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Higher education

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

Original poster

Applying for Uni with A level grades

39 replies

andwhy · 25/08/2023 08:38

We've had a change of circumstances at home and my Daughter is thinking of rejecting her uni place and applying again next year. Has anyone had experience of applying with grades in hand and did most of the universities make an offer if your grades met the entrance requirements.
Thank you

OP posts:
IWantOutDoI · 25/08/2023 08:46

If she wants to go to the same university just ring them and ask them to defer entry to 2024. It us very likely they will save the place for her.

If she wants to stay at home and apply to other universities, she will need to decline current unconditional offer to apply to other universities. Having said that, she can reapply to current one in most cases.

If she decides to decline unconditional offer and reapply with grades in hand she would get an unconditional offer straight away if the grades meet or are close to the standard offer of the uni and program applied for, otherwise they will hold the decision making on her application until April.

Original poster
andwhy · 25/08/2023 08:52

Thank you. She has phoned them and they've said they won't do a deferred entry unfortunately, as that wouId have been the perfect solution. She wouId like to go to the same uni and/ or likes another 2, but we are just worried that if she turns this down she won't get offered again. She does have the grades they are asking for. So just wondering if others have applied with grades in hand and if they got accepted/turned down.

OP posts:
LillianGish · 25/08/2023 08:59

My DD did this as did her cousins (all in different years). In every case they immediately received offers - in DD's case (who was applying for a second time like your daughter) she even received offers from university who had rejected her the first time. It seems to me that applying with grades in hand is much more straightforward - the university can see what grades you have and can be sure of an immediate acceptance (no need for back up choices). It's less of a gamble for everyone concerned.

Original poster
andwhy · 25/08/2023 09:07

Thank you. That's very reassuring. (She's so worried of getting to this time next year with no offer and regretting her decision)

OP posts:
RenoDakota · 25/08/2023 09:11

She should be snapped up with grades in hand. And with an unconditional offer she would avoid the accommodation shit show which many students are going through at the moment (which seems to get worse every year).

Rebootnecessary · 25/08/2023 09:13

My dd applied with grades in 2017 and the process was very easy. Unconditional offers came through quickly and once she had accepted a place the accommodation was all sorted quickly and easily too.

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 25/08/2023 09:19

DS has done this after having a change of plan.

He was offered straightaway. Obviously it's dependant in the course and if she's got a place on medicine or veterinary medicine, the advice would be to take the place as she might not get another.

Original poster
andwhy · 25/08/2023 10:34

Thank you. Sounds like things should be okay for her.

OP posts:
GeraldTheGoodMouse · 25/08/2023 10:53

Mine applied with grades in hand and got exactly what he wanted.

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 25/08/2023 11:02

andwhy · 25/08/2023 10:34

Thank you. Sounds like things should be okay for her.

Another plus pint is that he's worked for the last year and has matured so much.

Philandbill · 25/08/2023 11:05

LillianGish · 25/08/2023 08:59

My DD did this as did her cousins (all in different years). In every case they immediately received offers - in DD's case (who was applying for a second time like your daughter) she even received offers from university who had rejected her the first time. It seems to me that applying with grades in hand is much more straightforward - the university can see what grades you have and can be sure of an immediate acceptance (no need for back up choices). It's less of a gamble for everyone concerned.

Agree with this. My DD applied with known grades and every application resulted in an offer of a place. The gap year has been beneficial for her too. I'm already hoping DD2 will do the same.

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 25/08/2023 11:06

*point not pint although he has had a few pints along the way Grin

MargaretThursday · 25/08/2023 12:38

DD did this year. However she was applying for a performing arts so needed to audition anyway. She got an unconditional offer for the place she liked.

mondaytosunday · 25/08/2023 13:10

Those who did this and got offers straight away - do you still have the normal amount of time to decide (I have no idea when the deadline normally is)? My daughter is thinking of applying to Cambridge with her grades which means a much earlier application (I know she can still add to her UCAS form).

