Year 12 - 2024/25 - Support, Discussion and Looking After Each Other (Thread 2)

what time did you go? A few of my dds friends went and said that although they were realistic in the work life balance etc they were really encouraging. They went quite early though so that might be it.

Morning all, DS really loved Sheffield, it wasn’t on his radar at all but I’d suggested it and he just went along. It’s now firmly on his list 2nd or 3rd with Bath at no1.

@MamOfTwo thanks that is an interesting perspective on QuB I'd not really considered. With medicine DD may not have much 'choice' anyway if she even gets any offers!

So Manchester was a good day, lovely uni and area and v well organised.... but the medicine bit was far far too busy, queueing for 30 mins to look around the facilities (students only). DD disappointed because the 3rd yr student that showed them around was negative about the course not allowing enough 'work life balance' and giving the impression she didn't want to be there. Luckily Manchester is not one of the favourites atm so we will do York today and compare. I think it came across that Manchester med is so oversubscribed (which every med school is) that no effort was made to make prospective students want to apply. Was our first open day though so nothing to compare to yet.

@Waspie no chance of me not being here 😂.

York won over Sheffield here. As suspected, it was madness to try to do both on the same day - do not recommend!

Re Belfast mentioned upthread - purely anecdotal but an English friend of a friend dropped out of Belfast as she found everybody already knew each other so it was hard to make friends plus they all went home at the weekends so there was nobody around. But might not be the case for everyone.

@Curlyshabtreethose are great predictions. We are doing similar Glasgow, Sheffield and Newcastle. Birmingham next Friday too.

DS also liked Sheffield I didn’t think he’d like it as much as Glasgow but he said he could easily see himself at either so that’s good.

@bibliomaniaI suppose ruling somewhere out even if it’s not necessarily for concrete reasons isn’t a bad thing. Good that they know now if it’s not for them.

@Curlyshabtree I’m planning to fund dd entirely by the resultant cut in the food budget of her going to uni. (Accom in most places should be covered by the maintenance loan - at least for the first year )

Sheffield not the vibe, according to DD. Entirely superficial reasons, as far as I can tell. Oh well, you need to be excited at the prospect of spending 3 years in a place.

It’s been a busy week here! Leeds last weekend, Glasgow on Thursday, Sheffield today, Hull York tomorrow and then Newcastle next weekend. All for DD medicine.
We’ve really enjoyed have a nose about and learning about the courses. DD loved Sheffield. Bit freaked out by accommodation costs, I have 0 disposable income so I really worry about how on earth they will manage.
DS is taking himself to UCL on Friday and is planning to visit Bristol and Manchester in the autumn. He went to Warwick last weekend but feels the campus is too remote. He’s looking to do law.
DD has booked her UCAT, DS will be booking his LNAT once it’s opened
They are both pleased with their predicted (A star, A star A for DD and A star A A for DS)

DS was positive about Warwick, but no clear favourites or ones to rule out are emerging yet. I really liked it, think they’ve got a good set up, the accommodation options with a range of prices and the ease of renting are extra positives. But I can imagine people being turned off by how much of a bubble it is, more so than Bath I think.

Economics at York was great. I was very impressed by the lecturer and course. DS liked the vibes as well. It will definitely be a good insurance choice.
Net weekend DS is home alone, so he is going to Newcastle uni open day by himself.
If he gets his a star, he will visit Warwick with DH in the next few weeks just to get a feel. (We have family there.)
Thank you again for sharing all your experiences.

Dd went to Manchester today, i didnt as its about a 10 minute walk from us. She liked the head of law a lot, and mainly just explored because she wont be needing accom if she goes manchester.

I commented to DS on our journey up the M40 that there were an awful lot of people on the bridges over the motorway waving and watching the traffic. We didn't see any bikers (perhaps if I had the penny might have dropped) but thanks @ComingInByAnsible for explaining why they were there.

Well Warwick was humid and overcast but very pleasant. DS has decided he will be applying for History (or HistPol where it's offered). So that is one big decisions made. He enjoyed the history talk at Warwick and the new "FAB" (Faculty of Arts Building) is fantastic; a great space to learn and work in.

DS found Warwick rather reminiscent of a theme park - everything was clean and bright with wide boulevards in the main Piazza and campus area. We both liked the campus and the accommodation. DS was really happy with the sports park and the indoor tennis centre. So, for DS, Warwick is now tied with Exeter. Bristol has been discarded. Next up UCL on Friday and Birmingham on Saturday.

Thanks @JessyCarr. DS is, unless he loathes everything about it on Friday, fairly certain UCL will be one of his applications, so the information about TARA was helpful. It doesn't seem to be used on the courses he is looking at but we will check for certain on Friday.

