may have concerns about how she would cope in the course.

As a PP has said, we've had the results since Monday - her case would have been considered, but the C is probably the sticking point. And I imagine the Department may have taken a punt on being able to get kids with BBB or better via Adjustment.

[HoneywithLemon]

I work in university admissions. HEIs receive A level results week before candidates and meetings are held in departments to decide what to do about near-miss candidates on the Monday/Tuesday of results week. Phoning or emailing is unlikely to change the decision if grades are missed no matter how narrow the margin. If you are set on this uni look at the other courses they have in clearing, or look elsewhere for a different course. BBC is still a decent set of grades. Maybe too late now although some unis will have clearing hotlines open today .

[MrsMozartMkII]

BackforGood Ah, sorry, I misread it. That does make it two down on tbe initial requirement.

Fingers crossed it works it for her OP. Only DD will know if she really struggled with the subjects and therefore the course wouldn't really be for her, or if it was just a bad day and she can step up to the standard needed. I think that knowledge should determine how much she fights to get onto this course or looks to another.

[emkana]

That's not quite true - she has BBC, the offer was ABB and on the clearing hotline they said they'd accept BBB

[BackforGood]

@MrsMozartMkII - It has already been established that OP's dd is more than a grade down in one subject though, if you read through the thread.

[Boyskeepswinging]

All very true Tan. And of course if they accept lower grades that'll impact on their average tariff and that feeds into league tables. So going below BBB is a step too far for many uni's, particularly when there's a huge number of BBB+ potential applicants still in the mix.

[TanMateix]

And no... proactiveness might not make up for the lower grades. You will have all their sympathy and will to accept her, you may even break their hearts but if she is below the minimum they won’t accept. Main reason for this is that they know that from x grade down it is unlikely for her to succeed, so they would be making her a huge disservice by accepting her if she is going to struggle massively to cope with the challenges of the course.

[TanMateix]

Please note that most unis may consider accepting her if her grades are slightly below her offer conditions, but if they have rejected already it might be that they have already decided they won’t go to that level even if they under recruit.

The fact that there are still places available means... not much, many departments stay open for longer but it is not unusual for them to be considering just A/A* holders.

[TanMateix]

One thing Emkana, remarks can take anything between 1 to 3 weeks so although a remarked grade may get her the grade she “needs” by then the course may be full and she may have missed the deadline to get university accommodation. So if I were her I would refer myself to the second best option and, if the grades go up, then call the first option, check they have a place and are happy to take her and once you have such reassurance, let go of the second option’s place.

[emkana]

She's emailed. Fingers crossed!!!