Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Higher education

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

Original poster

He’s done it…

55 replies

mrsconradfisher · 29/09/2023 22:15

This thread will only make sense to those lovely posters who put so much time into giving me advice about DS and his quest to get to Loughborough.
To cut a long story short, got rejected back in April as was predicted AAA and Loughborough wanted A star AA. Absolutely gutted and just couldn’t settle for his firm choice of Birmingham.
Got results in August of AAB which were brilliant results but still not good enough for Loughborough. However School suggested we sent PE and Psychology for review of marking, he needed 6 marks for an A in PE and 2 marks for an A star in Psychology.
He decided to take a gap year as couldn’t settle on a Uni with this review of marking not resolved as he was convinced some of it had been marked harshly.
The OCR PE came back in 24 hours with 6 extra marks (2 not added up correctly and 4 had been marked wrong when they were correct). AQA Psychology has taken a month but it finally came back today, 3 extra marks and he has finally got his A star.
I actually cried this morning at work ( In front of a class of 5 year olds!) as been such a journey to get to this point. He still has obviously now got to be accepted by Loughborough but they said it was only the lack of A star stopping him before so hopefully it should be ok. Plus he’s got all his Gap year experience as well.

OP posts:
clary · 29/09/2023 22:23

Ah that is great news @mrsconradfisher so pleased for him. Lboro all the way! He can look put for Ds2 on the lafc stall at next year's freshers fayre 😄😄

Really hope they offer now - he should make clear that he will firm ASAP as they will know that is a settled place (which is whatever uni wants)

PacificState · 29/09/2023 22:32

Well done @mrsconradfisher (and DS, I guess Grin) What a journey. Fingers crossed he gets the offer!

notapizzaeater · 29/09/2023 22:35

Aww that's brilliant, was watching your first thread. Congrats to you all.

TheLongpigs · 29/09/2023 22:36

Absolutely remember this. Thank you for the update - and a very happy ending!

Wildthingsrevenge · 29/09/2023 22:37

🥳

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 29/09/2023 22:43

We had a bit of a similar story. DS needed AAA but got AAB. Had a remark and was awarded the A he needed.

Now at the University he chose and it was so, so much easier with the grades in hand plus working has made him realise that he really does want to get an education.

I'm so glad that your DS has got what he wants Flowers

Original poster
mrsconradfisher · 29/09/2023 22:49

@SiouxsieSiouxStiletto yes DS has said exactly the same thing. He is so determined to get a good degree and not work doing what he is doing now.
It’s good to hear that it was easier for him, I think DS just wants a yes or no so he can move on. They didn’t reject until just before the cut off date last year so it was a long wait.

OP posts:
PettsWoodParadise · 29/09/2023 22:51

I remember reading your DS’s story OP. Well done him (and you!) for his tenacity and self belief,

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 29/09/2023 22:56

DS went on the open Day with DH. He'd had a change of plan so it was the first time he's been to that Uni.

When they were chatting with the guy who was in charge of admissions DS' grades came up and the guy virtually begged him to apply.

It really was so much easier than trying to do A'Levels and apply at the same time.

Where he is now, all of the students in his flat are 19 so they've all had a gap year. They seem a nice bunch Wink

Windseven · 29/09/2023 22:58

Lurked and followed this but never commented.

Brilliant - so pleased for him and you. But angry at the appalling marking this year.

Revengeofthepangolins · 30/09/2023 07:25

So happy for him. Best of luck with his application, and I hope he can find some other courses other than L that he is happy to put on there too.

Aslockton · 30/09/2023 07:57

Fantastic news! Do let us know how it all turns out with the Loughborough application. When do they usually offer places? Hopefully he will know before Christmas and can enjoy his gap year.

Original poster
mrsconradfisher · 30/09/2023 08:24

@Revengeofthepangolins thank you! He’s also probably going to go for Bath and Exeter. He didn’t apply for those last time as the grades required were as high as Loughborough so didn’t want to waste more choices on ones he wouldn’t get offered. He’s also very interested in a joint sports science and Psychology degree at Newcastle so going to investigate that now. Having the grades in hand seems to be so much easier in terms of searching for courses.

OP posts:
Original poster
mrsconradfisher · 30/09/2023 08:26

@Aslockton they didn’t reject him until the very end of April last year so it was a very long wait. I’m hoping that applying with grades (plus he is going to email admissions too) will make it quicker. He’s also hoping that if he does get offered that he might be able to choose accomodation early as well.

OP posts:
DinkyDaisy · 30/09/2023 08:47

Great news.
Like others have said marking seems all over the place. I actually think poor marking a huge concern...

poetryandwine · 30/09/2023 09:53

So happy for your DS and your whole family, @mrsconradfisher , particularly in light of the challenges he faced. Do please come back here if it isn’t smooth sailing, though I expect it will be. Congrats to DS!

I think it is well worth working the fact that Y13 Psychology was self taught into his PS, not for its own sake but in the context of demonstrating skills at independent and small group learning. Transitioning to these ways of learning is where many uni students fall down. Your DS’s unfortunate experience makes him a sounder bet than the average entrant from the uni’s perspective.

Also it would be good for the ref letter to validate the self taught Y13 Psych. This A star is really impressive.

poetryandwine · 30/09/2023 09:55

PS I generally think Bath is a great place also, so delighted to see that is a possible choice.

Marmalade71 · 30/09/2023 13:53

Such great news - congratulations!

Hard not to be angry about the marking though. And wonder how many students are now at the "wrong" uni as a result of poor marking.

But that's irrelevant to your DS now - Best of luck with Lboro and others. Those grades will give amazing options.

mushroom3 · 30/09/2023 21:08

I’ve been following your posts @mrsconradfisher Im so delighted for your son!

kidstaxidriver · 01/10/2023 07:44

The best news! So pleased for him and well down for persevering!!! He’s had a tough time so I’m glad he’s now in a position he can choose! Well done to him

ShanghaiDiva · 01/10/2023 08:03

I remember your original thread. What a wonderful update and congratulations to your ds!

sendsummer · 01/10/2023 08:40

Echoing PP’s including @poetryandwine’s comment relating to the special merit in his Astar and added skills gained due to the circumstances. I was in any case delighted that he had the maturity to take a year out allowing him to also widen his university choices.

Original poster
mrsconradfisher · 01/10/2023 12:48

Thanks everyone for your kind comments. I am really proud of him, not because of the grades (even though they are amazing) but more for the fact that he was able to see the bigger picture and he know that a review of marking plus a gap year would open up so many more opportunities for him. It took a lot to say no I really don’t want to go to Birmingham. Plan B was resitting one of the subjects but I’m so pleased he won’t have to now.

He is going to start his PS this week, he’s hoping he can use his original one and tweak it to add stuff about Psychology in it.

OP posts:
seymour · 01/10/2023 21:14

I remember very well! Great news, good for him.

BlazingSadness · 01/10/2023 21:46

Well done! For the grades and the persistence.
He should link to these threads in an email
to Loughborough ;-) That would show them just how dedicated he is to going there and they should be flattered!