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Higher education

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

Original poster

A level results day 2024

827 replies

Happyface246 · 05/08/2024 14:34

How’s everyone else feeling about results day? I’ve got one at uni already and 2nd dd hoping to go to Kent in September. She seems ok about it at the moment although think that will change as it gets closer. Me I’m so keeping my fingers crossed she gets what she wants, I know there will always be other options but she loved the open day. Going to struggle with this one going though as it has been a real journey to get to where she is.

OP posts:
Ujustcantandwont · 14/08/2024 09:33

Just going to have to keep everything crossed. DD is doing a course that is very widely available but she is very much set on one particular city. Said city does have 2 unis though so there is always the possibility of the other through clearing. Although the other had higher grade boundaries in the first place which is why she didn't apply there.

Not going to lie, I find the whole thing a bit confusing and just going to have to try and steer through tomorrow as best as possible

nicky2512 · 14/08/2024 10:05

Could I have a little help please? As I mentioned before, DS has completely changed his mind. He has always known what he wants to work at and was going to go the degree route. Has now realised that practical hands on working is the only way for him. I’m glad as I know he would not have been happy.
Anyway, he intends to take this year to get experience and apply for apprenticeships etc. We had discussed the possibility of deferring his uni place for a year (if he gets in) just to have it as a safety net until he gets sorted. I have no idea how this is done at this stage.
He checked and the uni in question is not taking phone calls other than clearing related until Monday. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

LouisCatorze · 14/08/2024 10:12

We had discussed the possibility of deferring his uni place for a year (if he gets in) just to have it as a safety net until he gets sorted. I have no idea how this is done at this stage.

I'd imagine he would need to phone the university he's been accepted for (presuming and hoping this will be the case) to ask to defer. So hot off the mark to phone the relevant uni, as soon as he knows he's got his place. The sooner the better.

Good luck to your DS.

nicky2512 · 14/08/2024 11:16

Thanks @LouisCatorze It’s such a worry though he is def less stressed now he’s finally realised what he actually wants!
He’s still worrying about his results.

DD was 4 years ago and was a breeze even in covid! She has known what she wants for years and had an unconditional!
This is my most stressful ever.

I really wish things could just be ok for all of them and that there was no disappointment tomorrow. Would be nice.

Lightsabre · 14/08/2024 11:24

nicky2512 · 14/08/2024 10:05

Could I have a little help please? As I mentioned before, DS has completely changed his mind. He has always known what he wants to work at and was going to go the degree route. Has now realised that practical hands on working is the only way for him. I’m glad as I know he would not have been happy.
Anyway, he intends to take this year to get experience and apply for apprenticeships etc. We had discussed the possibility of deferring his uni place for a year (if he gets in) just to have it as a safety net until he gets sorted. I have no idea how this is done at this stage.
He checked and the uni in question is not taking phone calls other than clearing related until Monday. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Could you email instead? I would imagine once the offer is confirmed by UCAS tomorrow you get a certain amount of time to accept (but I'm not sure how it works).

nicky2512 · 14/08/2024 12:16

Thanks @Lightsabre I will suggest this to him. I have no idea how long you have to accept. Or if you accept and then ask to defer!! But just know he can’t phone straight away. I will suggest he has email address to hand.

stoneysongs · 14/08/2024 12:24

@nicky2512
If he has a conditional offer, there isn't any accepting to be done, if he gets the grades he will have a place and they will be expecting him. Lots of people ask for deferrals though, it's very normal, but he might have to wait until the chaos of clearing has died down a bit. Their priority over the next few days will be trying to fill their courses rather than sorting out deferrals. No harm in sending an email now and then following up on the phone next week. (Plus if he gets his place, they might email him and that might include instructions for deferring.)

nicky2512 · 14/08/2024 12:47

@stoneysongs that is brilliant thank you so much. I honestly can’t remember from dd and I had convinced myself he’d only have so long to accept or not.
He can email for now then and then phone after Monday.
He had an awful last year at school with poor health and a bit of time to decide what’s for the best would do no harm.

All the best to all those getting results tomorrow. I certainly wouldn’t want to do it again.

Bunnyannesummers · 14/08/2024 12:51

@nicky2512 he doesn’t need to accept. If he gets the grades it’s a done deal and they’ll be assuming he’s going. Processes for deferring vary uni to uni - he needs to check their website, the info is probably there now. It may be an email/form/phone call, just depends

nicky2512 · 14/08/2024 12:55

Thank you very much @Bunnyannesummers I think we both have just panicked a bit.
He was v stressed and it’s massive decision. But def the right one for him.

