GCSE '18s (20) - half term beckons!

And just as examples Bath, Bath Spa, Loughborough, Leeds, Sussex, Surrey are some of the non Russel group or newer less obvious places with good reputations in some courses. And clearly the top group will be asking for top grades so dc with less stellar grades will need to widen the list too. And some of the newer less obvious uni s are developing strong industry links and work placements etc and are more practical and modern day career focused which also suits some dc better than sitting in big lecture halls. It’s very much horses for courses so worth doing some broad research to thing about what the dc want before just touring the top 5. ‘Best’ is not necessarily right for you dc

I’d swap Edinburgh for St Andrews in your first group.

depends very much on the subject - but there are several tables available for overall league tables and by subject (the times is a good one). As a general rule the more traditional subjects follow the overall rankings but some 'lower ranked' unis have developed specific specialties that make them desirable in that subject.

Off the top of my head would come warwick, durham, imperial, UCL, St Andrews as just below Oxbridge, then Bristol, Exeter, etc but there are several I will have missed without looking at the lists. Some insit on Russell group but there are a number of good unis outside that group too especially for specific subjects

Very roughly speaking, is there a sort of generally accepted heirarchy for university in England? I know Oxford and Cambridge are at the top (and they subdivide into colleges), but what's on the next tier? Maybe LSE, Imperial and...?

Our does it all depend on the subject?

Is she yearning for independence, Stickerrocks?

DS1 is looking forward to leaving home too, but I don't think he's thought through things like he'll have to shop for and cook his own meals and do the dishes every night.

Stickerrocks as long as your DD is over 90 mins away, she'll feel like she had properly left home.

Sticker may well be too short notice, but have you seen this page about contacting colleges/departments to be shown around? Might be worth an email to the department your DD is interested in on the off-chance someone is available later

www.dur.ac.uk/study/ug/visit/depts/

Other than that, Durham is a very small city so it will be easy to wander and get a good feel for the place. Are you staying overnight?

Agree sticker it’s not necessarily necessary to attend as many open days as some are doing (although nothing wrong in that either). A lot of narrowing down can be done on line and you get to select five so have a range to pick the final one from. DD didn’t visit the one she ended up at until offer day visit. Clearly for different people it’s easier to narrow down than others depending on course or desired location.

Whistle it may help to get some ideas taking him along but just like schools we found it useful to look at uni s with that particular child in mind. Most are not just better or worse than others just different. DD2 ruled out DD1 s top choices not because they weren’t great places but she wanted a different environment. Courses are run diffferently too and again not good or bad just different.

DD is only interested in applying to universities at the opposite end of the country from us. She also has a Saturday job which limits the time off she can take. She will only and have a closer look if she has a dilemma over offers and we don't know the city already. I managed by attending one open day (2nd choice) and one interview (unconditional offer), but the logistics from Cornwall were ridiculous. DH had to adopt a similar approach from the Isle of Wight.

I'm planning to leave these open day visits until next Spring. TBH, I just don't have time to go now. Im working seven days a week at the minute. I'm envious that so many of you are able to do these trips now.

Would I be very unreasonable to make DS2 (year 10) attend the trips for DS1, so that he can narrow down the open days that we do with him to just 2 or 3?

Shalom I booked a Premier Inn in Cambridge a few weeks ago which can be cancelled on the day for their open days next July.

Help - off to Durham in a minute, not for an open day, but it is a contender. We've never been and it's a spur of the moment trip. Where should we go?

@Peaseblossom22
DS2 wants to go to the one in February, so I'd be grateful for any info or tips you can share after you've been.

Blimey Shalom that is organised. I don't even know know the dates of the open days let alone think of travel arrangement.

Chicken - sounds like you have a good list of stuff. I am sure I googled the taster day for tomorrow a few weeks ago and couldn't find it. DD too loves physics.

Is anyone’s year 12 going to the Christ’s College open day tomorrow . Dropping Ds and hoping to get some shopping done !

Great plans being made 😂

Some moan about these trips but I actually enjoyed it and brings a chance to spend time with dc (even when it’s just delivering and collecting). And when they go it opens up new places to visit xx

I like your DH's style Kingscote!

Korma I can’t think of anything else you could take. Sounds like you have all the bases covered. Hope you and DD have a good day.

ShalomJackie impressive forward planning!

Kingscote I like the sound of your DH’s plans on Saturday... I’ll look out for him and your DS on the way back to the station!

My DH is taking DS to the Politics thing on Saturday and is planning to have coffee with one chum, pre lunch drinks with another, boozy lunch with another and then get DS to roll him to the station.

Off topic - DD away at MIL, I’ve been in her bedroom and fumigated. She will go up the wall when she gets home, but seriously becoming a health hazard in there. Can you stop me from feeling guilty for cleaning her pit ....

I have already booked hotels (which can be cancelled up to 254 hours before with no penalty and are payable at the hotel on the night) for the night before Exeter, Bristol and Oxford Open Days for next Summer!

Sooooo - since many of you appear to be well on the way to becoming Open Day experts - what is your essential Open Day survival kit list?

So far I have - bag big enough to stuff jumpers etc in when it's too hot, water bottle for same reason, secret bag of sweets for when DD1 is flagging, sunglasses and hat for if when she gets over-stimulated, notebook and pen, cash, Oyster card, train tickets and normal handbag stuff.

Anything obvious I've forgetten that will make life easier? Neither of us are great with crowds and we'll be stressed. Although I'm hoping Physics will be well-populated with studious scientific types that won't be too manic .

Darn it. The event starts at 1:30. I guess I'd better focus on Physics on this occasion!

On Wednesdays the choir of KCL do a sung Eucharist at 1.10

Ooh - choir?! Now you're talking!

Thank you everyone. I feel a bit more clued up now. Am also hoping that it will finish late enough to justify hanging around in town for a nice meal out together.

I agree, you definitely won’t be the only parent! Chances are there’ll be a separate talk which won’t last as long as the bit for students so you’ll probably have time to go shopping too!