University 2020 :5: Results day approaching and beyond

[MillicentMartha]

Old thread
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/3855474-University-2020-4-The-wait-for-grades-and-better-days-ahead?pg=40

Less than 3 months to go until we have a better idea what the future has in store for our DC. Let’s hope that even if most lectures are online that accommodation is open and they can move up, across or down to their university towns and start their student life.

We should have been in the middle of exams, instead we have this strange limbo of lockdown. It could have been worse, though.

Is everyone aware that Clearing opened today?
From my experience with DS1, it's helpful to have a quick look to see whether the courses your DC applied for are still available in clearing - if so, perhaps they will still accept students who drop a grade when results are announced?
Also it means you can do some advance research about what else might still be available if your DC misses both 1st and 2nd choices.

DS1 (a couple of years ago) ended up without an insurance option (bad advice from school ) and then missed his first choice by a grade. We'd already made a 'just in case' shortlist of clearing places and he was offered a place at his first choice off that list when he called (another well-respected Russell Group uni).
However a friend of his, same course, missed a place when he called later. They said they'd only had about 20 places and they went before 9 am !

I have had a bit of a nosy. There are loads of places in clearing for maths at the moment. All of DS3’s UCAS choices apart from Nottingham, plus some slightly lower unis which may be good clearing options if things don’t go to plan.

Do you have to log in to have a look @MillicentMartha?

Ducky no you don't, you can just google ucas clearing 2020. I had a quick peek too, every one of ds choices are in clearing, but then I'm not really surprised as don't think languages are that popular.

DS1 rejected Bristol and Manchester for Chemistry and they're both in clearing (along with a lot of other good options). If needed I think he'd be happy to pick up Bristol again.

None of DS CS options were in clearing last year but they are there this year, at the moment anyway. Hopefully that bodes well for a dropped grade or two.

Dd is a bit concerned as in two of her subjects, her year group are performing at a much higher level than the previous few years have done. Unless I am misunderstanding how it works, does this mean this years marks could be moderated down to fit more with previous years?
Other thing is we are in N Ireland so still do AS. Hopefully high AS results will help avoid the above happening.

First choice is not in clearing. Reserve is. Other place she debated for first choice is in clearing.

Only DD's insurance choice is in clearing from her original 5. They had already dropped a grade for each subject and I would be surprised if her actual results were any lower. Exeter could be a possibility though, even though she hadn't looked before as it was too close to home.

DS firm is available in clearing, does that make it more likely they will accept dropped grades from those who have firmed?

A course being in Clearing could mean either that they have not filled their places or that they want to line up others so they don't have to accept people with dropped grades. Best way to see how strict they are on actual grades is to check Unistats (although it many have another name now) which shows the spread of actual UCAS tariff for students enrolled on any course.

I had a quick look and neither DD's firm, nor insurance are in clearing. Her third and fourth choices are, so it wouldn't be a disaster and there's even some that she had originally considered applying to.

@Monkey2001 it's called Discover Uni now, had a look and York took around 20% with slighter lower grades, but the figures are from 2016-2018 so no idea how accurate they are!

Both DS's Firm and Insurance are in Clearing for his subject. He has applied to deffer anyway, but it has cheered him up slightly in a funny way as he thinks they might look leniently on someone and give them the place for next year if they slip a grade. We'll see.

Defer...

Thanks for tip on clearing. Top two choices not on list but others are so that could be useful.

DS has had confirmation today that he’s got his place at Warwick for Physics. He has emailed the head of NatSci at Durham to see if he can get in through adjustment and was told he will have to wait until 11 August for A level results (as we thought). I wonder when international students will have to decide whether they are coming or not in September/October?

Adjustment doesn’t open until August, then? Can he hold on to his Warwick place in the meantime? DS1 went to Warwick and loved it. It’s very modern and couldn’t be more different to a traditional place like Durham, though!

I’m not sure @MillicentMartha? I don’t fully understand how adjustment works but I know Durham don’t have any clearing places. He’s just trying on the off chance. He was all set on Warwick and loved it on the open day and did a summer school there. He was always adamant he wouldn’t even consider Durham as DD is there but he now wants to go because his (lovely) GF of 18 months is going Any advice!?

DD had the dreaded email from school today to say they cannot pick up their results and instead they will be emailed to them.
So very sad for her

Thanks for info re clearing.
That's a shame @JufusMum, have they said what will they do for those that just miss their necessary grades and need advice, support etc?

can look here.... digital.ucas.com/search

@truelove, 🤞for him with Durham, then. No real advice. I think they grow to love whatever uni they end up in, tbh, so long as they make a few friends. I can understand the draw of a girlfriend!

That seems tough - with so many kids going in to do some lessons now you’d think some sort of shift pattern to collect results would be possible ☹️

DS’s school have told y13 they will need to book a slot to collect results on 13th August and that people will be on hand to help with advice and stuff. There certainly won’t be the usual cliche getting exam results footage on the news this year.