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Higher education

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Original poster

What Unis are more likely to accept slipped grades?

39 replies

Morty12 · 24/09/2023 17:45

I know it's course dependent but in general what Unis are more likely to accept applicants if they don't meet their offer?
My ds missed his offers for Birmingham and Loughborough ( by one grade) this year and had to go through clearing. Keen to avoid that stress for ds2.

OP posts:
clary · 24/09/2023 17:52

I think it may have a good deal to do with the subject as well OP.

A lot of students (anecdotally tbf) seem to have missed a grade or so and still got in this year - so I am sorry that you DS didn't - was it a popular course?

Courses in clearing are often on at a lower grade - tho not always IME. I am guessing these are less popular courses as well. For example, the subject that DD did was in clearing at L'boro at BBB (this was 2019 btw) but the typical offer there for that course is AAB - so I presume that year they accepted slipped grades as far as BBB - that's not to say they always will (need to).

What subject is DS2 planning to go for?

clary · 24/09/2023 17:54

But in general I guess less popular unis are more tolerant - so Leicester, NTU, UEA, UWE, Reading, Kent - rather than LSE, UCL, Warwick, Leeds, Bath, Bristol? But the grades for the ones in my first list are likely to be lower anyway?

Lampzade · 24/09/2023 17:55

York

Spirallingdownwards · 24/09/2023 18:06

Lancaster used to because bizarrely ot was never a popular choice. However as it is a good choice financially as well as being a top 10 uni it's popularity is increasing and it may well not accept as many with dropped grades going forward as people see the cost of living in major cities such as Bristol and Manchster becoming prohibitive.

Original poster
Morty12 · 24/09/2023 18:37

clary · 24/09/2023 17:52

I think it may have a good deal to do with the subject as well OP.

A lot of students (anecdotally tbf) seem to have missed a grade or so and still got in this year - so I am sorry that you DS didn't - was it a popular course?

Courses in clearing are often on at a lower grade - tho not always IME. I am guessing these are less popular courses as well. For example, the subject that DD did was in clearing at L'boro at BBB (this was 2019 btw) but the typical offer there for that course is AAB - so I presume that year they accepted slipped grades as far as BBB - that's not to say they always will (need to).

What subject is DS2 planning to go for?

Ds1 had applied for Computer Science which I know is a popular course.
DS2 is yr11 and doesn't know what he wants to do possibly geography but very undecided.

OP posts:
notfeelingcreative · 24/09/2023 18:44

Exeter

JJ8765 · 24/09/2023 18:44

From people I know Lancaster, Uni of Nottingham, Newcastle, Sheffield seem flexible with grades and offering alternative courses. Newcastle often offer a lower grade if you put them as firm.

Panicmode1 · 24/09/2023 18:46

Exeter...many moons ago I missed by 1 grade but got in, and on an offer holders day with DD this year, it seemed the 3 people.with grades already hadn't met their offers (but had been given a place), as had our two tour guides!!

LIZS · 24/09/2023 18:47

They usually publish actual grades on entry at some point, so you can compare that to typical offers.

RedAndWhiteCarnations · 24/09/2023 19:11

Agree that it will depend a lot in the subject.

Dc slipped by 2 grades (BB instead of AA) and still got his offer. But he is doing civil engineering and I doubt it’s that competitive.

DinkyDaisy · 24/09/2023 19:28

Surrey had a lot in clearing this year at lower grade offer.
I think good university for computer science.

Theworried2 · 24/09/2023 23:34

Cambridge often (but not always) accept one missed grade, especially if the marks are very close to the next grade up. This is because they don’t over off like other unis (apart from summer adjustment) so often have the space for the student for missed the grade.

Monstermunchy · 25/09/2023 09:39

@Morty12 Leicester - they have a lovely geography department - great teaching, very friendly - but as they are not such a fashionable uni they are a little more lenient

Original poster
Morty12 · 25/09/2023 11:18

DinkyDaisy · 24/09/2023 19:28

Surrey had a lot in clearing this year at lower grade offer.
I think good university for computer science.

