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Higher education

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

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Countdown to A level results day - 2023

967 replies

HereWeGo2023 · 14/06/2023 07:10

Following on from the A level support thread I thought I would create one for results day.
Hopefully you will all join me for the long nail biting wait and the big day at the end of it!

OP posts:
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12
lastdayatschool · 09/07/2023 09:26

Exeter is the only place I've seen so far this year, who are advertising lower offers for their clearing places and quite lower IMO, e.g. ACC for Maths instead of AAA

tribpot · 09/07/2023 12:36

UCAS say they’re doing something new this year. IF DC are declined by both their firm & insurance they suggest potential matches that you then click on to say you’re interested and that uni calls you. No idea how many matches but it’s no doubt worthwhile still finding their own.

This sounds like a good innovation @NotDonna A bit like Amazon's 'customers who bought this also bought ... ' cross-selling suggestions 😂But a practical way to streamline this process, instead of everyone calling everyone else.

NotDonna · 09/07/2023 12:44

@tribpot it’s at least a starting point isn’t it?

Forestfriendlygarden · 09/07/2023 12:54

Just replying to the last few posts here. I appreciate the dialogue - not having an easy time here as my arthritis is playing up. Combination of the weather getting humid and wet and the stress. I've only had it since November so I'm still finding out what helps and doesn't help. Sorry that was an aside.

DD not working today and getting some of her online course sorted and out of the way so that is good.

Right clearing.

This is where we are.

All five options filled - we discussed and researched it for ages.

Insurance offer in there.

First choice A star , A star A. (Complication that she is headed for A star already in her EBQ but for some reason since she started it late she didn't put that down on her UCAS application). Im sure it is brilliant work though, so her teacher said. So any thoughts on that EBQ scenario welcome. Does she send them an email too point that out and make them aware? Does this automatically come up at UCAS. I don't know how it is with EBQ.

Second choice, Edinburgh. Insurance less grades needed can't remember exactly.
Third choice less grades
Fourth Choice less grades
Fifth choice ditto.

Emotionally, practically and every other which way she is very self critical and thinks she won't make her first choice. I know it is in the stars and depends on a lot of things, but sometimes i can't tell really.

So IF she doesn't get first choice - she doesn't in her heart want to go to the other four she says and can't think of another uni she wants to go to.

Stupidly I put my copy of the Good Uni Guide in the recycling - she knows what she doesn't want - doesn't want a big city as she is not that way inclined, so nearest city is Bristol - accomodaton situation rubbish - doesn't want to live at home - but not too far from um as I'm single parent and all she has got in terms of family -

London is a no-no too.

So I've mentioned I've scrimped and saved to get her to spain language course for two weeks. (in two weeks time)...

Hopiing to do some research then - to come up with back up plan.

It wouldn't surprise me at all if it were all fine and she got in, to first choice but I guess I don't want to stand there on results day and be clueless and unprepared.

She hasn't travelled that much across the country aside from jaunts to see her dad in the north west. So somewhere with rail links to Bristol.

I would be personally all for her exploring lesser known unis such as Leicester - or somewhere in Wales where i am originally from.

Sorry don't feel as if you have to answer all these questions. I know she finds her way eventually...

Re results and email - I'll suggest that to her, but think there is something about the ritual of physically going in that is important to her - perhaps seeing and supporting her mates - understandable, but I'm conscious of needing to get back home quick where there are two computers, a landline and resources in case it goes pear shaped. Make sense?

ND: UCAS say they’re doing something new this year. IF DC are declined by both their firm & insurance they suggest potential matches that you then click on to say you’re interested and that uni calls you. No idea how many matches but it’s no doubt worthwhile still finding their own.

Thanks that is useful info above.

Sorry to moan about first choice, but it is very hard for them when first choice not only feels so right, but they have ploughed so much into it in terms of courses, visits etc.

Just hoping that two weeks away - might help her and me regroup. In the meantime glad it is a sunny day and I can get washing out! Sometimes helps me think. Will check this thread later. I'm glad that it exists!

Forestfriendlygarden · 09/07/2023 12:55

And I typed it wrong.
First choice is
A star
a
A

rest lower.

So if EBQ already an a star as predicted grade it might be okay and we might be home and dry but as I said I don't know if it is counted.

lastdayatschool · 09/07/2023 13:04

@tribpot @NotDonna - is it Clearing Matches you're talking about ?

www.ucas.com/undergraduate/clearing-and-results-day/what-clearing/your-clearing-matches

KittyMcKitty · 09/07/2023 13:07

Hi

in answer to some of your questions - whilst you can apply to 5 courses you can only hold 2 offers - firm and insurance- so she will have declined the other 3.

