Predicted A Level grades lower than entry requirements

[Emerald City]

Morning, hoping someone can help - we've searched for this information but feel really lost and daren't ask the university in question for fear of scuppering her chances! Will try to be brief.

Having just finished year 12 dd's A level predictions for the end of year 13 are B for Fine Art, C for Sociology and C for Classics - she wants to do Classical Archaeology and Ancient History at Royal Holloway (first choice) or a similar course at Reading. ALL universities offering these subjects request ABB. She has worked voluntarily at a National Trust museum as a tour guide and done conservation work with them learning proper restoration techniques and so on (almost a year now). She has 11 strong GCSEs including one in Ancient History that she took at the end of year 10 when she was still just 14 (very summer baby!).

Question is this - if she applies for RH and is turned down, might she still be able to apply through clearing for RH this time next year? We ask this because this year (although I know there are no guarantees it will be the same next year) the exact course is showing as having vacancies for this academic year. But she believes that if she is turned down, she won't be allowed to apply for it through clearing, even if she gets the ABB.

The advice we keep finding is to apply for a university that offers lower than ABB but there aren't any for the type of course she wants to do.

(NB: if she doesn't get ABB, wouldn't she struggle anyway on the course?)

Any clarification on this point gratefully received - thanks so much!

Emma C

[Guest55]

I'd suggest asking at an Open Day; this is less personal than phoning.

You can go through clearing for a uni that has rejected you. It also suggests that the course is not that popular and she may get an offer with a good PS.

[kenyancowgirl]

Speak to them at Open Day, or get her to ring them - unless they are really awful, I would suggest that she applies anyway if this is what she really wants to do - make sure her personal statement is really punchy - focussing on why she is interested in the course, what she has done towards it (the voluntary work etc) and, most importantly, what she has learned from that. Tell her to ask her teachers about her predicted grades - she could make a comment about how she intends to improve these (if she has space) and it seems appropriate - she may get an offer based on what she has done (probably a standard offer above her predictions), or she may be invited to interview so they can hear her speak about her passion, which may result in an offer - she then needs to work really hard - it may be that she improves on her predictions - it may be that they are prepared to accept her with a lower grade if they liked her enough to make an offer. Most universities looking at offering through clearing would rather offer to someone they have already met and interviewed etc but has slipped a grade than going out into the ether.

[Daogroupie]

She should apply if that is where she wants to go.

I have had a lot to do with RH in the past year and they are very easy to deal with, easy to contact by email and very responsive.

They are keen to get the best candidates and if she is impressive she may well get an unconditional offer which will take the heat off.

If she does not get an offer and it is in clearing next year again then she can apply but right now she should focus on a great personal statement to increase her chances of an offer.

Go to all the open days, there is a very good talk on personal statements and we went to a very helpful lecture by an admissions tutor who then gave us his email so we could apply for a copy of his talk.

Go the Classics taster course or anything else close to her course and see if she can meet up with the admissions tutor for her course so they will know her already when they receive her application. DG

[Emerald City]

Thank you, you've all been so kind and quick to respond.

If it is meant to be, it will be, if it isn't, it's because something that is meant to be is around the corner instead!

Enjoy the rest of summer,

Emma C

[justkeepmoving]

Yes agree with above - try to talk with someone from the department at an open day about grades accepted and apply to where you really want to go - but also have a back up plan - bear in mind that although they all might say they want ABB - for some that will be what they will accept - others will give you a place with lower grades if they think you are keen on the subject - so see some other Unis that do that course - you may be pleasantly surprised - my DD didn't get her first choice but loves where she is

[Amber]

You can search what the actual students of a course got (as opposed to what the stated entrance requirements were) using the which? website. I think the link below is for the course you are asking about. It appears that there may well be some flexibility here with between 120-152 UCAS points being demanded.


https://university.which.co.uk/royal-ho ... 7959d54754" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;