Offers when taking 4 A Levels

[Blushingm]

DD is doing 4 A levels. She put in her ucas application and has had one offer at BBB but as she is taking 4 rather than 3 coins it be possible she would be accepted at say BCCC or similar?

It will vary by course and uni. There may be room for manoeuvre on the day but ideally they want 3@B minimum, and fourth is irrelevant,

Hi, OP -

Former admissions tutor here (Russell Group, STEM).

Anything is possible; it depends how badly the School or unit of admission needs bums on seats come August. However if they have had a healthy season, it is not likely. The point of making a three A Level offer is that the School does not much care that your DD is taking four A Levels. The School would likely see results of BCCC as being BCC with the mitigation of doing a fourth A Level.

If an applicant's pending qualifications change, they must notify the universities they have applied to (I think this is done through UCAS, but one should check). As this School seems to be sending the message that the fourth A Level is irrelevant, if it is DD's first choice I wonder if she might consider dropping one to concentrate on the other three?

Best wishes to her.

Have they specified which a levels?

Eg she is doing bio chem maths and French and they want bbb bio chem and maths?

If they have specified the a levels then yes clearly it matters.

However if she doesn't make BBB then the uni will look at her results, see how full they are and decide whether to take her.

FWIW standard offers are usually 3 a levels and often doing 4 (unless maths and further maths) is unusual as people slip on the important 3.

Thank you!

She enjoys them all and is predicted AABB but panics in exams.

This is her 4th choice but it's still an offer and she's v pleased. She's now got offers from her 3 & 4 choices

Would she consider dropping one? As poetry says 4 is unusual, and likely to impact results, and thus whether she's accepted or not. Three good is better than four mediocre....

@titchy said it in a nutshell, OP: Three good is better than four mediocre....

I sympathise with the panic. Her Insurance choice is obviously very important.

No they've not specified subjects

N.B. This probably is only relevant for STEM subjects: DD took 4 ALevels, one of which was Further Maths. 3 of her 5 offers specified 4 grades.

DD is applying for law

If you drop one after making the application and getting offers do you need to update on UCAS/inform the relevant unis?

Yes if you've submitted an application listing 4 A levels being taken, you should let them know if you decide to drop one. It shouldn't make any difference to an offer though.

Hi, @titchy I have heard rumours that it may be of interest, particularly to the COWI institutions, if applicants drop an A level and do not inform them. Imperial codify this, as they are well known for making different offers such as A star A star A vs A star A A A.
But other universities may take it into account less formally.

Any university is within its rights to rescind an offer if an applicant has dropped a fourth Al level (not part of the offer) without informing them, harsh as that sounds. Every applicant and their parents should know this. If you inform them (and they are not COWI) they are likely to say ‘thanks, no problem’. COWI may also be willing to work with you.

If this is the case she should concentrate on getting the 3 best grades she can not only for uni but if she decides to go to practise law as her A level grades are actually looked at in the context of applications for training contracts or pupillage.