Unattainable offer?

[mixedmessage]

Dd has predicted grades of AAB and has received an offer for classics at Leeds (her preferred option) for ABB. Sounds great except that the offer includes a grade A requirement for the subject she’s predicted a B in and as this is a diploma course she’s already had 50% of her grade and achieving an A is nigh on impossible. I know there’s usually some flexibility in grades come results day but is there any point her putting this as her first choice or is it likely to be a flat out no without the A grade diploma? Her other 2 subjects are pretty solid so she’s very hopeful to achieve at least As in those

Former RG admissions tutor here. I wouldn’t presume to say what is behind this offer, but I definitely echo the advice to contact the admissions team for advice.

I agree with PP that it is worth explaining the relevance of the late ADHD diagnosis and its implication for grades. Just be sure to keep the email (for this is best) factual and very polite. DD (for the message should come from her) should be clear she is asking informally, because admissions tutors are rightfully wary of pushy applicants - I trust you know I am not implying DD is one.

I would not be surprised if in the end DD was accepted with her grades swapped around, but obviously I am just guessing!

Is the diploma on the Leeds list of qualifications they accept? I would suggest a call to them is necessary. Given the amount of literature on the course, I’m not sure criminology is very relevant but how competitive is the course?

That sounds bizarre - I’d call them to double check. Mistakes do happen. The only thing I can think of is they consider A-levels more demanding academically and don’t normally accept diplomas so want an A in it or something

I would still put it as a first choice. My son needed ABB to do computer science at Nottingham. He ended up getting BBB and got his offer anyway - he got one subject re-marked and it went up to an A, but the offer was before that happened. The universities are struggling for students at the moment and aren’t turning people away with close marks. I would have thought a course like that wouldn’t be oversubscribed either as it’s not one of the more “mainstream” subject like maths, english or sciences.

The criminology requirement is likely because it is a BTEC - like diploma and tends to be regarded as less academic, therefore less suitable for preparation for an academic subject

Absolutely make it her first choice, of that’s where she wants to go. Her application can include other info and I’d include how her diagnosis and medication has had a positive effect on her work, and the timings. You might be surprised at how flexible those target grades are, if the university feels that you are a good fit.
I know a young man, who graduated with a First, from one of the leading universities, in Micro biology, and he’s never passed his maths GCSE. His enthusiasm shone through, and they accepted him. He’s had work published, and has just finished his PHD. He still doesn’t have a GCSE pass in maths.

If Leeds is definitely her 1st choice, then put it as her 1st choice.
A long, long time ago, I needed BBC, but I got B, C and N.. (I didn't revise well at all, and guessed wrongly on what to revise for psychology). I still got into my 1st choice uni (& a good university at that) because the course was undersubscribed at that time (luckily for me!)... so I'd say your daughter should go for it. If it's meant to be, it will be.

I have nothing to add except that Swansea is a lovely university for an insurance choice. My son had Edinburgh as his first choice for maths and missed out on a place as he got ABCDE (he did 5 A-Levels) and they wanted ABB.

Swansea was his insurance and he was gutted at the time, but actually it turned out it was an amazing university, location, and the right social choice for him. He met some of his best friends, got an incredible flat overlooking the beach for a dirt cheap price, and met his future wife. The university is located beach front so it is glorious and there are some gorgeous local areas of outstanding natural beauty (mumbles, the Gower etc).

I think that I would be inclined to have a telephone chat with the admissions tutor, asking them whether it's worth DD putting the uni as a first choice. Some of them are very helpful.

I would too, as it's sort of a non standard application. All the admissions tutors I've worked with would be fine with this.

DD needs to be the one has this chat. The person spoken with will have a lot of discretion and will not be impressed if they speak with a parent. Depending how many bums are needed on seats doing so might not condition their response but would certainly be noted, and not positively.

I write this as a former admissions tutor in a high tariff School. Parents calling on behalf of DC generates raised eyebrows at minimum and usually a comment from whoever takes the call.

