Predicted grades low - can I get into a good uni?

So whats happened is...
#I had a really rough first year of college - I had family problems etc.
#I got bad results for my January exams 2 U's and a C
#I havent got my July exam results yet but I'm hoping to have gotten ABC #but this is just me being a little optimistic, I'll probably get lower grades :frown:

#My predicted grades are all C's

and I was wondering do I still have a good chance in getting into like a redbrick uni e.g. Manchester or Liverpool or Leeds. I want to study Business/Management and the courses I really want to get into are ABB.

I know I can definately do better in A2, because I know I'm better than the grades I've been achieveing and am predicted. But from what I've been hearing at my college is - Uni's use AS results and predicted grades alot when considering places.

(this is my first thread, sorry if its in the wrong place)

Reply 1

random_bloke

1

jabed786

So whats happened is...
#I had a really rough first year of college - I had family problems etc.
#I got bad results for my January exams 2 U's and a C
#I havent got my July exam results yet but I'm hoping to have gotten ABC #but this is just me being a little optimistic, I'll probably get lower grades :frown:

#My predicted grades are all C's

and I was wondering do I still have a good chance in getting into like a redbrick uni e.g. Manchester or Liverpool or Leeds. I want to study Business/Management and the courses I really want to get into are ABB.

I know I can definately do better in A2, because I know I'm better than the grades I've been achieveing and am predicted. But from what I've been hearing at my college is - Uni's use AS results and predicted grades alot when considering places.

(this is my first thread, sorry if its in the wrong place)

look at the entry requirements, if you haven't met them, then no.

Reply 2

Zen90

1

I'm in a simillar situation except I dont really have a reason for doing so bad, got ddde in the Jan mods, and they probably will remain simillar when I get my results in 2 weeks. I did ask some of the tutors in the Leeds openday about this and all they kept saying was 'not sure, its all about predicted grades,just apply anyways and maybe explain why they were so low' so they havent really been that helpful lol, I'm hopefully gonna improve with retakes, and if I do get ABB or something, I'll probably look at clearing (if none of the uni's I want to go give me an offer) or take a gap year (get a job or go on a long holiday :p:

)

Reply 3

Original Legend

Well you could put on your UCAS that your resitting some AS units i suppose

Reply 4

LSEfreak

im in similar situation, however i got aaaab in AS, but they are only predicting me AABB i think....i mean wth...

Reply 5

whitewolf

thats what exactly happened to me in my first year at college, Just get your tutor to explain in her report that she sends off that you have had alot of problems at home etc... I took a load of retakes in my second year and end of my 1st year and now im on alot better than what i was. Just come across as if you really want to go to the uni in the interview if you get an offer like. I'm going to Plymouth in september hopefully...wasnt my first choice uni (no disrespect) but i was aiming a little to high i think with durham :P. have a word with ya tutor when ya get bac and she what they say!

Reply 6

robbo3045

17

If the courses are any good, chances are they are going to be over subscribed. The only time i think they would let someone in without the entry level requirements were if they needed people to make up numbers. Do'nt worry, there is always a way around these things, even if it means having to delay uni by 1 or 2 years.

Reply 7

jellysocks

Go for it so long as you have a really good personal statement. I applied to places with higher grades than I was predicted and still got offered places. My biggest shock was Liverpool who wanted ABB-BBB they offered me a place for ACC.
It can also depend on what subjects they are in though.

Reply 8

jabed786

OP

15

I'm in a simillar situation except I dont really have a reason for doing so bad, got ddde in the Jan mods, and they probably will remain simillar when I get my results in 2 weeks. I did ask some of the tutors in the Leeds openday about this and all they kept saying was 'not sure, its all about predicted grades,just apply anyways and maybe explain why they were so low' so they havent really been that helpful lol, I'm hopefully gonna improve with retakes, and if I do get ABB or something, I'll probably look at clearing (if none of the uni's I want to go give me an offer) or take a gap year (get a job or go on a long holiday )
Reply With Quote

It seems like Leeds were politey telling you that you would have a very small chance of getting in to their uni lol. But I will probably do what their adivse says and hope for the best that I will get an interview with a good uni - where I can explain how much I want to do the course and how my bad year has affected me.

If the courses are any good, chances are they are going to be over subscribed. The only time i think they would let someone in without the entry level requirements were if they needed people to make up numbers. Do'nt worry, there is always a way around these things, even if it means having to delay uni by 1 or 2 years.
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I dont really want to delay going to uni at all.

