how many universities did your dc go and see?

I am just back from a UCAS evening at DS1's school.

It was given by a representative of Birmingham university, whose job was to go around schools giving advice about the whole process.

He was very clear that you absolutely have to visit each university that you list on your application.

It was a lot different from when I did my UCCA form in 1981!

I visited none. I then interviewed at Cambridge, decided I hated it and turned down the offer. I shouldn't have wasted the space on my UCAS form. I also interviewed at York and decided it was okay but a long way away from where I lived and a pain to get to. So I would definitely advise visiting before application, especially Oxbridge. It REALLY doesn't do you any favours at school if you apply and then reject them having decided that you don't like the place.

I didn't actually visit Birmingham, which is where I ended up going, although I knew the city beforehand and I ended up loving it!

It was 6 when I applied in 1997 for entry in 98/99 (and only one Oxbridge application).

At least we didn't have to list them in order of preference though as some of my friends had to years before.

I think DD visited 4 on official days, only 2 of which she eventually applied for, but she had friends at 2 others & had been to see them there. DS went to 5 or 6 I think. Most of the visits were in the summer term after they'd finished the AS exams,but before starting the A2 course, so they didn't miss much school. We didn't take them to any of them, they went on their own or with friends.

btw, it is only 5 you can apply for now, and it was 5 when I went, but it was 6 the year DS applied (he started 2006)

I visited 4, but that was years ago {early 80's ).

I think you SHOULD visit Oxbridge, as they are so very different from non-collegiate universities. Some of the colleges are very small and that sort of atmosphere does not suit everyone. You then have the tougher decision of which college to apply to.

"Decision re oxbridge -does it need a visit? Are you academically up to it, is the course just what you want - then go for it."

Don't know about that, tbh - didn't particularly like either city when I visited, and that is an important part of the decision, if you're going to spend 3 years somewhere.

DS also determined to make the grades Milliways-it is wonderful to see the motivation-he has realised that he can't coast!

DD visited 4 before applying, chose 3 of those + 2 others (based on reputation, ranking in her subject) on her UCAS form, and if you get offerred you are invited to offer holders days.

She has just returned from a 2-day trip to her No1 choice and come back determined to make the grades

A lot of the Open Days are on Saturdays so he didn't miss much school.

ds1's school advised them to only go and see 2 or 3. They feel it is more crucial that they don't miss too much school! Also i think too many can become confusing. Maybe one campus and one in a city. Decision re oxbridge -does it need a visit? Are you academically up to it, is the course just what you want - then go for it.

About 270 miles from home ggirl. That is why I think it is a good idea to do the ground work early. He liked the course best from the prospectus and he went to the Open Day on his own and liked it best. DH and I took him to his insurance place Open Day(less than an hour by car)and we liked it and didn't think it worth him going so far. However he was set on it so we took him to the interview. Parents had a two hour tour-I could see why he liked it so much and I think it worth the travel, I can see that it would suit his personality and way of working. You get much more idea from a visit than the prospectus. A favourite from the prospectus ticked all the right boxes until he went to the talk about his proposed course and it immediately became obvious that it wasn't what he thought.
The Open Days are really good and geared up for parents. When we went to the first one we didn't know whether it was the done thing so we agreed that if we looked embarrassing we would melt away and leave him to it, but practically everyone had parents in tow so we stayed. It is a really good chance to ask all the questions that you want to ask and you can also talk to students and find out what they think. It is expensive to visit but I think it is worth it-it is too costly to end up at the wrong place on the wrong course.
DS1 did all the visits on his own when he applied because it was too difficult to get away with 2 younger DCs, but he was better at asking questions than DS3. I am a great believer in gut feelings and he went with his, he had a great time and has never regretted his choice.

I think it is important to do the ground work first. I think my DS1 saw 6. I told them both to go with their gut feeling.

My DS visited 5 before he did the UCAS, it was just as well because he didn't like two of them and could only find 3 that he wants to go to, he wouldn't have found this out without a visit. He now has a firm, conditional offer and an insurance, conditional offer. He is going to an Open Day for applicants on Saturday but I think that would be a bit late to find that he didn't like it. He had to have interviews for all his choices so has seen them at least twice.

I went to 2 and was invited to a 3rd but I'd already decided to drop that course so I didn't bother to even look at the uni.

I visited none before I did my UCAS application so I was probably lucky.

DS1 visited a good few - either on official open days or when we happened to be passing that town in the two years leading up to university. He was allowed 3 days off school after AS to attend open days.
DS2 has not bothered to visit any universities, has 5 offers and has decided to apply again after his results to "better" universities.
When I went to university I wouldn't have been seen dead with my parents at an open day (which didn't then exist anyway). Now, the campuses are full of parents for these events.

Ds1 Went to 3 with DH and 2 local ones on his own. Later he went for 2 interviews.

DD had to go for 6 formal interviews. DH went with her for 5 but she went to Durham on her own. It was an over night trip with night in college and college interview. The subject interview was the next day.

DH went to Exeter twice in 3 years. Both DS & DD had it as their reserve choice.

It did cost a small fortune! DH was self employed at the time and there was loads of travelling. Very necessary though they were the first to go to university in either family so it was a sharpe learning curve for us all!

i went alone to 3 - my niece has gone this year to 5 with her mum. seems to be much more normal these days to take/be taken by your parents. a bit about that but I suppose the parents are paying a lot more for it now.

tbh i can't imagine you would get a whole lot from visiting more than 5 or so. what about a medium/shortlist, and arranging to travel through a few places lower down the list on the way to the top choices??

You're right ggirl it is 5 now, but you do the first and second choice thing after you have offers, because your backup choice has to have lower grade requirements than your first choice.

See here

I think I was limited to 5 at the time (years ago so could have changed) - I didn't have to put my first/insurance choices until I was offered places by the universities, which was after the open day/interviews I went to.

Yes, I went alone. The furthest would have been York and Manchester - I was in Ipswich then so that was something like 4 hours on the train. I took a book and snacks to keep myself occupied.

I probably didn't need to see 5 really, but I enjoyed the days out so I didn't mind!

You don't put it down as first or second choice until you have offers. When applying you can apply for up to 6 and there is no prefernce set at that time.

I went to see 3, plus a school trip. One my Dad came, one my Mum came, and one they dropped me off at the campus and went shopping in the town.