I'd get her to speak to admissions, if she has a diagnosis of adhd, and that impacted the early modules, and she'll get at least 1 A in her other 2 A levels then I wonder if they'd make a reasonable adjustment for her. In reality, on results day there's a lot of people slightly off their offer and everyone calls like mad. The university have a choice - let someone in with slightly off their offer (e.g. ABC instead of ABB, OR take their chance in clearing that someone will be the right level (unlikely at the RG unis as they're looking for AAB or ABBs and the people with those grades get into their 1st choices) OR don't fill the place and lose the cash. I think in this scenario they would rather have your dd, have the bum on the seat and take the fees, but rather than wait till offer day, I'd get on the front foot, she should email admissions, ask to speak to them, get her adhd diagnosis report sent to them plus any information from school about challenges she had at that point in time (can a teacher write a recommendation saying she is now working at an A grade but due to her ADHD early on had some issues, that have now been rectified) and ask for the reasonable adjustment to be a tweak in the offer based on the early module issues. If they say no, they say no and she knows where she stands and can either resit bits in a gap year or choose a different course or uni. I'd also get her to talk to her teacher at college - can she redo or retake any earlier modules before the end of the academic year?

Oh definitely, she needs to make the call, not a parent.

Thank you so much for all of the advice and encouragement here.

DD has sent an email to the admissions team to clarify if the diploma A is an absolute red line or if there might be any flexibility. She's also added the timings of her diagnosis and medication in case that adds any sway.

It's not a highly competitive course according to UCAS so we remain hopeful but I'd rather not have to wait until offer day for an answer as a) being there again will no doubt make her more keen & b) it's a 5hr drive each way and that's a long way to go to be told it's an absolute no!

If she’s sure it’s where she wants to go then just accept as firm and accept an insurance that she’s keen on. Clearing is a much bigger thing than when I went to uni years ago, I really wouldn’t overthink it.

Great, well done her. I hope it all works out.

Good on DD, and best wishes to her

When I studied psychology at Leeds (10 years ago), I helped out with some of the open days and the admissions officer said to encourage people with lower grades than what was asked for to still apply as they would apparently still be likely to get a place.

I have no practical advice or experience as DCs are not old enough. I just wanted to say, bless her heart I really hope whatever happens she is happy.

so much pressure to constantly achieve, I know this is part of the tenacity test etc, but crikey so many courses need ridiculous high grades (fair enough for medicine etc), just I wonder if more would attend uni with acceptance on slightly lower grades. Just shows competition is fierce and debts will be high.

good luck to everyone as it is not easy.

Lots of unis will accept students with lower grades tho. But somewhere like Leeds, which is a popular and highly rated uni, can set higher grade requirements. Also there can be an issue if students are accepted with very low grades that they cannot keep up with the uni work – I have seen this commented on multiple times on here and also know a number of examples sadly. Not talking about your DD @mixedmessage – sounds to me as tho she will be fine.

Yes, in this case I agree it's the diploma rather than it being an A level. Her other A levels are perfect for the course. And the predicted grades are very good for those. Hopefully they'll reply soon.

Sometimes it's an algorithm set by the Registry, academics can change that if they choose, but would not know about it if it's not flagged to them. Academics that I know hate this, but for speed of offers, there was a set criteria at our place where Registry made offers, others were sent on for consideration or straight out rejected. Previously academics saw the lot. So her email could bring it back into play for a change of grades.

She's done the right thing by contacting them.

Fair enough, but it's difficult to find space to make such a call from school - bearing in mind many schools do not allow even senior pupils to use phones during the day - and most tutors work office hours.

Even in sixth form? Are the sixth formers not allowed to leave the school premises during the day? (Only really drawing on my own experience at grammar school sixth form in the 90s and my kids experience at a giant sixth form college now, where we could leave outside of scheduled lesson times)

Email is best, anyway.

Great post.