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sqa results day- what are my options

hi all,
received my results of 2A's and 1B at adv higher and 1A at higher, after phoning school to find out marks I have put in a priority appeal as I was 1 mark off the A boundary for adv English. durham have held my offer so I may possibly be accepted with these grades depending on A-level results day (my hopes are not high for this). my issue here is my insurance is KCL which, after a google search, appears to start on 9th of Sept and appeals won't come out until 2nd. this feels like an impossible turnaround if it doesnt get uplifted to an A (which knowing the way sea appeals go I also have low hopes). Not necessarily looking for someone to tell me what to do here but some different advice and paths I can go from here would be much appreciated. Thanks!
(edited 1 month ago)

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hi all, received my results of 2A's and 1B at adv higher and 1A at higher, after phoning schooltofind out marks I have put in a priority appeal as I was 1 mark off the A boundary foradvEnglish. durham have held my offer so I may possibly be accepted with thesegradesdepending on A-level results day (my hopes are not high for this). my issue here ismyinsurance is KCL which, after a google search, appears to start on 9th of Sept andappealswon't come out until 2nd. this feels like an impossible turnaround if it doesnt getuplifted toan A (which knowing the way sea appeals go I also have low hopes). Notnecessarilylooking for someone to tell me what to do here but some different advice andpaths I cango from here would be much appreciated. Thanks!
Welcome to King's: Monday 9 Friday 20 September 2024

Week one will mainly be online and week two will be on-campus. Your faculty is likely to hold mandatory induction sessions during week two (Monday 16 Friday 20 September) which will provide key information for starting your course. If you’re arriving after your induction, please get in touch with your faculty or department.

There will be other in-person activities taking place during this week to help you settle into King's. More information will be available on the Welcome to King's app from mid-August 2024.

Faculties may hold welcome sessions for some programmes outside of this period.


https://self-service.kcl.ac.uk/article/KA-01913/en-us

So it's not as early as the 9th

Have you notified both Durham and KCL that you're getting a remark and the expected date?
Welcome to King's: Monday 9 Friday 20 September 2024
Week one will mainly be online and week two will be on-campus. Your faculty is likely to hold mandatory induction sessions during week two (Monday 16 Friday 20 September) which will provide key information for starting your course. If you’re arriving after your induction, please get in touch with your faculty or department.
There will be other in-person activities taking place during this week to help you settle into King's. More information will be available on the Welcome to King's app from mid-August 2024.
Faculties may hold welcome sessions for some programmes outside of this period.
https://self-service.kcl.ac.uk/article/KA-01913/en-us
So it's not as early as the 9th
Have you notified both Durham and KCL that you're getting a remark and the expected date?

I've notified Durham but not kings. I've received notification from kings that my offer is now an unconditional insurance and will become firm once durham have declined to accept me so any point between 15-22nd. my plan as of right now is to see if they will accept me on these grades however im reluctant to wait for the remark.
Original post by username_66
hi all, received my results of 2A's and 1B at adv higher and 1A at higher, after phoning schooltofind out marks I have put in a priority appeal as I was 1 mark off the A boundary foradvEnglish. durham have held my offer so I may possibly be accepted with thesegradesdepending on A-level results day (my hopes are not high for this). my issue here ismyinsurance is KCL which, after a google search, appears to start on 9th of Sept andappealswon't come out until 2nd. this feels like an impossible turnaround if it doesnt getuplifted toan A (which knowing the way sea appeals go I also have low hopes). Notnecessarilylooking for someone to tell me what to do here but some different advice andpaths I cango from here would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Step 1 is don't panic! We've helped similar cases before and all has turned out alright in the end. Even though it might not feel like it now - there is time!

Just so I'm clear:
What were the offer conditions from Durham?
What were the offer conditions from KCL?
Have you informed both of them that you have appealed your results as a priority?
Original post by 04MR17
Step 1 is don't panic! We've helped similar cases before and all has turned out alright in the end. Even though it might not feel like it now - there is time!
Just so I'm clear:
What were the offer conditions from Durham?
What were the offer conditions from KCL?
Have you informed both of them that you have appealed your results as a priority?

thanks for the reply! Durham- AAA, KCL-AB. I've informed durham who have said they will make an original decision by th 22nd and then after if im rejected I can phone if my appeal chances my grade to meet original offer. Im hesitant on kings as I've obviously settled on durham over the past couple months and uni in London is a completely new experience- especially as a Scottish student. I haven't informed Kings yet but have conformation that my offer is now unconditional insurance which will automatically turn firm upon durham rejection if that makes sense?
Original post by username_66
I've notified Durham but not kings. I've received notification from kings that my offer is now an unconditional insurance and will become firm once durham have declined to accept me so any point between 15-22nd. my plan as of right now is to see if they will accept me on these grades however im reluctant to wait for the remark.

