Results day - your questions answered...

Indecision over courses, disappointing AS results, priority re-marks – read the expert advice on a selection of questions following this year’s results…

Q. My daughter has secured her first choice offer, but is now questioning whether the course is for her. She chose the course without considering a future career and now doesn’t want to start a degree with no prospects. If she cancelled her offer could she go through clearing for another course or would this put off potential universities? Would it be to her advantage to take a year out and apply again in the autumn?

A. You don’t say what her course is or which university so it is a little tricky to advise. I don’t think she should rule out the place you have purely on the assumption that her chosen course offers no career prospects. Traditionally, the purpose of university is to study something for its own sake and to develop the intellect. Employers are looking for people with fine minds; who are independent learners; who are lucid; able to work independently and are creative. These attributes come from many degree courses. If, on the other hand, she is no longer excited by the course, then she should withdraw. Due to funding cuts, places at good universities through clearing are in short supply this year so she might be wise to take a year out, work out what she really wants to do and reapply. I wouldn’t worry too much about how universities will view her as long as she can make a strong case for the course she finally applies to study. The last thing universities want is people who lack commitment.

Q. My daughter just got her results for her AS levels and is very disappointed by them. Her predictions were mostly A’s .Her results were: A,B,C,E. Now she has to write her personal statement and feels crushed by these results. She has been encouraged to aim for some very good universities before she received her results, now she doesn’t know where to apply. She feels she can turn the B and C into A’s by retaking one unit from each subject. The E can be improved to a C or a B with great effort. The problem is- what should she say in her personal statement? Should she address the fact that she underperformed in her exams or just focus on her work experience and interests? She doesn’t want to waste applications so should she stick to the ones she wanted to apply to or aim lower?

A. Firstly, she is disappointed with herself but the pain will pass. Translate the pain into positive action. Analyse why her results were short of her and her teachers’ expectations and work out how to be a more effective student and examinee. Lots of students improve enormously between As and A2 and she can join them! This wake-up call may prove to be very worthwhile and her results are still pretty promising so she shouldn’t be embarrassed. She should research her courses carefully. I would advise her, as we advise all our girls, to apply to a spread of universities in terms of entry requirements so that she will, I hope, have a mix of high and lower offers. (But she shouldn’t apply to anywhere where she wouldn’t be prepared to go or she is wasting everyone’s time). As far as the personal statement is concerned, she should not talk about her performance to date but about her interest in and commitment to the subject she wants to study and her determination to be a success. The university will be interested in her school’s predicted grades and they need to talk warmly, in their testimonial, about her potential.

Q. My daughter has missed getting her university offer for medicine by one grade in one subject and is only 2 marks overall off the A grade that she needed to secure her place. We are going to ask for a priority re-mark, but the university says that unless a revised grade is provided by 1 September, they will not hold the place. Is this correct? The exam board says it may take longer to re-mark the units. Surely if my daughter’s result is upgraded after 1 September the university will be obliged to give her the place?”

A. Universities regularly impose such deadlines and they are not obliged to hold open a place for your daughter for the current year. This may seem unfair, but the universities are dealing with many applicants and need to have confirmed places as soon as possible.”

Q. My daughter obtained ABB at A2 – A in Biology and B in Chemistry and Physics and A in AS maths plus excellent GCSEs. She had planned on applying for medicine this year having hopefully got the grades AAB at A2. Is there any point applying for medicine or what is the best way to gain a medical degree, ideally at Bristol?

A. I’m afraid I think she may just be out of the running for medicine, especially at Bristol, as it stands even though this is a pretty strong cv. In order: is she near the grade boundary for some modules and is a remark worth considering? Next, she could consider retaking to push up her Physics and Chemistry, especially the Chemistry. Modes in Oxford has a fantastic track record in getting potential medics their grades. Then she has her BMAT / UKCAT to take – high score on these aptitude tests would help plus lots of relevant work experience. I would contact the admissions tutors of the possible universities to get their advice. Depending on their response, you could contemplate doing a postgraduate conversion to medicine and do a medical related undergraduate degree. You can find out about where this is possible via Google or the UCAS website. Good luck.