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Original poster

University choices - the best of the 'rest'

222 replies

SlightlyJaded · 17/09/2024 22:14

I was on the A level results thread last year and anyone who was on it will have seen our experience. DD predicted all As was completely blindsided by terrible results. We were all shocked as was her school. As a result, she missed her first choice and her insurance choice - it was bloody awful and clearing was a very much a scramble. She is ok-ish now, but still hurting and feeling the fallout...

DS is in his A level year now and we've done a few Uni tours and he is trying to get focussed on his UCAS, finishing his personal statement and whatnot. But having witnessed what his sister went through, he is wondering about going for a much 'easier' insurance option than she did. Her choices needed AAA (first) and AAB (insurance) and he is now saying he doesn't want to be aspirational at all with his insurance as he'd rather know he had something if he fucks up.

I don't think he will fuck up, but I sort of get his logic. He is leaning towards a solid/Russell Group first choice that will need AAA/AAB and then one of the city 'second' tier options: MMU / Nottingham Trent / Leeds Beckett etc. He is keen to do Northern City but not wedded to it.

Is this a silly idea? From experience, he would be more likely to get one of these in clearing I think so maybe should stick with more aspirational for insurance? But again, he doesn't like uncertainty so I get where he is coming from.

His predicted grades are still moving a bit but broadly AAB - possibly ABB. He is smart but not A A A* academic.

I want to advise him well but just not sure. And if anyone has good experience/recommendations of that second tier, I'd love to hear them? I don't mean the non-RG ones that everyone knows are amazing: St Andrews etc, more the genuinely 'lesser regarded' ones that are still pretty good.

Thank you!

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 20/09/2024 14:48

HistoryMmam · 20/09/2024 14:09

You can trade up. You just reject your offers and put yourself into clearing.

I thought that was a breach of contract, because at that stage it's a place not an offer. But I may be misremembering something.

To be fair, its unlikely, but not impossible ,that the highest tariff unis are in clearing ( ie AAA and above) so its probably not a plan!

Not many unis are above AAB for history . A small handful. I doubt, for example, Durham was in clearing for history. Probably also not York. Birmingham wasn't and that's ABB.

Hiji · 20/09/2024 14:53

You can leave your course up to two weeks into the first term without incurring fees.

HistoryMmam · 20/09/2024 14:54

Piggywaspushed · 20/09/2024 14:48

I thought that was a breach of contract, because at that stage it's a place not an offer. But I may be misremembering something.

To be fair, its unlikely, but not impossible ,that the highest tariff unis are in clearing ( ie AAA and above) so its probably not a plan!

Not many unis are above AAB for history . A small handful. I doubt, for example, Durham was in clearing for history. Probably also not York. Birmingham wasn't and that's ABB.

Show quote history

No. It’s perfectly possible. You couldn’t possibly penalise students who want to upgrade. There was always scope for this with Adjustment, so only fair it is still feasible. Obviously you have to follow the proper protocols.

PoodlesForeverLove · 20/09/2024 15:28

Piggywaspushed · 20/09/2024 14:48

I thought that was a breach of contract, because at that stage it's a place not an offer. But I may be misremembering something.

To be fair, its unlikely, but not impossible ,that the highest tariff unis are in clearing ( ie AAA and above) so its probably not a plan!

Not many unis are above AAB for history . A small handful. I doubt, for example, Durham was in clearing for history. Probably also not York. Birmingham wasn't and that's ABB.

Show quote history

You are correct. Durham was not in clearing and York only for international applicants. I was looking because my DS is applying for History right now.

HistoryMmam · 20/09/2024 15:38

I think there were some great places offering History in clearing this year including UCL and Warwick.

TizerorFizz · 20/09/2024 16:39

Clearing could be difficult at UCL regarding cheaper accommodation. There’s not much off it. This is the big risk even for insurance.

I cannot see what international students has to do with anything @PoodlesForeverLove . I’m well aware of the 21st century thanks. Just cannot understand the point you are trying to make.

EwwSprouts · 20/09/2024 16:59

Just to say that DS's friend is loving history with politics at Lancaster.

Also based on a number of DS's friends give Northumbria a swerve. A number left in their first term, two years ago, as course content (various courses) was like repeating year 12. They mostly went to better universities grades in hand the following year.

