Should I Accept My Unconditional?

I’ve tried to post this thread before but it was never seen by moderators. However my circumstances have changed since then.

I sent my UCAS application off for Bsc Economics to Essex, UEA, UCL, LSE, and St Andrews. I thought I had been predicted AAA for Maths, Further Maths, and Computer Science. But it turns out I’m predicted A*AA with the higher grade being in Maths.

So far I have only had one offer, and that is from UEA. I have a conditional offer for ABB, or as my firm choice they become uncondtional.

St Andrews isn’t a realistic option. My initial thoughts were to go to Essex, as while not the strongest uni, the seem to have a respected Economics department alongside Government. Crucially, they are close enough for me to live at home; the added benefit being I can live comfortably with my family and girlfriend and not have any student loans, as well as recieving a small bursary of £1000.

However, I added LSE and UCL with the intention to choose one of these universities, unless Essex gave me an uncondtional offer.

But now that UEA has given me an uncondtional, I was wondering if I could possibly barter with Essex in the event they only give me a conditional? UEA is universally in a higher ranking on leaderboards, so if I were to be offered a conditional offer, do you suppose I could use this to negotiate with them as I’d rather go to Essex than UEA.

Even if I were to be accepted into a London uni, which I doubt as my subjects aren’t very varied as they lack an essay based subject, I have little interest anymore as I see that it isn’t crucial to go there to get the sort of job I would like in future (although of course it would surely make it easier to do so). So would you say UEA would just be better overall? It seems to me they aren’t that much better than Essex to persuade me to leave home in order to go there.

Maybe wait until you have all offers and been to the open days. No point accepting if you have an unconditional but plenty of time to accept.

I’ve tried to post this thread before but it was never seen by moderators. However my circumstances have changed since then.

I sent my UCAS application off for Bsc Economics to Essex, UEA, UCL, LSE, and St Andrews. I thought I had been predicted AAA for Maths, Further Maths, and Computer Science. But it turns out I’m predicted A*AA with the higher grade being in Maths.

So far I have only had one offer, and that is from UEA. I have a conditional offer for ABB, or as my firm choice they become uncondtional.

St Andrews isn’t a realistic option. My initial thoughts were to go to Essex, as while not the strongest uni, the seem to have a respected Economics department alongside Government. Crucially, they are close enough for me to live at home; the added benefit being I can live comfortably with my family and girlfriend and not have any student loans, as well as recieving a small bursary of £1000.

However, I added LSE and UCL with the intention to choose one of these universities, unless Essex gave me an uncondtional offer.

But now that UEA has given me an uncondtional, I was wondering if I could possibly barter with Essex in the event they only give me a conditional? UEA is universally in a higher ranking on leaderboards, so if I were to be offered a conditional offer, do you suppose I could use this to negotiate with them as I’d rather go to Essex than UEA.

Even if I were to be accepted into a London uni, which I doubt as my subjects aren’t very varied as they lack an essay based subject, I have little interest anymore as I see that it isn’t crucial to go there to get the sort of job I would like in future (although of course it would surely make it easier to do so). So would you say UEA would just be better overall? It seems to me they aren’t that much better than Essex to persuade me to leave home in order to go there.

Why isn't St Andrews realistic?

I highly recommend that you wait for all your choices to give you their decision, and don't be so keen on an unconditional offer. It appears that many regret accepting offers too early, which often happens because of a fixation on unconditional ones.

Unless they are thinking of withdrawing from all the others in order to accept UEA as thrir firm choice, they don't have any option but to wait, anyway.