How to judge if you have a decent chance of getting an offer?

Trying to avoid a stituation of no offers or wasted chpoices. I wanna do business and wanna apply to the best my grades can get me but obviously that means more competitive unis

Reply 1

flaurie

Volunteer Team

Your predicted grades versus the grades the uni posts on its course webpage is the best indicator

Reply 2

DataVenia

Volunteer Team

Original post by Maizeak

Trying to avoid a stituation of no offers or wasted chpoices. I wanna do business and wanna apply to the best my grades can get me but obviously that means more competitive unis

In UCAS Search, for most courses at most universities it shows you what proportion of applicants previously received offers, and what percentage of applicants with your grades were previously accepted (using historical data, typically from 2019-2023).

For example for Bsc (Hons) Business at University of Exeter, 9 in 10 students who applied received an offer, and 75% of students with grades BBB were previously accepted. (See here and scroll down to the "Historical entry grades data" section).

Ny contrast, for BSc Business Management at King's College London, 1 in 5 students who applied received an offer and 0% of students with grades BBB were previously accepted. (source)

Reply 3

Maizeak

Original post by flaurie

Your predicted grades versus the grades the uni posts on its course webpage is the best indicator

Arent those grades just the bare minimum tho?

Reply 4

Maizeak

Original post by DataVenia

In UCAS Search, for most courses at most universities it shows you what proportion of applicants previously received offers, and what percentage of applicants with your grades were previously accepted (using historical data, typically from 2019-2023).
For example for Bsc (Hons) Business at University of Exeter, 9 in 10 students who applied received an offer, and 75% of students with grades BBB were previously accepted. (See here and scroll down to the "Historical entry grades data" section).
Ny contrast, for BSc Business Management at King's College London, 1 in 5 students who applied received an offer and 0% of students with grades BBB were previously accepted. (source)

Thank you! i had seen that UCAS Feature but forgotton about it. My main issue is places like warick and durham who have no info like this on ucas and i cant find much either online

Reply 5

McGinger

The usual advice for your 5 choices is :

•

1 or 2 choices just above your predicted grades - 1 grade and not in a vital subject.

•

2 or 3 choices at your predicted grades

•

At least 1 choice several grades below your predicted grades.

You may not get offers for your 'above' choices, so be prepared for No, but its always worth having one choice like this. You are most likely to get offers where your predicted grades match the entry requirements, and the 'below' choice is for your Insurance for when things do nor got the plan during exams / results.

We also advise applicants not to apply to too many 'high risk' choices, regardless of predicted grades.
Applying for Economics, CS, Mech Eng or any other mega-competitive subject at choices all from UCL, KCL, LSE, Imperial, Warwick, Bath plus Oxbridge for instance is not recommended because they will all reject thousands (yes, thousands) of applicants every year despite meeting/exceeding the entry requirements. You could therefore be left with no offers at all, or just a single offer that by exam-time you realise you haven't got any chance of meeting. Far too risky a game-plan, when you need to be far more careful /strategic.

Reply 6

McGinger

Original post by Maizeak

Arent those grades just the bare minimum tho?

This data is actually very misleading and no way to choose a Uni / course.

Its several years out of date, its an average, and it includes lower grade contextual offers, those accepted on much lower grades because of mitigating circumstances or via special entry schemes.

So, be very careful how you use this data and what you assume it means.
It does not mean 'everyone who applied with these predicted grades is guaranteed an offer' and it does not mean that 'all those who get these grades in August will be accepted'.

Reply 7

Maizeak

Original post by McGinger

The usual advice for your 5 choices is :

•

1 or 2 choices just above your predicted grades - 1 grade and not in a vital subject.

•

2 or 3 choices at your predicted grades

•

At least 1 choice several grades below your predicted grades.

You may not get offers for your 'above' choices, so be prepared for No, but its always worth having one choice like this. You are most likely to get offers where your predicted grades match the entry requirements, and the 'below' choice is for your Insurance for when things do nor got the plan during exams / results.
We also advise applicants not to apply to too many 'high risk' choices, regardless of predicted grades.
Applying for Economics, CS, Mech Eng or any other mega-competitive subject at choices all from UCL, KCL, LSE, Imperial, Warwick, Bath plus Oxbridge for instance is not recommended because they will all reject thousands (yes, thousands) of applicants every year despite meeting/exceeding the entry requirements. You could therefore be left with no offers at all, or just a single offer that by exam-time you realise you haven't got any chance of meeting. Far too risky a game-plan, when you need to be far more careful /strategic.

What about applying with achieved grades as an acess student? Could I apply to 36 D with 33D or is that instant reject

(edited 2 weeks ago)

Reply 8

random_matt

Original post by Maizeak

What about applying with achieved grades as an acess student? Could I apply to 33 D with 33D or is that instant reject

30D/15M is usually enough to obtain an offer from very good universities. Although, some still do not like the qualification. You can also check the admissions report website for a general idea of offer rates.

Reply 9

Maizeak

Original post by random_matt

Thabk you! didnt know about that site. Yea exeter and bristol take 30/15 but even then slightly worries me as thats bare minimum

Reply 10

McGinger

Original post by Maizeak

What about applying with achieved grades as an acess student? Could I apply to 36 D with 33D or is that instant reject

The same advice applies- that would be a risky choice, and especially with achieved grades. I'd recommend that you email the Uni first to find out if its a definite No in advance. In particular you need to check which units are essential and how flexible they are with missed requirements for those units, not just the overall number of Distinctions etc. Some Unis will be unhelpfully vague about this - and 'encourage' you to apply but with no clear idea if you might get an offer or not. Be persistent - there will often be a person within Admissions specifically responsible for Access to HE and/or mature students, and they will be able to give you the clearest advice.