Any Uni Admissions Tutors about?

[GKCHB]

Hello all. I have a question on behalf of my daughter. On the basis of her Mocks last winter she was predicted BCD in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, so had to use these grades on her UCAS form and apply accordingly. She has accepted an offer from Greenwich to study Biomedical Science.

However, having pulled out all the stops studying over the last 4-5 months, her predicted grades are now A,B,B/C , so she is looking at better Unis with higher grade requirements.

I'm aware that UCAS Extra or Adjustment are available to her, but this would involve waiting until Results Day and the ensuing crazy scrum for places.

She has identified a Uni she really wants to go to - Queen Mary & Westfield, part of the University of London) and a preferred course (Neuroscience) - though she would happily take a place on any of their Biomedical science-type courses.

My question is - would it be worth her trying to email the relevant department now, explaining her situation and seeing whether they'd be interested in making her an offer NOW, on the basis of higher, formally revised predicted grades (could get proof from her school)? Rather than waiting till mid-August to try to re-apply/sort out accommodation etc.

Any advice welcome!

I am not an admissions tutor and rarely do they make themselves known on MN due to the bombardment of questions they will inevitably receive.

However I’ve been through the process with my DD and have experienced many of her friends have done similar and I think that the university would probably be receptive to somebody emailing them and asking.

Especially as it does seem possible that there will be a dip in student numbers this year. I’m sure that unless the course is heavily oversubscribed they would be receptive to her question.

Unless she rejects all her offers and goes into UCAS extra now they won’t be able to formally give her an offer on UCAS though.

However on results day then she could call them immediately and the previous engagement could get her a favourable result.
As far as I know UCAS Extra is open now.

www.ucas.com/undergraduate/after-you-apply/types-offer/extra-choices

She would have to reject her current offer though.

Thanks @cinammonbuns - yes, that's what's scaring her off going into Extra now, having to reject her firm offer. Still, I think she'd be in a good position if she did... scary, tho!

Glad you agree that unis might be receptive to some pro-active place-hunting under current circumstances...

My DD has changed her mind about the course that she wants to do. She had applied for RE/Philosophy courses but her passion has always been languages. She attended a small sixth form that didn’t have the numbers to run a language A level, but lockdown has galvanised her thoughts that she really wants to pursue languages.

She found a course that said they would consider candidates without a language A level, emailed them last week, they replied yesterday saying they would be happy to have her and instructed her on how to go about it. So yesterday she phoned UCAS who said that her firm choice Durham were on a list of universities that will let you enter extra without contacting them, so she gave up that place. She has then emailed her insurance, Edinburgh to ask them to release her and is waiting to hear from them. She will then go into Extra and apply for her new course, they have said that they will sort it as quickly as possible for her. After so much careful planning and application, it just feels crazy. My nerves are shot to say the least and it means she might not get a choice of accommodation at her new university, which is worrying her, but it’s what she wants. My advice would be to do nothing until she has spoken to the courses that she would like to switch to and to be sure before she enters Extra. Good luck!

Thanks @PosyRosie, it's great to hear of a uni welcoming some direct action from a student. I'll definitely encourage DD to email QMUL and ask - she's nothing to lose.

Best of luck to your DD! I hope she ends up on the course she wants.

@GKCHB definitely encourage her to email, there’s no harm in asking. My DD was able to see in advance that the course had spaces by looking in UCAS Extra, it also said on the department website for the course. She was sure they’d say No, that’s why she hadn’t applied in the first place, but they need to fill spaces and she obviously came across as keen. Seems funny after writing and rewriting personal statement drafts that she just sent an email and that was enough!

@GKCHB just one thing more, in case you’re confused by their communications with your DD, Queen Mary is nowadays simply “Queen Mary University of London”. They dropped the Westfield bit a while ago.

Thanks, @imposter, I did not know that!

I’m a senior academic and have been approached by proactive students out of the usual ucas window and occasionally I’ve known things to happen. Always worth a shot.

Yes definitely worth asking, especially in the current circs (not currently an admissions tutor, but have been in the past).

If she withdraws from the offer she does not need to worry about finding great Biomed courses in Clearing. The Newcastle Biomed Admissions tutor told me they are always in Clearing and this year will have more opportunities than ever with the double whammy to universities of Covid deferrals and the bottom of the birth year dip.

I just looked on Extra and QMUL is one of 27 institutions offering Neuroscience in Extra. Lots of other good ones like Bristol, Manchester, King's also available.

Thanks for the useful information.

Not an admissions tutor but have previously worked in university admissions. I’d say she has everything to play for this year - projections are down and unis are panicking about whole cohorts deferring because of covid. Best to email around and see what her options are. I agree that there will be plenty in clearing this year.

Admissions tutor here (tho not booked)....each university will have a different approach, however I would recommend your daughter make email contact with her preferred new institution to get a feel for what they can do for her. It's definitely a buyers market...now more than ever. At my institution we certainly take direct applications and look favourably on those who proactively manage their intended studies.

QMUL is a lovely campus. Great spot in London.

Thanks all, v encouraging!

Because of the disparity between the predicted grades on her UCAS application, and her current (higher) predicted grades, I don't think she can just use Extra, as the uni will only see her old lower grades and presumably make a decision based on those... So I will strongly encourage her to email the relevant department at QMUL directly as soon as possible, to explain her situation, and take it from there.

I will try to update you if we get anywhere; thank you all for your posts

@Monkey21 she wants to stay in London, so will have a much smaller pool of courses to choose from, but it's good to hear that Neuroscience and Biomed courses still have vacancies even at Kings and QMUL.

My experience of using Extra (both professionally and I also used it myself for my application) is that it’s more common for people to make the arrangements with the uni/course in question before changing the application. The university will be helpful in whether they would offer and how to make the changes

@Monkey2001 sorry, tagged you wrongly!

X-post with @Flamingolingo - that's what I'm thinking too.

I promised an update: DD was offered a place at QMUL for Biology!

She emailed them directly, explaining that her predicted grades were now higher, and that she was very interested in their Neuroscience course, which was still showing vacancies. They replied, saying that whilst they couldn't currently her offer her Neuroscience, she could apply for their Biology degree, intimating strongly that they would accept her.

They also said that she could check on results day, and if there are still vacancies on her preferred Neuroscience course, she could apply via Adjustment (or even transfer during the first term or so).

So it's definitely worth a try! She (and we) are very happy - and relieved!

Well done to your DD for 1) getting her predictions so much higher and 2) being so proactive!! Hope she enjoys her time at QMUL