If she doesn’t meet firm and they decline her she will automatically go to insurance - if she meets that offer (or they take her on lower grades) that offer will change to unconditional on UCAS. If she meets firm that will change to unconditional on UCAS.

if she is rejected by firm but accepted by insurance and she doesn’t want it then she will need to reject the offer via UCAS and go into clearing. What does she want to do if she doesn’t meet her firm? It is worth her considering that now prior to the emotions of results day.

Is an EBQ and EPQ? If so then it won’t be accepted as an A level. It counts for half an A level. Some universities may give a reduced offer if you have a certain grade in EPQ (mainly Bath and York from memory) - am I right that her firm is Oxbridge? If so I don’t think they will take an EPQ into account. If she started the EPQ late has she finished all the components (presentation etc)?

UCAS Track opens at 8. 2 years ago when my eldest was applying it monumentally crashed at around 8.05 for a long time (my dc was lucky to get in and see they were accepted prior to the crash).

If she doesn’t meet her offers it is worth going into school as they will help with clearing.

From what you’ve said though it sounds like she will meet her firm offer.

clary · 09/07/2023 13:07

Ah @Forestfriendlygarden I'm with you on the washing!

wrt EPQ (is that the same as EBQ?) as I understand it, it mainly serves to lower an offer by a grade if you get A/A-star(if the uni wishes to do so) - none of mine did it so I am not sure when you get the grade?

Leicester yay! that's where DD went - underrated imho and very supportive (her course at any rate) and a really diverse student population which DD found a real positive.

What is her first choice and which subject? It's OK if you don't want to tempt fate by saying. But others might have some useful ideas.

lastdayatschool · 09/07/2023 13:12

@Forestfriendlygarden if you're in the SW and Exeter isn't one of your DD's original 5, it's worth taking a look at their UK clearing vacancies, at vacancies.exeter.ac.uk/clearing/home to see if her course (or something similar) is listed.

Their entry criteria for clearing courses is significantly less than their typical offer

Forestfriendlygarden · 09/07/2023 13:33

KittyMcKitty · 09/07/2023 13:07

Hi

in answer to some of your questions - whilst you can apply to 5 courses you can only hold 2 offers - firm and insurance- so she will have declined the other 3.

If she doesn’t meet firm and they decline her she will automatically go to insurance - if she meets that offer (or they take her on lower grades) that offer will change to unconditional on UCAS. If she meets firm that will change to unconditional on UCAS.

if she is rejected by firm but accepted by insurance and she doesn’t want it then she will need to reject the offer via UCAS and go into clearing. What does she want to do if she doesn’t meet her firm? It is worth her considering that now prior to the emotions of results day.

Is an EBQ and EPQ? If so then it won’t be accepted as an A level. It counts for half an A level. Some universities may give a reduced offer if you have a certain grade in EPQ (mainly Bath and York from memory) - am I right that her firm is Oxbridge? If so I don’t think they will take an EPQ into account. If she started the EPQ late has she finished all the components (presentation etc)?

UCAS Track opens at 8. 2 years ago when my eldest was applying it monumentally crashed at around 8.05 for a long time (my dc was lucky to get in and see they were accepted prior to the crash).

If she doesn’t meet her offers it is worth going into school as they will help with clearing.

From what you’ve said though it sounds like she will meet her firm offer.

Thanks.
Info here very helpful for me with brain fog.
Sorry to get abbreviation for EPQ wrong.

Yes firm oxbridge.

I shall re-read this thread going forward hope I have a bit more time to myself whilst DD in Spain to prepare stress management plan!

thanks helps with clarity

Forestfriendlygarden · 09/07/2023 13:38

lastdayatschool · 09/07/2023 13:12

@Forestfriendlygarden if you're in the SW and Exeter isn't one of your DD's original 5, it's worth taking a look at their UK clearing vacancies, at vacancies.exeter.ac.uk/clearing/home to see if her course (or something similar) is listed.

Their entry criteria for clearing courses is significantly less than their typical offer

thanks very much for tip

tribpot · 09/07/2023 13:39

You can do some research @Forestfriendlygarden in ways that weren't available to us back in the day, through things like virtual tours (here's Cardiff's just by way of an example: https://virtualtour.cardiff.ac.uk/central/index.html?/en/main) and student 'day in the life' type videos, here's one from Leeds: m

Bristol's on the Cross Country train line, not my favourite (it's shit - the train line, not Bristol!) but that does technically give you direct access to a huge swathe of the country, literally Penzance to Aberdeen.

I personally would look at Wales, it seems to have some great unis and not too far from you.

I know what you mean about going in for results. Even DS, who is the least sociable person in his entire school (and felt very disconnected from it due to doing one subject online and one subject at the neighbouring sixth form) wants to go in to get his results. Admittedly his school is 5 mins' drive away but even if it were an hour we would still go, I think.

