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?