It’s worth waiting for A level results day to see what Durham do then.

If your offer is still conditional on the 15th then I would personally pressure them to either confirm your place that day or reject you so you can go to KCL.

Unfortunately Durham has a track record of keeping near miss applicants in limbo for days or even weeks while they see if they can get “better” applicants through clearing :mad: so it’s worth giving them an ultimatum to make sure that they don’t keep you hanging too long.

Definitely notify KCL about the remark just so they’re aware. It’s good that they’ve made you unconditional - at least you know you have a place somewhere, just a couple of weeks of stress while you wait to find out where you’re going and getting everything sorted out for the start of term.
Original post by username_66
thanks for the reply! Durham- AAA, KCL-AB. I've informed durham who have said they will make an original decision by th 22nd and then after if im rejected I can phone if my appeal chances my grade to meet original offer. Im hesitant on kings as I've obviously settled on durham over the past couple months and uni in London is a completely new experience- especially as a Scottish student. I haven't informed Kings yet but have conformation that my offer is now unconditional insurance which will automatically turn firm upon durham rejection if that makes sense?

That makes sense, I hadn't understood whether you had met your KCL offer, which was the main worry because that adds a third possibility on.

My advice is: prepare for London. It has to be about the course, if the course KCL offer is one you like, do it. You are right to be sceptical about Durham being kind to you next Thursday (I'm speaking from personal experience sadly) but there is a chance there.

What you know for sure is that you have a place at KCL and therefore my advice is prepare yourself to go there. If you get nice news at the start of September then you can switch plans and do Durham and that'll be a positive set of events.

Worst case scenario right now is still a very positive set of events, you've got into Kings College London to do a course that (I hope?) you really want to do and it's secured 100%. Lots of people feel the wobbles about their insurance - they've visualised themselves going to their firm and regard their insurance uni as lesser in some way because they were second preference. But they're still fantastic institutions. I went to my insurance uni and loved it. Not saying you 100% will feel the same because everyone is different. But I'm reading this as maybe a case of the insurance wobblies here? What do you think?
Original post by username_66
thanks for the reply! Durham- AAA, KCL-AB. I've informed durham who have said they will make an original decision by th 22nd and then after if im rejected I can phone if my appeal chances my grade to meet original offer. Im hesitant on kings as I've obviously settled on durham over the past couple months and uni in London is a completely new experience- especially as a Scottish student. I haven't informed Kings yet but have conformation that my offer is now unconditional insurance which will automatically turn firm upon durham rejection if that makes sense?

If I could add one more thing to what 04MR17 said (which is all excellent advice) don't forget what it was that you liked about KCL, that made you choose it as one of the unis you applied to and then to pick it as your insurance offer! As much as possible, try and focus on that! :yep: I can't sit here and pretend that Durham and London aren't very different places to study, but London has so much interesting stuff to offer you whatever you are interested in doing!
Original post by 04MR17
That makes sense, I hadn't understood whether you had met your KCL offer, which was the main worry because that adds a third possibility on.
My advice is: prepare for London. It has to be about the course, if the course KCL offer is one you like, do it. You are right to be sceptical about Durham being kind to you next Thursday (I'm speaking from personal experience sadly) but there is a chance there.
What you know for sure is that you have a place at KCL and therefore my advice is prepare yourself to go there. If you get nice news at the start of September then you can switch plans and do Durham and that'll be a positive set of events.
Worst case scenario right now is still a very positive set of events, you've got into Kings College London to do a course that (I hope?) you really want to do and it's secured 100%. Lots of people feel the wobbles about their insurance - they've visualised themselves going to their firm and regard their insurance uni as lesser in some way because they were second preference. But they're still fantastic institutions. I went to my insurance uni and loved it. Not saying you 100% will feel the same because everyone is different. But I'm reading this as maybe a case of the insurance wobblies here? What do you think?

