DD 17 devastated - university rejection

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She has applied to two unis that do the course she wants and heard back from Bristol today that she's been refused a place as her application wasn't strong enough :( her teacher had gone over her application with her and I read her personal statement which was really good.

She's really upset. I've told her to wait until she hears back from the other one until panicking but without a degree she can't do the job she wants.

Help me with words of wisdom please!

There's always another way. Does she go on the student room to read about everyone else's rejections and Plan Bs? Hang in there X.

What is she applying for?

That's what I've told her but she's on a downer. She could have a year off and reapply next year so all is not lost but she's so stunned that they said no.

Whoever thinks being a parent gets easier as they get older clearly doesn't have kids. Because a scraped knee is much easier to fix than disappointment over uni.

Paramedic science for three years and then a year doing trauma. We've looked at all the options and getting a degree is the only way to go as there are no apprenticeships here at all.

Easier said than done but she needs to wait for the second uni to respond. Why did she only apply to two unis? Is the trauma part not offered elsewhere?

www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/apply-and-track/track-your-application/extra-choices

Check the above link for applicants who do not get offers. May help.

Keeping my fingers crossed for her

Well, it gives her a good topic to talk about in those interview questions where they ask about facing something difficult.

Your poor dd, it is really horrible getting rejected. Persistence will be rewarded. Maybe she could look at getting experience via other routes? 999 call handler work?

Bristol is a really competitive University.

Your daughter could submit up to 3 more choices. If she does this tomorrow she will still meet the main UCAS deadline. This means her application will be considered with all others received to date.

She might also want to consider broadening her choice of subjects. Are there any other slightly more general courses she is interested in doing?

Good luck to you and your daughter with getting this sorted.

My friend recently graduated in paramedic science, got a job straight away ( he was a mature students), but he did say the course was tough and those who came straight from school found it the hardest. Maybe getting more work/ life experience during a year out could a positive thing in the long run ( fingers crossed for the other universities though)

I think there are only a few unis that do the full course. She has looked at all options and really wanted to go to Bristol.

She will volunteer as a first responder for a year and join st John's ambulance when she's 18. She's already a volunteer lifeguard, she's a trained first aider and she got an award from the RLSS aged 15 for saving her friends life.

Call handling is a good route and I'll mention it to her. Going to look at that link.

Sorry to hear that OP.

Those healthcare related courses can be extremely competitive and so please do not be too disheartened.

There are people that have been applying for medicine/nursing/midwifery for 2/3 years in a row before they get in.

If this is what she really wants to do, then tell her not to take it too personally and to wait to hear back from the other uni. If the worst comes to the worst she can always try again next year with some more experience under her belt. There is absolutely no need for her to desparately apply for any course going!

I got rejected from every uni and poly I applied to in 1999. I can still remember how I felt as I trued to eat my dinner whilst crying my eyes out. Parents didn't really get it (first in entire extended family to even do a levels.).

A year out may not be a bad thing especially if she can do some related work. I did voluntary work for a HUV/AIDS awareness charity (away from home) and it made uni when I did go so much easier.

I know it's no consolation now but there are options for her. Have some for her. I know how she feels.

1990. Not 1999

Thank you all. She feels like world has ended but I've sent her to bed (she's getting stroppy with me suggesting things) so will talk to her again tomorrow.

Oh what a shame she must be gutted she could do a health course (they have different titles) at college then reapply id imagine the course is pretty competative

Yeah dont gush with alternatives atm let her digest whats happened

Suggest that she rings Bristol. Tell them they're her first choice and what can she do to improve her application for next year. This information then could influence her decisions. Is it something she can rectify easily?

Is she hoping to stay near home? I'd suggest applying for the other 3 courses before the deadline (6pm 15th Jan). There are paramedic courses in other unis. Again this gives her choices, if she decides she actually doesn't want any of these then she can reject them and apply again next year with a stronger application. Alternatively she may decide she does want to go this year and will compromise on first choice.

I will suggest that tomorrow and also see if she will make more applications. She has enough UCAS points to get onto most courses but because she doesn't have biology or science it goes against her. She's doing double sports btech and a lot of that is biology based which she loves.

There will be a way round this I'm sure.

Yeah there will be a way round it and i know she will be thinking her life has ended she will onlybe 18 a year at college or maybe working might benefit her

Foundation degrees are also an option.
Usually lower entrance requirements and 2 years duration. Great for back up options.
www.worcester.ac.uk/courses/pre-hospital-unscheduled-emergency-care-fdsc.html

A lot of services recruitment is values based now. If she waits until she is old enough to do care assistant work, that would boost her application.

A lot of people think paramedic work is 'Casualty' stuff, whereas the reality is picking up vomiting people who have over indulged, or older people who have 'gone off their feet'. Then, hours spent in A&E waiting to offload their patient. I'm not saying she hasn't thought through the reality, but having some day to day care work will show that she is realistic about what it involves. Even ICU is nothing like I imagined it to be before I started working there, and I'm a qualified nurse! I'm lucky that I love the reality, but if you don't it's awful.

If biology is an issue can she spend a year doing that and a part time relevant job

I always told my children that life doesn't go in a straight line and there are lots of routes to getting where you want to go without going in a straight line. My advice just now would be to sleep on it. If she's applied for more things today that's great but once the initial shock settles down you may be able to have a more rational conversation with her. Don't expect to be able to solve the problem but be there with a big hug and empathy. There are lots of options to get where she wants to go. Good luck.

It sounds like it's the lack of science A level. Paramedic degrees are going to normally require a science so she will be a weaker candidate without it and she hasn't been able to demonstrate she is capable of studying science, they may also question her interest in it. Btec sports science was a bad choice for that career unfortunately. And Bristol is a tough uni to get into and btec may not be rated as highly as a levels. School should have given her better advise poor thing.

St. John's ambulance have a youth division for teenagers you don't have to wait till you are 18.