Help - university have rejected dd's request for deferral

[twosoups1972]

Dd was unwell in Year 13 with anxiety/depression. She was studying 3 A Levels and a BTEC and after some time at home getting well, she decided to just sit one A Level this year (English) and continue with the BTEC.

Her first choice of university (Birmingham) gave her an offer of an A in English and DDM for the BTEC. She got DDD* for the BTEC and a C in English which she was disappointed with, but Birmingham made the offer unconditional a few days before A Level results came out.

Dd really wants the place but doesn't want to go this year for 2 reasons - she doesn't feel ready especially after being ill, and secondly she wants to get the other 2 A Levels. She has a place at a Sixth Form college for this coming year to complete the A Levels.

However she has just found out that Birmingham have refused her request to defer the place as she didn't meet or exceed their standard offer which is AAB I think. Really upset for her as they gave her this (non-standard?) offer in the first place.

Does anyone have any experience of this and how should she proceed?

[gracefull]

I don’t think she needs to do the extras a levels either. She has a high level b-tec, which if it’s a double award will be the same number of ucas points as two As? So she has the equivalent of AA*C.
Realistically, as far as I’m aware, she can’t force Birmingham to accept her deferral.
So, she either does her plan and reapplies next year with more A-levels.
Or, she goes this year.
I also suffered from anxiety in my a level year, and in hindsight wish I had taken a year out to recover further, see some of the world/get some more life experiences before heading to university.

[candlie]

She could accept the offer, go for a month and see how it goes? If she is not well enough she could then ask for a deferral. I doubt that they could refuse a deferral from an enrolled student on health grounds.

[twosoups1972]

Thank you for all the very helpful comments. Dh is fairly old school and doesn't really understand BTECs, that is true.

And I don't think dd is ready to go now in any case, however tempting the offer. And to go in a rush, organise accommodation and everything else will be too stressful for her.

She really wants Birmingham. We did the rounds of university open days in Year 12 so she has considered it carefully.

[AJPTaylor]

If she is not ready to go then decision made. Clearly Birmingham had sufficient placed to make an unconditional offer. They probably will next year.

[Gettingthroughtheweek]

@helpme I always look at A levels, especially if I don’t know anything about the degree subject or university. I have unfortunately seen candidates with great degrees from some lower tariff universities who lack pretty core academic skills (particularly in writing) and A levels can give an indication of strengths and weaknesses, as they’re a common currency. And this is for Finance jobs!

[SleepingStandingUp]

Would she be living away from home for Birmingham? If not, I'd def encourage her to go this year. I'd be surprised many applications were discounted for having the right degree but not enough A Levels.

If she's living away, it comes down to if she's well enough to do so. If not, she defers and takes a risk.

All she has to say if asked is she was unwell for part of Yr 13, she completed the qualifications she had and University were happy with that so she continued her education

[twosoups1972]

Thank you, I don't think she should go this year. I'm just worried about the stress on her now she will need to reapply.

[ZandathePanda]

Last year over 20 students dropped out of university in their first year. This was from Dds school. I don’t know the total number that went - possibly just over 100?? That’s a massive percentage that now have a student loan but are not a student.
Give her a big hug, lots of support and apply for next year.

[CoolcoolcoolcoolcoolNoDoubt]

This is the problem with unconditional offers (pre achievement of A Levels etc) - they come with all this weird and complicated strings attached. If any of our applicants wanted to defer, it wouldn't be a problem at all for the majority of courses.

If your daughter really wants to re-sit, I'm sure she'll receive another unconditional from Birmingham when she applies next year, I wouldn't worry about it.

[pikapikachu]

I'd support my dd deferring for mental health reasons but taking A-levels when she has Level 3 BTECs at distinction star is crazy. Level 3 BTECs are equal to A-levels and retaking is introducing unnecessary stress in terms of academics. How will she feel is she doesn't make the new offer from Birmingham?

Basically she needs to weigh up the stress of starting university with the stress of A-levels and not going to Birmingham.

[LIZS]

I'm sad that your dd has found herself in this position. In an age of more enlightened mh awareness and focus on wellbeing at unis it seems a backward step. Dd has also applied for a deferral in different circumstances but it would primarily be to protect her wellbeing and take time out to focus on what she would like to do having studied hard for past few years. In a year she would be more ready to take on whatever is on offer. Having said that I'm not sure your dd taking more A levels is really beneficial having achieved a level 3 already, and it may not be funded.

[Sooverthemill]

It sounds to me like she needs to defer university for a year at least but not retake A levels. She really doesn't need to retake them as she has the equivalent already. Your DHs attitude needs updating, is there any tutor from DDs college who could talk it through with you all? I hope she sorts out what to do. My DS wanted to defer but was persuaded not to by relatives and he ended up dropping out.

