What to Do With Uni Offers and Rejections

Now that the Christmas holidays are coming to an end, university applications will start rolling in. Though some people may have heard back from their Oxford or Cambridge applications before the break, this is very uncommon. Offers and rejections usually start coming in from the beginning of January, but people continue to receive them for several months afterwards. So what do you do if you get an offer or rejection?

If you get an offer

Well done! You've got an offer to a university! You'll either get a conditional or an unconditional offer. A conditional offer will mean that you have to get certain grades or a minimum number of UCAS points to get in. An unconditional offer means that you've got a guaranteed spot on that course. If you deferred your place to the following year so that you can take a gap year, your conditional offer will change to an unconditional one when you meet the grade requirements. At this point, you can choose to accept the offer via UCAS Track, wait until all you hear back from all your universities or reject the offer.

If you get a rejection

Rejections can be tough, especially if it was your first choice. But it's not the end of the world! You've still got other universities to hear back from, and even if you don't, that doesn't mean you're not going to uni. If you don't get any offers, there are several things you can do:

1. Apply to other courses through Clearing and UCAS Extra. You can read my guides to them here and here.

2. Take a gap year and reapply next year. You might have a better chance of getting in once you've got your confirmed A-Level grades.

3. Consider alternatives to a university degree such as an apprenticeship. You can find out more about uni alternatives here.

Whatever you decide to do, try not to be too hard on yourself. Universities are very competitive and many courses have 1 or even fewer places for every 100 applicants. Be proud that you applied, and take this as an opportunity to reassess your priorities. It could be a blessing in disguise!