I do think you're right- I was very back and forth about what uni I wanted to firm in the first place. I think I am starting to take more of a step back and realise I did get good grades and my insurance is still an excellent university! in regards to preparing fro, im assuming you mean a bit more research into societies etc as I wouldn't be able to sort accommodation out until after the 2nd and I know definitively about durham? thanks so much for your advice xx
Original post by Saracen's Fez
If I could add one more thing to what 04MR17 said (which is all excellent advice) don't forget what it was that you liked about KCL, that made you choose it as one of the unis you applied to and then to pick it as your insurance offer! As much as possible, try and focus on that! :yep: I can't sit here and pretend that Durham and London aren't very different places to study, but London has so much interesting stuff to offer you whatever you are interested in doing!

your totally right, I think its just an adjustment in mindsets that needed to happen in a certain time that had me stressing a bit, thank you so much
It’s worth waiting for A level results day to see what Durham do then.
If your offer is still conditional on the 15th then I would personally pressure them to either confirm your place that day or reject you so you can go to KCL.
Unfortunately Durham has a track record of keeping near miss applicants in limbo for days or even weeks while they see if they can get “better” applicants through clearing :mad: so it’s worth giving them an ultimatum to make sure that they don’t keep you hanging too long.
Definitely notify KCL about the remark just so they’re aware. It’s good that they’ve made you unconditional - at least you know you have a place somewhere, just a couple of weeks of stress while you wait to find out where you’re going and getting everything sorted out for the start of term.

thanks so much! will make them aware tomorrow. im planning to give durham a phone on results day and im getting into more a mindset in which I realise my grades are still good which I think will help with that
Original post by username_66
I do think you're right- I was very back and forth about what uni I wanted to firm in the first place. I think I am starting to take more of a step back and realise I did get good grades and my insurance is still an excellent university! in regards to preparing fro, im assuming you mean a bit more research into societies etc as I wouldn't be able to sort accommodation out until after the 2nd and I know definitively about durham? thanks so much for your advice xx


What are KCL's rules about accommodation?
Original post by 04MR17
What are KCL's rules about accommodation?

I honestly have no clue- think im going to do a bit more research of all my options tomorrow
Original post by username_66
I honestly have no clue- think im going to do a bit more research of all my options tomorrow

Sounds like a plan :yes:
Original post by username_66
I honestly have no clue- think im going to do a bit more research of all my options tomorrow

How did your research go? :smile:
What are KCL's accommodation rules?
Original post by 04MR17
How did your research go? :smile:
What are KCL's accommodation rules?

i've missed the deadline for guaranteed accommodation and from word of mouth it appears fully booked on portal (obviously may differ slightly on results day) I plan to phone durham on results day and push for a decision or try and see if their is spaces on a similar course through clearing. From there I think I need to make a choice as to whether I wait for my appeal and hope its upgraded and durham can take me or I firm kings and try get accommodation sorted asap. to make matters more interesting I leave for holiday with friends on the afternoon of the 15th 😂 Im honestly baffled about how I got into this position but it just goes to prove planning for every outcome is key.
(edited 1 month ago)
Original post by username_66
i've missed the deadline for guaranteed accommodation and from word of mouth it appears fully booked on portal (obviously may differ slightly on results day) I plan to phone durham on results day and push for a decision or try and see if their is spaces on a similar course through clearing. From there I think I need to make a choice as to whether I wait for my appeal and hope its upgraded and durham can take me or I firm kings and try get accommodation sorted asap. to make matters more interesting I leave for holiday with friends on the afternoon of the 15th 😂 Im honestly baffled about how I got into this position but it just goes to prove planning for every outcome is key.

Can you apply for KCL accommodation today?
Even if word of mouth says otherwise, is anything stopping you?
Original post by 04MR17
Can you apply for KCL accommodation today?
Even if word of mouth says otherwise, is anything stopping you?

I would need to have it as my firm choice. according to others its not realising any more rooms at the minute as its prioritising those who have guaranteed accom- which its why I think this will change on results day. im struggling with lots of different possible outcomes over this next week and which one is best to plan for. I think I need to make a choice as to how badly I want to go to durham but I have no gut feeling on it which isn't helping haha
posting to subscribe :ninjagirl:

hey- was wondering if you knew anything about clearing open only to international applicants? does this change at all or is there no chance to get into these courses as a home student?

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