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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

What spread of grade requirements for ucas application?

47 replies

Dannexe · 15/09/2022 14:53

Ds is currently finalising his choices and has the following:
russell group AAA standard offer
russell group AAA standard offer
Russell group AAA standard offer
non Russell group AAB standard offer

the final one is undecided, it’s either a Cambridge punt at AAA or a safety non Russell group ABB

He’s predicted A star A star A

is this a safe enough spread of grade requirements to ensure he gets an offer somewhere? I’m assuming it is given that his predictions are higher but obviously other factors also come into play. If he would be advised to have a lower offer than AAB then he’ll add in the safety ABB (although this is Loughborough so it’s risky for other reasons given that he isn’t sporty and it’s massively oversubscribed).

any views?

OP posts:
titchy · 15/09/2022 15:24

Personally I don't think there's much point in 3 x RG at AAA. I'd go with two of those plus the Cambridge punt and the safety ABB.

The likelihood is he'll get at least four offers and would have to pick between the RG ones anyway, so may as well pick now and be in with a shot at Cam.

Original poster
Dannexe · 15/09/2022 15:42

Yes one of those RG three As was lower last year and one was higher so now it might be silly keeping all three.

OP posts:
BuwchGochGota · 15/09/2022 15:48

It's hard to say as they don't always give their typical offer.

DS1 got a surprisingly low offer for his first choice, meaning that there was nothing really to put as an insurance as nothing was lower. Luckily the offer became unconditional due to the entrance exam he sat.

DS2 thought he'd put a fairly wide spread but ended up with lots of offers at the same grades meaning that his only option for insurance was somewhere that he'd decided by that point he didn't really want to go. Luckily he got the grades for his first choice.

usedtobeboss3 · 15/09/2022 15:53

I could have posted an almost identical message OP, so thank you!
DS has a similar dilemma, with choices currently ranging from A star AA to AAB or possibly ABB.
However, I'm very conscious, despite what previous poster said, that the likelihood really isn't that they'll get 4 offers at the moment. I knew several people with all A star and A predictions who ended up with only one offer last year. So perhaps it's more important that all 5 choices are places he genuinely wants to go to and could see himself happy in...

Original poster
Dannexe · 15/09/2022 15:56

usedtobeboss3 · 15/09/2022 15:53

I could have posted an almost identical message OP, so thank you!
DS has a similar dilemma, with choices currently ranging from A star AA to AAB or possibly ABB.
However, I'm very conscious, despite what previous poster said, that the likelihood really isn't that they'll get 4 offers at the moment. I knew several people with all A star and A predictions who ended up with only one offer last year. So perhaps it's more important that all 5 choices are places he genuinely wants to go to and could see himself happy in...

This is also a good point. He goes to an independent so also knows lots of people with amazing predicted grades who didn’t get offers last year. I think the chances of him getting four offers are fairly slim.

OP posts:
titchy · 15/09/2022 16:00

Things were very different this cycle admittedly - I think the next cycle should be a little better though, even with the large number of applicants likely to be in the system. I still think it's worth sacrificing one of the identical RG offers for a punt at Cam though.

BigWoollyJumpers · 15/09/2022 16:02

I was going to say the same as pp's. It is more important which uni's these are. If they are Edinburgh, St Andrews, Durham, Bristol, Imperial, UCL, many of these didn't make offers to many, many, top students this year.

gogohmm · 15/09/2022 16:06

I would have an abb at this stage because it can be hard to predict how a levels go, when they do mocks after Christmas they will have a better idea and it's helpful to have a spread of offers

Original poster
Dannexe · 15/09/2022 16:29

They are
Exeter (favourite)
warwick
york (surprisingly high)

lancaster (almost certain to be his reserve if they offer)

then either punt Cambridge or safety Loughborough (although conscious it isn’t a very safe safety..

OP posts:
Fifthtimelucky · 15/09/2022 17:11

Those predicted grades are the same as my daughter's were. She needed AAA for her first choice and kept AAB as a reserve.

We took the view (backed by the school) that AAB would be enough of a safety net and there was no need to apply anywhere that asked for ABB.

