To ask about Law at the university of York

[Fatsnowflake]

DD got 7 9s and 3 8s at GCSE and got an Oxford offer for Law. She was predicted 4 A. She's won loads of national essay competitions and has generally built her identity around being a high flyer. Come results day - two As and two Bs and Oxford have rejected her. She's set to go to the University of York as her insurance choice but she's feeling really down about everything and is pessimistic about her future. In History she is two marks off the A and in Politics she's just one mark off an A so waiting for a review of marking but not expecting anything to change.

Please tell me positives about York. I'm stressing and so is she. She's feeling like her future is gone. I'm so upset for her. She's honestly such a clever and articulate young woman. She's saying her A Levels aren't good enough for Vac schemes and training contracts and she's not at all excited for uni.

TBF, the wait for a marks check also adds to the unsettled feelings, as she still has a glimmer of hope and can't fully throw herself into buying into the idea of York whilst that slight chance exists.

@Fatsnowflake my DC also has a place at York (not law though) which they got through clearing and they are REALLY not excited about going there. They’re heartbroken. And no amount of bigging up the university is going to work. I’m not sure what to do tbh. They didn’t miss Oxbridge offer but similar top 5 RG that they had their heart set on. Not sure whether to encourage retakes or take the York place. We’re waiting for some papers to be remarked as well. Out of interest if the remarks mean the student would have made their first choice original offer, are the first choice uni obligated to take them does anyone know?

OK fingers crossed the Politics grade does go up, It is so close. Doing the 4th A level not taught in school is really impressive if she is not a quasi bilingual already. Well done her. If she has won essay competitions and done one A level pretty much on her own, that is amazing. Personally, I would be hopeful that she gets in for straight law and would keep in touch with the uni. For the future, I would recommend she just plays the game and does not get overly ambitious with stuff because it is just a riskier path to take unfortunately. It is not really what education should be and kids challenging themselves is amazing, but the system we find ourselves in rarely rewards that.

She just really liked German. If that exam hadn't been disrupted by noise she would be in. It does seem unfair but she took a risk and it didn't pay off so just hoping York goes brilliantly for her.

I know this is pathetic but I've been in a terrible state too. I was just so upset for her as Oxford was her dream and she did phenomenally well to get the offer.

They may be given a deferred place or there may be a place for then this year. It all depends on space at their first choice.

I realise that it's not always possible, but would a visit before moving day help?

My dd went to York and had a fab time. Beautiful small city, lovely campus uni. She got the grades for Oxford but didn’t apply because she felt it wasn’t for her. Oxford isn’t the be-all and end-all.

@HewasH2O
Monks Cross and Clifton Moor just in case you're like me when it's on the tip of your tongue but you just can't get it 😉

@Fatsnowflake
I live in York, great city and the uni students always look like they're enjoying life, can't comment on studying law.

Don't want to put you off but remind your DD of safety, don't walk home alone and stay away from the rivers, I sound like a prophet of doom but York has a drinking culture and the rivers are dangerous.

I work in law in up north. York is lovely, loads of opportunities for training contracts in good firms in Leeds also

If you are requesting a remark then it isn't decided yet so it is going to be hard for everyone to move on because you may not actually have to.

I don't think you can solve her disappointment by bigging up an alternative place, she is going to have to work through it on her own and it will likely take some time.

Fingers crossed she gets the outcome that she is still hoping for, although the alternative is also likely to work out well in the longer term.

That's true. There's still that tiny glimmer of hope. It may be character building for her. I think my sadness is tinged with the feeling that I'm losing her too as she will be away for most of the year.

Dropped you a PM

@DonewhatIcando We can't keep away from the place and regularly stay in a barn conversion near Clifton Moor. Betty's for breakfast, for lunch, for tea.... We stayed at the Grand for DD's graduation. You live in a beautiful city!

I’m a senior lawyer and do loads of recruiting. I genuinely don’t care about uni. I want switched on, commercial, pragmatic lawyers. I couldn’t tell you which uni any of my team went to.

york is a great city and a really well respected uni. I am sure she will thrive.

My DD is starting York this year. She chose not to put Cambridge because she felt the pressure wasn’t got her. She got all 9’s at GCSE and Astar, A,A at a level. She loved York when she visited it and it seems a great Uni. She chose it over Durham, Exeter, Edinburgh.

It seems like she will be with lots of like minded people.

And I know you are upset but you need to be the bigger person and not let this get to
you too. She’ll feel worse if she’s let other’s down. Once you know about the remark and if it means York you need to be it’s biggest cheer leader!

I will. Doing my best not to let it show!

I think I remember reading that they are obliged to offer a place but it might be for next year if they're already full.

Probably best to delay decision on resit until things have calmed down. If there were really things about the first choice that can't be matched at York then that's one thing. If it's more the prestige and the glory she really wants then it's worth being aware that even getting another offer and securing the place isn't going to feel quite the same!

I got 3 Bs at A level when I was expecting 3 As and it hurt me so much that for a few years I contemplated doing an online A level just to prove I could do it. Then I had one of those dreams where you're sitting an exam...and in the dream I actually thought "oh sod it, what's the point, I'm done with exams". And I guess I was over it from that moment on.

Dd has just finished Yr1 at York and absolutely loves it. It has a great feel, easy to get into the city but a great safe campus too. She can’t wait to get back for y2. She has made great friends in her college. Once your dd sorts accomm someone is likely to set up a WhatsApp group so she will have made friends with her flatmates before she arrives.

This is all reassuring thank you.

She could end up at Oxford for the BCL even.

@Fatsnowflake I was where you are 16 years ago. A grade down and a no from Oxford. DD wasn’t studying law but is now a barrister. So - all is not lost. However I still get jelly legs every A level results day! It’s still an awful memory. DD was made of sterner stuff and has made a great success of her career.

You really need to have faith in York. My DD went to another uni but dedicated herself to being a barrister. Yes, some chambers do choose Oxbridge grads and they are very over represented at the bar but, others really can succeed if they get themselves organised. There are law jobs for the able and she needs to make the most of a law degree at York. She might have a succesful remark though. Going to York does not make her less intelligent or less able to have a career in law. She just needs to focus and do what’s needed.

She did want the bar but I assumed that was out for her now. Her school sixth form did not do well at A Level overall and I feel they've let her down.