Advice needed re: university application

[Live It]

Hi,

Not sure if this is really the right place to be asking but thought I should try and get a lot of opinions. I currently study the International Baccalaureate (IB) and applied to university back in October. Last week, I received an offer from one of the top ten business schools in the country for me to achieve 33 points (out of 45). I felt this was acceptable considering their published "typical offers" of 30-33 points.

This morning, I received an email from this university saying this:

University said:

Dear *****

We recently made you an offer for the above programme at the University of ******. At that time we wrote to you to explain that we had reviewed our IB offers in line with practice across the sector, and in the context of a significant increase in demand and high quality of applications received for our programmes at ******. As a result the offer we made to you was at a higher level than our published ‘typical offer’.

We have received feedback from a small number of applicants who felt that the offer we made was too high given our previously published guidance on typical offers. In the light of this feedback we have agreed to review some of our higher IB offers, and I am now writing to you to tell you that we have amended your offer. This has been communicated to UCAS, and you should now be able to see the amended offer on UCAS Track.

Please accept my apologies for any confusion that may have been caused

Yours sincerely
UK/EU Admissions Team

So I thought that's good, they've lowered my offer. However, after going onto UCAS Track they've actually increased my offer to 36 points. Personally I think this is unfair (and considering this is apparently what people complained about it's also quite confusing as to why they would do it).

I have now drafted an email back saying this:

I said:

Dear sir/madam,

A previous email from ****** says you have reviewed the offers for IB students to make them lower. However, you have in fact increased my offer from 33 to 36 points. This, in my opinion, is unfair taking into consideration only one week ago you were willing to accept me with 33 points and are now asking me to move up at least one grade in three subjects. Not only this, but you are also giving me an offer 6 points above your lowest typical offer and 3 points above your highest typical offer.

From reading your email, it seemed to me that you were going to decrease my offer. If offers for other candidates have been decreased because they have complained, and mine has been increased to compensate for this following no complaint, your system for accepting applications would seem to be flawed and I do not feel that you have fairly considered my application to study at ******.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

• ****** *******

I was just wondering if any of you have any advice for me (or any alterations to make to my email). I'm not sure if I should just keep my mouth shut and accept the offer, but it does not seem just that they have apparently decreased other candidates' offers and increased mine. I wouldn't mind so much, but I had picked this university to be my insurance and it's not much of an insurance if the grades they ask for are virtually the same as the grades as my firm choice.

Thanks in advance.

[Incorrigible]

Instead of spending time on here trying to get a lower offer, why not spend the time studying and getting better grades

HTH

[Live It]

The point is not about getting the lower offer. It's about the fact that they have decreased other candidates' offers whilst increasing mine.

Thanks for the advice though.

[srebbe64]

Live It said:

The point is not about getting the lower offer. It's about the fact that they have decreased other candidates' offers whilst increasing mine.

Thanks for the advice though.

Life's not fair - get used to it mate. You wait until you get that job offer where you were promised the earth but the reality was somewhat different!

HTH

[BJG1]

your email is too accusatory, just inquire as to why increased, when the previous email said it wouls be decreased.

[Live It]

Okay, thanks BJG.

I think I'll just sort this myself, not really an advocate of the lazy "sit down and take it" mentality as shown by some on here.

[BJG1]

It's probably just a mistake, politely ask why it's gone up and you'll probably find they'll apologise and take it down.

[Holst]

Live It said:

Okay, thanks BJG.

I think I'll just sort this myself, not really an advocate of the lazy "sit down and take it" mentality as shown by some on here.

I think your right to question it but I also think your letter is too crytical and makes it sound like your not confident that you will acheive the higher offer.

[TomJS]

BJG1 said:

your email is too accusatory, just inquire as to why increased, when the previous email said it wouls be decreased.

+1

I'd say the following:


Dear Sir,

I can confirm I received your email/letter of X date.

I had thought you intended to reduce the entry requirements for my course, but note that UCAS now shows that I require 36 points for entry instead of the 33 previously. I was just wondering if this was an error on UCAS's part, and was hoping for your suggestions as to how I may go about correcting it. I am very much looking forward to studying at X university.

Yours faithfully,

Mr X XXXX

[Olf]

TomJS said:

BJG1 said:

your email is too accusatory, just inquire as to why increased, when the previous email said it wouls be decreased.

+1

I'd say the following:


Dear Sir,

Blah.

Yours faithfully,

Mr X XXXX

I'd use a different name to be honest. That one's going to make you sound like a porn star.

[catmartin]

Probably just an admin error at their side, reply and follow it up with a phonecall.