Already done alevels - Is it worth applying for courses that ask for higher grades

[Timtims]

DS did alevels in the summer and is currently completing UCAS application for a Sept 2025 start.

He has BCC and would like to apply for some unis who are asking for higher grades (but that have accepted BCC historically).

Is this worth doing? I'd hoped that having grades in hand may be an advantage .... but maybe not?

@crazycrofter he's going to Liverpool to do Psychology. The original plan was to apply for a fairly secure option (the foundation year at Manchester Met) and then have a go at clearing on results day - we figured he'd already have a slight head start with his results in hand. But when he was filling in his UCAS online he was able to see the percentage chance of getting onto courses, so took a punt on Liverpool (17%, I think). I don't know whether it was applying early (end of October), a good personal statement and reference, or what that swung it, but the application went in on the Friday and he had the offer from them on Tuesday morning! Whatever the case, it's definitely worth applying - you've got 5 options to play with - and if nothing comes of that, try clearing. Good luck to your DS 🤞

DS will likely be applying with grades in hand after a gap year. When we spoke to admissions tutors at open days they all said to contact them if he held less than the standard offer (typically ABB) as they often do accept. They seemed very keen to hear from him!

This was for social science courses, (so not as popular as eg law) and not top RG unis either (eg Leicester, Liverpool, Aber, Swansea). So appreciate competition probably not so high!

Thanks @Sleepthief ! When my dd was in sixth form all her male friends who were predicted Bs applied to Liverpool (and are there now!) because they were known to be lenient on grades, so that rings true. I was hoping ds would be able to put them down but for PPE they ask for Maths A Level which he hasn’t got. So far he’s submitted it with 3 - one at BBC, one at BBB (Swansea, who encouraged him to apply) and one at ABB (UEA). He might add an AAB uni later!

One thing worth bearing in mind for applicants who haven’t yet taken A Levels, but are considering applying post-qualification, is that you’re often in the strongest application position pre-exams, not post-exams.

Over 80% of predicted grades are incorrect, with most being too generous. So most people have the highest grades on their application pre-exams nit post exams. The higher grades secure more offers. Come results day, even if grades are missed, many unis, esp mid and lower range will accept people who had firmed or insured them but who missed their offer, even for deferrals. They will accept them before offering on the same grades ir below in Clearing, as they are more likely to turn up.

So, if you know what course you want to study, applying before exams can be a good shout. Of course, you can always apply again post results, if you change your mind about course etc.

I have known candidates who weren’t confident about their exams and decided to apply post results. Their predicted grades woukd have got them iffers at their favoured uni, and in the year they applied, even when they missed by 2 grades, the uni would have taken them. BUT when they applied with those grades in-hand the following year, they were rejected….as they were against all those people with the higher predicted grades. They could have waited u til Ckeari g to see if a place came up again then, but the uncertainty re accommodation and wanting to know what the plan was, meant they felt compelled to accept a less prestigious course.

Too late clearly, for anyone already post-qualification but for anyone in yr13 or yr12, it’s worth thinking about. There’s still time to apply after Christmas.

My gut instinct is no, unless there were special circumstances, in which case I’d contact the individual admissions departments of each university and ask them. They’ve been really helpful for me (AuDHD DD), and will be able to ascertain if there is the chance of a contextual offer.

Otherwise, the applications are filtered by an Admissions clerk first who will eliminate anyone without the right grades/predicted grades or the required subjects, so it won’t get seen by the admissions tutor of the actual dept/course unless they are looking for it? It’s at this later stage that the Personal Statements become key, but if you’ve fallen at the first hurdle it won’t matter how brilliant the statement is. At least, this is what I’ve been told.

@TinselToed Liverpool is RG of those you mention. The others are not. There’s a RG pecking order though! Liverpool isn’t overly competitive. Depends on course though. Most needs bums on seats now.

This is mostly true. Admin staff do filter, but only on the criteria laid down by the admissions tutors. Those criteria could be anything, really.

In some very competitive degree programmes, it seems that right now you need to have PGs above the stated entry requirement to be getting a standard offer. Admin staff will be pooling the other applications. In some lean years in my School we made offers to some applicants one grade down on the standard offer, very occasionally two grades down.

So ‘the criteria used to route an application to admissions tutors’ vs the standard offer (or contextual offer) can vary.

If an applicant believes their circumstances require discussion, it is usually worth contacting Admissions via email and describing the issue. The message will be routed to an admissions tutor. Email is much appreciated over phone tag, and any substantive conversation would be backed up in writing anyway. Of course a DC may want input from a parent or other adult, but the message should come from the potential applicant.

I wonder if applying to 2 uni places and seeing what happens in the weeks that follow then adding 3 more choices is the way to go? I know it is tight now that January is approaching and admissions offices will be closed for a bit over the Christmas break. But it might be a strategy to try?

