What to do when first choice is lower offer?

[Perfectlystill]

DD has all five offers which is great, although most of them are high (AAA) and I think she's unlikely to get that.

Her favourite uni has offered slightly lower, ABB.

What should she do for first and insurance? How does it work?

@myslippersarepinkthe best advice is for DD to contact the admissions teams of both degree programmes. Obviously, start with the Insurance programme because as @titchy says,their position determines everything. Follow their advice on timings.

All experienced admissions tutors are used to this. We want students to find the best fit. In that sense it isn’t a big deal. But, yes, it is most definitely the breaking of a formal contract.

For the Poster whose child thinks they have firmed and insured the wrong way round…..check if they are in the 14 day cooling off period and can change it.

For others reading, maybe with future applicants, encourage the DC not to rush to firm and insure and to understand that a contract is made with the firm and that if the grades are met or firm accepts anyway, the insurance offer vanishes…..it’s not a case of you can pick between 2 on results day.

If the DC is outside of the 14 day cooling off window, then they will have to wait until results day to know if they can go to their insurance. Assuming they get accepted by their firm, they will need to contact the insurance early on result day, just like any Clearing candidate, and ask if they have a place for them. If they have places and had previously made an offer which was met, there’s a good chance of an offer then. But of course they might be full. IF the insurance can give an offer and confirm via email, the candidate then needs to reject their firm choice and the insurance place make them their offer which will become unconditional.

The thing is, you won’t know until results day and might not get accommodation or be high up the rankings for accommodation. So, if within the 14 days can make firm which then means as long as grades met and any accom forms filled in to meet deadlines, a contract stands and accom will be guaranteed….you know where you are, results dependent.

Is it more than 14 days since turning and insuring?

The other thing re the candidate who now says they prefer their insurance choice…..do they really?

Sometimes at this stage, students get a bit anxious about achieving the grades needed. Whilst being realistic is important, there’s no need to bin the favourite firm and put a lower offer as firm instead….if really they would like the original firm but are fearful about grades. The system has insurance so there is a back-up.

Often at this point and after exams too, students start to say they’d be v happy with their insurance (or even prefer it) as a form of self defence and self preservation, esp if they think things aren’t going as well as hoped. It’s important to see this for what it is. A firm choice can be a bit aspirational. That’s fine. And the firm should be the one they really like and want. Even with cold feet and worries about achievement, students should be directed back to think about what they liked about their firm and why it was their firm ….because for most, it will be their face still.

It also shows the importance of good research - going to Open Days and/or Offer Holder days before firming and insuring so informed choices are made.

If she has a favourite that she really wants to go to, then she must firm that, regardless of grades. When you firm something, you are contracting to go there - you can't decide later on that you prefer your insurance. If that is her lowest offer, then she can just firm it and have no insurance. Alternatively, I believe she could put one of the other unis as insurance based on what actually happens on results day at that uni. I know someone who was offered AAA and firmed it. On results day, she got BBB. They took her anyway. So if you insure a uni that has form for doing that, the insurance slot may still have value.

Always put the mist preferred uni as the first choice. Next preferred or some choose one with a slightly lower offer as second choice. In reality most students would be happy at either of their first or second choices. I used to advise students do not put down anywhere you wouldn't be prepared to go to or to live at. Some universities are known for not being flexible if a student just misses a grade by a couple of marks. Other universities are known to be flexible and if a student puts them as a firm first choice will still accept them if they miss a grade.

Sorry for the late reply - we have had a lot going on at home.

I'm really grateful for all these replies - just read the first few and they're so so helpful. Will read the rest in my train to work, thank you everyone.

DD has 5 offers, narrowed the pick to 2- both BBB. So it looks like we’ll see what happens in the summer…