High predicated A-levels but average GCSE's- where to apply?

[BinBagFlipFlop]

DD wants to read economics at university, which I know is highly competitive. She got good but not brilliant GCSE results (888,777,66,5- in English language) but has high predicted A-level grades (AAA- A* in maths and economics) and these do seem not to be too far off as she's performed really well for over a year now, as well as gaining really good super curricular and work experience. She was quite unhappy for a couple of years at a highly competitive grammar school for GCSE, and I think that this (as well as being dyslexic) affected her final grades. She is now much, much happier in a standard sixth form college and seems to be much more confident academically and in herself.

She has just been to a meeting to discuss university applications this week and is now being advised by the college that she should go for more ambitious university options than she had lined up- maybe UCL or Kings, rather than ones that she felt were achievable (UEA, RHUL.) However, we are both concerned that her lower performance at GCSE will mean that these are not realistic options and she might end up with very few offers, or worse still, none at all given how competitive economics is.

Anyone's child been in a similar situation and what might be the best course of action?

What did she get in her GCSEs for the subjects she’s studying at a level?

Those GCSE results look great to me. What did she get in maths GCSE?
Does she want to go to a super-competitive uni?

She got excellent GCSE’s overall, I really don’t think you’ll have any problems. I’ve heard of many people going to RG’s with less than all 9’s for GCSEs.

She will most likely get offers from Kings and Warwick (5th in rankings for econ) for sure with those predicted grades, I know someone with lower GCSEs who got them this year.

Those are really good GCSEs, it appears that since the change from letters to numbers, parents forget that 7s are As. Only on MN those grades are average.

The 5 Uni options when she applies should be 1-2 aspirational, two realistic and one at a lower level in case everything goes down the pan.

So she could apply to all those Unis you mentioned plus a lower in the ranks one.

Thank you. She got a high 8 in maths, and her 6/5's were in English language and literature and Spanish. Her essay writing is okay, but she would focus on a more maths-focused economics degree. She is not sure whether she wants to go to a highly competitive university, she's certainly not as driven as some of her friends are for it, but she is very ambitious for a successful career, and wants to work in the City. Another concern I have (I have not shared this with her) is that a highly competitive university might be similar to the rather toxic dynamic she found at her last school, which was terrible for her both emotionally and academically. But of course it might not be and I wouldn't want a past bad experience to hold her back.

Dd had an Oxbridge interview with worse GCSEs than that but the same A-levels. She didn’t get in but went to Bath instead to do Politics. She just graduated and now has a job with a political focus in Westminster so her GCSEs did not hold her back at all!

I think some of the higher ranked universities take into account entrance exams for economics. If this is the case then they tend to put most of the weight on performance in this. Lots of students who are science/mathsy have spiky gcse profiles.

UCL and kings yes..not LSE. They look at GCSEs

Thanks all. This has been really helpful. I think that the take-home is not to rule out competitive universities, but to look at the criteria they are considering (we know about LSE and GCSE's)
She is taking the TMUA and is hopeful for a good grade in this.
I feel horrible calling these 'average' GCSE results as I know they are strong (the competitive grammar school did a bit of a number on her from this point of view, she's convinced they are very mediocre) but it is really reassuring to know that they should not hold her back too much. She is considering accountancy as a profession and so, fingers crossed, she can move onwards and upwards from here.

She sounds like she is expected to do extremely well.
I would go with the idea of choosing 2 aspirational choices, 2 on target choices and 1 certainty. You can always send off to 2 or 3 and then add in the last 2 just before the deadline in January, depending on the outcomes.

Ur DD will be fine. She's has good GCSEs and a level predictors. There are people on here who's DC's get all 6s and Bs. Ur DD will be fine

Check UCL English gcse requirements though. Sometimes this catches students out even for STEM

Is she taking FM at A level?

Hi - my dad is at Newcastle doing a BSC in Economics - she absolutely loves it there. Just started 3rd year and after a summer internship has a confirmed offer at Deloitte. Don’t discount those ‘top’ economics unis

My dd not my dad !!!!

It’s just might be worth mentioning that to do a maths based economics degree a lot of the more competitive courses will request further mathematics too. I’m an A Level Maths and FM teacher. Some may say just preferred but some of my students who have then gone to these courses without further maths have found the jump to be huge

Her GCSEs are great, I agree with others. Also amazing A level PGs. She should apply for one or two aspirational unis and two solid and one insurance imho.

But UCL asks for 6 in English and maths and I think it might need to be English lang.

Yes is she taking FM? If not then LSE and Imperisl might also not be possible.

These gcse results are very good! Mediocre what an insult.

well done your DD!

Warwick need a 6 in English Language GCSE for Economics. Not sure about others.

Look like good set of results to me wouldn’t give that a second thought aim high.

Dd2 got 5 in maths then 6s and 7s with 2 8s. We thought they were great results. She’s storming A levels getting A stars in her tests. Seems some come into their stride at a level maybe as studying subjects they actually enjoy in smaller classes and the daft kids have all left.

Hi, I was a UCAS Coordinator until recently. There’s no harm in putting down a competitive uni on her application list. She doesn’t have to accept a firm and insurance offer until (usually) May; certainly until she’s had all her offers / rejections. By that time, she’ll have done her mocks and have an extra layer of “certainty” about whether she’s really likely to get the grades they require. The top uni may reject her - in which case nothing is lost as she has 4 others - or if she gets an offer that may give her confidence that she could achieve it. Remember, she will accept an insurance offer which should have lower grade requirements anyway.
In short, keep the options open now and decide nearer the time

For Economics, I think UCL asks for 4+ in English, but obviously an aspect to check. It would make sense for your DD to seriously consider higher tariff unis, particularly if she is sitting the TMUA.

It would be good for her to get into the habit of inwardly celebrating her achievements and strengths. Successfully changing sixth form setting, regrouping and recalibrating is no mean feat; well done her. All unis and employers have outwardly ambitious people in them (the City esp), so developing a sense of self worth that is not dependent on others is helpful.

It sounds like pushing the Maths performance comfortably into Astar territory and ensuring the third subject (Physics?) hits A will be relative priorities, even if Economics is her first love?

The easiest thing is to do is apply for a couple of the higher ones and a couple of the more secure ones. Make sure she’s happy with the unis she’s choosing. My school wanted me to apply OxBridge but I didn’t want to and honestly would not have coped in that environment (undiagnosed ADHD made life much harder for me at uni). I went to a RG which was ranked 5th in the country at the time for my course and had a great time. It’s more about what she wants from the experience, is there enough support for her if she has dyslexia. Things like does she want to play sports? That’s a big thing for some of the kids at my school so a lot go to places like Nottingham, Leeds, Loughborough.

I work in a highly academically selective school and her grades would have got her in our sixth form so they are very good grades.

Actually I might be wrong about UCL – I am sure I have checked before and it asks for 6 across the board in English lang GCSE but on a quick search now I cannot find that info!

Worth a careful look @BinBagFlipFlop

Well done to your dd