Applying for uni in 2021...

[Parsley65]

Thought I'd start the ball rolling on this one...

Dd wants to study psychology and we've been checking out dates of open days.

Her school still does AS levels. She's doing psychology, physics & business.

Please come and join us on the long and bumpy ride past revision and exams and on towards the much anticipated start of uni life in Autumn 2021.

I think the issue is not higher or lower offer tariffs, but how many offers the unis will give out, presumably considerably fewer. In this respect, earlier applicants, if they got their offers last term, have an advantage, although not if they are still waiting now.

Yes, the timing of offers and the evolving grades assessment situation has created a lack of parity for applicants

DD is applying for medicine and we've said that if she feels she's having to settle with whatever she can get in the 2021 entry round, she's welcome to take a year out, gain additional relevant work experience, take a part time job, take another (or possibly 2 more) A Level (if school will permit her to) and reapply for 2022 entry. It'll be up to her though.

With respect, whatever the plans for a year out, if the intention is to end up as a doctor, turning down any 'bird in hand' , medical school-wise, for a possible (not guaranteed) 'bird in the bush' may not be the most sensible move. Unless you mean, if the fifth, non-medicine offer is the only one she gets, in which case yes, reapplying is generally considered a better idea than pinning one's hopes on the GEM route.

@MarchingFrogs

Yes, I didn't make it clear, it's the settling for the 5th, non medicine, choice that some medicine applicants might want to consider differently this year.

DD is academically strong, excellent UCAT plus very good BMAT scores and based her aspirations accordingly when applying. Obviously the interviews still have their part to play in the process in aiming to identify and weed out those who may just not be suited for the pressures of medicine regardless of academic record.

However, had she and her teachers had a crystal ball, she may well have applied to different Uni's to maximise her chances of getting a place for starting in 2021.

The costs of the GEM route would be prohibitive for us (ignoring the actually scarcity of places in the first place) and I think you'd have to want it very badly and be very sure of your dedication to the aim to want to accrue that much debt as an individual.

Dd just heard back from Birmingham and they offered ABC, with A in degree subject. Dd Predicted ABB but with B in degree subject.

Am I correct in thinking if we go to teacher predictions then there is no point in firming Birmingham as she isn’t going to make the A grade?

Other offers:
UEA BBC (A EPQ)
Sussex BBB
Royal Holloway BBB

@FlowS I think the teachers predictions can be improved on (and presumably downgraded too) if they do good work in the assessment period.
My son’s offers are AAA and AAB and he was predicted A*AC.
I think it’s worth talking to their teachers to see how likely it is and make them aware they’re aiming for higher.

Thanks @GaribaldiGirl for replying, Dd has spoken with teacher who has said she’s been a teacher a long time and doesn’t see her prediction changing. I can see grades moving down upon moderation but thought less likely to move up... I think it isn’t worth putting Birmingham as her firm, shame as she did really like it.

flow I’m less sure. Birmingham could change their mind on results day depending on what everyone else gets. She could still have that as her firm and then if she doesn’t get that A then one of her other choices could work as her insurance depending again on everybody else’s grades. Could she hold on until govt/ofqual decide exactly how grades are to be given. She may then have a better idea of her likely grades. It’s all very up in the air at the moment.

flow What I mean is, quite often universities say they want ABB for example yet on results day accept BBC. As long as she has a fallback there’s no harm in having a high firm.

@FlowS gosh that’s a bit negative from the teacher. I would have though he or she would want to encourage your DD to aim higher.
Sometimes unis are more flexible on results day but I suppose it depends how popular the course is.
My son also has an offer from UEA. My friend’s son is there and loves it. I’ve never been to Norwich and don’t think my son even has any idea where Norfolk is. Hope we get to visit before decision day!!!

garibaldi maybe the teacher has already given an aspirational grade. Perhaps the teacher doesn’t think that more than a B is realistic. Whilst kids need encouragement they also need to be reasonably realistic and not too pie in the sky otherwise kids can end up with nowhere.
Our school give the UCAS (aspirational grades) plus tell the students ‘department’ grades - sometimes these are the same but not very often. You have to remember that less than 25% of students reach their ucas grade. 75% fall short.

Ooh that sounds a bit snippy! Wasn’t meant to at all.

@GaribaldiGirl we managed a summer visit to UEA and Dd really liked the campus and Norwich itself.

