2026 UCAS - Offers, Rejections and then the exams! (Thread 2)

[EducatingRosemary]

Starting a new thread as our original is almost full…

Original thread

I agree as a former LSE graduate student. Its just unreasonable to take so long to evaluate every undergraduate applicant, no matter how oversubscribed they are, especially now when they will have extensive help from AI to do the initial sifts and have the funds to hire extra admissions people.

We’re still waiting for Warwick. I’m incensed it has taken so long, that it’s past the first firm/insurance deadline, so DS behind the curve on applying for accommodation. And he’s in the middle of exams already, it’s an unnecessary distraction.

It feels so wrong to have them in this position now and very unfair. Ds not rushing to do his finance and I feel like a nag!!!

I have no skin in the game (my dc) has offers from other unis (that all came through within a month of application, incidentally), but part of me wonders whether they hold off on offering too many places to home students, as they are still hoping for (more lucrative) international students? When I was looking at RG unis a few years ago (for dc1) via ucas, it was interesting to see the differences in what courses were available at which unis, prior to clearing opening, if you clicked the ‘international student’ tab at the start of the search, compared to the ‘home student’ tab. Essentially (2023) it was not unusual to find applications were closed to home students, but available to international students…

FINALLY heard from Warwick! Rejected for course he applied for but offered an alternative one, although the exact details of he offer will be sent in one or two days. 🙄

DS finally heard from LSE too. A rejection which is what he was expecting after all this time. He’s decided to firm Warwick and insure Manchester. It feels good to have that sorted before his exams start.

We've firmed Warwick and insurance is Lancaster for Accounting and Finance. My DS really wanted a degree apprenticeship. He applied to loads but nothing :(
Just trying to keep him motivated for the exams...

Ooh lots of our DC have firmed Warwick! Let's hope they get the right grades.

My DD is in her second at Warwick and is loving it. Been really good for her.

When I started this second thread and added the exam part into the thread title they seemed so far away.

First one done today! Thankfully they came home feeling it went well.

My DC had firmed Warwick and rejected Imperial, UCL and LSE. London was just too expensive…now just chilling and working again until they go.
Good luck to all those sitting their A-Levels 🍀🍀

DS has now had his alternative offer through from Warwick. He likes the sound of the course, but could get his preferred course at Sheffield and he thinks the student experience is more suited to him there. It’s such a tough decision though. What does your DD love about Warwick @MyFavouritePlace ?

My DD is in her first year at Sheffield and loving it. Everyone is so friendly and there’s loads to do, such a cool city. My DS has accepted Warwick and insured Bristol. First further maths exam Thursday and will be good to get the first one done. Good luck to them all

@WhatWouldTheDoctorDo she settled in really easily. She was in Jack Martin for accommodation the first year and there was a nice mix of students. She's enjoying her course. She seems to have settled in really easily and made friends. This wasn't something that comes easily to her but thankfully it has all worked out.
She's enjoying her course and the social side of things too.

Thanks @MyFavouritePlace that’s useful and encouraging.

Please let me know if you have any questions and I can ask my DD. Feel free to DM if you prefer

Also good to hear @Keenwalker! The city based student experience is a big draw.

DS finally heard from LSE with a rejection, sadly. Currently trying to decide between KCL and UCL to firm

Same firm and insurance here although for difference course (compsci). Interesting so many Warwick firms. It wasn't DS's fave initially but the OHD won him over - he'd favoured Manchester before but they didn't have an OHD due to lack of capacity which wasn't a good signal and made Warwick more appealing seeing the cohort is the same size and they managed to have capacity.

Since then, there's been lots that has confirmed it was right for him, esp the mathsy focus which is very much his thing, but also the things that would put me off - the relative quietness of the campus vs a city uni actually suit him better. Same with Lancaster if he ends up at his insurance, though he should be fine to hit Warwick's offer as it's contextual. Feels like I'm waffling now but just heartened to hear lots of others and their DC liked it too.

First exam on Thurs here - core pure maths I think. No study leave till after half-term but he's staying home today to swot as he has no lessons anyway and was the only one showing up to form time, so might as well get more done at home. Good luck to all those having exams today/this week. Finally!

DS has firmed Sheffield over Warwick today. Mostly swayed by the fact Warwick offered a different course to the one he applied for, and city life at Sheffield appealed. If Warwick had offered in time for him to go to an OHD we would have gone and that might have swayed things as he loved it when he first went. But he’s been to Sheffield twice since he first went to Warwick (both regular open day and an OHD) so that’s much fresher in his mind. He’s delighted that they made an offer, and I was a bit wobbly about him turning it down, but i’m just glad he has both a firm and insurance he’s happy with (and his insurance is an unconditional so he’s definitely going to one of them). Just glad all the waiting is over!

Yes, lots of Warwick firms. My DC has 4 friends there already (in various years) and all are loving it and their courses.

Another Warwick firm here (PPE, with Exeter economics and politics insured). Does anyone know when the Warwick accommodation booking system opens?

Sorry to hear about long waits and last-minute rejections. @WhatWouldTheDoctorDo, sorry Warwick PPE didn’t come through. Sheffield is a great uni though and the right course is important, sounds like your DS made a wise choice.

Thanks @ComingInByAnsible - he did at least get offered another course from Warwick so he was very pleased that he could have gone there if he wanted to. But he really wanted to do PPE, and loved Sheffield so I think it will work out well for him. And I think the city vibe will really suit him (even if I did secretly draw a sharp breath when he declined Warwick 😂). Well done to yours for getting the Warwick PPE course, it’s so competitive, so fantastic to get that offer. Sounds like there could be a Warwick MN meet up!!

The website says it opens in May, they allocate after results day.

@WhatWouldTheDoctorDo so glad the decision has been made. Sheffield is brilliant. A great uni and fantastic city. I’m sure he’ll have a great time.