Bunnyannesummers · 14/08/2024 13:00

@nicky2512 just to say as well, they don’t have to accept the request to defer. So although he’s sure, if they say no it might be a bit scary for him to take the plunge, but he has until mid September to pull out if that’s the case. He also needs to update student finance.

elliejjtiny · 14/08/2024 13:03

Hi, my ds1 is getting his results tomorrow. He is having a gap year and then hoping to go to LIPA in Liverpool next year.

nicky2512 · 14/08/2024 13:13

@Bunnyannesummers thanks. Yes I hope they allow deferral but I think he’d pull out if not. He can always apply next year.
I’m much calmer than I would have expected to be but I know he’s making the right decision.

Tortiemiaw · 14/08/2024 13:46

I've seen clearing for York on the clearing site, but can't actually find any courses listed on the York University site? I'm just hoping that the main site is correct as her course seems to be on it and accepting at lower grades than the ones she was asked for...

Delphigirl · 14/08/2024 14:31

lots of spaces in clearing from RG+ unis, including some from eg Durham, lots at kings. More than normal it seems

O2HaveALittleHouse · 14/08/2024 14:57

Yet again, please refer to the university website and filter by UK/international students. Vast difference for reasons our insiders above have explained.

Some aggregator websites are showing a combined view for both which is over optimistic at this point.

Clarindage · 14/08/2024 15:18

@Tortiemiaw If you type in York Clearing
and then click on Explore Our Courses, you can enter a course in the box. I entered 'law' as an example and got a list - some courses are labelled as
'This course is now closed to Home applicants for the 2024 UCAS cycle' and some are not, presumably if it doesn't say it's closed it might well be in Clearing. Like some other places they don't have full info up yet but you can sign up for alerts.

Trinance · 14/08/2024 15:23

Good luck all. This is the first year in a while for us not having GCSE or A Level results looming. Last year was tough for many young people we know. I think this year is looking better so fingers crossed for you all!

Sniffywhippymum · 14/08/2024 15:32

Oh my god, how stressful is the wait?? First time waiting for A level results and first DC going to uni (hopefully) I think I am more stressed about it than my DD. 😂

Tarjet · 14/08/2024 16:11

stoneysongs · 14/08/2024 09:22

Best to look on individual uni websites as UCAS and others don't update quite as promptly.

Just been looking at Southampton which has loads of courses in clearing including Law and Engineering. I'm not sure what that means - just fewer applications, or fewer people making their offers. Actually they have reduced the entry requirements so maybe not the latter unless people have missed by a long way 😬

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My DS got an offer from Southampton for Comp Sci but turned it down as we found them absolutely diabolical to deal with. We had a few questions and every department we spoke to was rude, apathetic or unhelpful. It completely put us off them. He firmed a lower ranked RG which just felt so much more nurturing.

PandaPacer · 14/08/2024 16:12

Same here @Sniffywhippymum It's so stressful! DS has barely left his room all day. Am dreading the morning. He's not going to look at the Clearing list until tonight apparently!

Puppupandaway · 14/08/2024 16:16

Can anyone confirm if my thinking is correct......My son's firm offer is CCC. The course has appeared in the university's clearing list and it's saying they'll accept CCD. So does that mean if he's got CCD that they will automatically still accept him with his firm offer?? If so, I think I'll actually get a few hours sleep tonight!

SockFluffInTheBath · 14/08/2024 16:20

Tarjet · 14/08/2024 16:11

My DS got an offer from Southampton for Comp Sci but turned it down as we found them absolutely diabolical to deal with. We had a few questions and every department we spoke to was rude, apathetic or unhelpful. It completely put us off them. He firmed a lower ranked RG which just felt so much more nurturing.

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That’s interesting, Southampton is on DS’ clearing list. Maybe it shouldn’t be, I think he’d be better somewhere more nurturing.

ClearingClearing · 14/08/2024 16:34

Puppupandaway · 14/08/2024 16:16

Can anyone confirm if my thinking is correct......My son's firm offer is CCC. The course has appeared in the university's clearing list and it's saying they'll accept CCD. So does that mean if he's got CCD that they will automatically still accept him with his firm offer?? If so, I think I'll actually get a few hours sleep tonight!

that would be the case where I work.

Monr0e · 14/08/2024 16:55

I've just checked and DS's course is in clearing at both his first and second choice but the accepted grades are the same as when he applied, not lower. No idea what this means, if anything at all.

I'm just sick with nerves and can't wait for it all to be over with. It doesn't help that tomorrow is also his 18th birthday, just praying we will be celebrating and not commiserating 😟