[El Temido]

hi, i'm about to get my A2 results in august, i pretty much messed up my AS by getting DDC (C in maths). i want to do graphic design at uni and they want 280 ucas tariff points which can be BBC or an AAE (minimum), but iv heard that getting accepted in this course is strongly based on your portfolio (and specific grades aren't required of you).

i've spoken to my tutor and she said that i couldn't apply for it because my predicted grades for A2 were D's and E's and they're no where near 280points. I know i'll be getting A's for my A2 exams and also im taking a gap year since i couldnt apply with my predicted grades (and dont want to do a foundation course either).

so heres my question, if say i didnt get the grades to make the 280 tariff point requirement, but have an outstanding portfolio, could i still apply for the course? or the 280points requirement is compulsory?

and do universities accept you by looking at your A2 results?

[super.teve]

(Original post by El Temido)
hi, i'm about to get my A2 results in august, i pretty much messed up my AS by getting DDC (C in maths). i want to do graphic design at uni and they want 280 ucas tariff points which can be BBC or an AAE (minimum), but iv heard that getting accepted in this course is strongly based on your portfolio (and specific grades aren't required of you).

i've spoken to my tutor and she said that i couldn't apply for it because my predicted grades for A2 were D's and E's and they're no where near 280points. I know i'll be getting A's for my A2 exams and also im taking a gap year since i couldnt apply with my predicted grades (and dont want to do a foundation course either).

so heres my question, if say i didnt get the grades to make the 280 tariff point requirement, but have an outstanding portfolio, could i still apply for the course? or the 280points requirement is compulsory?

and do universities accept you by looking at your A2 results?

Only they will know. They will most likely look through every application, but if you don't get the grades, they'll have a reason to pick someone else over you.
They'll look at your predicted or achieved grades, unless you supply module results too.
The 280 ucas requirement is there for a reason, you need to aim to hit it.

[El Temido]

say if i give them my A2 results (most likely to be AAC) would they accept me? or they'll be looking at the AS results too?

[super.teve]

(Original post by El Temido)
say if i give them my A2 results (most likely to be AAC) would they accept me? or they'll be looking at the AS results too?

If you got AAC overall, then you should be fine, it depends. If you have already achieved the grades then they wont look at your AS results - indeed they wont be able to see them.

[El Temido]

nice one. thanks for your help

[Casshern1456]

I'm sorry but if you got CCD at AS and your teacher predicted you the same what makes you think you can get AAC in a short amount of time? Btw A2 is supposedly a lot more harder, if you get the grades you could possibly look into getting onto the course via Clearing I can imagine they are not so competitive and will have space it depends on how many students they need to fill the course and in some cases getting CCD will get you in.

[super.teve]

(Original post by Casshern1456)
I'm sorry but if you got CCD at AS and your teacher predicted you the same what makes you think you can get AAC in a short amount of time? Btw A2 is supposedly a lot more harder, if you get the grades you could possibly look into getting onto the course via Clearing I can imagine they are not so competitive and will have space it depends on how many students they need to fill the course and in some cases getting CCD will get you in.

I got CCDE in my first AS results two years ago, went onto get full marks in most modules with a tiny bit more work. I got it because I did no work at all for a level, as I did it at GCSE.

There are MANY reasons why someone who is capable of getting high marks, might get low grades. I wouldn't rule someone out who did "bad" in their AS year, if they were willing to work or do what they didn't do.

[Bubble87]

The points requirements are based on the difficulty of the course and it's popularity. A practical course like graphic design is going to be more based on the quality of your portfolio rather than your grades, and if you can get some relevant work experience in your gap year then even better. I had an offer of 260 points for my first degree but I only achieved 200 still got accepted.

But really you won't know unless you try

Also, (unless it's changed since), when I first applied I think it was your tutor who imputted your predicted grades so be wary if she has said you're predicted Ds.

[Joinedup]

Foundation degree then transfer to BA after 2 years?

[Casshern1456]

(Original post by super.teve)
I got CCDE in my first AS results two years ago, went onto get full marks in most modules with a tiny bit more work. I got it because I did no work at all for a level, as I did it at GCSE.

There are MANY reasons why someone who is capable of getting high marks, might get low grades. I wouldn't rule someone out who did "bad" in their AS year, if they were willing to work or do what they didn't do.

Your a minority of cases who do go on to get full marks in modules, anyway how is your throat/finger I was on your thread earlier...Okay?

[super.teve]

(Original post by Casshern1456)
Your a minority of cases who do go on to get full marks in modules, anyway how is your throat/finger I was on your thread earlier...Okay?

Yeh it's started to heal thank you, should be properly sorted soon! Just hoping these tablets do not give me thrush, because then I will be mad ahhhh, and embarrassed.

I guess I am, BUT, people can put effort in and turn it around.

[El Temido]

(Original post by Casshern1456)
I'm sorry but if you got CCD at AS and your teacher predicted you the same what makes you think you can get AAC in a short amount of time? Btw A2 is supposedly a lot more harder, if you get the grades you could possibly look into getting onto the course via Clearing I can imagine they are not so competitive and will have space it depends on how many students they need to fill the course and in some cases getting CCD will get you in.

i'm a boxer and my training had a massive impact on my studying, on top of that i thought that it was a piece of cake and i could revise 2weeks before exams and get good grades like i did in GCSE's, but i was obviously wrong. but this year i've put away my boxing so i can focus on my work. thats why im sure about the good grades mate.

(Original post by Bubble87)
The points requirements are based on the difficulty of the course and it's popularity. A practical course like graphic design is going to be more based on the quality of your portfolio rather than your grades, and if you can get some relevant work experience in your gap year then even better. I had an offer of 260 points for my first degree but I only achieved 200 still got accepted.

But really you won't know unless you try

Also, (unless it's changed since), when I first applied I think it was your tutor who imputted your predicted grades so be wary if she has said you're predicted Ds.

thanks man, i'll definatley try that in my gap year, good advice mate. and yeh i'm doing my best. only 4 weeks left till A2 is finished.

(Original post by Joinedup)
Foundation degree then transfer to BA after 2 years?

i was considering this choice but my friend pointed out that employers also look at which uni you graduated from, and if they see you took foundation then graduated with BA after that then you got less of a chance of gettin employed than someone that went to uni without taking a foundation course or similar.

[Juno]

You can apply Whatever your grades! It just means that if your grades are a lot lower than they ask for you have less chance - but maybe your portfolio could make up for that. Maybe everyone else who applies has amazing grades as well as an amazing portfolio. Nobody knows. But you get 5 choices, so you could pick somewhere with lower requirements (as long as you still like the uni/course). There's also UCAS_Extra or Clearing.