The Student Room Group

Recommendations for where to apply for university.

Good day to ya'll,

Context (History, Psychology, and English Literature).

I take 3 A-levels however I've messed up my Predicted Grades and I am currently on a BCE, and I rlly want to do a program in History. My main concerns are the costs and admissions. Due to the severity of my situation, applying to the US/UK is not looking too bright for me. Thus, I've turned to New Zealand and Japan. Specifically the University of Waikato (NZ) and ICU (Japan) where I satisfy their criteria for admissions.

My question now is your opinion and any advice that you may have concerning my plan. I am aware that there is also this process called 'Clearing' on UCAS, and that I could always work myself to death to get my final grades to gratifying levels. (Which is what I fully intend to do). My last resort in mind, is to apply to university for 2027 via my actual given grades. Any opinions/advice? (Please assist thy truly to reclaim the W).
Original post
by Ken_i
Good day to ya'll,

Context (History, Psychology, and English Literature).

I take 3 A-levels however I've messed up my Predicted Grades and I am currently on a BCE, and I rlly want to do a program in History. My main concerns are the costs and admissions. Due to the severity of my situation, applying to the US/UK is not looking too bright for me. Thus, I've turned to New Zealand and Japan. Specifically the University of Waikato (NZ) and ICU (Japan) where I satisfy their criteria for admissions.

My question now is your opinion and any advice that you may have concerning my plan. I am aware that there is also this process called 'Clearing' on UCAS, and that I could always work myself to death to get my final grades to gratifying levels. (Which is what I fully intend to do). My last resort in mind, is to apply to university for 2027 via my actual given grades. Any opinions/advice? (Please assist thy truly to reclaim the W).


Where are you based?

Reply 2

I would recommend applying to some unis in the UK with lower entry requirements (and also some abroad if you still want), then work as hard as you can to get the best results, then if you do want to go through clearing, you'll be able to get into some very good options on results day

Reply 3

Original post
by Ken_i
Good day to ya'll,
Context (History, Psychology, and English Literature).
I take 3 A-levels however I've messed up my Predicted Grades and I am currently on a BCE, and I rlly want to do a program in History. My main concerns are the costs and admissions. Due to the severity of my situation, applying to the US/UK is not looking too bright for me. Thus, I've turned to New Zealand and Japan. Specifically the University of Waikato (NZ) and ICU (Japan) where I satisfy their criteria for admissions.
My question now is your opinion and any advice that you may have concerning my plan. I am aware that there is also this process called 'Clearing' on UCAS, and that I could always work myself to death to get my final grades to gratifying levels. (Which is what I fully intend to do). My last resort in mind, is to apply to university for 2027 via my actual given grades. Any opinions/advice? (Please assist thy truly to reclaim the W).


Hi,

As mentioned above, you should consider applying strategically to UK universities with lower entry requirements, as this increases your chances of securing a place. Focus on courses where your current predicted grades make you a competitive applicant. Even if your predictions aren’t ideal, don’t lose hope. UCAS Clearing is an option on results day, and many universities still have places available. Checking Clearing can give you another opportunity to apply to a course you’re interested in.

Hope this helps,

Tayba
Student Rep

Reply 4

Original post
by Ken_i
Good day to ya'll,
Context (History, Psychology, and English Literature).
I take 3 A-levels however I've messed up my Predicted Grades and I am currently on a BCE, and I rlly want to do a program in History. My main concerns are the costs and admissions. Due to the severity of my situation, applying to the US/UK is not looking too bright for me. Thus, I've turned to New Zealand and Japan. Specifically the University of Waikato (NZ) and ICU (Japan) where I satisfy their criteria for admissions.
My question now is your opinion and any advice that you may have concerning my plan. I am aware that there is also this process called 'Clearing' on UCAS, and that I could always work myself to death to get my final grades to gratifying levels. (Which is what I fully intend to do). My last resort in mind, is to apply to university for 2027 via my actual given grades. Any opinions/advice? (Please assist thy truly to reclaim the W).

Hey there,

It’s completely understandable to feel unsure when things don’t go as planned with predicted grades, but don’t lose hope. There are still many ways forward, especially if you’re interested in Psychology or related subjects at LSBU.
At LSBU, our BSc Psychology degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), which is important if you ever want to become a Chartered Psychologist. The standard entry requirements are 112 UCAS points, but we also look at the whole picture including your personal statement, passion for the subject, and any relevant experience.

Another good approach would be to aim for your best grades this year, then apply with your actual results. That can sometimes open up more options than predicted grades allow. LSBU’s admissions team is really approachable, so you can always reach out to discuss your situation before applying.

You can also chat with our current students on Unibuddy if you’d like to ask about their experiences or what studying at LSBU is really like https://www.lsbu.ac.uk/student-life/chat

I’d really encourage you to join us at our Open Day https://www.lsbu.ac.uk/study/study-at-lsbu/open-days on the 15th November as you’ll be able to chat with our lecturers, current students, and admissions team to get a real feel for the course and career path.

LSBU Admissions Ambassador

Reply 5

If you have good reasons to believe your A level grades will be significantly above your predicted grades, then a gap year is likely the best option.

Quick Reply

How The Student Room is moderated

To keep The Student Room safe for everyone, we moderate posts that are added to the site.