I know Liverpool is RG - I said in my post 'unis that aren't top RG' - which includes Liverpool as it's not as high up in the rankings as other RGs such as Cambridge, Kings or Durham.

I thought you meant all you mentioned were not top RG. All worth applying to though. Newcastle might be forgiving too and QMUL.

No point in only below of you have the grades surely?

@WarmingClothesontheRadiator Agreed. I think it's difficult for some folks to not follow the traditional formula of 1 aspirational choice, 2 likely choices and one safety. That just does not apply with grades in hand, whatever they are, because they are not likely to change. My DS applied with grades in hand this year, and he had 5 offers by the end of October. All of his choices were likely and all top 10 RG (not Oxbridge) because he had the grades.

I think it is wisest to apply to matches, but it doesn't hurt to throw a slightly aspirational one into the mix, especially if they have a history of taking in students who don't quite make the usual, standard offer.

@OhFredisFat You obviously haven’t been reading that some dc are getting higher offers than quoted by uni. This should not happen but it is. One lower choice is not really wasted. It might even be a great course with better employment prospects. If op doesn’t think this is worth considering, then don’t. It will depend on course though.

I agree - and as you can only hold one when its unconditional / grades in hand then its worth nudging for a few more aspirational.

Still worth doing due diligence by emailing a few aspirationals so you are making a more accurate and informed decision.

Not only have I been reading that, but I have a DD who this happened to as well. Please don't make assumptions that you know everything and nobody else has a clue. It's not helpful to the thread and it will piss people off. Something I understand you do quite frequently.

Back to the subject of this thread 🤣 Does anyone j know anything about Surrey? Particularly how extortionate private accommodation is after the first year and whether it’s possible to stay in halls.

It is possible, but they do follow the same pattern as many of the other universities, priority given to a) 1st years, then disabled or neurodiverse, then 3rd yrs. Can't comment on the local accommodation availability tho, sorry.

Liverpool is a great university. All this ‘pecking order’ stuff is not really useful

@BrickRedLipstick yes it is in the top 20 in the UK overall and lauded for lots of medical / veterinary courses.

I spent time there in the 90's with a BF at the art school (not the uni) and it was such an exciting city. I think it's been through some gentrification since, so I'm not sure if it's quite as exciting now!

@BrickRedLipstick and @OhFredisFat thank you! Yes, Liverpool IS a great university and we are absolutely delighted that DS1 has a place there. But I have to admit that I've been putting off replying because of the competitive snobbery that's appeared, seemingly to make sure we know it's not that great an achievement 🙄

My sister went to Liverpool University in the late 90s and never left, so we have a strong family connection to the city. She met her (scouser) DH while they were doing their PhDs. Incidentally, he turned down a place at Oxford to do Maths at Liverpool (although I'm sure someone will be along in a minute to point out that Oxford wasn't all that for Maths back then or something🤷‍♀️). I only mention this to illustrate that not everyone wants to go to Oxbridge etc, even if they can.

Anyway, this bizarre compulsion to piss on other people's chips is irrelevant to the question of whether it is worthwhile applying for universities asking for higher grades and my answer, born of direct experience, is absolutely, yes it is (within reason, obviously). Have a safe option or two, but why not give it a go? What have you got to lose? And if all else fails, with grades already in hand you've got a head start on clearing day.

@Sleepthief I hope you don't think I was trying to piss on your parade because I wasn't at all. My sister met her dh at Liverpool too! It's actually worth knowing that they're one of the unis that accept lower grades than their official offer grades; I think that's why so many of dd's friends applied there as they knew that. They all seem to be enjoying it!

My DD applied grades in hand assuming that the published grade requirements were what she would need to have - I did suggest she put in a couple of aspirationals but I think she was scared of what she assumed would be rejections. In retrospect she was far too cautious.

She seems very happy where she ended up (Aberystwyth) and so far it feels like a good match for her but I wish she'd put in applications to places like Swansea - which would certainly have been a lot easier to drive to!

This place can be so toxic when it comes to universities. I once read a post talking about which universities were just about acceptable to mention at a dinner party. It’s usually one or two people who hijack threads and do their best to upset and humiliate other people’s choices. It’s awful. Liverpool is a great university so please ignore anybody who says otherwise. What those who criticise often don’t mention is that their dc have had the benefit of a very expensive education. They’re obsessed with status in the way that the majority of other people can’t comprehend.

There are lots of great universities that aren't RG, the only proviso I would put into the mix is that there are some universities that offer low quality degrees with poor content in order to put bums on seats and it's worth looking out for those. Students all pay the same tuition fees so should get value for money. I find Student Room a good place to get info if unsure.