But I would also try not to stress too much. It's very likely she will get her firm choice. If she doesn't, when faced with the reality of her insurance choice or clearing, she may change her mind about Firm Choice or Nothing. If she doesn't change her mind - fine, do they have any related courses in clearing? Does she want to do a resit and apply again in a year's time? There are other options. DS is adamant he doesn't want to go into clearing and in some ways I am pleased about that - I'd rather he didn't try to persuade himself that uni X, which is nothing like uni Y and which we haven't visited, is similar enough to give it a go.

I've got nephews at Leicester and Loughborough, both really like them. Their brother is looking at those two or Nottingham.

@lastdayatschool Clearing Matches looks like the thing. Good idea.

Forestfriendlygarden · 09/07/2023 13:44

Thanks very much.
I love Cardiff personally - but DD still to come round, it's one of her choices.
Hadn't thought of Loughbourough omg can't spell anymore...

Just googled EPQ
yes, she has completed all work
UCAS say it counts for 24 points.
Predicted A star her teacher said.
Still don't know whether it comes up in UCAS results

In the main - I know I need to deal with myself on this one - I think as a single parent effectively I haven't had any time off at all for so long - despite it being nerve wracking I'm looking forward to her going to spain...

wish I were going...

Tapas and dancingn lessons anyone?

SabrinaThwaite · 09/07/2023 13:46

Birmingham, whilst a big city, might be worth a look? The uni feels more like it’s own separate place.

clary · 09/07/2023 14:00

No one can spell Loughborough - I have to think andDS2 is there. He calls it Luffers 😂

UCAS points not relevant if she is looking at Oxford and Edinburgh tbh. EPQ is worth doing just for itself as a research project so if she did well that's great. Is it Spanish she is doing at uni? (yay)

Forestfriendlygarden · 09/07/2023 14:04

clary · 09/07/2023 14:00

No one can spell Loughborough - I have to think andDS2 is there. He calls it Luffers 😂

UCAS points not relevant if she is looking at Oxford and Edinburgh tbh. EPQ is worth doing just for itself as a research project so if she did well that's great. Is it Spanish she is doing at uni? (yay)

No linguistics. And psychology...I hope.

I shall call it Luffers too going forward...

lastdayatschool · 09/07/2023 14:29

@clary a couple of years ago, one of my US colleagues was telling me how his son was applying to UK universities, and he listed them, including one he pronounced as "Loo-goo-boo-roo" 🤣

We may not be able to spell it but at least we can say it

Forestfriendlygarden · 09/07/2023 14:33

lastdayatschool · 09/07/2023 14:29

@clary a couple of years ago, one of my US colleagues was telling me how his son was applying to UK universities, and he listed them, including one he pronounced as "Loo-goo-boo-roo" 🤣

We may not be able to spell it but at least we can say it

ha!

clary · 09/07/2023 14:57

lastdayatschool · 09/07/2023 14:29

@clary a couple of years ago, one of my US colleagues was telling me how his son was applying to UK universities, and he listed them, including one he pronounced as "Loo-goo-boo-roo" 🤣

We may not be able to spell it but at least we can say it

😂😂😂

NotDonna · 09/07/2023 15:05

🤣
Is Cardiff her insurance @Forestfriendlygarden and now doesn’t fancy it?

LlynTegid · 09/07/2023 15:09

Has The Paper that Supported the Blackshirts decided which young women to choose from for their obligatory photographs on results day?

Forestfriendlygarden · 09/07/2023 15:10

Yes as far as I remember

Edinburgh (too far and bloody freezing...)
Cardiff
York I think
Somewhere else can't remember...

As someone said they may change their minds...

Forestfriendlygarden · 09/07/2023 15:11

LlynTegid · 09/07/2023 15:09

Has The Paper that Supported the Blackshirts decided which young women to choose from for their obligatory photographs on results day?

Don't know, but I've said to my DD there will be no photographs for the media.

I might be old school but I would like them to have some space around it for themselves, they get photographed if they sneeze nowadays...it's too much.

Forestfriendlygarden · 09/07/2023 15:12

Understandably DD just needs some space to process i think, it has all gone so fast the last few weeks. Perhaps in Spain...

KittyMcKitty · 09/07/2023 15:14

Sadly Oxford and Edinburgh won’t consider her EPQ.

is or Linguistics she’s looking to do or Psychology! Psychology will always be tricky with clearing and rarely makes much of an appearance - QMUL are the only one I can see which have it.

York and Cardiff (and I imagine others) have Linguistics and will take an EPQ into account. Sadly if she didn’t firm or insure Cardiff her old application / offer doesn’t count.

The best thing she can do at this stage is decide what she wants to do if she doesn’t get her firm. You suggest she wasn’t interested in her insurance (is that Edinburgh?). She needs to decide what she would like to do and whether she would be interested in clearing and if so what subject - Linguistics is likely to be possible but Psychology will be u likely as it’s crazy popular at the moment.