Just over a week since I sent off my application, I’ve received responses from all but one of the universities I’ve applied to. Success! Now I, like many teenagers, have to face the decision of picking my firm and back up choices.
Last year I knew for sure where I wanted to go. I did the whole preparation: going to see the university the summer before, reading every detail on the website, visiting accommodation. Southampton was going to be my firm choice. That was a certain.
My back up choice was a little more difficult. Normally, it’s important that your back up choice has lower grades than your first. This is because the point of the back up is that, if you don’t get the grades needed for your firm choice, you have the back up to fall back on. All my offers last year requested ABB (with the exception of Edinburgh, who wanted 3 As and there was no chance I was getting that). Really, choosing somewhere with the same conditions as Southampton meant I didn’t have a back up, but I put down a university anyway (UEA) in the hope that they might let me in with lower grades should I fail to get my A.
A lot of people know what university they want as their firm choice, but less are sure of their back up. It does matter though. The last thing you want on results day is to face the fact that, not only are you not going to your dream university, you’re going somewhere you’re going to hate. The same amount of research has to go in to your back up as your firm.
This year, however, I haven’t had the luxury of months of open days and research. A look on the website has been all I’ve had.
At the moment (with two universities still not with a decision) I haven’t made the choice of where to go. The three offers I do have are unconditional (well, Southampton Solent would like to see my certificates, but that’s it), so if I pick any of them as my first choice there is no need for a second.
Until the last two decisions have been made, I don’t want to make a choice. There will be research until I have all five replies and, hopefully, by that point I’ll have a good idea where I’m going.
The Ghoul Student 