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Reply 100
They just said if you're unsuccessful, they simply won't respond to you (they won't reject you, you'll be waiting forever) and there isn't a deadline of when you'll hear from them by. This makes me stupidly angry.....


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Original post by Dbrown11
They just said if you're unsuccessful, they simply won't respond to you (they won't reject you, you'll be waiting forever) and there isn't a deadline of when you'll hear from them by. This makes me stupidly angry.....


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its absolutely ridiculous!
Original post by Minerva
I'm not the best person to ask, on that one :tongue:

I'd suggest calling the admissions tutors at the unis he's interested in, not this week but perhaps next, and see what sorts of things they would consider to add value to his application - or indeed if he needs anything at all. It is generally said that a gap year for maths hopefuls is not recommended, but he can't possibly the first good candidate that this has happened to.

I'm taking it that Durham isn't going to be on his short list this time?
Not at all he really likes Durham, it was one of the original ones he considered. I just cannot understand how they can make such a mess of it. We are looking at how here can keep his maths going at the moment. Thanks again
Reply 103
The thing that gets me most angry is that they're still advertising vacancies on their website. That's just such a d*ck move


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Original post by jandanjan
We spoke to Admissions on Friday and we were offered a place and they started the paperwork so we went into UCAS to complete and now got rejected. We are going to have to send her back to school ! She will complete her A2 German and do Additional Maths and apply for 2014 not at all what we wanted but no choice. We can't find a suitable job at this stage , she has to keep the maths going and she can't afford a gap year etc so boxed into a corner. It seems an offer is not actually an offer and places showing in UCAS clearing do not exist. A shameful process
I agree, I telephoned Durham myself and were told different things each time. Yesterday I was told they were 15 places between clearing and adjustment. Can you tell me what additional maths is? A2 or AS?
Reply 105
Original post by rowena7338
Not at all he really likes Durham, it was one of the original ones he considered. I just cannot understand how they can make such a mess of it. We are looking at how here can keep his maths going at the moment. Thanks again




what about his school/ college will they allow him to maybe help out A levels classes , private tutor to those that need extra help . Not sure if that's the sort of thing you mean or he has to keep studying at a higher level ?



Can't believe with those grades it has turned out like that .
(edited 10 years ago)
Reply 106
Original post by Alix-21
Can't believe with those grades it has turned out like that .
Nor can she - or her son :frown:
Original post by Alix-21
what about his school/ college will they allow him to maybe help out A levels classes , private tutor to those that need extra help . Not sure if that's the sort of thing you mean or he has to keep studying at a higher level ?



Can't believe with those grades it has turned out like that .

Not quite sure what they mean either, he will contact universities next week for suggestions. Yes he can definitely help at his school. But as I also work at the local Academy he will be able to help there too. But the other nice lady said her daughter was taking more exams. This year my son has worked so hard, I don't think its fair should have to take more of the same. Would you know who would write his UCAS ref when he re applies and could he use the same statement with addition.
Reply 108
Original post by rowena7338
Not quite sure what they mean either, he will contact universities next week for suggestions. Yes he can definitely help at his school. But as I also work at the local Academy he will be able to help there too. But the other nice lady said her daughter was taking more exams. This year my son has worked so hard, I don't think its fair should have to take more of the same. Would you know who would write his UCAS ref when he re applies and could he use the same statement with addition.
Most schools will allow people to reapply through them, and will provide a reference in the same way as this did this year. Given the circumstances, I'd be amazed if your son wasn't allowed to do this. He will need to update his PS (he can get that checked over in the PS Help forum if he would like it).
Reply 109
Original post by rowena7338
Hello exactly the same. My son has nowhere too:frown: Seems ridiculous with these grades there is nothing for these young people


Thats the problem with this system of pre-results application.
Reply 110
Original post by jandanjan
We were told on Friday there was a place for my child A* A* A go thru clearing so we dropped her place at another uni and went into clearing as places at Durham stil lshowing yesterday - heard this morning rejected so we now have NOWHERE!!!! :eek:


wow that is dickish, they gave you a verbal offer and then reneged on it?
Reply 111
Original post by Minerva
Sorry to hear that. Durham has not behaved at all well on this one.


durham seems to have been genuinely disorganized, which isn't totally surprising I suppose, seeing as they've never been in clearing, or at least they've never had this many popular courses in clearing

I know people who've phoned several times and waited for ages at different points during the day on thursday and friday last week but still didn't through to them. And obviously here, some posters are saying they haven't heard back, or they were just told to be expect a rejection from if they haven't got a reply.

they haven't hired enough staff it seems
Reply 112
Original post by Jack93o
wow that is dickish, they gave you a verbal offer and then reneged on it?


