I think I messed up by applying without a reference - should i withdraw and reapply

10

Hi, I ended up submitting an application to a few universities for a degree in mathematics, including durham and warwick. I'm 24 now, and I was studying with the open university for a bit but never really interacted with the teachers/tutors with OU, so I don't think they can write me a reference. I am also leaving the OU now, as it doesn't really suit me.

I thought I could just sit the maths and further maths A levels privately, as well as the TMUA, and potentially get in. I am quite confident in my ability to do well in the exams and the TMUA.

So, I submitted the application without a reference. I am quite old now and it has been years since I was at college, I've also been a bit of a NEET and haven't got much professional experience apart from a bit of warehouse work. I was emailing warwick university a bit but I realise now that I should have sorted everything before applying.

That was quite dumb of me, I just thought the universities would be okay with it for some reason, probably because there was a box to tick on the references page, giving me the option to apply without one.

Well, should I withdraw my applications and reapply? Should I work in a warehouse for a bit and apply next year? Man I'm dumb

edit: nvm i realise i can't withdraw my application and reapply. I did apply to university before and I had a UCAS application in like 2019 with a reference from my college, would it be possible to somehow reuse that reference? I'm sorry

edit 2: well , i think i might have ruined everything, i'm not sure why i applied without a reference, I am now at the mercy of the universities i've applied to. I guess I thought that I was quite confident I'd get good grades in june 2026 and that that is all that would matter, I also kind of assumed no one would give me a reference anyways. I emailed my old college and I'll wait for a reply to see if they'd give me a reference.

Is it possible to send a reference AFTER submitting an application that didn't contain one? lol i'm an idiot, i dont even know why why i bother trying, i guess i'll have to work in a warehouse for a year or so and then apply to universities next year with a reference from somewhere? have i ruined everything again

Reply 1

spoken-rind

5

Email your unis, they will most likely be open to you emailing it seperately, people forget stuff on their UCAS, or sometimes the uni ask for extra info anyway thats done through email. Email all of them

Reply 2

needsomehelpt

OP

10

Original post

by spoken-rind

Email your unis, they will most likely be open to you emailing it seperately, people forget stuff on their UCAS, or sometimes the uni ask for extra info anyway thats done through email. Email all of them

I think I've been emailing them too much, but I''ll try to do that, I also don't have anyone to actually provide me with a reference, or well, I thought that was the case. Hopefully my old college can provide me with one, I don't think anyone else could :/

I really hope the college is willing to provide me with a reference , and I hope that the universities will let me use that , my own actions have resulted in a nerve wracking experience and it kind of hurts

Reply 3

needsomehelpt

OP

10

Are the online services legitimate? For UCAS references? I'm guesing I would be applying next year, I expect rejection from all 5 universities now, there are some services online like "ateamacademy" and cherry hill tuition, they say they would write your UCAS reference for like.. £400 or something.. cherry hill will do it for £768 (along with predicted gradeS)

I may have to resort to one of these, I guess through a few sessions they can gauge how capable and enthusiastic I am about studying mathematics right? damn this sucks

FINAL EDIT:

okay so, will this plan work?

I cancel my applications via the refund link for ucas: https://www.ucas.com/corporate/application-cancellation-request-form

I then wait for a response from my college, or I can ring them and ask, if they agree then perfect, I reapply and let them fill out a reference. If not then I do it through a private tutor service, like ateamacademy, I'm guessing they will just discuss things with me and assess my capability? Tbh that would be an even closer bond than what my current bond is with my open university tutors, as I've not spoken to them at all, would this be feasible?

Reply 4

Tattersky

6

If you need to withdraw your application, you must do so within 14 days. After this period, cancellation is no longer possible, and you will not be able to submit another UCAS application until the following year.

Reply 5

Admit-One

Universities Forum Helper

21

Original post

by needsomehelpt

Are the online services legitimate? For UCAS references? I'm guesing I would be applying next year, I expect rejection from all 5 universities now, there are some services online like "ateamacademy" and cherry hill tuition, they say they would write your UCAS reference for like.. £400 or something.. cherry hill will do it for £768 (along with predicted gradeS)

I may have to resort to one of these, I guess through a few sessions they can gauge how capable and enthusiastic I am about studying mathematics right? damn this sucks

FINAL EDIT:

okay so, will this plan work?

I cancel my applications via the refund link for ucas: https://www.ucas.com/corporate/application-cancellation-request-form

I then wait for a response from my college, or I can ring them and ask, if they agree then perfect, I reapply and let them fill out a reference. If not then I do it through a private tutor service, like ateamacademy, I'm guessing they will just discuss things with me and assess my capability? Tbh that would be an even closer bond than what my current bond is with my open university tutors, as I've not spoken to them at all, would this be feasible?

Stop. Take a deep breath.

The most likely outcome of applying without a ref is that the unis involved will email you to ask for one. That's it.

If you are worried you are emailing too much, find a number and call their general admissions line. Let them know what has happened, and that you will try to source a reference from your old college if needs be.

Reply 6

needsomehelpt

OP

10

Original post

by Admit-One

Stop. Take a deep breath.
The most likely outcome of applying without a ref is that the unis involved will email you to ask for one. That's it.
If you are worried you are emailing too much, find a number and call their general admissions line. Let them know what has happened, and that you will try to source a reference from your old college if needs be.

I'm unsure if my college will give me one, I'm just hoping they do. I was already contacted by a university saying they won't be able to consider my application if I have no reference.

I also reached out to one of those reference writing services and they explained to me how they base it off mock papers, I just don't think I'm in a position to sit a mock paper, it does seem like I will have to apply for 2027 entrance if my college doesn't provide me a reference..

Should I withdraw my application now at least? I could reapply if my college does provide me with a reference

Reply 7

Tattersky

6

Original post

by needsomehelpt

I'm unsure if my college will give me one, I'm just hoping they do. I was already contacted by a university saying they won't be able to consider my application if I have no reference.
I also reached out to one of those reference writing services and they explained to me how they base it off mock papers, I just don't think I'm in a position to sit a mock paper, it does seem like I will have to apply for 2027 entrance if my college doesn't provide me a reference..
Should I withdraw my application now at least? I could reapply if my college does provide me with a reference

I do not think you can withdraw and re-apply. I was in the same situation and was told that I could not then re-apply. It MAY be different for cancellation, best check with UCAS in either situation.

Admit-One gives some great advice. I asked my university if I could change my personal statement via email, and they were brilliant.

(edited 2 months ago)

Reply 8

needsomehelpt

OP

10

Original post

by Tattersky

I do not think you can withdraw and re-apply. I was in the same situation and was told that I could not then re-apply. It MAY be different for cancellation, best check with UCAS in either situation.
Admit-One gives some great advice. I asked my university if I could change my personal statement via email, and they were brilliant.

Thanks for the reply and I do understand, I think I will be able to obtain a reference from a tutoring service, as long as I sit a mock exam with them and what not.

I do think I can reapply, as long as I don't withdraw and I go through the cancellation process. It should be cancelled and refunded within 14 days of applying, and then I can reapply

Reply 9

Tattersky

6

Original post

by needsomehelpt

Thanks for the reply and I do understand, I think I will be able to obtain a reference from a tutoring service, as long as I sit a mock exam with them and what not.
I do think I can reapply, as long as I don't withdraw and I go through the cancellation process. It should be cancelled and refunded within 14 days of applying, and then I can reapply

Cool. Just make sure you talk to UCAS before doing anything.

I think I messed up by applying without a reference - should i withdraw and reapply

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