Hope those at Manchester, Sheffield, York, Southampton, as well as Warwick, are having a good open day experience.

Please don't abandon us for the med thread @bluefineliner!

@MiniMidiMaxi DS has only done one without a parent with was Bath and Bristol. DH is taking him today as Yorkshire is his home ground and they’ll meet up with his parents for lunch. He’s really not that independent yet but little steps hey. I have noticed that now he’s driving he’s being more willing to just go out more which is nice too.

Have fun at Warwick today folks (and Sheffield too for those heading that way!) I shall be working today while I have quiet in the house.

Like a few others, we are on our way to Warwick. Driving among hordes of bikers out for the Dave Day, with people waving from every bridge - quite an experience!

@MiniMidiMaxi I did the first three open days with DD and intended to do more, but it was just getting too expensive, so did is doing the rest mostly alone (although a friend is going to Sheffield with her today). It feels like a natural progression, and it's easier now she's clearer about what she wants. Also, I signed DD up for an excessive number of open days due to sheer over-enthusiasm.

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn I’m a bit envious of your DS taking himself off to open days by himself or with friends - DS here wants at least one of us with him, which I was surprised about as he’s quite happy taking himself off in the train generally. I suspect it’s because he really isn’t sure what he wants to study so wants other invested perspectives!

On our way to Warwick as I type. With lots of water…

Thanks @bluefineliner!
DS has literally just left to head up to Sheffield, looks like it’s going to be a scorcher so of course he’s put on his long trousers. 🤦‍♀️
have fun in Manchester, DS really liked it.

My understanding is that Queens is a very good Uni, I tried to make DS look at it but if York was too far for him then Belfast certainly is! 😂

Morning!

Congrats to your DS1 @JustHereWithMyPopcorn on his first job!

Up early to start the Manchester uni open day, then York tomorrow. Had a really long (and good) discussion with DD last night about where she might apply for med. Obvs with UCAT pending it is impossible to say just yet but she has v good GCSE results so we were identifying unis which would weight that in her favour to take the pressure off getting a v high UCAT.

She is now fully on board with strategic applications for med and despite ideally wanting to be nearer home she is being open minded. The one that seems to be a favourite now though is Queens Uni Belfast. Not one I had on my radar but looks fab. DD does UCAT on 1st Sept so will know where she can apply after that and QUB has an open day on 6th Sept... I feel a dash to Belfast might be in order then. I even checked the price of flights from our local airport there, and they are very affordable, so it could be a possibility.

This is all feeling a bit too real now! (I am posting on the med 26 thread too as I know this is a bit specific but I feel like I belong here now 😁).

We liked Glasgow too. It’s possibly the most likely given the top 3 are Oxford Durham and St Andrews! What do you mean about RUK places - English places?
I think dd is realising she’d rather not be so far away from home in the south (hence St Andrews doubts) but she is picking courses slightly above location.

We’ve had a letter from school setting out chapter and verse on the various university entrance tests happening in the 2026 cycle - Oxbridge, medicine and other. I see there’s a new one I hadn’t heard of: the TARA! For UCL only, selected courses. If anyone hasn’t had the info on any of the tests I am happy to share.

Hadn't even thought about RUK places, @Lalux . There are so many variables!

@JustHereWithMyPopcorncongrats to your ds that’s fantastic.

@bibliomaniawe were in Glasgow yesterday and DS loved it. I think his only concern is number of RUK places and whether that makes it too tough. We are also in Sheffield tomorrow. Closer to home but too far to commute. I think it would be a good option so interested to see how it compares. Then we are off to Newcastle next weekend and that will be it for this session I think.

It's a Saturday and Sunday, @MamOfTwo .

Keele - no based on vibes; DD unimpressed by Stoke (apologies to any Stokies). Lancaster was more appealing - she quite liked the campus but it felt quite far from the town. It's been useful to visit quite a few, as now she's decided she does want to study in a city but not in a university that is scattered all over the city.

Heading to York and Sheffield - ill-advised decision to do both on the same day so not sure how that'll pan out! Also interested to hear thoughts on Warwick as it wasn't on radar at first for us either.

Congrats to your DS1 on the job @JustHereWithMyPopcorn
@bibliomania Out of interest, why was Keele a no, and Lancaster a possible? Was that more to do with the courses or the 'vibes'?! I sort of forgot about those two.

I think the uni with the best air con may end up as first choice for all this weekend! Good luck, all. Onwards...

Great news for your son @JustHereWithMyPopcorn .

We ought to be going to Warwick this weekend but it wasn’t on ds’s radar when bookings opened and we did our open day planning so we’re not! I think he might apply there anyway and if he gets an offer he can go to an offer holders day. I’d love to hear the thoughts of those who are going - providing you don’t all melt!