Quite surprised to see Newcastle in that list, bigwoollyjumpers, though I'm not sure why. Both my boys applied there, though it's not in either of their top three, and both were given unconditional offers within a week or so, which at least made them feel wanted!
bend, so glad your daughter's feeling a bit better today. Exeter does sound lovely - wish it wasn't so very, very far away from us.
DT2 had the same feedback sentence as your DD - PS weaker than other candidates. In his case it might refer to the lack of extracurricular information. DT1 didn't include any either: both were told confidently by their schools that 'top' universities don't want it these days. I only found out later, probably on here, that Durham does still set store by it. Of course it might just be something Durham says when it can't plausibly claim that applicants' grades aren't strong enough.
DT1 is expecting a Durham rejection now, as his profile is so similar to DT2'S and his course just as competitive. Hearing of this spate of rejections of really well qualified candidates is in some ways helping to prepare him and even preemptively to soften the blow.
He insists he'll be happy to go to Leeds, or his other choices for that matter. So I'm less worried than I was about how he'll manage another rejection. He thinks maybe he'd prefer to be in a city anyway. Basically he's desperate to start the student experience, especially after the last year, and tbf probably less concerned than I am about the perceived status of different universities.