How to choose what offers to accept when grades not up there?

78 replies

Spanielmad · 03/12/2024 11:50

So uni is coming closer. My child is struggling with one of her a-levels (should never have chosen it) and currently (November) on an E, predicted grade a D and hopefully will actually get a C.
Other two subjects should be fine, predicted grades A* (also chosen subject for uni course) and B, but hopefully should get AA on results day.

Child wants to go to top unis that require AAA or AAB. But what if we end up with AAD?? or ABD, ABC? I imagine we will get 5 offers, but all conditional. So in the spring we will have to accept one firm and one spare offer, but we have no idea how to make that choice. Accepting an AAA offer seems a long shot, but then again, I know of lots of people who got in Russell Group unis with much lower grades, so perhaps worth a shot? Chosen course is popular but not madly popular. Should she only accept offers from unis that match her grades - that would mean much, much lower ranked unis. We know she will flourish on a top uni, she's a quick learner. I suspect we're gonna end up in clearing.... but how do we choose 2 offers to accept in the spring that gives us a chance??

OP posts:

Whyherewego · 05/12/2024 21:06

Spanielmad · 03/12/2024 17:27

Gosh, so many replies, thanks so much! This is really helpful. I suppose we should amend our positive expectations of getting offers. Maybe not then. :( She is frustrated because if she had not chosen maths (predicated grade D) but something easier, she would have had predicted grades AAB (and possible final grades of AAA). It is frustrating to know she could have been an PG AAA student and now is stuck with maths, and a predicted grades of a D, B and A. Her predicted grade B is not that optimistic, more 'current', and should have been an A, but teacher not wanting to budge. She wants to study Geography or Liberal Arts (with Geo). She can be a top grade student, it's just that maths is a massive obstacle (although was fine at gcse level obvs). We did think of doing a gap year and re-taking maths, or perhaps taking a completely different a-level and doing that in the gap year. But she really would much rather go off to uni, and would hate to wait a year, so it's a tricky choice. She is so very much looking forward to uni life. We struggle to find many unis that require lower grades; it all seems to be top tier or lower tier and little in between. She really wants top tier (and she could do it), but facing reality is a tough one. I've been telling her we might have to see what clearing brings and can always still decide then to take a gap year, but it would be a massive let down for her. I don't suppose writing to some department and explain/beg would help LOL (otherwise everyone would do that).
Anyway thanks everyone, super helpful.

Edited

What do you mean by "top" uni and nothing in the middle? There are unis out there that are good that aren't offering 3 A type offers. Does she have something like sports she can "offer" up as sporty uni will want to get students in who can contribute to their sport and will drop a grade so whilst it won't get to A B D it may get and A B B to an A B C for example. Is there any way she can push up her maths? Speak to teachers and see if there's maths clinics or similar that she can do.
Clearing may end up being the best place for her if she can force up the maths to a C and then unis that want to fill their places will see her as a good candidate

Gleeanda · 05/12/2024 23:03

Young people will all see it differently but for mine, the big takeaway from visiting was that she liked Reading and Surrey over higher ranked unis. I can imagine there will be somewhere brilliant for your daughter that just happens to take UCAS points rather than grades, but still offers a really good experience for uni life and geography.

If she really can't make peace with taking a gap year then the logical consequence of that would be a real commitment to crack maths this year. There's only a term and a bit left now so if you could stretch to a tutor for her, I would. She's got multiple runs at this - she can pick realistic unis AND try through clearing AND retake if she needs to. The uncertainty is disquieting, but she should have confidence that one of the several avenues will work out.

LoremIpsumCici · 05/12/2024 23:18

One option, is start degree at the 2nd tier Uni with the ABD and then transfer to a better Uni for years 2 & 3. They will want to see her succeeding at her degree course, but it can be done.
https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/student-advice/after-you-start/transferring-or-dropping-out-of-university

every Uni will have a page on transferring Unis, this is Edinburgh’s just as an example
https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/undergraduate/applying/making-an-application/transfer

Now, this can be an expensive option as sometimes you may have to repeat Year 1, which means more student loans.

Repeating Yr 13 to do a different A level or resit one is usually free (if you failed one A level) or much cheaper (if you passed but didn’t like the grade)

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