Worried about not getting into Aston

There's a number of factors at play. Your personal statement will be a strong deciding factor too. Putting it down as your first choice helps as well. You may want to consider contacting whoever is in charge of the course you have applied for (or at the least the first point of contact for potential undergrads in relation to your course) by email and asking them about their usual leniency.

My personal experience is this:
I applied to Aston to study Psychology BSc (as my first choice uni) with predicted grades of BBC. The standard offer for Psychology was ABB. (Keep in mind I got CCC in year 12). When I went to the Aston Uni Psychology Open day, I asked a lecturer who was the first year course leader (something along those lines) about their typical leniency and was informed: BBB is fine. They would take a BBC (even if they only did 3 A levels, which I did), a BCC student would be accepted given that they did a fourth A level previously, but anything below, unlikely. I got a BCC in year 13 so I presume I must've had a decent personal statement or another factor such as how this was the first year (as far as I was aware) that uni's didn't have a cap on how many students they could take on.

Hope that helps, other than that, the summary advice by Horsewithnoname is pretty good. Past/specimen papers are usually the way to go.

I'm applying for Psychology and Business. My predicted grades are BB in my A levels and a Distinction in my BTEC, but they gave me an offer of AB Distinction, even when I firmed them? Would they still accept me with BB Distinction. Or could I be accepted with CB Distinction * do you reckon? Really strange they would give me a higher offer than my predicted grades.

I can't really say much about A level and BTEC mixtures as I don't know enough personally or from others. I'm fairly certain it's typical to have a set offer, e.g. for me with A-levels like I mentioned before, the standard offer was ABB.

By the sound of it, your predicted grades are just a grade off from their offer, so it could be they still accept you if you receive what you're actually predicted. Your best bet is to ask the first year leader I suppose, or contact anyone else! Possibly use the Ask Aston Uni thread?

Do you know where the Ask Aston Uni thread is?

Also my course has entered clearing at BBC, does this mean they are still looking to fill places?

Hi,

You can find the official ask Aston thread here:

https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2779671

Like most universities we are looking to fill places this year, you can see a full current list of course entry requirements here:

http://www.aston.ac.uk/clearing/vacancies/

Good luck on results day, especially if we are your firm choice.

Hope that helps
Josh

Hi Josh,

Thank you for your reply. I have received a Distinction in my BTEC, which is what I need. Only waiting on my A level results now.

Would you know if I'd be able to apply for the same course in clearing at Aston if I miss the grades for A levels offer?

And yes, Aston is my firm choice!

Timothy Richardson