University 2020 :7: Results tombola, roll up, roll up, pick a prize!

[MillicentMartha]

Well, it’s been a crazy few days.

Old thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/3962422-University-2020-6-The-one-with-the-results-at-the-end?watched=1&msgid=99082625#99082625

It’s been such a busy day I haven’t had the chance before to read up on everyone’s results. I’m glad that so many familiar names are happy and their DC have got their firm or insurance unis.

Sad to hear about some of the, frankly, inexplicable decisions that the algorithm threw up. I hope everyone finds a place they are happy with.

We’re off to Manchester tomorrow for a long weekend, where we’ll visit DS1, (or meet him somewhere as we can’t go to his shared house,) and wander around the university buildings. We’re booked for the science museum as well. I’m so glad DS got in to Manchester otherwise it would have been a bit of a case of, ‘this is what you could have won!’

Dgd got into Kings College London and her insurance Bristol both contextual offers ( thank goodness). Her original UCAS predictions were 3A then cags AAA then given AAB. A damn big drop but we are so happy because she has been so Ill with ITP, blood aneamia, severe fatigue syndrome and finally anxiety and stress which she had to have yet more medication for bought on by illnesses and finally her mocks were a disaster then hospitalised straight after. So although she was given grades nowhere near her potential she is one happy person today. She's hoping when she gets her degree no one will notice her 'bum' grades as she calls them!

I've had to request the CAG's as ultimately it looks like they cost him his firm place. He has ended up with CCD when his last mocks were BCC and his GCSE's were ABC for the same subjects, so the CCD really doesn't make sense. I've also requested that school contact his firm choice as they didn't want to listen yesterday that his grades are likely to be appealed so to my mind school need to step up and make his case, as on those grades he would have lost his insurance as well but for sitting a separate scholarship exam. DS is gutted and believes that there is no hope at all of his firm reconsidering. Am I truly whistling at the wind here or is there a glimmer of hope? Their website talks over and over about it not just being about the grades etc etc , would they even listen to school and am I justified in feeling that the school should have got off their backsides yesterday and done something? His firm weren't willing to listen when he contacted them and explained that his grades would likely be appealed, so I really do feel school should be making his case on this. Is it going to be the case that universities don't want to know, particularly if his course was in clearing yesterday but not today, can they even still reconsider? So many questions that nobody seems to know the answers to!

I’m a gcse parent so reading with trepidation for next week. I’m shocked that universities aren’t holding places until appeals. They know what’s gone on!!

I also have a DD already at uni so know the stress you’re feeling.

Oh and DD’s friend is at Edinburgh and absolutely loves it.

Apologies for jumping in on the thread - I used to be on the GCSE 2018 thread and recognise some names. Congratulaions to those of us with good news and hopefully those who have been downgraded will be sorted very soon - what a fiasco to say the least.

My ds got ABC; the B was downgraded grom an A but the C is fair enough going by the evidence from college - only sitting the exam could have improved his grade as cousework was graded at Cs.

Anyway - he has been successful with his insurance offer. Can anybody tell me if there is anything he needs to do on UCAS? We can only see a button to reject the offer nowhere obvious to accept His firm offer rejected his application

Thanks in advance amd I hope you are all having a relaxing day.

@CraftyGin Glad your DD has enjoyed economics at Edinburgh. My DD is a big joiner in of things so hopefully will get some opportunities this year. Can I ask what outside subjects your DD studied? DD struggling to pick as there is so much choice.

@LightandAiry sorry about the disappointment. Re the insurance uni - they'll assume he's accepted it unless he rejects it. He will have to change his student finance account to reflect the change of institution and course though and needs to respond to whatever the new institution send him about accommodation etc. Check for emails regularly.

Lightuptheroom did your ds speak to the admissions tutor on his course or the helpline at the uni?

Hope it works out for him.

Thanks Gym I am surprised his firm uni didnt accept him as the A is in the subject he wants to study but the C is in the other science he needs and it is a Russell group prestigious uni. I liked his insurance choice better anyway!