Wefellinloveinoctober · 20/09/2024 20:20

We're in a similar position to you OP, DD wanting to study history. Decided not to go for Oxbridge (didn't like it when she went with college/too stressful in her words), predicted 3x A stars but thinks that's a long shot. She has an A star EPQ in the bag from last year, so that takes a bit of pressure off, but she's worried all will go haywire on the day and she may not get that required A in history. She loves Leeds and Sheffield and actually loved Nottingham at the open day last weekend. York was OK, but didn't impress on the open day. Lancaster set-up doesn't appeal to her, but is a very good course.

Like your son, she wanted a couple of 'still great but slightly lower required grades' unis too. Liverpool is the obvious choice, but the course is very different, not to her liking at all. Same with Newcastle. So my point is that, yes, its a good idea to be smart with applications grade wise, accommodation availability, what may be in clearing etc, but don't let him lose sight of the actual course, they are all quite different. DD was really miffed that the Liverpool course wasn't to her liking as she thought it would be a great back-up.

So thank you for starting this thread. I've read bits to her, can't say we're any the wiser, she keeps going around in circles and is getting very limited help from college aside from them pushing Oxford, but we'll keep following to see if any wise MNetters can help.

user746016 · 20/09/2024 20:45

Piggywaspushed · 20/09/2024 13:40

I'm pretty sure you can't do this now - it's breaking a contract with the uni whose offer you accepted.

Show quote history

This isn’t correct. Adjustment doesn’t exist anymore but it’s perfectly possible to reject your firm after receipt of results and trade up via clearing. DC’s Durham offer was obtained this way

Piggywaspushed · 20/09/2024 20:52

Well, I stand corrected.

titchy · 20/09/2024 21:12

Applicants accept an offer from a university. That isn't a contract. The contract is when they enrol/register with the university.

Original poster
SlightlyJaded · 20/09/2024 22:47

@Wefellinloveinoctober good to hear your story. Yes, I imagine that people around her are pushing her down the Oxbridge route as she is clearly very academic and people get over-excited when they think Oxbridge is a possibility.

I have been looking at Nottingham. Annoyingly the Open day is on the 12th Oct which we can't do but I am hoping that we can do a random visit and attempt to get a feel for the place. You are completely right to point out course differentiators. I remember sitting in the Human Geography talk at Bristol with DD who looked horrified at the amount of coding and map plotting involved. Luckily the Lecturer was VERY clear and said - if you don't like the 'maths bit' of Geography, don't come here. Phew! So we are aware that modules can be very different. Haven't drilled down into them yet so good to have a head's up about Liverpool as very much on the radar - will investigate!

OP posts:
Hiji · 20/09/2024 22:49

titchy · 20/09/2024 21:12

Applicants accept an offer from a university. That isn't a contract. The contract is when they enrol/register with the university.

And even then you have 2 weeks of the course to try out when you can leave with no financial penalties / fees to the uni (not sure what the T&Cs would be for accommodation)

Clearing goes on until 21 October to reflect these eventualities

Londonmummy66 · 20/09/2024 22:51

@SlightlyJaded Im sure my DD would be happy to walk your DC round the campus/find some History and Politics guys to talk to if you cant make the open day. The also have a good day for offer holders.

CreateUserNames · 20/09/2024 22:53

SlightlyJaded · 17/09/2024 22:43

Thank you.

He is hoping to do History or History with Politics. Most universities seem to offer HwP so that hasn't helped him narrow it down much. I loved UEA and DD was offered it when she flunked last year, but much as my heart was bursting for her to accept the offer, she didn't want to be out in East Anglia whilst most of her friends were at Manchester and Leeds. She ended up at MMU and is reasonably happy there.

He IS a different beast and less wedded to North - we've looked at Bristol / Bath / Exeter - but I am mindful that he needs a bit of a push socially, so I think he will do better in or near a lively city.

Durham? York? Edinburg?

Hiji · 20/09/2024 22:54

Nottingham campus as the most beautiful of all the Unis I've visited (x4 DCs so been to a few). Halls on site very Hogwarts. Lot of DCs from my area go to Uni of or Nott Trent and all have a blast.

Hiji · 20/09/2024 22:58

but I am mindful that he needs a bit of a push socially, so I think he will do better in or near a lively city.

One of mine was really introverted and I though that would be a good approach for them - however they made their own mind up and wanted somewhere less 'party central' so went to Southampton where they flourished socially and their confidence grew in a more subdued/complimentary setting. I'm an extrovert and would have suffocated with boredom there - but the energy suited them.