LillianGish · 25/08/2023 13:14

mondaytosunday · 25/08/2023 13:10

Those who did this and got offers straight away - do you still have the normal amount of time to decide (I have no idea when the deadline normally is)? My daughter is thinking of applying to Cambridge with her grades which means a much earlier application (I know she can still add to her UCAS form).

My DD applied just before the deadline - she always goes right up the the wire.

LillianGish · 25/08/2023 13:23

Sorry, meant to add the procedure is exactly the same as when when you apply before you have your results except obviously you get an unconditional offer (as you are deemed to have already met the conditions). In theory it should be easier to decide because you are not having to hedge your bets - you just pick the course you prefer.

BiancaBlank · 25/08/2023 13:41

@mondaytosunday Yes you get the same amount of time to decide as pre A-level applicants.

JulesJules · 25/08/2023 14:31

mondaytosunday · 25/08/2023 13:10

Those who did this and got offers straight away - do you still have the normal amount of time to decide (I have no idea when the deadline normally is)? My daughter is thinking of applying to Cambridge with her grades which means a much earlier application (I know she can still add to her UCAS form).

I don't think Cambridge would give you an offer straight away, even with grades in hand. AFAIK, all offers come out on the same day in January, the difference being that it would be an unconditional offer. UCAS entries have to be in by about 15th October, but if other tests have to be done they have to be applied for earlier than that. I think there's a timeline on their website. Same for Oxford, but their offers are usually out a week or so earlier in January.

mondaytosunday · 25/08/2023 15:23

@JulesJules yes i didn't mean from Cambridge but the other universities she may put on the UCAS form in October. I understand that Cambridge does interviews in December and wouldn't expect to hear from them until January. But I was wondering if she applied (for example) to Bristol in October, and they made her a quick offer, would she still have til - what is it, May? - to give them a yea or nay. And @BiancaBlank says yes!

Original poster
andwhy · 25/08/2023 15:26

So are you thinking if they get their forms in they may get offers in October? (Not oxbridge) but other unis. That does sound less stressful than waiting till the new year

OP posts:
SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 25/08/2023 15:28

Yes it's exactly the same process however you don't get conditional offers as you already have your grades.

Skule · 25/08/2023 15:36

If her course is Maths, or heavy in mathematical content, she will need to show evidence in her PS of the work she's doing to keep developing her skills. Professors worry about maths skills going rusty in a gap year.

For other subjects, grades in hand usually makes your application stronger.

mondaytosunday · 25/08/2023 15:49

@andwhy it's a new process for me but when my friends kids applied they seemed to get (conditional) offers anytime from the same week they sent their form in to months later..As everyone is supposed to get equal consideration if they apply before the deadline I don't understand how that works - surely if offers go out, conditional or not, there's an ever decreasing number of spaces? I know they all over offer but still.
Some schools seem to like to get the form in asap, others wait til the last week. Applying with grades though and getting a unconditional offer must remove a shed load of stress, and if offers came early too so much the better!
My original question was the offers don't 'expire' while she is waiting to hear from Cambridge.

GeraldTheGoodMouse · 25/08/2023 15:53

Skule · 25/08/2023 15:36

If her course is Maths, or heavy in mathematical content, she will need to show evidence in her PS of the work she's doing to keep developing her skills. Professors worry about maths skills going rusty in a gap year.

For other subjects, grades in hand usually makes your application stronger.

It will vary with the maths, this isn't a blanket rule at all. Mine is at Exeter and everyone does a maths recap module the first term, to account for different routes in, years out and all the other reasons for not going straight from A Levels.

JulesJules · 25/08/2023 17:02

Ah I see. Normally if you're applying in y13, you get up to 5 choices, the universities have up till about mid May to respond. Some reply straight away, some leave it really late. When my D1 applied, she got 2 or 3 offers straight away (Oct/Nov) then Oxford on their decision day in Jan and Edinburgh at the last minute. After the deadline you have to choose your firm and insurance and decline any other offers. The difference if applying with grades in hand is that you can only choose one at this point. My D2 will be applying with grades in hand for 2024, she's just got her A levels and is doing an Art Foundation Year from Sept. I'm encouraging her to get her applications in early.