Insurance Choice help

Hi, so I'm applying to Accounting and Finance with placement year option and my two insurance choices are either Cardiff or Nottingham, I got a D in maths last year and am retaking and need a B for all my offers but tbh I'm not that confident in myself however I am revising and trying my hardest to get that B.

Normally I would've chosen University of Nottingham over Cardiff however I know that Cardiff are more lenient as last year one of my bsf got in when she had a grade lower than the offer for pharmacy. But Nottingham is a much better uni in every way as its closer to home, more prestigious so has more resources and has stronger links for the placement year. I want to become a CA under ACCA or ACA whilst working for the big 4 - my vague plan.

I need help deciding which one to insure. On one hand we have amore lenient uni in case I don't get in but on the other I have a much better uni overall. I heard that UON is desperate for fees and they have accepted students with lower grade entries but this is not guaranteed. And with Cardiff they're closing a lot of courses however A&F stays strong so idk. I have received all 5 of my options so I can now firm and insure. I will look forward to hearing from you and if there is any Cardiff or Nottingham representatives then please do share insight. Thank you.

Reply 1

University of Bath

Official Rep

Hi there!

@Cardiff Uni Rep / @Nottingham Uni ?

Its very difficult to decide which uni to firm and which to insure. The general advice when applying is to go for one ambitious uni, three realistic ones with requirements about level with your PGs, and one insurance with requirements 1 grade or so lower than you're predicted. So part of your decision should involve looking at what the two unis are asking for.

I'd next ask if you've visited them in the flesh? This can be a really good way of assessing which one feels 'right' for you. If you're not able to come, then have you seen Notts' and Cardiff's virtual tours? (both universities look stunning!)

I would recommend trying to ignore the media headlines you've heard about certain unis closing courses and needing more money - this is happening to a lot of unis across the sector. I would base your insurance decision firstly on what the predicted grades are (are they 1-2 below what you're predicted?) and secondly on which one you feel you would be happier going to - your insurance choice should be somewhere you can see yourself, somewhere where the course appeals to you and where you would more than happily study.

Consider writing a pros and cons of Notts VS Cardiff list - does one emerge as a winner from that?

Hoping this helps and best of luck with your decision.

Holly
University of Bath

Reply 2

Golden_Roof

Original post by University of Bath

Hi there!
@Cardiff Uni Rep / @Nottingham Uni ?
Its very difficult to decide which uni to firm and which to insure. The general advice when applying is to go for one ambitious uni, three realistic ones with requirements about level with your PGs, and one insurance with requirements 1 grade or so lower than you're predicted. So part of your decision should involve looking at what the two unis are asking for.
I'd next ask if you've visited them in the flesh? This can be a really good way of assessing which one feels 'right' for you. If you're not able to come, then have you seen Notts' and Cardiff's virtual tours? (both universities look stunning!)
I would recommend trying to ignore the media headlines you've heard about certain unis closing courses and needing more money - this is happening to a lot of unis across the sector. I would base your insurance decision firstly on what the predicted grades are (are they 1-2 below what you're predicted?) and secondly on which one you feel you would be happier going to - your insurance choice should be somewhere you can see yourself, somewhere where the course appeals to you and where you would more than happily study.
Consider writing a pros and cons of Notts VS Cardiff list - does one emerge as a winner from that?
Hoping this helps and best of luck with your decision.
Holly
University of Bath

Hi, thank you for replying. Both Nottingham and Cardiff offer me the same offer of getting a B in maths (I am independently studying it btw not in school currently). So ig it depends on which one is more lenient if I was to get a grade lower than the offer. I did do both of their virtual tours and honesty I love both unis and would be happy to go to any of them.

For the pros and cons list I did do that and both are equal tbh, Nott is closer to home and family but no friends going there whereas Cardiff is farther from home and family but I have a lot of friends going there and are there currently. Plus, both of them have relatively cheap accommodation when compared to the rest of the UK universities so that's a plus for both of them. But for insurance choices they should as you said be 1-2 grades lower but as both are the same that is why I was asking about the news articles and comments on the unis financial situations and how this affects their acceptance rates. I did use DiscoverUni to see past acceptance grades, and Cardiff had offered lower than Nottingham.

Thank you for your insight, I truly appreciate it. I will wait for what the Nottingham and Cardiff representatives say about this and then will probably reach a final decision soon.