Original poster
SlightlyJaded · 20/09/2024 23:00

@CreateUserNames Great unis but they are not 'the rest'. To me, they are top tier RG Unis and in DS case, they would be considered aspirational.

I originally came here asking if he was mad to drop his insurance to an ex-poly type Uni, and I have got to the point where I actually think lowering his first choice to a slightly more realistic/achievable prospect is actually just as key. As pp pointed out, if he punches too high with his first choice, and is beholden to AAA, he is potentially surrendering to his insurance. I think he will probably end up doing something like Manchester (his ideal), Nottingham, Liverpool then maybe LancasterHull/One of the others mentioned on here, and a real back up Notts Trent or MMU.

And then we will narrow down post mocks.

But as I have maintained, it's ultimately up to him but if he asks for my advice, this is how I am leaning.

OP posts:
Original poster
SlightlyJaded · 20/09/2024 23:02

@Hiji I am really liking the look of Nottingham....

OP posts:
CreateUserNames · 20/09/2024 23:04

SlightlyJaded · 20/09/2024 23:00

@CreateUserNames Great unis but they are not 'the rest'. To me, they are top tier RG Unis and in DS case, they would be considered aspirational.

I originally came here asking if he was mad to drop his insurance to an ex-poly type Uni, and I have got to the point where I actually think lowering his first choice to a slightly more realistic/achievable prospect is actually just as key. As pp pointed out, if he punches too high with his first choice, and is beholden to AAA, he is potentially surrendering to his insurance. I think he will probably end up doing something like Manchester (his ideal), Nottingham, Liverpool then maybe LancasterHull/One of the others mentioned on here, and a real back up Notts Trent or MMU.

And then we will narrow down post mocks.

But as I have maintained, it's ultimately up to him but if he asks for my advice, this is how I am leaning.

Good luck!🤞

Hiji · 20/09/2024 23:09

I think some one described unis as either selectors or recruiters - and both may have the exact same published offer.

So you need the intel of previous years to understand that if your DC missed their AAA offer from Oxford, Durham, UCL, LSE etc they would likely not get their place but if they missed their AAA offer from Nottingham, Manchester, Leeds etc they may well squeak in (depending on the specific course).

Hiji · 20/09/2024 23:17

I also think that we need to encourage our DCs to be flexible as well - as sometimes things go wrong on the exam day, even with marking etc - out of their control and that it will all come out in the wash end - clearing (trading up as well as down) is an option (need to do a bit of prep for this the day before results and have a couple of lap tops and phones with phone numbers ready to go - been there done that) and reapplying and taking a gap year is also feasible.

Original poster
SlightlyJaded · 20/09/2024 23:18

Hiji · 20/09/2024 23:09

I think some one described unis as either selectors or recruiters - and both may have the exact same published offer.

So you need the intel of previous years to understand that if your DC missed their AAA offer from Oxford, Durham, UCL, LSE etc they would likely not get their place but if they missed their AAA offer from Nottingham, Manchester, Leeds etc they may well squeak in (depending on the specific course).

Short of looking at the 'lowest grade offered' bit on UCAS, I'm not sure where I'd find this info? I'm mindful that some of those grades published on UCAS might be contextual offer grades as well.

Clearly the more selective Unis have their pick, which is why it's useful to hear about the ones that do flex a little. Leeds probably not as much as some of the others on your list, but broadly, yes.

OP posts:
Original poster
SlightlyJaded · 20/09/2024 23:21

Hiji · 20/09/2024 23:17

I also think that we need to encourage our DCs to be flexible as well - as sometimes things go wrong on the exam day, even with marking etc - out of their control and that it will all come out in the wash end - clearing (trading up as well as down) is an option (need to do a bit of prep for this the day before results and have a couple of lap tops and phones with phone numbers ready to go - been there done that) and reapplying and taking a gap year is also feasible.

Oh believe me we were there last year! It's how I've ended up here because clearing for DD was horrendous. Shocking results and nowhere near her predicted AAA. Not good enough for her Insurance and she ended up doing two days of snotty, sobbing clearing and not really being that happy with the outcome. She has settled now and is fine but I'm trying to avoid a repeat, but also be prepared for a repeat and remind myself that as you say, clearing doesn't have to be all bad - it can be an opportunity to get on a course you wouldn't have got an offer for....

OP posts:
Hiji · 20/09/2024 23:39

Yes I had this experience with my no2 .... it was a nightmare 48hrs - but he landed something good enough in the end. So for no3 and no4 - we were all primed - but didnt need it.