College application for DS - who applies?

[BadLittleBunny]

Son has had all the details through for the college he wants to apply to after he's done his gcses but it's not clear who actually applies?

Do I do it for him as the parent of a minor, or is it expected that he does it in his own name (meaning I'm not privy to any administrative emails etc unless he shares them with me? He's a bit scatty, so this scares me!)

What's the usual process please?

I did both my dc UCAS applications with them, using their details, but first one with my email address, and secondly their own

Not sure if that is any help?

DS and DD both did their own (I offered to check through them afterwards but only DS took me up on it). DS put my email address so he didn’t miss anything, DD put her own because she’s organised!

The previous comment about UCAS shocked me

My kids applied themselves in their own name, but gave my details for parent guardian section. The colleges (they both applied to a few) cc-ed me into some emails and sent me some updates ( your child will receive an offer email within I this date period etc). One at college I continued to get a periodic new round up email from college, occasional very cross emails about student cars in resident parking etc.

For Uni?
Is there a reason they didn't or couldn't do it themselves?

OP, I will be getting DS to do his A level college applications himself but I will help him, as will his school

Locally, our 6th form colleges ask for a parental email separately to the applicant. Which suggests that the student should be applying.

Uni, clearly the student should be applying.

Uni they do their own with support from school

Sixth form schools will usually hand hold through the process.

Private sixth forms parents need to do (as you are paying)

I helped my eldest son with his but he put both our emails so I would get important information

It's really important that DCs from this age (or earlier) apply for their own part time jobs, complete their own uni application forms, start to sort out their own paperwork/life admin/finances.
If they ask for help to look over something or need info, of course we offer it but it's their stuff to sort out as they start living an adult life away from home.

Blimey yes my dc did their own ucas applications. Very helicopter parenting to do it for them!

Yes they can do their college application. There is a section for parents email.

I helped both my children do their applications, ie. sitting next to them while they did it and discussing any queries with them. I agree it would be good for them to do their own ideally - but it’s even more important for them to get it right first time. Mistakes on UCAS forms are going to be very tricky to correct and may have major implications. (Eg. Wrong course code applied to.)

If people would read the OP properly, it says "the college he wants to apply to after he's done his gcses".

So, not university, not UCAS.

He does it.
I teach in FE and much prefer the parents who let / encourage their dc to speak to me when I do Advice and Guidance nights or main enrolment

Lots push to sit in the seat nearest me, jump to speak for dc.

Most irritating are the ones who come clutching the GCSE certificates on results day as if they passed exams and not their kids.

I always aim conversation at the student unless there are learning needs. It often flags that they don't actually want to be on my course and would prefer to enrol on something completely different and that the parent has clearly applied on their behalf

@Tulip8 and @MargaritaPracticallyCan, the op isn't talking about uni applications, this is for college after GCSEs, so child likely to be 15 years old.

I would encourage them to do most on their own, but would help check everything over, plus college will likely want the parents details.

The last part of my schooling my parents ever took part in was applying for my high-school.

Help them if they need it but they should be doing it.

The young person does it. The adult can help or check if the yp wants them to. There is usually a space where they put their parent/guardian details in.

That's helpful, thank you.

My instinct is to encourage him to do it as part of growing in independence, but as he's only 15 (and therefore a minor) i didn't know what the expectation is and the college haven't made it clear so far. (Am sure it will prob be explained at some point)

I will help him as opposed to do it for him :-)

For Sixth Form I did it as private school so application fee etc. Child had to do some of it.
UCAS definitely the child with help from the school as they have to do part of it anyway.

I applied for my DD with my email address, and I’m glad we did it this way. She was applying for a very selective state school, and the offer came through at 8pm on GCSE results day. She had until 10 am the next day to accept before the offer was retracted. There is no way she’d have seen the email as she’s not in the habit of checking enough.

Why?

It's the most important thing they do at that age, and team working is better than one head.

My first had 5 out of 5 offers
My second got the uni they had set their heart on
(Both science based subjects with lots of competition)

And I was commenting on the poster who did complete their dc UCAS applications 🙄

My kids did their own- even my ds with ADHD.

He was used to checking emails because of how his school operates and his friends probably discussed “news” like registering for transition day.

Doing some admin now will help him cope at uni.

For 6th form DD had to apply but they also asked for the parent's details including one email and one phone number.

So all communication came twice. I can't remember if we had to formally approve her application or not.

Theoretically we could have filled out the form in her name but I think it's good for them to take responsibility as when they start you won't hear or see anything anymore.

On the acutal enrolment day, DD did it in school herself.

For sixth form the school sent both ds details on how to log in to the system and apply online. They did it but I stood with them to help if they needed it. No need to be involved with UCAS applications as they are plenty old enough by then and they do need to learn how to do stuff themselves. That being said, I would always offer help and advice if they are unsure about anything (nothing wrong with that!)

Ah, apologies, wasn’t obvious from your post, and yes I agree that they should be doing UCAS more independently.