Yes they offered her a place from the Admissions Dept and had started completing the forms and told us on Monday they could see the forms being completed. It seems though if you ring Durham you get the Clearing dept who will say there are places BUT this is not an offer but we did have a verbal offer -we asked them to email confirm but it didn't come BUT because of this we rung Mon morning to confirm they had a place and after a Yes we dropped Nottingham and cleared to Durham and then yesterday got told no. Her friend did get a firm place WITHOUT an email from them just the verbal hence why we went ahead as they offered. The reason why she will go back to school is that she will reapply and we know from looking first time the unis like you to be doing maths currently and did not want her to have a gap year. As she already has the grades she needs school will be slightly different and she will love a good grade in German and Additional Maths but its not a must have to get if that makes sense so she can take her study down a tiny notch. We are also trying to find her a suitable job it must be maths based though and she will do the course via Loughborough used by people doing A Year in Industry to keep her maths up. Thing is we have to have some plan. I have complained to UCAS but the Dept of Education is NOT responsible for Durham , nor is the next group they sent me too nor the next dept so I now have ranted to Universities UK and asked them if they are responsible. :mad:
Reply 113
Original post by jandanjan
Yes they offered her a place from the Admissions Dept and had started completing the forms and told us on Monday they could see the forms being completed. It seems though if you ring Durham you get the Clearing dept who will say there are places BUT this is not an offer but we did have a verbal offer -we asked them to email confirm but it didn't come BUT because of this we rung Mon morning to confirm they had a place and after a Yes we dropped Nottingham and cleared to Durham and then yesterday got told no. Her friend did get a firm place WITHOUT an email from them just the verbal hence why we went ahead as they offered. The reason why she will go back to school is that she will reapply and we know from looking first time the unis like you to be doing maths currently and did not want her to have a gap year. As she already has the grades she needs school will be slightly different and she will love a good grade in German and Additional Maths but its not a must have to get if that makes sense so she can take her study down a tiny notch. We are also trying to find her a suitable job it must be maths based though and she will do the course via Loughborough used by people doing A Year in Industry to keep her maths up. Thing is we have to have some plan. I have complained to UCAS but the Dept of Education is NOT responsible for Durham , nor is the next group they sent me too nor the next dept so I now have ranted to Universities UK and asked them if they are responsible. :mad:
Try the Vice-Chancellor's office, here. Professor Higgins is the Chief Executive of the organisation, and he needs to know what's been going on.
Reply 114
Original post by jandanjan
Yes they offered her a place from the Admissions Dept and had started completing the forms and told us on Monday they could see the forms being completed. It seems though if you ring Durham you get the Clearing dept who will say there are places BUT this is not an offer but we did have a verbal offer -we asked them to email confirm but it didn't come BUT because of this we rung Mon morning to confirm they had a place and after a Yes we dropped Nottingham and cleared to Durham and then yesterday got told no. Her friend did get a firm place WITHOUT an email from them just the verbal hence why we went ahead as they offered. The reason why she will go back to school is that she will reapply and we know from looking first time the unis like you to be doing maths currently and did not want her to have a gap year. As she already has the grades she needs school will be slightly different and she will love a good grade in German and Additional Maths but its not a must have to get if that makes sense so she can take her study down a tiny notch. We are also trying to find her a suitable job it must be maths based though and she will do the course via Loughborough used by people doing A Year in Industry to keep her maths up. Thing is we have to have some plan. I have complained to UCAS but the Dept of Education is NOT responsible for Durham , nor is the next group they sent me too nor the next dept so I now have ranted to Universities UK and asked them if they are responsible. :mad:


Yup, hate it when they take you on a ride like that
Reply 115
What a bloody mess. So unfair . The only thing positive is next time offers will be unconditional as they have their grades . Doesn't make it any easier for them . When my daughter went through clearing ( not top unis so maybe that's why ) it was so easy and they were very helpful.
Reply 116
To add to the Durham bitching, I inquired about vacancies before the weekend and was told I'd be contacted by an admissions tutor to discuss my options.
I essentially got forgotten about. Had to chase them up about it and then they denied all knowledge of the conversation I had on the clearing hotline, even though I had the name of the bloke I spoke to.
I take it they didn't anticipate they'd be in clearing this year.
Original post by Flowerii
To add to the Durham bitching, I inquired about vacancies before the weekend and was told I'd be contacted by an admissions tutor to discuss my options.
I essentially got forgotten about. Had to chase them up about it and then they denied all knowledge of the conversation I had on the clearing hotline, even though I had the name of the bloke I spoke to.
I take it they didn't anticipate they'd be in clearing this year.
Just to add a little bit more fuel to the fire, my son was also originally told this.
Reply 118
Original post by Flowerii
To add to the Durham bitching, I inquired about vacancies before the weekend and was told I'd be contacted by an admissions tutor to discuss my options.
I essentially got forgotten about. Had to chase them up about it and then they denied all knowledge of the conversation I had on the clearing hotline, even though I had the name of the bloke I spoke to.
I take it they didn't anticipate they'd be in clearing this year.

Before I go and make anymore phone calls about this can someone confirm to me that Durham don't normally do Clearing ? I was surprised to see them there so is it because of Adjustments that they did it this years? Would explain the mess we experienced. I am meeting with my MP tomorrow and would like to know if anyone has any sort of official quotable information.
Thanks a lot for everyone's help and comments
Reply 119
Original post by jandanjan
Before I go and make anymore phone calls about this can someone confirm to me that Durham don't normally do Clearing ? I was surprised to see them there so is it because of Adjustments that they did it this years? Would explain the mess we experienced. I am meeting with my MP tomorrow and would like to know if anyone has any sort of official quotable information.
Thanks a lot for everyone's help and comments
They certainly have 'done' Clearing for courses at their Stockton campus in previous years, and for a few courses in Durham city - these have usually been in the 'pure' sciences. The range of courses on offer at Stockton in Clearing has included, for instance, some of their specialist anthropology courses and business/accounting/finance offerings. Humanities courses at Durham city have not usually featured at all. However, I noticed this year that their Combined Arts course appeared to be in Clearing; this course has usually come into the 'heavily competitive' category so I was really surprised.

I have not heard of Durham using this 'gathered field' process before - but that doesn't mean they weren't.

As I doubt if Durham has seen a drop-off in the numbers applying, I am wondering whether what happened here was that Durham decided to make use of the lack of restriction on numbers with ABB+ to expand in some areas, using Clearing as the means to do so - perhaps they only decided to do this late on - and then got into a horrible muddle with their processes.
(edited 10 years ago)