The unconditional university entry offer prior to A level completion is a relatively new phenomenon, but students from Beaumont have received these over the previous 2 - 3 years and already some this year have. Historically, some have taken these offers up and some have not. There is no doubt a need for clarity of thought when making this decision.
To be clear these offers are attempts, by the universities which make them, to sway an applicant to choose them over the likely four similar ranked alternatives. These offers are nearly always made only on the condition that this degree course is put first choice and alternatives are all effectively therefore rejected.
For the student there are Pros and Cons of this new development in the university application saga. Put briefly the Pros are:
a) less stress which, depending on the individual, may be beneficial to well-being as well as allowing greater focus on the actual study of subjects rather than pure exam hurdle preparation.
b) the guarantee of a place, which prevents a need to take a year out or face the uncertainties involved in the Clearing process. This can also help in securing good quality student accommodation, which for some universities can be difficult.
The Cons are:
a) a risk that the motivation to gain the best possible A level grade combination is lost. Whilst in the short-term this will not matter, it may well, once the graduate job application process begins. There is no doubt that, due to university degree class inflation, recruiters are looking at A level grades as a significant discriminator. Beaumont certainly does when recruiting new graduate staff.
b) the potential loss of a better course option which has to be conceded once the unconditional offer is taken. Many universities are now taking students who achieve one and two grades below their offer, so even a slight disappointment in overall A level grade outcome is often not an eliminator from obtaining a place via a conditional offer.
Our advice is that unconditional offers should be treated with great caution and careful consideration. For some students, in some circumstances, they are definitely a welcome new option, but for others, they can be a temptation that can lead to long-lasting regret.
