University Acceptance

[mountainboo]

I am awaiting my A-Level results and a place at my first choice uni is reliant on achieving a specific grade. Another uni has given me an offer based on them receiving a reference but I don't have long to tell them whether I accept or decline. If I accept the offer, can I withdraw later if I get the grade needed for the first choice uni? TIA

[bednobs]

yes, i'm sure you can

[factor-fiction]

I usually agree totally with bednobs but I'm not sure I agree this time.
Some other student may be turned away once you accept a place.
I know from a similar situation that although no action will be taken it is regarded as unethical and could be held against you, although it is unlikely that you will be blacklisted in any way.
What if your preferred uni hears you have accepted another place so withdraws their offer?
But I can see the counter-view that you should put yourself first.

[Prudie]

Is this other Uni nearly as good and is the course what you want? I'm a bit cynical about Unis these days. I wonder if some of them offer places just to secure the fees. Why would it offer you a place based just on a reference rather than A level results?

[buildersmate]

Offering an applicant on the basis of a reference sounds pretty mickey-mouse to me.
UCAS rules are quite clear on this matter:
if you accept an unconditional offer you cannot hold another offer as an insurance
if you accept a conditional offer you can hold another offer as an insurance (in the event you don't meet the conditions - which are normally a minimum number of tariff points from results)
But your 'offer' appears to be conditional only upon their decision about a reference - in other words, it is out of your control.
UCAS information on conditional offers is here.
http://www.ucas.ac.uk...nts/offers/offertypes
http://www.ucas.ac.uk.../replyingtoyouroffers

[bednobs]

well couldn't that be considered a conditional offer then? If the condition is recieivng the reference? (and presumably someone looking at it and saying yes or no)

[factor-fiction]

Maybe- I took it to mean that the reference had already been provided.

There are to waysto look at unconditional offers 9ie not dpendent on grades).
(1)Some strong candidates do get unconditional offers that are not dependent on grade.
(2) But as others have implied, an unconditional offer could also mean the course is not attractive and the university is desperate to take anyone .

[factor-fiction]

Mountainboo- you said "I don't have long to tell them whether I accept or decline", so I'm not sure why you need to do anything at this point.

[mountainboo]

Thanks for offering your opinions. The uni I want to get into is obviously the better one, the second is not far off, I mean it's in the top 50 but like you say, there is something to be said for a uni that offers on the basis of receiving a reference first. I accepted it and said I shall obtain a reference. Now I shall wait two weeks for my results before I take the next step. Thanks again