@LightandAiry I don't know as parents weren't allowed in to school and it seemed they just sent him off to make clearing phone calls rather than looking at his firm. Also found out later that the silly boy left school without letting the head of college know what had been said as he was barely holding it together whilst every one was doing the jumping around A* dance for the school Facebook page. So partly his fault but I feel they should have supported him far better yesterday rather than 'but you got your insurance' when with a bit of effort they probably could have at least got the firm to agree to hold the place open. At the end of the day it's all very well saying the student has to call but it they end up with the wrong person or can't justify what they are saying then it's for the school to provide the evidence surely (,we are talking a small independent here not a large college where staff are run off their feet)

I do feel sorry for anyone who has missed an offer, but

He has ended up with CCD when his last mocks were BCC and his GCSE's were ABC for the same subjects, so the CCD really doesn't make sense.

A C at GCSE isn't great preparation for an A level - lots of schools wouldn't let a pupil do the A level with only C at GCSE.

We've had similar @LightandAiry. My DD got to her first choice uni on a sister course eventually through clearing. She'd gone cold on her insurance though. I think the original course had over offered and we'd heard of them offering some CCC offers back before lockdown, so, with the uncertainty of appeals thrown into the mix, they couldn't afford to let her in with one dropped grade. In previous years, I know they would have.
These young people are having to show such resilience and determination. I'm as proud of her for going for and sorting out what she wanted yesterday as I am of the spurious grades she's been given.

I realise that, he was at the very top of the grade boundary so that's why they accepted, in his case he had proved with NEA that he was heading for an A or minimum B

@Lightuptheroom check the University website. A lot are saying they will honour any offers met by appeals by a certain date

It's automatically accepted as your ds didn't make firm. Do not press any buttons! You should have confirmation of place email from insurance. At lightandairy

Thanks @Gymtonic, having to go through the school as well as the uni rejected him on track and they will need to evidence the appeal quickly. The uni wasn't taking the students word for it yesterday, hence why I need school to speak up as well.

One anecdotal story - a student we know is appealing with good mocks. They have given her a place for next year as this year is full. It might be another option for those waiting for cag data.

I can’t imagine many will do that but it might be worth asking.

Sostenu thanks, and well done to your DGD. I remember you from the GCSE thread. I think my username then was DoNotBringLulu!

Iightuptheroom I hope you get somewhere today and the college are more engaged.

Gym I am wondering the same - if his firm has over offered...I thought they were supposed to be relaxing grades this year. However, his insurance choice seemed more encouraging with work experience, had a nicer campus with gorgeous grounds and student community. I am fingers crossed he gets accommodation as it's not guaranteed with insurance choice. He wanted an ensuite but only rooms left were more expensive.

Phew, today feels a bit like Boxing Day and instead of a brisk walk we are going to start shopping for some stuff. I wonder if a ‘normal’ results day is as emotionally draining. I think there would have been less parental involvement.
DD got into first choice although was one grade below offer and two grades below published offer. But has opted for insurance. It’s campus as opposed to Manchester where she was worried humanities would be very low on priorities for face to face. And has some green spaces. She was dithering all the way since offer holders visits.
Her college yielded to student pressure and will release CAGs this afternoon. I think they are all going to appeal - one friend who had a really consequential markdown and who’s really organised and angry thinks numbers will make it easier to appeal subject en masse not individuals.
No big celebrations around here and no suggestion of them really. Couple of friends still tearful on phone at the end of the day. I cried reading our MPs message to students.
I wonder if this decision will have the same effect on a generation as Lib Dem’s and tuition fees?

Dd starting matric/enrolment process online this morning. Think she'll need to think about options too as Edinburgh gave a massive choice. Will she go for Arabic or Chinese?

@LightandAiry and actually everyone...

Please check the email address that your DC has given to UCAS and universities. If it is their school email ([email protected]) you need to change it, as lots of school email systems will cancel the old Y13 accounts over the next few weeks.

DS’s school have just sent us a reminder about this.

I just have to query why students are appealing their grades if they have been accepted into their first or second choice at University. Frankly, once you have your degree, your A level grades become irrelevant.

Surely the appeals system is being clogged up by people who don't need to appeal. I pity those students who have genuine cases who are having to wait even longer because of hurt pride.

In a normal year, only 16% of teacher predictions are accurate. This year, 60% of grades have not been changed. So most students have done better than they would have otherwise.

Yes, there are some appalling miscarriages of justice. But these are the ones who should be appealing, not the students who have university places despite downgrading that most likely would have happened anyway if they had sat the exams.

I do take your point, but often the insurance is a back up plan rather than where they really want to be, so those students will want to appeal. Job applications still ask for A level results, and if this has taught us anything it's that no level of education is secure in this sort of situation