Page 21 | A levels 2023 - Results day and beyond

HereWeGo2023 · 2023-08-17T05:47:35+00:00

Hi all. I thought I’d make a new thread as the countdown one is filling up. Results day is here and I’m sure we will all value each others support, today and for the next stage of their journeys.

Fourcandlesx · 17/08/2023 17:00

Nottingham has got some great courses in clearing at low grades and I think they are going to save the day for a lot of people. They are also guaranteeing accommodation for clearing students. Am probably a bit late in the day for that information to be useful now!

tribpot · 17/08/2023 17:01

Oh @Travelban how stressful, I'm not surprised she's asleep. I'm surprised you aren't as well! So glad she's got something she feels positive about, are you going to try and do an open day?

sweatervest · 17/08/2023 17:05

hi and congratulations to everyone's kids (kids?!?) who got what they needed.

my son was predicted abb and got bcd so he's got into chester which he's never been to/seen so looking forwards to that but also massively sad that my youngest is also going to be away from september. woe is me. (it's not about me, i know that, but it's four weeks away for him starting. yikes)

such a stressy time of year. i saw a thing on instagram that sais that simon cowell and gemma collins didn't do A levels. i don't think my son finds either of them remotely aspirational, but thanks, insta.

really thinking of everyone who's children aren't going where they planned. a horrible time and stress level is here (i'm pointing at my forehead).

WendyWebersdrugget · 17/08/2023 17:14

Slept really badly but all ok - DS got his Southampton place! He was completely thrown by a dream where he didn’t get the grades and on waking up had no idea if he’d checked them or not. That was stressful enough. Thinking of everyone who has had to change plans and hope it all works out - and congrats to those who’ve confirmed places.

SlightlyJaded · 17/08/2023 17:17

Just checking in again. Well done to those who got what they needed, but especially those who have been resilient and navigated a way through clearing to something they are happy with. So hard to keep going!

Update to our SHOCKER of a day: Still both completely blind-sided by results. Have decided to go ahead with a Geog re-mark, but even this won't really salvage DD's situation.

I have had to stop myself blubbing whilst listing to DD on the phone to various Uni clearing offices - knowing full well she is now punching to get on courses she didn't think she would have to consider. She is being so fucking brave and resilient that she is putting me to shame. A few are considering her application and we will now have to wait and see. She can't really make any decision at the moment because there is pretty much nothing on the table.

I don't know what will happen but I will keep you all posted just because it might be helpful to someone else in our position next year. We are talking about a really bright girl who scored among the highest SATS in her outstanding primary, got 8s and 9s at GCSE, got an A on the one bit of coursework she handed in (Geog), was predicted A AA and came out of her exams quite content with what she had done. If she can get a CCD - then honesty, I think it can happen to anyone. All that given just for context, not because I think she is amazing or anything. It's just such shock and a punch in the gut.

But anyway..., Onwards and I will keep you posted for reasons stated above.

tribpot · 17/08/2023 17:17

Talking of dreams, did Jake Gyllenhaal make an appearance?

moshmoshi · 17/08/2023 17:18

poetryandwine · 17/08/2023 16:27

Hi, @moshmoshi

I can’t find your original post at the moment, only your reply to me.

In case your DS is rejected now, I think an FY or Access course would likely be a fine route for him. Just yesterday a DS on a different thread started ringing round for and got an FY place, so there are places available for this year still. Some FYs may go into Clearing. (You may already know that Student Finance will fund the length of the degree plus one year.)

If this were playing out in my family I would hope we would start researching Access courses and FYs with places for 2023 today and early tomorrow. Then DS could email his Firm and Ins tomorrow. If rejected, or if he wishes to reject his ins, we would move on, hoping for an FY or Access course this year.

If DS is still interested in OB he could ask their advice in choosing between open FY/Access courses.

It sounds like this has been very frustrating. Worst case, he can gain some good experience and, as you said, do the FY/Access next year. But if he prefers to start now I hope he can do that. I think chances are good. Best wishes to him

Thanks good idea about OB advice about FY or access if they reject. DS has a deferred place for 2024 and is determined to have his gap year as paramedic science is a 46 week course. He wants to have some time to travel and work abroad before uni starts.

I think an access course followed by a year out would be good as access would be funded but it his decision. I think he would find it really frustrating to be at our local college whilst everyone is travelling or at uni. So think we’ll be looking for 2024 start whatever he does.

It is just so upsetting after he has worked hard and put so much effort to getting a place to see it slipping away. Who knows if he’ll get an offer second time round. I’m trying to stay positive around him but I feel so gutted for him. Hopefully things will resolve themselves in the next week.

