Allocated 16th college choice - what now?

My son has just been told he’s been allocated his 16th (bottom) college choice. Is this usual?! He’s on a gap year so is confirmed a place and I’m now wondering if that means he has no chance of that college changing on results day?

How unusual is it to be given your very bottom choice? He wanted catered and gowned and Bailey and his 16th couldn’t be further from that. He’s gutted.

Is there any value in contacting the Uni to ask why he has been given his very bottom choice?

Reply 1

username6659553

0

4

I'm not a student of Durham University, but in my experience, it's not common to be allocated your very bottom choice; unfortunately, it does happen due to the allocation process (i.e. the randomness of the University's system or your son's preferences vs. other student's). Contacting the university is a reasonable step! Even if they're not able to change it, try and explore ways to make the most of the assigned college. Hope that helps!

Reply 2

MOrla

1

Hi,exactly the same here. I have been looking at the allocation process and it seems that the system just keeps going through the list as each preference place is complete and sends them to the next to go through the same process until eventually a college is free. Which college did yours get? mine got Van Mildert and is puzzled as others he knows seem to have got their first choices. I will say that when my older son applied to universities , of those who got places at Durham and allocated a college in May , some found that on after results they were reallocated for no apparent reason! it was hugely disconcerting for them. You need a medical reason to request reallocation otherwise it's set ( unless they reallocate after results which as Ive said is possible) it's hard. All these colleges have their characters and essentially they are made up of the people not the building as you know but it is a lottery.

Reply 3

r!!

3

Original post by Carroll100

My son has just been told he’s been allocated his 16th (bottom) college choice. Is this usual?! He’s on a gap year so is confirmed a place and I’m now wondering if that means he has no chance of that college changing on results day?
How unusual is it to be given your very bottom choice? He wanted catered and gowned and Bailey and his 16th couldn’t be further from that. He’s gutted.
Is there any value in contacting the Uni to ask why he has been given his very bottom choice?

Hi I got allocated my 12th choice which is also the complete opposite of the what I wanted, im really sad I hope there’s so possible change

Reply 4

Carroll100

OP

2

Original post by MOrla

Hi,exactly the same here. I have been looking at the allocation process and it seems that the system just keeps going through the list as each preference place is complete and sends them to the next to go through the same process until eventually a college is free. Which college did yours get? mine got Van Mildert and is puzzled as others he knows seem to have got their first choices. I will say that when my older son applied to universities , of those who got places at Durham and allocated a college in May , some found that on after results they were reallocated for no apparent reason! it was hugely disconcerting for them. You need a medical reason to request reallocation otherwise it's set ( unless they reallocate after results which as Ive said is possible) it's hard. All these colleges have their characters and essentially they are made up of the people not the building as you know but it is a lottery.

Some comfort in not being the only one - he put all the catered top and has ended up with self catered. He also had his heart set on attending some gowned formals and Stephenson doesn’t do that. The only hope is that he is reallocated after results day but given he has the grades already I wonder if his place is final? Is there any information out there on who tends to get reallocated? You’d like to think someone who got the 16th choice would be on that list.

Reply 5

random_matt

20

Universities are taking more and more students every year. Plenty of students last year were dumped near to the bottom of their preference list.

Reply 6

random_matt

20

Original post by Carroll100

Some comfort in not being the only one - he put all the catered top and has ended up with self catered. He also had his heart set on attending some gowned formals and Stephenson doesn’t do that. The only hope is that he is reallocated after results day but given he has the grades already I wonder if his place is final? Is there any information out there on who tends to get reallocated? You’d like to think someone who got the 16th choice would be on that list.

Reallocation does not happen unless you have a medical need.

Reply 7

Carroll100

OP

2

Original post by random_matt

Reallocation does not happen unless you have a medical need.

Even on results day? I thought quite a few get reallocated?

Reply 8

lineara

5

Original post by Carroll100

Even on results day? I thought quite a few get reallocated?

mainly from oversubscribed colleges like bailey ones to undersubscribed ones so its unlikely your son will get reallocated, additionally theres no telling of who will get reallocated as its just chance again. the experience is what you make of it so just try to make the most of the college even if 16th choice is quite bad luck, but people have to get allocated to each college so not everyone can get their first choices if they always go for the same ones.
hope your son makes the most of wherever he decides to go 🙂

Reply 9

Dragonfly28

6

Original post by Carroll100

Some comfort in not being the only one - he put all the catered top and has ended up with self catered. He also had his heart set on attending some gowned formals and Stephenson doesn’t do that. The only hope is that he is reallocated after results day but given he has the grades already I wonder if his place is final? Is there any information out there on who tends to get reallocated? You’d like to think someone who got the 16th choice would be on that list.

Hi, I've been allocated to Stephenson too which was my 13th choice, and similarly I wanted to be on the Bailey. I was initially very disappointed by now I am excited to got Stephenson as I have heard lots of good things about it - it tends to be quite chill, with a good mix of people, and has a very nice bar. Also there are no shared rooms and lots of ensuites which is a big plus for me.
I'm sorry that your son is unhappy, but I'm sure he will have a great time even though he will not be where he initially wanted to be.

Reply 10

Anonymous #1

Having spoken to the college allocation team at the offer holder day, they said on results day the order of priority was: 1. Students who firmed and got the grades. 2. Students who firmed almost got the grades so got in 3. Students who had Durham as insurance. 4. Students through clearing. What I mean to say here is that if a lot of people who were allocated to more popular colleges were ones who had Durham as insurance, your son might have priority. I got my first college - Josephine Butler but this system changed some of my rankings which is why I chose a less popular colleges so as to potentially decrease the odds of a change on results day (durham is my insurance choice).

Reply 11

Dragonfly28

6

Do you know how lenient they are if you miss your grades?

Reply 12

Anonymous #1

It probably depends on your subject and how many offers were given out that year. Sometimes you might have to wait a couple days as well post results day before you receive an offer - similar to those in clearing

Reply 13

Anonymous #2

I think it's pretty likely. I have declined Durham and still managed to get into castle (first choice). So my offer will hopefully be given to someone else who choose castle as their first choice

Allocated 16th college choice - what now?

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