We are where we are with the predicted grades, it’s history at Birmingham so not sure grades will lower much on results day, as I imagine popular.

Dd is the first in our extended family to apply for uni and so just need to understand the process better.

Wow @NotDonna that's a scary statistic

Do you know if there's any correlation with GCSE grades ? (i.e. % not achieving teacher predicted grades) Although with GSCE grades not being needed in a UCAS type situation, perhaps teachers can be more realistic with them in the first place.

I think what we've got to remember too is that predicted grades are aspirational and are not necessarily the CAGS.

I'm struggling to understand the logic of Birmingham lowering it's offers in advance of results day. DS has an attainment offer of CCC but only if he puts it first, if he doesn't it was originally AAB and is now ABB. I can't see them going below their offers on results day because I think they will be inundated with people having met them on the day.

I think this will also have a knock on effect for accommodation, some is already off campus and I really don't think if DS ended up off campus it would suit him at all.

I might have got it wrong but having read the consultation it seems that it is not really teacher predictions that will determine the final grade but actual marks achieved during the assessment period (marked by teachers) up till May, to give students the time to maximise their potential. Ensuring that students continue to work is being seen as a priority and they haven't confirmed yet if they are going to use preexisting marks or predictions.That is if the proposals are approved. Can anyone confirm that?
Of course, whether anyone is able to exceed previous predictions without actually being in school is another issue.

@LeiatheSchnauzer To me it wasn't very clear what the period of assessment would be, I presumed (was hoping!) that it would be from the beginning of year 12, since DS 2 is a continuous hard worker, if it was DS1 I would have hoped for the last month!. I couldn't work out if the assessment period May - June was when the teachers collated the assessed information or if that was the period that the assessed work had to be completed in. If work is to be completed within a certain time period then that is going to suffer from the same issues as exams if some students are ill / isolating.

Hi just joining in.
DD has applied to scottish unis.. She's in S6 in the scottish system
She's got one unconditional.. But holding out to see what her favourite place offers if anything.!
Scarey times

SATmadness I doubt anyone has that data as it’s not given nationally as per UCAS predictions but just school based. I would have thought GCSE predictions are more realistic but, they could be lower to give kids a kick up the backside. I’m talking about usual exam years though and not CAGs as I’ve zero experience of CAGs.
I think that’s what you mean
If you mean a correlation between GCSEs and A levels, noble had an interesting graph for maths, which scarily showed you needed blooming high gcse maths grade to get a decent grade at A level. But I don’t think there’s any other similar graphs or if the correlation are so significant in other subjects.

Welcome @Norah8 given there’s no exams in Scotland are all universities up there offering unconditional to their Scottish students? Are the Scottish schools doing teacher assessments, mini exams or what? Will your DD get grades?

[quote calculatorqueen]@LeiatheSchnauzer To me it wasn't very clear what the period of assessment would be, I presumed (was hoping!) that it would be from the beginning of year 12, since DS 2 is a continuous hard worker, if it was DS1 I would have hoped for the last month!. I couldn't work out if the assessment period May - June was when the teachers collated the assessed information or if that was the period that the assessed work had to be completed in. If work is to be completed within a certain time period then that is going to suffer from the same issues as exams if some students are ill / isolating.[/quote]
The consultation asks this. Have you seen it. You should take a look and you & your DC make your comments. Nothing is set in stone so it’s a good idea to voice your concerns now.

@NotDonna Thanks yes, I'll have a proper look at it tomorrow and fill it in.

Hi NOTDonna

It's the same as Ususal in Scotland with highers in s5 and then S6 is higher or advanced highers..
So some get unconditional based on last year's results.
Of course no exams this year.. But tests and teachers grading.

@FlowS I think the people who’ve said Unis sometimes (or often?) accept lower grades on the day are right.
I know only 25% get their predicted grades but I don’t think that means they’re all lower, does it? It might be same UCAS score but in a different formation? I’m no mathematician but I would guess predicting 3 grades accurately is a long shot anyway.
If your daughter massively prefers it it might be worth giving it a go. If she misses the grade she has her insurance option or she could go into clearing (or even take a gap year). Only you know your daughters psychology but maybe it will spur her on?
I was also the first in my extended family to go to University. It was a great feeling - I hope your daughter loves it!