Thanks for all your advice and support- much appreciated

tribpot · 17/08/2023 17:20

Keeping fingers crossed for you, @SlightlyJaded . It sounds like she's got real fortitude and character, and that will see her right in the long run. In the short term hopefully she will find something worthy of her talents. There have been some real shocks this year in terms of kids predicted to do well and who had felt the exams had gone well.

Teateaandmoretea · 17/08/2023 17:27

tribpot · 17/08/2023 17:20

Keeping fingers crossed for you, @SlightlyJaded . It sounds like she's got real fortitude and character, and that will see her right in the long run. In the short term hopefully she will find something worthy of her talents. There have been some real shocks this year in terms of kids predicted to do well and who had felt the exams had gone well.

Completely agree, she sounds like one of life’s survivors to me.

In the end resilience and the ability to deal with failure and disappointment is more key to success than any exam grades.

Fingers crossed for good news for her.

ZittiEBuoni · 17/08/2023 17:27

Please keep us posted on her progress @SlightlyJaded , I for one am rooting for her and I bet I'm not alone.

Dixiechickonhols · 17/08/2023 17:36

I agree @SlightlyJaded it sounds like she will come out well.
I feel desperately sorry for kids in this position. They are totally blindsided.
My dc about to start yr 13 has got up and we have had a sensible conversation re looking at back ups and she has booked an open day for September at one she’d previously dismissed.
Previous discussions about having a plan B have been rebuffed with accusations of me not having faith, I’ve got nothing lower than an A all year. I think today has been a hell of a wake up call.

SlightlyJaded · 17/08/2023 17:38

Thank you @ZittiEBuoni - I will.

She has had such a rough time with other stuff but just kept going and going. I so wanted this one thing to be the straight forward outcome she deserved. But here we are.

I also believe that failures can be the making of you, but it just doesn't feel like that right now. Her friends, peers and classmates - who is she usually either on parr with or slightly above - have all done really well and most are into their first choice. It's almost like an anomaly. It feels almost bizarre.

Let's see what the next few hours and tomorrow brings.

LighthouseCat · 17/08/2023 17:41

SlightlyJaded · 17/08/2023 17:17

Just checking in again. Well done to those who got what they needed, but especially those who have been resilient and navigated a way through clearing to something they are happy with. So hard to keep going!

Update to our SHOCKER of a day: Still both completely blind-sided by results. Have decided to go ahead with a Geog re-mark, but even this won't really salvage DD's situation.

I have had to stop myself blubbing whilst listing to DD on the phone to various Uni clearing offices - knowing full well she is now punching to get on courses she didn't think she would have to consider. She is being so fucking brave and resilient that she is putting me to shame. A few are considering her application and we will now have to wait and see. She can't really make any decision at the moment because there is pretty much nothing on the table.

I don't know what will happen but I will keep you all posted just because it might be helpful to someone else in our position next year. We are talking about a really bright girl who scored among the highest SATS in her outstanding primary, got 8s and 9s at GCSE, got an A on the one bit of coursework she handed in (Geog), was predicted A AA and came out of her exams quite content with what she had done. If she can get a CCD - then honesty, I think it can happen to anyone. All that given just for context, not because I think she is amazing or anything. It's just such shock and a punch in the gut.

But anyway..., Onwards and I will keep you posted for reasons stated above.

What an awful day you and your DD have had. She sounds utterly amazing to be honest to be trying to find her way through this whilst probably feeling so shocked and upset. I'm am so hoping she hears some positive news soon xx

Szboox · 17/08/2023 17:42

Can anyone help? Or have positive stories?
my son’s UCAS hasn’t altered all day, it still says waiting for confirmation for both firm and insurance offers? He didn’t meet the grade requirements abs we’ve phoned the firm offer uni and they said we just need to wait? What will they be waiting for? People with better grades applying through clearing? Feeling a bit stressed!

MumblesParty · 17/08/2023 17:43

seratoninmoonbeams · 17/08/2023 15:02

We're quite chilled out here, DS is at local grammar. My Mum messaged me this morning asking me to let her know..... I answered 'let you know what?' 😆 More to life than exams.

I assume your DS just did A levels for fun, and the results don’t affect the rest of his life. But for most of us our kids either want to go to university or do an apprenticeship, and the grades determine if they are able to do this or not. That’s kind of the point of this thread. I’m not sure why you’re posting if the outcomes of the exams has no bearing whatsoever on your son’s future.

Petuniape · 17/08/2023 17:48

Netcam · 17/08/2023 08:38

So proud of my son. He is dyslexic and didn't really learn to read fluently until he was 11. He was home educated until the end of his GCSEs and then went to our local school 6th form, his first time in formal education, to study for 4 A levels. I am so proud of him. He got Maths A, Further Maths A, Physics A*, Computer Science A. So he's going to Durham university to study Maths.

