What happens if DC get only 2 offers from their 5 UCAS applications

[NotDonna]

I’m sure I’ve read somewhere that DC can add another uni course if they don’t get offers or if they withdraw their offers but I can’t find the info on the Ucas site. I think there was a time frame but can’t see that either. Could someone please explain the process? Thanks!

I think that applies to those who get no offers.

Two offers is fine. You don’t need more. Presumably they applied to the courses that interested them most. It’s also not unusual to get rejections, especially when applying to very competitive courses.

Then, depending on grades, there is adjustment or clearing.

Two offers is all you need - one firm and one insurance.

If you get no offers, then you might be able to add more?

If you are rejected by three and no longer fancy the other two, you can decline those offers and apply to one university at a time through Extra (which opens in February but closed when Clearing opened). But that would only give you a maximum of one offer, as opposed to two, so you would have to be very sure that you really don't want to make your existing offers your firm and insurance.
www.ucas.com/undergraduate/after-you-apply/types-offer/extra-choices

Thank you! I’ve now discovered there’s an option of applying to 4 and adding the 5th before January 15th. All well and good providing the first 4 reply by Jan 15th. But how likely s that?

You fan start with any number less than 5 and add others later, as long as you pay the 'multiple' fee.

Unless your application is very borderline, or you are applying to LSE, Warwick or Durham, the chances of replies before the deadline for equal consideration (many universities / courses will accept post-War 15th applications btw, it's not a 'by then or you've missed the boat altogether' date) are usually pretty high. For some courses (mainly sciences) where the PS is a minor consideration, if one at all unless you drop a grade on results day, offers can come within 24 hours. The three aforementioned universities, however have of late developed a reputation for keeping applicants hanging on to the bitter end for a response. Seemingly, in many cases, just because they can.

post-War...?!

...post Jan...

Thank you marchingfrogs
She’s not applying to the ones you’ve mentioned but there’s 3 that will want to interview. I’ve no idea how long that process takes. If she doesn’t get any of those three then she’ll need to apply for 2 slightly different courses.

The universities don't know where else they have applied. Why not simply put the other two down at the start? I remember hearing of one student who applied for multiple courses at the same uni this year as that was the only place he wanted to go to. He got multiple offers.

Yes I would apply for all five from the outset. Makes the personal statement a bit trickier to write if it's different subject areas but most admissiins tutors will understand that it needs to be generic. If interviews are involved I would not expect an outcome by 15 Jan. If she gets offers then she chooses a firm (1st) and insurance (2nd) place but if she doesn't get any, or changes her mind and declines all offers she can go through Extra - this will allow her to apply to one course at a time so for interviewing courses this could be quite a lengthy process but does give her more options beyond the first five.

Yes I would apply for all five from the outset. Makes the personal statement a bit trickier to write if it's different subject areas

But the original PS would stand, even if some of the five slots were only used later.Cambridge requires a separate, extra form and Durham (I think) allows one, but I'm not sure that anywhere else routinely allows a substitute PS.