University Offers Coming In 23/4 - part 2!

[WombatChocolate]

Following on from the old thread which was getting full….come and share the highs and lows of the journey that is A Levels and UCAS!

Leeds is very popular

@Delphigirl or even Bath for an ABB course when three Astars in hand (plus A star EPQ) for a not hugely popular course! Some offers have already been made for the subject too. It's making the university less attractive by the day.

Well that’s mad @mondaytosunday , I’m not surprised that is putting you off. Grrr!

My DC had just had a rejection from Leeds with predictions of 2 x A stars and an A for an AAA course. Course is popular so I guess they have to filter the applicants down somehow. Anyone know if it’s possible to find out the reason for rejections when on paper they exceed the requirements?
Was their only rejection though and has plenty of other great offers to choose from. Hope everyone else gets their remaining offers soon.

@mondaytosunday yes! DD is doing offer holder days this week and next, and then i think will withdraw from Edin. i think it is really not good that univs can just let applications time out in mid May so the young person never gets a yes or no.

I feel your pain - predicted ÅÅÅA, standard offer AAA, in clearing last year. Annoying, especially when other places are taking applications for their first-come first-served accommodation. (Which is also annoying.)

(Not Leeds btw, UCL accommodation getting booked up while DD waits for Warwick)

I don't have a DC applying this year but it's very draining when unis drag things out this long - especially for courses they know full well go into clearing every year! It's shambolic actually, particularly when students have the stress of A-levels and coursework at this time of year. Probably the reason certain courses end up in clearing every year is because people get fed up waiting and just firm other offers. These departments are shooting themselves in the foot but they don't seem to learn.

Yes quite - dd is thinking of just firming Exeter as the chances of her missing her offer are remote and anyway they too were in clearing for her course at BBC last year so would take her even if she tanked them I think.
But she is having a gap year so doesn’t have accommodation stuff adding extra pressure. Tough on those like @stoneysongs who do.

I'll say it again: it is a shambolic situation, especially if some unis are opening accommodation. Having been here - I fully understand how tempting it is to throw in the towel and firm an earlier offer but in the scheme of things you'll forget the long wait. If you really want somewhere it is worth holding on another couple of months (st most) because silence means nothing either way. Massive fingers crossed a load of offers arrive before Easter, I'd guess many admissions departments will be going crazy this week trying to clear their decks so they can have a breather.

I have one waiting for UCL and Leeds. I am not even mentioning accommodation to him as it's just too stressful. Having had one go through the process already I am holding onto the hope that everything will work out! And there's not much we can do anyway without an offer!

It makes me think if they are this shambolic in making offers, how bad will they be in delivering the course or with any other admin or other unreasonable behaviour which affects the students?

I'm like this with potential employers. If they keep me waiting for too long in reception or in the meeting room before they start the interview or faff about letting me know whether they want me, they can piss off.

But this is up to DD1, so we wait. Let me tell you though, Newcastle and Edinburgh, as a parent I am not impressed if you cannot decide whether someone with grades in hand which meet the entry requirements, is right for you.

It is such a nonsense to make students wait for offers which inevitably will come, because they have higher grades in hand than needed and the course goes into clearing. There should be a serious review of process.

Unfortunately, DS is still waiting for Durham and St Andrews, with three A predicted (well above minimum) and contextual status. He’s been a young carer for me since he was 10, more so since I got cancer last year. Despite this he has done well at school and balanced everything. His personal statement is great and his reference paints a picture of an academic critical thinker and an upstander. What uni doesn’t want that person? He’s applied to Classics, hardly a competitive course.

Why make him wait? It just seems unnecessarily cruel after everything he has been through.

For all those referencing their courses being in Clearing last year, two points to consider for that are:

1. Marking moved more back in line with pre-Covid marking, whilst predicted grades didn't - consequently, many DC missed their offers.

1. Some of the clearing vacancies last year, for some of the more surprising universities, were only available to international students - Durham being a classic example.

Classics and History at Durham are oversubscribed - usually about 7 applicants for every place. If he doesn't get a place in Classics suggest he does a joint honours Ancient History and Archaeology -combines Classics and Archaeology. Archaeology is a great Department - in the top 10 in the world and is very friendly and welcoming. Or he could do straight Archaeology and opt to take a couple of modules each year in Classics.

Thanks, that’s useful. I actually did wonder if he might be offered archaeology instead as he has talked about volunteering at Roman archaeological digs in his personal statement.

The challenge with classics, especially at St Andrews, is that the cohort is so small, meaning they have to be quite selective. Still frustrating though.

my ds is still waiting for UCL and he has grades in hand! Luckily he’s not so keen anymore on studying in London but it would be nice to get the offer so that we could visit as he could well change is mind. Funnily enough Leeds was his first offer and he received it less than 24 hours after submitting his ucas forms. UCL has had his application for 5 months.

I actually did wonder if he might be offered archaeology instead as he has talked about volunteering at Roman archaeological digs in his personal statement.

He may @Innisfree if he gets rejected by Classics and there are still places in Archaeology - it is not as competitive (3 applicants per place) mainly because it's not taught at A level. Undergrads do get the opportunity to dig in the summer but the course includes a very broad range of skills other than excavation. Worth considering.

DS3 has now heard from all his choices for his STEM subject (offers for Imperial, Manchester, Bath and Nottingham). He plans to firm Imperial but he is dithering about insurance. He hasn't visited Bath yet and so I'm keen he goes to offer holders day in April but I he feels Bath is too far from us (5 hr train £120) and pricey so not really a contender. He preferred Man over Nott on the open days so I suspect will take the path of least resistance and put Manchester as insurance. I would like him to take advantage of the offer holders days but he can't see it adding much.
Also, DH is panicking about the impact waiting will have on Imperial accommodation options. Does anyone know if it's first come first served?

Yes agree re Edinburgh. OK maths and computer science is a popular course but my boy has 5 As at higher in hand incl in those subjects and predicted 2 more at AH - what else are they looking for? Or if it’s a no at least just tell him!

No it's not first come first served for Imperial accommodation because I called them earlier today to ask

@MerchSwyddEfrog
UCL is dragging their feet!! My ds submitted his application back in October last year and only received offer from them last Friday, where Imperial’s offer came in January.

@ladsmum it’s not first come first served for imperial, it says on their website.

DD firmed and insured last night - (Nottingham and Sussex) Suddenly starting to feel very very real... not sure I'm ready for her to leave home!

I'm sorry for those of you still waiting for offers - it's appalling that people are being made to hang on like this for months and months. I really hope that the slow unis sort themselves out pronto. I suppose they'd argue they're so popular they've got huge piles of applications to wade through but whatever the reason it's rotten.

Do you think one of the reasons for the slow offers is the drop in international students which I know is impacting some uni budgets? I just wondered if they are still chasing some international students for some courses (to prop up budgets) and so don’t want to offer places to home students until that Avenue exhausted…?