That's exactly where he has ended up through clearing!

Surrey has been fab so far just keen to avoid clearing again. As I suspected it is course dependent so will look into it more when ds2 decides on a course.

OP posts:
TrumanSnow · 26/09/2023 08:41

Last year a friend’s son got in for languages at Oxford with ABB (offer AAA) and this year my nephew got into Cambs for a history course with AAA (offer A star AA). I was surprised.

AboutRound · 26/09/2023 10:17

It’s so hard to tell from one year to the next. I screenshotted all the unis that had places in clearing this year for DDs subject. Lots showed dropped grades - some significant like Exeter and York. Others actually increased their grades in clearing eg Lboro.

How useful this is beyond this year though I’m not sure as because of grade boundary adjustments there were many more with lower grades this year. Who knows how next year will pan out?

What subject are you looking at? Some subjects are way more competitive than others at some unis - eg Economics and Law at many places, or eg Sports Science at Lboro etc.

Braveheart35 · 26/09/2023 10:36

clary · 24/09/2023 17:52

I think it may have a good deal to do with the subject as well OP.

A lot of students (anecdotally tbf) seem to have missed a grade or so and still got in this year - so I am sorry that you DS didn't - was it a popular course?

Courses in clearing are often on at a lower grade - tho not always IME. I am guessing these are less popular courses as well. For example, the subject that DD did was in clearing at L'boro at BBB (this was 2019 btw) but the typical offer there for that course is AAB - so I presume that year they accepted slipped grades as far as BBB - that's not to say they always will (need to).

What subject is DS2 planning to go for?

I think this is true. My godson also missed a grade at Loughborough- needed ABB and got ABC but they still took him.

BingoDingoZingo · 26/09/2023 12:24

Surely it depends on cohort performance? This year grades seem to have been lower then expected for many students so to fill spaces unis had to be more lenient. My DS got his 1st choice of York despite getting BBB rather than the required AAA. Same course was in clearing with ABB.

Monstermunchy · 26/09/2023 13:01

@BingoDingoZingo definitely - my dc got spat straight into clearing last year dropping one grade on 2 of his subjects and getting the A in the one he was going to study - I've heard of quite a few this year where they were more accepting.

explainthistomeplease · 26/09/2023 13:05

Cardiff seem to accept loads who have slipped grades. At least in our circle of young people.
Exeter admitted on an open day we went on that they'd accept slipped grades (English). DS struck them off his list as a result!

Dixiechickonhols · 26/09/2023 13:38

I looked at clearing this year for dc’s preferred course to see where was in clearing to get a steer of where may take with lower grade.
Impression we got from Queens Belfast was they want GB students (£3000 GB bursary yr 1) so may be more willing to take a GB student who has dropped a grade. Russell Group but not as popular as some other Unis.

Dixiechickonhols · 26/09/2023 13:39

This year was unusual as lots achieved below predicted so more may have been taken on lower grades.

Almahart · 26/09/2023 14:49

I hate to be the voice of doom, but population changes will make a difference too surely? Number of kids born increased from 2006ish, there were tons of bulge classes in my neck of the woods, I would imagine that will make university entrance more competitive too. So comparisons with last year might be redundant.

Overview of the UK population - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)

Overview of the UK population - Office for National Statistics

An overview of the UK population in 2019 (before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic): how it has changed, why it has changed and how it is projected to change in the future.

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/articles/overviewoftheukpopulation/january2021

WilderRose · 01/10/2023 09:14

It will be interesting to see what happens next year with results and universities.
All that can be said, with some confidence, is that for last few years one exam cohort cannot be compared with another...

Lottie4 · 03/10/2023 10:56

Depends on the course.

I doubt stop ranking accept slipped grades - DD needed three As to get into St Andrews, she got A (in subject she wanted to study), AB and they wouldn't accept her even though the A balanced things out.

We actually asked when we looked around Birmingham if they tended to accept slipped grades and she was told for that course, absolutely no. However, they would work with you to try and find something suitable. So it might be worth asking at open days and even phoning to discuss before making a decision. Either way, have a good second choice lined up.