Late Application Advice - existing grades

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Am hoping for advice, please.
DD on gap year is reapplying (late!) for different course/universities with her existing grades from last year.

Is it worth potentially wasting one of the five university choices if the grade offer is one higher than her existing grades - even though the most relevant subject is the highest (and higher than the required grade)? Is this a hiding to nothing?

She is struggling at the moment and am trying to support her, but want to be realistic with her regarding the five choices.

She's not late until next week...

Upside, she may get an offer anyway and if it's somewhere she would firm if one were to be made, it's worth a punt. Not applying is the surest way not to get an offer.

Downside, if putting this aspirational choice on the list displaces a really sure-fire one, she runs the risk of not getting any of them.

Personally, I eould say that the former should guide her, rather than the latter, assuming that the other four are realistic choices.

What university is the aspirational choice? And what subject?

Thank you - that's a helpful perspective. I agree, it's worth a try for one out of the five. Will proceed accordingly!

DS was strongly advised not to have any choices above his predicted grades

Now he's sitting on five offers and I'm wondering "What If?...."

There is no easy answer!

I don't think it's a waste. One of mine has just done the same this year. 2 unconditional offers so far. 3 choices are pretty aspirational.

How aspirational is aspirational and what type of course? There are lots of spaces going spare with the lack of international students. She should easily be offered a place at one dropped grade now - most offer one dropped grade for going firm anyway. She can also look at early clearing later in the year and could go even more aspirational … it’s a buyers market!

Son put 5 offers well within reach and is now regretting not going for the one he really wanted which was a little more aspirational. I would go for it personally.

I would do this providing that it's not a course that's likely to be very oversubscribed.
With grades already in hand any offers made would be unconditional if she meets the course requirements.

As long as the other four are likely to offer and she would be happy to go to those an aspirational choice is worthwhile. They can refuse or they may be interested in other things on her application which offset a skipped grade. She can always call admissions officer for feedback and look at the actual grades of last year's intake.

Worth a punt

She doesn't need five offers, just one interesting one

If two applicants with the same profile and grades apply, they will prefer the achieved grades to the predicted ones

Thank you for all the advice - she went with 2/5 aspirational applications (partly off the back of some positive encouragement from one of the departments where she was a grade under). Fingers crossed for some offers!

I see she's already applied - fingers crossed! Our DD got five out of five offers, despite achieved A-levels up to two grades below the standard offer. Is currently working hard and doing very well.