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

@ThrawnCow exactly the same here, ds not in the headspace for clearing at all . Any discussion seems to end in a stressy argument .

He has just admitted he will be very disappointed not to get his firm although would be happy with insurance, it’s a Scottish uni though so they may not be flexible now they are being made to take a lot more Scottish students than they had envisioned initially.

UCAS only updates for schools an hour earlier, ie at 7am tomorrow. Not long to organise much.

Start that makes sense and good luck tomorrow supporting your students too

🍾 jealous I can’t find a gin emoji so here is champagne as we will all deserve it tomorrow whatever happens!

If only the Head and Exams Officer are allowed to see the results today, who is putting together all the results emails for students then?

Joining ready for tomorrow if that's okay.

Dd is fretting already. She's out tonight but will be back around midnight or so I think. Doubt she'll sleep.

Her mocks weren't great - if they use January ones. Her previous ones at the end of year 12 were much better. the January ones were first day after Christmas so much reduced revision, not full exams and didn't take into account any coursework - two of DD's a levels have a decent coursework element. They were just not a true reflection and were marked harshly too, to encourage the kids to work even harder for the real ones. Her year 12 summer ones were more like 'real ones' but obviously less content and took into account coursework. And the March/pre Easter ones never happened obviously.

So if they are mock grades it's not great regards university entry grades. Her predicted and her year 12 mock marks are great for her requirements - above her first choice (she made a last minute decision to change her first choice to one with the lower grade after lockdown for a range of reasons.) Her second choice is unconditional but I know she'd now much prefer her first option.

I think dd always thought not doing the exams would be great but the reality of that she now has no idea what to expect at all.

It is really hard - trying to engage someone who is devastated - encouraging them to step up, snap into action, make decisions, fill in forms, make calls, do an interview etc - alongside your own upset and stress for them. Maybe it will be straightforward - an online form with results and a confirmation later.

But that was not our experience 2 years ago.

There was also the situation where he had to make v quick decisions as in the end he had 4 clearing options - all in v different parts of the country and some v different courses to what he had applied for. So in a few hours he was weighing up uni status vs uni location (lifestyle) vs different course - all whilst being gutted and all his mates out celebrating.

Took a lot of calmness on our behalf. All you can do is try to engage in a discussion around contingencies and provide support on the admin and emotional side.

Might be v different pace this year though as unis will wait for appeals.

Concerning contingencies, my Dd has plan a, b, c and d but at this rate she'll need a bloody flow chart.

Pease, mine sounds similar. I talk about clearing and he's "don't you have any faith in me?" 😥. Yes, my darling boy, you're brilliant, but Gavin is a fucking moron.

How did it work put for your DS sssloou? Sounds awful.

Dd has just had an email from ucas which says it will open from 8am. So no early hours check by the sounds of it.

Head Teacher has just sent out in-depth letter to Y13s and their parents which includes details of how to resit in October or how to enrol to do the whole of Y13 again. Given HT will have seen results now, I'm hoping this is not indicative of how the year has done and is, rather, just sensible preparation.

Good luck to all your DC tomorrow!

As a teacher of both A level and GCSE, I find this announcement frustrating. I would imagine that most schools have taken consideration of mocks along with other factors such as: anticipated progress, trajectory of grades, recently given support, emotional issues etc. We certainly did. I struggle to envisage a school giving a CAG that is lower than a mock grade!

I think this is 'insurance' for a child where a school has either made an error, been extremely conservative in grading or had too many students moved down by the exam board when they did actually get the grade in a mock.

Hopefully just normal practise mimble 😳

mimble

It’s been great - out of the 4 options he chose a marginally lower ranking uni in order to do a more interesting course and also have a better lifestyle match for him. He is doing really well - mostly firsts throughout so far because he is v passionate about the course. Making up for dicking about during A levels - was predicted A*AB - which I knew he couldn’t pull off with his work attitude in Y13 - he got BBB in the end.

delurking to say Hi in readiness for tomorrow if that's ok,
dd needs AAA for law at Leeds, will be devastated if doesnt get in and is saying she won't do clearing!
good luck to all for the morning

Bath Uni saying they have no places in clearing this year "due to the uncertainty caused by this year's A level results"

@lockd0wn101 Hopefully that means they have accepted students that missed offers which would be good news for anyone holding a Bath offer.

Though they do say they might update on Monday. Lord, I hope this isn't going to be the way all the unis go after last night's brilliant announcement from Gavin.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-53751685

Looks like the police have the inside track.....

@spababe yes hopefully. My DS isn't a Bath offer holder but I just thought it was interesting given this time 2 years ago (with DS1) courses and reduced grades were on each uni website and we could make a proper plan. Gavin has really messed this up.

Good luck everyone 🤞

Like Sssloou we had a complete nightmare with DS1's results a couple of years ago, and I just want to reassure everyone that it really ISN'T the end of the world if they miss their first choice etc.

DS was predicted AAAA and got AABB . Missed his first choice offer by 3% on one paper and didn't have a back up as they were all the same ( thanks to crap advice from the school there!).
He was devastated initially, but picked himself up quite quickly and made the calls and got into a Russell Group uni through clearing (one which we'd thankfully visited, so at least he had seen it).
To be honest, it was a wake-up call for him, as he admitted he'd coasted through 6th form and misjudged it. His attitude to work since has been transformed and he's got Firsts in both years of uni.
He's also secured a fantastic placement in a global company which (supposedly) only recruits from 'Top 5' universities . And he's also now talking about applying for a Masters at a different university.

So please, please try to keep things in perspective - their A level results don't define them for life, it's just a bump in the road and a diversion onto a different path!

Hoping unis just go for benefit of the doubt. I cant see how they can do otherwise really. Problem is the over offering thing.
Can’t find dd2s course in clearing at less than she’s been offered (other than her insurance which I dont think she should do). Clearing has similar courses and things she’s interested so worth getting her to look at them.

No idea what the numbers are but there will also be places released in the day as some students trade up in the adjustment process.

Just a heads up - The Complete University Guide tables seem to have information about which courses are still in clearing, so worth looking there for a quick summary?