Countdown to A level results day - 2023

[HereWeGo2023]

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!

Hi @FriendlyLaundryMonster 👋

I remember you as a mum of a fellow computer science applicant. Which uni did your son choose in the end as his insurance (although I'm sure he won't need it)?

So just because I love knowing how things work, assuming you missed the grades for your firm choice, how long do they have to decide on whether to still offer you a place before it potentially moves to insurance? Assuming while they are deciding your insurance place stays open. I'd love a behind the scenes TV show on what goes on during this week (embargo week) and how they make decisions.

Thanks for the Scotland explanation @Aurea - most clear explanation I've ever seen I think!

For what it's worth my friend's son who's going for CS has firmed Southampton and I think Birmingham is his insurance. He's predicted 3 x A star so I assume these have high offers.

I don’t know the answer but a couple of years ago (maybe pre Covid) Durham kept people hanging on for a few days post results whikst they debated whether to accept near misses - I have no idea how this impacts insurance offers etc.

Wow @KittyMcKitty I can't imagine how stressful that must have been.

I know it must have been awful - am hoping they don’t do it this year!!

My ds so convinced he's not got his firm actually started touring plan Bs in the summer. (His insurance is the same offer as his firm). He spoke to a head of admissions as he got lost on campus lost and they were chatting.

Caveated with all uni's are different, she said that most uni's will make a decision to confirm a near miss quickly. She also said that they are more likely than not to allow a near miss because they've already seen your application and even sorted accommodation. It's just better to confirm a near miss that you know of. I find that quite surprising but it does offer a less gloomy view.

Ds's firm is Birmingham for CS his offer was A star AA. Southampton was one of his five choices and they also offered A star AA )or A star A star B)

Interestingly DD got an email from her firm Cardiff last week saying good luck etc and if people are asking for re-marks they will hold the place until 1st Sept to allow for this. Not sure if it is all courses.

@Aurea Hi again! Ds has Birmingham as his insurance, which we visited and he really liked. Only needs 3 x As for that (as his EPQ brought the requirement down). I think he will fit in and have a ball at either Imperial or Birmingham. But, would like to know now!

@Titsywoo DS has had an email from Cardiff as well - wishing him luck for the results. He was offered a place but with a fairly high grade offer and he went for a different uni instead. Looking at their clearing vacancies, I can see the course he applied for is available in clearing, but don't know what that means ... However, not going to worry about it for now, just got to take deep breaths for the next 5 days, 19 hours and 11 minutes until we know.

Yes the Cardiff offer DD has is high (AAA) but if she gets an A or above in her EPQ they'll take AAA (EPQ is A according to her teacher). She is predicted AAA so fingers crossed but I am definitely a bit worried! Good luck to your DS.

@FriendlyLaundryMonster
Those are both great options!!
Fingers crossed for Imperial though!🤞🤞🤞

Oh ha forgot the star bold situation! Entry requirements are A star A A but she has an AAA offer with her EPQ which should be A star.

@FriendlyLaundryMonster do you ever which your DC had applied to more Scottish unis so no fees? I wish it for eldest. DH is Scottish DS is as well. Just seems DS could have so much less fees.

This is standard as all offers state that the applicant has until 31 August to meet the conditions of their offer.

So the one major reason to contact your firm (and/ or insurance, depending on circumstances) when they have turned you down, and not annoy them - rather than all the 'advice' to just ring them up and plead with them to take you anyway - is if your grades are a near miss and you have applied for an urgent review.

The admissions tutor at DS' first (and indeed second) choice (as it's the same course) has explicitly said to get in touch if you do just miss out on the grades, which is fantastic as it means you know you're not just pissing him off when there's no wiggle room anyway. I'd be a lot more hesitant without this!

@yoyo1234 I would have liked ds to have had one Scottish uni in the mix for that reason, yes! But, he didn't want to put his Edinburgh offer down as an insurance as it was very high, less than Imperial, but still really high at 3 A stars. So, just a bit risky. Ah well.

My eldest DS went to Birmingham (did History and then MSc CS conversion course) and now, 18 months later, earns far more than I do. He said the CS course there set him up very well for a career in software engineering, something to do with teaching them Java well (I work in the NHS so have no idea about CS!)

Oh that's good! I was sure I had read past posts where people said they lost the place waiting for a remark.

@Neversaygoodbye I agree a TV show behind the scenes would be fascinating.

@NotDonna glad it's not just me! I enjoyed the video PP linked showing what happens to the exam papers. The logistics, decision making etc fascinates me! Also, takes my mind away from the stress of 2 lots of exam results to get through. Plus I'm a control freak & can't stand not knowing what's happening, lol.

Potentially the remark wasn't back in time. If you go for one (review) then make sure it is done on a priority basis as the place depends on it.

@FriendlyLaundryMonster DS applied (and got conditional offer of a "B" for Glasgow). His insurance is "A" for Bath. I think Bath seems great but not 9250 a year better. I wish DS had thought of avoiding tuition fees more, there's e.g. Aberdeen, Dundee unis. He was wary of applying to Edinburgh Uni as Scottish.