Missed offer- advice

[PinkChaires]

My DD missed her offer for the University of Manchester, which she was really hoping for, and she’s understandably very upset.
She does, however, have offers for Psychology at MMU, Leeds, Sheffield and Liverpool through clearing.
for many reasons she really wants to stay in Manchester and shes saying she will go to MMU. Its a tough pill to swallow given that she was a Law offer holder for UCL and UOM. Will it damage her career prospects? Any positives i can give her? Thanks

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You will get some great advice there 😊

Being realistic, Sheffield and Leeds are more prestigious univerisites than MMU.

That doesn't mean she shouldn't go there but she should probably be aware that she'll really need to make the most of opportunities for internships, summer jobs etc and putting in the work to get a First.

I guess I'd wonder why she was prioritising Manchester over very similar cities? Did she particularly like the MMU course?

She needs to prioritise the actual course - content, structure, requirements etc. over and above the city. Did she even visit MMU?

Has she had any advice from her college/sixth form?

I'm not particularly hung up on "prestige" in university choice. Students will excel at the university that's right for them, as long as they apply themselves.

We live in Manchester, staying at home is (really) the only option

What were her grades? What are her longterm career aims, you mentioned she had a law offer.

Ah - that makes sense.

It's really tough when you miss out on your first choice but 1,000s of kids are in the same position. If she loves her subject, looks forward not back and throws herself into uni life she will be fine.

If it’s the only option for financial reasons then I’d recommend looking at universities further north. My dd went to Newcastle and lived on her loan.

No unfortunately its for other reasons

It’s always worth contacting your first choice, particularly if you’ve only just missed the grades. Most RGs are expanding their intake this year and most admissions officers are happy to let in someone who is keen about the course but has just missed the grades in. Get your DD to phone Manchester asap.

How far off the offer was she? Can she reapply next year with grades in hand if she really can only go there? And has she definitely been rejected (ie: does it say unsuccessful on UCAS?) Presumably if she has offers in clearing then she either did not have an insurance or has rejected it?

If she does reapply and hasn't already done so, are there any widening access or local area schemes that she can apply for? And presumably travel by train to Leeds or Liverpool is out of the question?

Leeds over MMU any day of the week. She could commute. It’s only an hour by train.

Commuting to liverpool is an option but we dont think its the one for her. Considering purely academics would be better but for her mental health and other reasons going to mmu would be better

Is she wedded to psychology? There may be something related in Manchester clearing which she would enjoy, and then she could do a conversion if she wants to pursue a career in psychology.

If she's got strong enough academics for Leeds, Liverpool and Sheffield, she would be underselling herself at MMU.

Is she definitely not wanting a gap? If she’s dealing with MH issues and not able to contemplate leaving home I’d strongly suggest she considers a gap and work/volunteer/treatment.

Would she consider taking a year out to re-sit and re-apply? A couple of DS1’s friends did this and got in to their preferred unis and courses the following year.

Education, linguistics, social anthropology? All in Manchester clearing and possibly of interest to a psychology applicant.

A gap year might be worth considering. University is intense and if she thinks she’s settled for second best she might not be in the right frame of mind in a month’s time.

There is no single path to a successful future. She should be proud of what she’s achieved so far and take some time to decide what’s right for her next.

I can understand he wanting to do psychology at Mnchester. I did my first degree there then went on to do my masters and doctorate in human computer interaction. Many unis are expending their intake due to the fall in international student numbers. I would strongly recommend her to check her UCAS status and then contact the admissions officer to see if anything can be done. However psychology at Manchester is very competative usually requiring AAA grade. If she has a near miss it may still be worth trying. There is nothing to lose. Good luck.

Sociology at Manchester is also a possibility. Although it is a highly respected world rated department it is not quite so competative as psychology and is a strong alternative to a near miss psychology student. I would consider an alternative course at Manchester rather than MMU.

Yes that’s good advice to go for a similar to less competitive course at Manchester. She may find some modules are same especially in later years.

It looks like sociology at Manchester isn't on the Clearing list so it might be the course is full. You can only do it if you combine with a language.

Social Anthropology is there at ABB

https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/applying/clearing/course/?uid=t4ulpqey

If she has to be in Manchester then she should look at other courses at Manchester uni or take the course at mmu
It’s disappointing but it will be more disappointing if there’s a possibility of her having to leave another uni mid term because of issues. Only you and she knows what is best. There’s no point being at a ‘better’ uni if her mental health suffers.
Sometimes what we think is a ‘bad’ option turns out to be not the case you just won’t know until you know unfortunately

I loved Manchester which is why am still here 30 years later.

Did she have two offers for law, that she didn’t meet, and the rest for psychology?

In terms of damaging her career prospects, it depends if she still wants a career in law. She can do a conversion after her psychology degree but they are expensive and competitive.

If you mean will going to MMU damage her prospects of having a good career in another field, then no I don’t think it matters if she goes to the red brick or the post-92. MMU is well-ranked in its own right. If psychology was her second choice course, and she has to stay in Manchester, then it seems like the most sensible option.

She keeps on calling her self stupid and is distraught 😭😭 i dont know how to help, shes always been labelled as smart so this is a huge blow on top of so many others