Year 13 -2025/26 - Support, discussion and looking after each other (new thread from y12)

Jumping over from the old y12 thread to join in. DS has decided against an early application - having decided very late on what he wants to study, and having not started his personal statement. Looks like he will put Imperial as his aspirational choice for Engineering, though he’s not convinced about London. He’s thinking about moving to do the later ESAT test date now that the urgency is gone, so he’s thinking has more time to prepare.

I read that too @Newlease. I think an early offer from somewhere “safe” would be a bit mental boost. DS will put Oxford, Exeter and UCL on his form first and hope to get a quick offer from Exeter while waiting to hear if he gets an interview for O and an offer from UCL.

I know some universities are known for offering late regardless of when the application went in but some do it in batches.

Well done :) big chunk of the job done

@Muchtoomuchtodo from last years year13 thread many of early applicants got offers in Nov, so I am assuming they all had their 3/4th choice given when the appln went in? And thought that’s the norm and leaving the last one to fill in later. I am pretty clueless as this is my eldest, but knowing there is offer from one uni would take the pressure off, I guess. Now that you put it “ not their first choice” making me think twice! Hopefully someone with better knowledge would help.

@Newlease i really don’t know about early offers. Is there any advantage? Not that I can think of. An offer is an offer and as long as it’s in time to take advantage of any offer holders days and apply for accommodation that’s fine, isn’t it?

DS seems to be quite ambivalent about it, veering towards it being a negative for other places to know that they’ve applied to Oxbridge as they’ll know that they’re probably not the student’s first choice.

School haven’t said anything one way or the other.

I’m interested to hear any other, better informed points of view on this though.

Hello! PS completed here. Now to find 4 more choices for the form..........

Thank you for the new thread @scandinavianyellow :) DD was up very later yesterday tweaking the PS before meeting teacher today, I wish their teachers would do a little bit more help. That school thrives on kids’ attitude towards learning and nothing else.
@Muchtoomuchtodo We have decided to add another two options on UCAs with cam and London, according to DD if they get early offer then it would be better. Let me know your thoughts on this please? I really wish we could talk to someone who can deal with PS outside of school or prep with ESAT, so many ppl seem to do, but it’s too late anyway for this.

Thank you for the new thread @scandinavianyellow

DS has had feedback from his school sponsor on his ps and has revised it last night. He just needed some tweaks and to lose about 300 characters.

DS seems to have decided on Oxford for history. Mainly because it’s closer to home and he prefers the city. Now he has to decide on a college.

Like you all he doesn’t have 5 choices but does have 3 or possibly 4 so can always do the final ones later.

I’d be interested to hear what you think of Durham @AuntyBulgaria please as it is now on DS’ list but he didn’t get to the open day. It’s also about 7 hours away so well outside of his self imposed two hour travel limit!

Checking in, thanks for starting the new thread @scandinavianyellow!

UCAS application has been submitted to the school, now waiting for them to do their bit.

Found you!

PS writing is progressing well.

TMUA and MAT preparation continues.

Still not got the final 5 choices sorted but as long as PS is sorted for the Oxford deadline, I think DS is going to add the other 4 applications at a later date.

Also off to Durham's open day this Saturday - anyone else going?

Hello @scandinavianyellow thanks for the new thread!

Still no words written for personal statement yet, though some revision has been taking place for his assessments next week. Which is a first! So hopefully we might actually see some better exam grades!