What does "firm and insurance" mean??

I keep seeing examples like this everywhere:

Birmingham (Firm)
UCL (Insurance)...

What does it mean? Yeah and don't take the crap out of me for not knowing because I'm only 13..... :smile:

LOL

Reply 1

rach12

well when you apply to uni's you pick 5 and once given offers or rejected by uni's you hae to select one uni to be you 1st choice which is your firm then a 2nd choice just incase you dont get into 1st because of grade and this is your insurance and you have to reject the other three uni choices

Reply 2

Sophie3

firm is where you definitely want to go and insurance is where you think you want to go i think

Reply 3

Asheeers

rach12

thanks...

Reply 4

generalebriety

Sophie3

firm is where you definitely want to go and insurance is where you think you want to go i think

No, firm and insurance are both places you want to go. After making your university application (to either 4 or 5 universities), you'll get some offers and probably some rejections; if you get at least one offer, you can choose one university to be your 'firm' choice, meaning that if you get the grades they want, you're going there. If you get at least two offers, one of them can be your 'insurance' choice, meaning that if you get the grades for that but not for your firm choice, you're going there.

Reply 5

Juustuburger

Out of interest, when do you have to decide your firm/insurance (in other words, make a decision) by? Applying normally, I mean, as I'm applying for 2009.

Reply 6

Sports Racer

Juustuburger

Out of interest, when do you have to decide your firm/insurance (in other words, make a decision) by? Applying normally, I mean, as I'm applying for 2009.

Depends on when the last university that replies gets back to you with the decision.

If they've been organised and replied by late March, your deadline is early May.
If their decision came later, your deadline is early June.

This year's timetable as an example: http://www.ucas.com/students/importantdates

Reply 7

emzzzz.eld

Original post by Asheeers

I keep seeing examples like this everywhere:

Birmingham (Firm)
UCL (Insurance)...

What does it mean? Yeah and don't take the crap out of me for not knowing because I'm only 13..... :smile:

LOL

wait not you being 27 now thats mad!

Reply 8

PinkMobilePhone

Chat Forum Helper, Life & Style Forum Helper

Original post by emzzzz.eld

wait not you being 27 now thats mad!

Yeah that's what happens when you reply to a thread that's 14 years old. The OP has aged by 14 years.
(Please don't make a habit of bumping up ridiculously old threads, by the way).