Talk to me about unconditional offers (based on predicted grades)

[pgtips2]

...I thought unconditional offers were a thing of the past for predicted / Y13 applications to uni (apart from some perhaps less highly ranked 'bums on seats' kind of institutions)?

But I have recently found out that several top 20 unis have provided unconditional offers.

How common is it really and in what circumstances are they more likely (apart from the bums-on-seats scenario)? I.e. is it to do with perhaps kids who have 1 A/S or A-level already or other skills (sports etc)?

In Scotland our kids do Highers and they are 1 year courses (over equivalent of year 12 & 13) so some may have grades in hand after year 12 (our S5) and therefore get unconditional offers based on the grades in hand from year 12 without considering grades in year 13 (our S6)

Lots of Scottish universities do this for Scottish students as entry is based on S5 (Lower 6th) and qualifications "in hand". DD got unconditional from all her Universities (all Scotland) and DS only got a conditional because he wanted to go to Oxford.

Some courses in Scotland still make conditional offers but usually it is where a retake is needed, or a subject has not been sat as yet which is required.

Thanks @Tallyho15

The ones I have heard about are English unis interestingly.

Both my dd and ds had unconditional offers based on their exam results at the end of their 5th year at high school in Scotland. They were both in 6th year and then sat more exams at the end. Only 1 of dcs Uni courses was dependent on the results of the S6 exams.

@dementedpixie Thanks, appears Scotland has a different system.

I will edit to say this was relating to English unis/degrees.

Weirdly, can't seem to edit the post.

But to clarify again, this was for English unis.

My DN got an unconditional from Nott Trent - he was predicted A*AA - he ended up with BBB as he sat back - lots of evidence that its not often in the students best interest.

Yes I can imagine that it's impossible not to take a step back (even if subconsciously) and that's why I thought they'd stopped the practice. Did DN have particularly strong GCSEs along with those strong predictive grades?

Yes they did. But are 'stuck' with their BBB for life. Its a very dangerous and attractive prospect for a 17 year old boy.....

We are a STEM school in the tier just below COWI. We have never done this. I think it is a terrible look, showing desperation, as well as an invitation to blow off Y13 as PP have said.

I think it's terrible and for the kids too. This was a top 20 for it's subject and overall in the UK....a couple of years ago though.

Some very strong places also still do it eg with an exam to make it competitive. It certainly makes the ucas process less stressful but as a pp said, you miss the grades you're stuck with low results.

@aramox1
Interesting, and agree it's not a great idea.

This was actually not where there was an entrance exam.

I wonder if in some cases it's if strong athletes join? Or could it be that the GCSEs were extremely strong and from a 'reliably accurate' school re predictions that they thought they offer unconditional to attract them?

My friend's daughter got an unconditional offer for UCL but she was doing IB not A levels. Don't know if that's why

@longestlurkerever Interesting. I suppose the IB is seen as a great preparation for uni and as also based on coursework etc over many more subjects, maybe they see the predictions for IB as more accurate? Also, they get their results in early July?

But, no this was A-levels sat and in England.

My DD got unconditional offers as she applied after she got her grades.
While I think the system of applying with only PGs is totally ridiculous, it is the system we currently have. I do know of one lad who got an unconditional offer, did not revise much and did relatively poorly on his A levels. Took up his place, failed the first year, decided course wasn't for him but with such poor A levels was kind of stuck. He didn't go back and now works for his step father - lucky for him in one sense but it isn't what he wanted to do with his life!

DS got an unconditional offer, it was fantastic and took a lot of the stress out of exams. He did get good grades anyway but I do understand how easy it could have been to go off the boil.

Thanks, that makes sense if with grades in hand.

As mentioned, however, this was not the case - these kids had applied with predicted, to a top 20 with predicted grades only in England.

Interesting. Was this for a top 20 type of uni and do you think it was due to very very strong GCSE grades plus strong predicted. Or did he play sports?

Not top 20 uni although he had offers from Bath and Bristol. He did not get in on sport but did have 12 A* at GCSE. He did however struggle with A levels. So it was a god send for him and actually the right place for him to go.

This was our experience too. I was a bit concerned that the unconditional would mean that he didn't think he had to bother with his A Levels, but in the end he did better than he thought he would

My son got an unconditional offer from Salford but it was after attending an audition and also he was doing a Btec. He already had Distinction worth 1.5 A levels and was predicted D*DD (which he exceeded) in the full Btec whereas their entry requirements were DMM

DD at Oxbridge. Some of her friends who are doing music got unconditional offers from other top unis (not Oxbridge) as entrance was based on performance. Same as many other performing arts courses. Art and fashion courses are also based more often on a portfolio etc.

Thanks all.
I did try to edi the original post but for some reason didn't work so added a post upthread to say these instances were not with grades in hand or any 'entrance' test (I'd put music performance or art portfolio in this category).

But from some posters it does seem that perhaps having a string of A*s gave them the unconditional.

Thanks :)