Page 4 | DC missed Uni offer (IB)

UcasShmoocas · 2023-07-18T05:44:30+00:00

Posted on Chat as well but someone suggested I try here, too. Any advice welcome! DC received IB results and missed uni offer for Law by two points (both in HL, very unfortunately - predicted 6-7 and 6 and got 5 in both 😞). Big shock and totally unexpected. DC contacted admissions but got through to 'enquiries'. They said the uni (Bristol) would make a decision but probably not until around the 17 August. Should DC write a letter to admissions? Or just leave it be? They don't want to go to their insurance so if Bristol says no it will be retakes and a gap year... I'm feeling quite helpless. Most of DC's year group are disappointed with their IB marks and many have called short of their predictions... DC has 37 overall, 16 in HL. 31 in LNAT. Offer was 38 but 18 in HL which all teachers thought was 100% achievable. I'm thinking they will definitely not firm her offer. 😞

Ciri · 28/07/2023 23:57

I’d be very careful about a plan to resit rather than take the insurance place (or look at clearing). If the DC wants to qualify as a solicitor resits will not be looked upon favourably. In addition various universities don’t allow candidates who are resitting or who missed their offer to reapply.

Tinysoxx · 29/07/2023 10:37

I would go for a remark if your child thinks they did better. My DCs were very objective about their marks and were both adamant that they did better on a humanities A Level they took. We got them remarked (3 years apart) and 7 and then 8 marks had been missed off one essay so they comfortably went up a grade. Had a gcse remarked too - also up a grade. In fact 3 out of 3. However I would say they are both very good judges and were very well versed in writing the answer to get maximum points off the mark scheme so knew their grades felt off.

TizerorFizz · 29/07/2023 20:09

@poetryandwine I do think people will grasp hold of something that swung it for DC, whether it did or not! I agree Bristol
is clear on admissions but does anyone explicitly say “no further communication will be entered into” when grades are missed? Not sure they do.

DoggerelBank · 30/07/2023 15:25

No advice as such, but just sending good luck. We were in a similar position a few years ago (although it was SL grades that had slipped), and braced ourselves for A level results day. Even on results day we had no clarity, I guess because the uni was waiting to see who was going to accept their insurance offer or something. We did eventually have good news about two days later. Oh, and small word of advice - make DC promise to tell you AS SOON AS they hear from the uni. My DD got news while she was out with friends and stayed out overnight and forgot to tell her parents until the next day.

poetryandwine · 30/07/2023 16:09

No one says this, @TizerorFizz and I don’t think it would be right because it wouldn’t be the pushiest folk who are put off. It would be the shy DC whose exams were affected by their mum’s death in May or their own mugging at knife point the night before a crucial exam.

One can and one does fail to act when people make inappropriate requests. In my School where part of our mission is seeking out overlooked talent we would much rather keep channels open for the surprising number of genuine hardship/ emergency cases that do occur. (Even though there are channels for Mit Circs, applicants are understandably nervous about them and often have questions)

JJ8765 · 30/07/2023 16:31

Also just to say that there are other avenues into law if it doesnt work out. Do a different degree subject (with lower grades) and a conversion course or via a work/study route. I think law is a very dull degree anyway as so much of it is compulsory content for later being a lawyer there is very little opportunity to explore own interests. Most law graduates dont go on to be lawyers and 50% of lawyers didnt do a law degree. As most law firms still (sadly) want OxB or RG degree it can be better to swap subjects at a RG and do a conversion than change to a non RG uni.

TizerorFizz · 30/07/2023 17:05

@JJ8765 DD did law conversion and there’s plenty in that she has never used. Plus virtually nothing on family law. However it’s one year but can be expensive.

@poetryandwine Yes I do see what you say but clear extenuating circumstances like a death (my DF died 6 weeks before dsis took O levels) are different to just being unhappy with grades. Grades can be appealed separately I believe. I don’t think
my DM knew if the school mentioned our family circumstances or not. Probably thought it was unfortunate! We were the opposite of pushy and very stoical.

Original poster

UcasShmoocas · 17/08/2023 20:08

Just to update as I said I would...DC did not get the place at Bristol.
Thanks for all the advice etc, especially @poetryandwine
Now to research what to do in a gap year as I have no clue where to start!

OP posts:

KittyMcKitty · 17/08/2023 20:13

Aaah that’s such a shame - I’m so sorry. I know you said they don’t want their insurance but maybe it’s worth another visit just to see - which Uni is it?

TizerorFizz · 17/08/2023 20:23

@UcasShmoocas DD didn’t do Law but is a barrister. Is she qualified for another subject? Might this be an option? DD has friends with all sorts of degrees! I have to say they are academic degrees but law isn’t the only route to law.

ThursdayFreedom · 17/08/2023 20:35

@UcasShmoocas

im sorry, she must be so upset & frustrated.

