HELP - Ds suddenly saying he wants to try for Uni *THIS* year...

[54isanopendoor]

Ds has Autism.
At S5 - 3 Highers in Engineering Science, Biology & NPA Software Development (no Computing Highers offered at school so at College) also level 6 (all grade 6)
He is now doing a f/t HNC (Cyber-Sec) at College (level 7)

He went to 2 Uni open days last autumn but felt overwhelmed & decided not to apply this year but to stay at college (poss another HNC poss onto HND)

BUT now saying he wants to apply for THIS year - either to Abertay or to Heriot Watt to do Computing.

Is he too late to apply directly?
Does he have to go through Ucas clearing?
(I looked on their site but found it confusing & nowhere to enter HNC as qualification for example)
Do I phone the 2 Uni's & ask what is left?
Or phone Ucas?

Any advice please?

You might be better posting this over in education/talk>Higher Education?

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/higher_education

I think Ucas Extra may be relevant. For those with no offers or who have changed their minds.

www.ucas.com/undergraduate/after-you-apply/types-offer/extra-choices

@LIZS thank you!

So, 'Ucas Extra' until end June. If he's still not applied / undecided (it's possible...)
then is it Clearing in July, is that 'it' until next year if he's not in the system by June?

No he can create his UCAS account and do clearing through summer.

Hope he gets what he wants @54isanopendoor. They do like to throw these curve balls at you don't they!

My friend's son just applied through clearing in August without having made one before results day. He did have to move quickly on finding a school referee though, so wise to set up in advance.

@TheFallenMadonna @LIZS @Bunnyannesummers @NowThatsWhatICall22 @SiouxsieSiouxStiletto

So, have discovered he needs an A in his HNC for 1st choice & a B/C for 2nd choice Uni's. Given how unsure he is (but that won't improve, it's just 'him') do we apply NOW then wait to see his results (August) or wait until then?
(if he gets an offer that he gets the results for but last min doesnt want to go will they let him defer / take him less seriously next year? when we spoke to a tutor at an open day last autumn & Ds said he might want an extra year before Uni & I muttered asd/soft skills they guy just pulled a face at us & walked off elsewhere.

Remember to apply for DSA through SAAS disabled students allowance it enabled my daughter to get tech,proof reading and a printer to help with her difficulties at uni.

Good luck x

Ime you can withdraw, even really late , and it not affect a future application. The courses may be in Extra now but not necessarily in Clearing later. If he does not achieve the grades they may still accept him , or may offer an alternative such as a foundation year. If he applies now he would be in no worse a position come results day. An offer may be an incentive to work hard.

If he doesn’t get in or changes his mind have a look out for apprenticeships esp in cyber security there’s a big push for developing talent at the moment and most departments will be used to supporting staff with ASD and soft skills.

I think you just apply as normal through ucas with up to 5 choices. DD dropped out of her course a few years ago and re-applied around Easter for a new course and new universities. Yes, it’s a late application so will depend on whether there are spaces still but she still got 3 offers.
ucas extra is when you have been rejected by all choices and can then only apply for 1 choice at a time.
He should apply as soon as he can as it doesn’t commit him to anything at this stage.

Oh he works hard, that's not the issue. His HNC has been rubbish (1st yr they've run it, Tutor off sick for most of it, whole day 'lectures' = 15 mins online mostly)
He's on a Student trip 2 weeks before the end of the course (now can't withdraw) & Dept 'not sure' if this will affect his exams (argh!!!)
So, all this has affected his confidence. Massively.

It sounds like the thing to do is apply via Ucas NOW & then see what happens, rather than apply directly through the Universities themselves? Thank you all x

Yes, unis will just direct you back to ucas - they can advise on spaces, grades etc but they can’t consider an application (for undergraduate) that hasn’t come through the ucas system.
as pp have said, get going now with school references etc as this can take a few weeks, get the ucas form in, take it from there.