That's absolutely brilliant!! Well done to your son 👏👏

MarshaBradyo · 17/08/2023 17:50

SlightlyJaded · 17/08/2023 17:17

Just checking in again. Well done to those who got what they needed, but especially those who have been resilient and navigated a way through clearing to something they are happy with. So hard to keep going!

Update to our SHOCKER of a day: Still both completely blind-sided by results. Have decided to go ahead with a Geog re-mark, but even this won't really salvage DD's situation.

I have had to stop myself blubbing whilst listing to DD on the phone to various Uni clearing offices - knowing full well she is now punching to get on courses she didn't think she would have to consider. She is being so fucking brave and resilient that she is putting me to shame. A few are considering her application and we will now have to wait and see. She can't really make any decision at the moment because there is pretty much nothing on the table.

I don't know what will happen but I will keep you all posted just because it might be helpful to someone else in our position next year. We are talking about a really bright girl who scored among the highest SATS in her outstanding primary, got 8s and 9s at GCSE, got an A on the one bit of coursework she handed in (Geog), was predicted A AA and came out of her exams quite content with what she had done. If she can get a CCD - then honesty, I think it can happen to anyone. All that given just for context, not because I think she is amazing or anything. It's just such shock and a punch in the gut.

But anyway..., Onwards and I will keep you posted for reasons stated above.

Sounds really hard. We’d all feel the same as you I’m sure

GraceOla · 17/08/2023 17:52

Congratulations to all the parents whose children were able to secure offers at their choice uni and obtain the grades they wanted. Another big congratulations to parents with children who haven't got a place at a uni, or who didnt get their desired grades. Concerning the latter, I want to assure you that there are still very possible ways for your child to get into their dream uni with grades that they need. We went through the same thing last year with no offers from a medical school, and were working with grades below standard, fast forward to present day, she got into a Medical School last minute for September 2022 entry and has been thriving there ever since.

snurtifier · 17/08/2023 17:54

Son needed AAA to get into his first choice. Much as I love him, that was always going to be a stretch. He got BBC and after a stressful day has just been offered a place at Kent in clearing, which I think we're all pretty happy with.

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 17/08/2023 17:56

Szboox · 17/08/2023 17:42

Can anyone help? Or have positive stories?
my son’s UCAS hasn’t altered all day, it still says waiting for confirmation for both firm and insurance offers? He didn’t meet the grade requirements abs we’ve phoned the firm offer uni and they said we just need to wait? What will they be waiting for? People with better grades applying through clearing? Feeling a bit stressed!

Basically, yes- they're leaving him hanging and will offer him a place if they don't pick up enough students via clearing.

I would say he needs to ask them (tomorrow) for a timeframe by which point they'll make a decision, and possibly also start looking for other options in clearing. Lots of positive clearing stories on the thread today.

PacificState · 17/08/2023 17:58

tribpot · 17/08/2023 17:17

Talking of dreams, did Jake Gyllenhaal make an appearance?

😂

Juja · 17/08/2023 17:58

@Postapocalypticcowgirl that seems like really bad behaviour by the Uni - assume their firmed option - either accept or free up so @Szboox DC can look at other options

Lampzade · 17/08/2023 17:59

Turningandturning · 17/08/2023 16:49

Recently retired uni lecturer here. Often taking a gap year is a very positive experience.
We found students were often more mature and did better overall after a gap year.
Also they certainly won’t seem too old, even if they wait 10 years, we had students in their 50s and even 60s.
Not suggesting they wait that long but being entirely sure of where they want to go and what they want to do can only be helpful.

Totally agree
Both Dd and dniece took a gap year. They both loved it and said that they are so glad that they did it.
They both said that the year went quickly

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 17/08/2023 18:01

Juja · 17/08/2023 17:58

@Postapocalypticcowgirl that seems like really bad behaviour by the Uni - assume their firmed option - either accept or free up so @Szboox DC can look at other options

I agree it's not great of the unis. At least students can now release themselves into clearing if they're able to get a better offer.

Mikimoto · 17/08/2023 18:01

Travelban · 17/08/2023 16:49

We had the day from hell.
Woke up.and thr while village had no broadband so relying in crappie data. Ended up in McDonalds.to use WiFi and DD on thr phone in the car. Was predicted ABB but got BDD. One D was one mark off a C but even so.

Missed both firm.and insurance, many unis only using forms and rejected her straight away. Finally got an offer from Portsmouth to do Applied Languages. Really relieved eve. Though they still haven't accepted her on UCAS.

We both cried as really thr day was awful, she is asleep now and Internet has just made its way back. We never visited Portsmouth and it is 5 hrs away but DD1 excited about thr course and living by the sea...

Portsmouth Poly have always been good for languages, so that's positive.
The city's a bit stabby, but lovely areas nearby to visit.