DC is wanting to do law, she's only starting second year IB this year though. But is worried already due to this years results from the year above her, who all have done really well until now. I'm trying to keep up with all the options, for next year, but my head is battered. Just as well she doesn't have brain fog! Hopefully between
us we can navigate it next year'

best wishes to all those going through it this year. Xx

poetryandwine · 17/08/2023 21:25

Sorry to hear this, OP. Your DC clearly has the aptitude.

I believe loads of successful lawyers do an academic subject at degree level, then a conversion course, but I don’t know much about it. Best wishes to your DC.

ChateauMargaux · 17/08/2023 21:30

Ah shit.... good luck navigating the next steps...

Juja · 17/08/2023 21:34

@UcasShmoocas sorry your DC didn't get an offer - the silver lining will be a gap year. Both my two benefited enormously. DC2 wants to be a lawyer but is going to read languages first - starting this October. Spent the last year in France as an au pair while also volunteering with a French charity. Various ups and downs but dealt with them and moved on.

Whether they work in the UK or overseas they will learn loads and go to Uni with a whole new skill set.

Marisquita · 17/08/2023 21:37

Sorry to hear of your DD’s disappointment, OP.

I must say it does seem a pity to be contemplating retakes when she’s done objectively very well. Like others, I wonder whether there is merit in considering a different academic path for now if she’s chosen Law to get her into a legal career, rather than an academic interest in jurisprudence.

I’m a senior barrister (KC) and been in the profession over 20 years now, which is frankly an awful lot of law. A career is a long time! I’m glad I didn’t do it as an undergraduate as well - I was a PPEist and loved it. I chair our pupillage committee in commercial chambers, and the people who convert from another degree do every bit as well in the selection process (and in pupillage and practice) as the law graduates.

i happened to be looking at Exeter’s clearing page this evening. There are reams of interesting courses still available there, including flexible combined honours and liberal arts courses. With 38 at IB she’d sail into them. I’m sure the same will be true at other excellent universities. Perhaps worth a look, at least?

Thefatbutteredpig · 17/08/2023 22:42

UcasShmoocas · 17/08/2023 20:08

Just to update as I said I would...DC did not get the place at Bristol.
Thanks for all the advice etc, especially @poetryandwine
Now to research what to do in a gap year as I have no clue where to start!

Sorry to hear this. We have also had a rejection from Bristol this morning.

Luckily , got insurance offer though

Mirabai · 17/08/2023 22:57

Marisquita · 17/08/2023 21:37

Sorry to hear of your DD’s disappointment, OP.

I must say it does seem a pity to be contemplating retakes when she’s done objectively very well. Like others, I wonder whether there is merit in considering a different academic path for now if she’s chosen Law to get her into a legal career, rather than an academic interest in jurisprudence.

I’m a senior barrister (KC) and been in the profession over 20 years now, which is frankly an awful lot of law. A career is a long time! I’m glad I didn’t do it as an undergraduate as well - I was a PPEist and loved it. I chair our pupillage committee in commercial chambers, and the people who convert from another degree do every bit as well in the selection process (and in pupillage and practice) as the law graduates.

i happened to be looking at Exeter’s clearing page this evening. There are reams of interesting courses still available there, including flexible combined honours and liberal arts courses. With 38 at IB she’d sail into them. I’m sure the same will be true at other excellent universities. Perhaps worth a look, at least?

I’m not in law nor was it my degree subject, but I was going to say something very similar. I’m around a lot of top flight lawyers of @Marisquita’s level and only one did law at uni. In fact, the general consensus is that as uni subject it’s quite narrow. The commonest degree subjects among the lawyers of my acquaintance are history or PPE, although one did medicine.

Generally I’m in favour of retakes to get the best grades you can. But in this case, I doubt it’s worth it. If I were your DD I would reapply for another subject or another uni. And then take a year out to learn a language and get some life experience.

Btw I do have one friend who did a law degree who runs a trauma recovery centre in Europe - never used it!

TizerorFizz · 17/08/2023 23:21

Lawyers are around 50/50 law and non law degree. My DD did MFL. As long as it’s academic and the course suits you, it certainly could be History, English and plenty of others. Has she considered this @UcasShmoocas ? Takes longer of course. I do know some students do only want law but with IB she must have many strands to her bow!

UcasSchmucas · 18/08/2023 10:29

Thanks all - I will reply properly but just to say that Law is the degree she really wants to do BUT yesterday Politics and International Relations also caught her eye. She's got time to think about it, anyway.
She's an amazing young woman and yes, many strings to her bow.
We looked at clearing but nothing appealed and we would rather she goes somewhere next year that she really wants to go to, and studies something she really wants to study.

My main niggle right now is a PP said some unis do not accept resits. So I guess we have to contact all the unis she will apply to, to ask?

And although 37 is a great IB score - it's not the IB score she needs for the courses she wants. And she was always predicted 6&7 and the two 5's were a complete shock. She's determined to get the 18 for HL which so many top courses ask for.