Reply 9

jabed786

OP

15

Default Re: Predicted grades low - can I get into a good uni?

Go for it so long as you have a really good personal statement. I applied to places with higher grades than I was predicted and still got offered places. My biggest shock was Liverpool who wanted ABB-BBB they offered me a place for ACC.
It can also depend on what subjects they are in though.
Reply With Quote

Thanks for the encouragment, what course were you applying to - maybe you could give me a few tips for personal statements :P I'm relying on a really good teacher report because my busienss studies teacher I've known for ages and shes really caring and nice.

Reply 10

Minerva

17

jabed786

So whats happened is...
#I had a really rough first year of college - I had family problems etc.
#I got bad results for my January exams 2 U's and a C
#I havent got my July exam results yet but I'm hoping to have gotten ABC #but this is just me being a little optimistic, I'll probably get lower grades :frown:

#My predicted grades are all C's

and I was wondering do I still have a good chance in getting into like a redbrick uni e.g. Manchester or Liverpool or Leeds. I want to study Business/Management and the courses I really want to get into are ABB.

I know I can definately do better in A2, because I know I'm better than the grades I've been achieveing and am predicted. But from what I've been hearing at my college is - Uni's use AS results and predicted grades alot when considering places.

(this is my first thread, sorry if its in the wrong place)

Unfortunately entry requirements are stated for a reason: they are the minimum accepted, unless you have good reason for under-achieving. This is something only the individual unis can say that they would be prepared to allow for.

My advice to you is:

•

wait and see what your results actually are,

•

agree with your referee what your realistic predictions for A2 are ("I know I can do better at A2" is not enough to achieve those grades)

•

research courses with entry requirements that match or are close to those predictions

•

if there is a uni you still want to apply to even though your predictions are too low, ring them - but not until late September, when Clearing is over! - to find out whether they would consider you, subject to confirmation of the circumstances that led to you under-achieving

There is no point in trying to persuade your referee to predict high grades; the admissions tutors will be looking for consistency with your AS grades. There is only one thing more demoralising than a string of rejections, and that's offers you know in your heart of hearts you stand no chance of achieving.

Reply 11

Profesh

20

jabed786

So whats happened is...
#I had a really rough first year of college - I had family problems etc.
#I got bad results for my January exams 2 U's and a C
#I havent got my July exam results yet but I'm hoping to have gotten ABC #but this is just me being a little optimistic, I'll probably get lower grades :frown:

#My predicted grades are all C's

and I was wondering do I still have a good chance in getting into like a redbrick uni e.g. Manchester or Liverpool or Leeds. I want to study Business/Management and the courses I really want to get into are ABB.

I know I can definately do better in A2, because I know I'm better than the grades I've been achieveing and am predicted. But from what I've been hearing at my college is - Uni's use AS results and predicted grades alot when considering places.

(this is my first thread, sorry if its in the wrong place)

No.

Reply 12

jabed786

OP

15

Re: Predicted grades low - can I get into a good uni?

im in similar situation, however i got aaaab in AS, but they are only predicting me AABB i think....i mean wth...

ahh once I got my intial predicted grades when I started college, Ithought I would ahve got high predicted grades. I got decent grades in GCSE A's and B's but my predicted were C's so I was like wth aswell lol. Turns out the college bases my grades not only from past exams but also where I live, how many brothers and sisters I have and family income.

Also I personally think colleges lower predicted grades to make sure people dont get high hopes

Anwyays I wish I had your predicted grades, even though its AABB it's still good, but I understand how you feel.

Reply 13

aeternuslight

7

If I were in your position, I would wait until results are out before replying, that way you know exactly what your grades are and you'll know exactly which universities will except you. Also it will give you the opportunity to re-sit exams or to take additional qualifications to improve your chances. If you're serious about going to a good university then this is probably the best way of doing it :smile:

Reply 14

jabed786

OP

15

Unfortunately entry requirements are stated for a reason: they are the minimum accepted, unless you have good reason for under-achieving. This is something only the individual unis can say that they would be prepared to allow for.

