A Levels & UCAS - next steps

The results are coming in – will your daughter have done better than expected or will she be disappointed? Whatever the outcome you both need to be prepared for what actions to take next…

Q I’ve got the results I wanted and have been accepted by my first choice. Do I need to do anything?

A There is nothing to be done apart from accepting congratulations and realizing that all of your hard work has been rewarded. Check on UCAS Track that your first choice offer has become an Unconditional Firm offer – i.e. you have been accepted.

Q I’ve just missed the required grades but have been told I’ve still been accepted by my first choice. How can I be sure?

A This will either be confirmed on Track or may require an anxious wait before a phone call to the university (ideally by you) confirms the outcome.

Q I’ve missed the grades for my first choice, but have been accepted by my second choice. Do I have to accept?

A In this case, it might still be worth phoning your first choice to check. They might be able to offer you a place on a similar course. If not, your insurance offer is guaranteed.

Q I’ve missed the required grades for both of my choices and am without an offer. Help!

A Don’t panic. In some cases, your firm and/or insurance choices may not have reached a final decision and you might face a frustrating wait until they do so. My advice here would be to start looking at other courses just in case. All may appear lost and you will certainly be in need of some TLC, but tens of thousands find a place each year through the Clearing process. You may have read reports in the press suggesting that this year, given a 9% rise in applications, fewer are likely to be successful and this may prove to be true. Nevertheless it will still be worth phoning both of your choices to see whether they can offer you a place on a course you would consider.

If not, it is a case of checking vacancies on Track, the UCAS website or in The Independent newspaper. You will need to be patient – UCAS and the universities receive tens of thousands of calls on results day alone. You do not have to – and should not necessarily – accept the first course you are offered. Universities are interested in filling vacancies. You need to be sure it is a course you are going to be happy on for 3 years or longer. Get advice from your school and check course details carefully. Keep a careful record of who you spoke to and what was agreed.

Q I’ve done considerably better than anticipated and my grades have exceeded expectations. What should I do?

A You may want to reconsider your plans. In 2009, for the first time, UCAS has introduced an ‘adjustment week’, designed to enable applicants like you who have exceeded expectations to hold on to their guaranteed offer whilst approaching other universities to see if you can find a place on a course requiring the higher grades you have achieved. It remains to be seen how this will work in practice and it appears unlikely that there will be many, if any, vacancies on more competitive courses.