It might be worth checking with the school how confident they are with their predictions.

Original poster
Dannexe · 15/09/2022 18:19

It’s very tricky to know. I think his two A stars are very confident predictions. His A could drop to a B in real life

OP posts:
Original poster
Dannexe · 15/09/2022 18:20

But obviously anyone can have a really bad day

OP posts:
SeasonFinale · 15/09/2022 21:38

I think the choices he has made will be absolutely fine. Good luck.

clary · 15/09/2022 23:20

I also suggest dropping one RG and having ABB and then try for Cambridge.

No point having three AAA offers really. Remember that this year was an odd one bc so many people got the grades for more popular unis last year, so they had to cut their offers this year. Next year (ie your ds) will be better. Not perhaps back to normal but much nearer.

DS2 (A levels 2021) had in the end three identical offers, one (from an RG!) that was one grade lower and one much lower from a less popular uni. He actually held two offers the same on the basis that the second choice might have flexed. Funnily enough the top choice (which he got into) was Loughborough.

I would say as it goes @Dannexe that a mate of DS's went to Lboro at the same time as him and left after a few weeks as he found the social aspect not good. It's a very small town and without a big interest that will be catered for at uni it's a bit quiet (not much in the way of clubs, bands, bars). DS is very sporty and he loves it. Anyway by the sound of it your DS will get to Exeter or Warwick or even Cambridge so happy days.

Fifthtimelucky · 15/09/2022 23:32

Dannexe · 15/09/2022 18:19

It’s very tricky to know. I think his two A stars are very confident predictions. His A could drop to a B in real life

Exactly like my daughter. She ended up with her predicted grades. The A*s were very safe but the A was very nearly a B!

It sounds like he only needs AAB as a reserve so if he's happy with Lancaster, there's no point applying for Loughborough too and he might as well try for Cambridge.

poetryandwine · 16/09/2022 10:35

Former Russell Group admissions tutor here, posting to echo @clary and others. More specifically, AL grades in 2022 were moderated to be about half way between achieved AL grades in 2019 and teacher assessed grades in 2021. Indications thus far are that we will be returning to the usual system for 2023.

Original poster
Dannexe · 16/09/2022 12:14

Thank you all. Really helpful

OP posts:
Tree543 · 16/09/2022 12:52

My son isn't getting his predicted grades for another 5 weeks. It's difficult trying to research unis when you don't know whether they are realistic or not

jayritchie · 16/09/2022 13:43

Which course? That makes a huge difference.

aesopstables · 16/09/2022 16:12

It depends on how competitive the subject is

DSs friend this year predicted AstarAA only got 1/5 offers for Economics. None were entry requirements above his predicted and he’s state school

Twizbe · 16/09/2022 16:18

Might as well give it a go.
There were only 6 possible unis for me to apply to for my degree. All my offers were about the same.

My insurance choice was only lower because they would include my AS general studies while my top choice didn't count it.

BonnesVacances · 16/09/2022 19:20

DS is predicted A star A star A and is applying to 3 RG unis,
AAA
AAB
AAB

His A stars are secure, but like the OP, the A could easily end up a B.

He hasn't decided on the other 2 yet and he'll probably just decide how he gets on with those 3 as he's not really interested in anywhere else at the moment.

Londdann · 16/09/2022 21:00

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request

Iamsodone · 19/09/2022 10:59

I think it really depends on the subject/course he is applying to
Pure Economics or psychology are so much in demand that you'd need a really safe choice, other less in fashion subjects you don't need such a safety net

Iamsodone · 19/09/2022 11:06

aesopstables · 16/09/2022 16:12

It depends on how competitive the subject is

DSs friend this year predicted AstarAA only got 1/5 offers for Economics. None were entry requirements above his predicted and he’s state school

Hi @aesopstables
May I ask what has your friend's son has decided ?
we are applying for pure economics this year, with Astar, Astar and Astar and think we will be very lucky if we get offers from Universities with a standard offer at Astar, A, A... such as Bristol, Nottingham, Manchester, Leeds ... not daring Cowi or Durham
Any feedback appreciated !
thanks