[BubblesBuddy]

Employers do look at A levels or BTecs and make judgements on them plus GCSEs to get an all round picture of the grad employee. So many people have degrees now it isn’t easy to differentiate candidates and who has the strongest skill set on paper. Tests and interviewing help but you have to judge which candidates will get to that stage. Unfortunately English doesn’t have the highest employment rates but A levels or equivalent are fine. I would consider one A level and part time work as a better option.

[Propertyfaux]

There are some level 3 qualifications that whilst on paper are equivalent to A levels the subject matter reduces there worth. Just as there are a few A levels that are not accepted regardless of the grade. I do think the only priority is her health and that includes the decision to take more A levels or have a gap year with at stress. I hope whatever her decision she does well.

[Comefromaway]

It was ludicrous really to attempt a Btec Extended Diploma as well as 3 A levels. It's quite common to do just one A level alongside it, or to do 3 A levels plus a Btec Certificate but the workload is immense.

What course has she applied for at Birmingham? I know for their music courses they accept Btec Extended Diploma alongside 1 A level (most universities don't ask for the A level but they are known for being more academic.)

They are quite within their rights not to allow deferral. But if she applies again next year she will be at an advantage ahaving her grades unless it is a university that insist on an A at A level.

[Oratory1]

Could she speak to someone at Birmingham about the likelihood of getting an offer next year with her BTEC. They wouldn’t give a definite answer but may put her mind at rest.

DD2 took a gap year after a really tough time with poor MH in sixth form and before. She has just finished first year at Birmingham and had a whale of a time and did really well. The years rest and applying with grades in hand did her the world of good and she could select accommodation early and really plan ahead which really helped. Also applying with grades in hand with an early application and quick offer she could know by October where she is heading next year. Or if the worst came to the worst and and Birmingham didn’t offer she had plenty of time to chose a second choice.

She has done really well to get those BTEC grades

[Oratory1]

Bubbles yes in an ideal word you would try and get great a levels in case you wanted a really competitive career but life isn’t like that and weighing up someone’s health against a slight risk that she may count herself out of a small number of competitive jobs after uni in my opinion is a no brainer

[pikapikachu]

If you don't believe that taking photos of houses is a thing, log onto Instagram and search for #nottinghill and you'll see that it's a perfectly legal. (Notting Hill is in London btw!) There are similar tours to pretty rural villages elsewhere in England and the tourists take pics of the thatched cottages etc

[pikapikachu]

Wrong thread ! Sorry

[Sooverthemill]

Employers do look at A levels and GCSEs however your DDs health is more important and ultimately it must be that which informs the decision

[MouthyHarpy]

However she has just found out that Birmingham have refused her request to defer the place as she didn't meet or exceed their standard offer which is AAB I think

That's pretty standard practice, particularly for high demand courses such as English at Birmingham.

We would refuse a deferral in a situation such as this because we know we could get better qualified candidates in the following year.

The Department were obviously very encouraging to her in making her the offer they did, and clearly they saw some potential in her, but a C in the English A Level for a pretty high-powered English degree? That suggests that se hasn't fulfilled her potentual yet - for whatever reasons.

That would give my place some pause & I know the department at Birmingham, and they too, would see the C as a problem. It would indicate that she may have difficulties in higher-level studies in the subject which definitely go at a faster, more intense & demanding pace than the A Level course. If she struggled with the A Level course, she will definitely struggle with English at Birmingham.

[BogglesGoggles]

@helpmeiamatoad it’s standard practice for graduate roles. I had some people going to ridiculous lengths to confirm my school grades (overseas so time differences, different systems etc). I have no idea why they care but they really do apparently.

[Sooverthemill]

I know people do look at A levels and even O levels! I did my O levels in 1974 and A levels in 1976, my degree in 1980 and a masters in 1996. In 2006 an employer asked me to find evidence of my O level grades: after 26 years of non stop employment in increasingly senior roles. I was amazed.

[SleepyKat]

Dd is in this situation.

Was predicted BBB which is standard offer for her 1st choice. They actually gave her unconditional.

She was very poorly in year 13, in and out of hospital. 50% ish attendance rate. Got CDD.

She's putting sixth form behind her and taking the university place. Difference is though I think dd is a lot better than last year and while she will never be 100% healthy I think she's as good as she's going to get. If she was still poorly I'd be worried about her wasting time and money at uni only to fail.

[SleepyKat]

And as for employer looking at A level results she decided she may need to put a sentence on cv explaining she was poorly at the time and better now. Not sure how good an idea that is but it's an option?