My advice to you is:

* wait and see what your results actually are,
* agree with your referee what your realistic predictions for A2 are ("I know I can do better at A2" is not enough to achieve those grades)
* research courses with entry requirements that match or are close to those predictions
* if there is a uni you still want to apply to even though your predictions are too low, ring them - but not until late September, when Clearing is over! - to find out whether they would consider you, subject to confirmation of the circumstances that led to you under-achieving

There is no point in trying to persuade your referee to predict high grades; the admissions tutors will be looking for consistency with your AS grades. There is only one thing more demoralising than a string of rejections, and that's offers you know in your heart of hearts you stand no chance of achieving.
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Thanks for the advice, gosh choosing universities is soooo stressfull :frown:

Reply 15

jellysocks

I appilied for biological sciences.
As it happens, I am now going to a uni which wanted my predicted grades as I knew I would be happier.

Yeah - I never got to see my teacher report but I know my form tutor compiled it and she wrote about one of my Cs, German being low because of the teacher ( the rest of the class failed/ got an E). Maybe that was why I was the only one not allowed to see it ... explaining tthe teacher ( that they wouldn't change for A2) was awful.

If I'm honest - for My personal statement I wrote down anything I had done extra curricualr ( quite a long list!) and then what I had done for each of my subjects (I had taken part in a lot of physics competitions and been on the german exchange)
I then wrote why I enjoyed biology and what I wanted to look in to further at university.

Just work very hard on it, my tutor helped me loads to make it so good and anything I couldn't fit in she put in her teacher comments so you need to make sure you talk to them about it and tell them what you want to put in.

Reply 16

jabed786

OP

15

* wait and see what your results actually are,
* agree with your referee what your realistic predictions for A2 are ("I know I can do better at A2" is not enough to achieve those grades)
* research courses with entry requirements that match or are close to those predictions
* if there is a uni you still want to apply to even though your predictions are too low, ring them - but not until late September, when Clearing is over! - to find out whether they would consider you, subject to confirmation of the circumstances that led to you under-achieving

Oh and I didnt submit for one of them mitigating circumstances - you know when you get extra leverage in exams - because I feel that is unfair on everybody else. So I don't think I could prove to universities that I had a rough year, if they asked my exmaing board or college if I submitted for like mitigating circumstances

Reply 17

jabed786

OP

15

I appilied for biological sciences.
As it happens, I am now going to a uni which wanted my predicted grades as I knew I would be happier.

Yeah - I never got to see my teacher report but I know my form tutor compiled it and she wrote about one of my Cs, German being low because of the teacher ( the rest of the class failed/ got an E). Maybe that was why I was the only one not allowed to see it ... explaining tthe teacher ( that they wouldn't change for A2) was awful.

If I'm honest - for My personal statement I wrote down anything I had done extra curricualr ( quite a long list!) and then what I had done for each of my subjects (I had taken part in a lot of physics competitions and been on the german exchange)
I then wrote why I enjoyed biology and what I wanted to look in to further at university.

Just work very hard on it, my tutor helped me loads to make it so good and anything I couldn't fit in she put in her teacher comments so you need to make sure you talk to them about it and tell them what you want to put in.

omg you know what? something simliar has happened to me - one of my english language teachers taught us absolutely nothing related to the module we were supposed to study, instead taught us a compeltely different topic that we were meant to study in A2. This reuslting in the whole class missing out on the option of doing the easy question in our english exam paper.

Reply 18

RyanT

15

I suggest you start considering a foundation degree first, retake your a levels (different ones to the ones you're currently doing as you clearly can't do very well in that subject area/s whatever it is) or get a job and do an access to higher education course once you've sorted yourself out in a few years.

Theres no other way to put it other then you have already delayed uni by a few years by getting those kind of results. Unless you want to go to some ex-poly with DDD entry requirements or something (some ex-polys are quite ok like plymouth before anyone gets in a hissy).

I'm not sure someone getting U's and C's (what you hope to achieve in June is irrevelent, I'm only going by your track record) will survive a management course at a decent uni. Keep in mind that even with these entry requirements they kick a lot of people out anyway and if they can't stomach the degrees I seriously doubt you can.

On the positive side I got a U in my January A2 economics module and its the subject I do at uni so its not the be all end all but you will have to put off uni by a year or two unless you did really well in June.

Reply 19

Chaddy

My predicted grades were lower than I'm hoping to achieve hence why Aston couldn't offer me a place on a competitive course like Business Management, they then changed it to a joint honours degree though...

Predicted grades low - can I get into a good uni?

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