Deferral screw up- any admissions experts?

[GrapeNerve]

DD got a place at her first choice uni, confirmed on Thursday.

She has been worrying about the money side and emailed them to ask if she could defer- she didn't receive a response. She and I had a chat that evening and I reassured her that the money was ok (which it is) so she emailed again on Friday to say that she didn't want to defer after all so please ignore the request. She accepted her accommodation offer and paid the deposit.

Then today she received an email saying her place has been deferred, and it's changed on UCAS as well- they must have read the first email but not the second.

We've sent another email explaining all this and asking them to put her back to this year. There is no manned phone line (we've checked this) and the live chat doesn't open until tomorrow morning.

DD is really panicking that she has lost her place for this year. Can anyone reassure us as I don't think she's going to sleep tonight!

I work in admissions, and there is still a chance the deferral can be reversed, please don't panic yet (despite some of the OTT messages from other posters!) I'm really surprised there isn't a phone number - if you want to DM me I can try to find one, but they will likely shut at 5 so it may have to wait until tomorrow anyway. Admissions doesn't literally work on a one in, one out basis, so it's not like they'd have got her email deferral request, then offered her place to someone else. It's really not that precise. Universities know they are going to lose people between results day and enrollment and model figures based on that. It may of course depend on the uni and their set up, so I don't want to get your hopes up, but I've had plenty of students do the same during my years in admissions and it's been fine.

Thank you everyone. The message she sent cancelling the request was linked to the request (they log the requests as incidents all linked to an incident number) so I am surprised that it wasn't seen. It is so frustrating not to be able to speak to them- I have tried calling every number I can find but they all just say it's live chat, mornings only.

This is really helpful, thank you.

I am a former admissions tutor.

I think the deferral should be withdrawn, as your DD reversed her request before it was acted upon.

Did she request the deferral by contacting the School she applied to, or the Central Admissions Team? If it was the Central team, they are possibly overwhelmed, nothing more - as evidenced by the fact that they only responded th Thursday’s email today.

The School is more motivated to help with your DD’s reversal, as she is a more desirable student than those being admitted in Clearing. I suggest trying to find the Senior Admissions Tutor, or failing that any member of the Admissions team, on the website. Your DD should ring them up, explain what happened, offer to send copies of the emails, and ask for their help. If no one is answering their phones, email with copies of the deferral and reversal requests (and the uni’s reply) us fine.

If DD has been dealing with the School all along, I am fairly optimistic that they are just overworked and will be glad to reverse the deferral when they get around to it. (Unless this is a very small, teaching-intensive programme that is already full.)

I am sure this is a terrible time for DD but the fundamental facts that the uni is happy to have her and very likely cash strapped have not changed. Best wishes to her

The School is more motivated to help with your DD’s reversal, as she is a more desirable student than those being admitted in Clearing
Wasn't op's dd admitted through clearing, or have I read it wrong?

Hi, @KerryBlues

I did not see what the removed messages said.

I read OP’s reference to Clearing to mean that the degree programme was in Clearing, not that DD had obtained her place through Clearing. Certainly it is the season when we do get last minute requests for deferrals, for personal reasons.

No she wasn’t through clearing.

Thanks everyone. I will update when we know in case it’s helpful for someone else.

Apologies, I read it wrong.

I wouldn't normally recommend this, as my colleagues need August as rest and research time, but can you go to the specific Department webpages, and comb through to find the EMAIL (don't telephone) contact details for that department's Admissions Tutor.

At most universities each discipline has an Admissions Tutor who oversees the academic side of admissions (I've done that job back in the day). You might have to comb through the list of academic staff - look at the tabs on a website that say something like "Our People" or "Academic Staff."

Alternatively, you could telephone the department's Administrator and ask the name of the Admissions Tutor - maybe explain your DD's dilemma. I know my administrator would listen and do whatever she could to help - she really is as expert on these sorts of things as academics.

An academic Admissions Tutor may be able to short circuit the bind you're in, and can advise on whether there is space. Most departments are under pressure to recruit students at the moment.

But it's an object lesson in taking a breath, even when it feels so so so so urgent. She can learn from this about not panicking - it'll stand her in good stead for her undergraduate studies!

Ha! just realised @poetryandwine has said pretty much the same thing. Not the first time we are in agreement - @poetryandwine gives excellent advice!

Thanks, @YellowAsteroid

I normally encourage email also but this is most unusual situation!

At the risk of derailing slightly, I am currently mulling your very thoughtful post, amongst others, on the thread about the universities’ financial issues and the potential for disproportionate impact on working class pupils and students. Excellent reading

Just to update this, it's sorted 😁 We've lost so much sleep over it and in the end it was just a minor admin thing and they happily switched her back 😂

Good lesson for DD in thinking/talking things through before she acts.

Thanks so much to everyone who posted on this thread and also messaged me- I really appreciate it.

Thtas great news

Wonderful news, OP. Thanks for the update

Fantastic news.

Glad to hear it’s sorted. This last week seems to have been v stressful for quite a few people. Hope they can enjoy getting ready for uni now,

Good to hear. And thanks for taking the trouble to update us!