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Original poster

Eton bursary - home visit.

18 replies

DoctorGradaAdParnassum · 11/09/2013 09:27

Hello wise MNers...

DS has a conditional place at Eton for 2015. We are thrilled, as is he - but he can only go with a substantial bursary. DH has spent the past three weeks filling in the lengthy bursary application form (!) - but we see that a home visit is part of the process.

This isn't something that worries us particularly (unless we will be financially penalised for 70s swirly carpets and peeling wallpaper ) - but it would be really good to know what is involved. Do we have to provide tea and biscuits, or do they just come and have a quick look round, recoil in horror, and depart again?

Any info from anyone who's been through the process would be very gratefully received!

OP posts:

TRL · 11/09/2013 09:41

Hi there, I'd have thought they'll let you know the format when they contact you to make the appointment but things like a cup of tea/biscuits are always appreciated by any guest who's travelled to get to you, aren't they? If they've got a long journey I'll bet they'll be dying for the loo too ...!
If you're worrying, I'd just ring up the bursar's office and ask - they've been very helpful in all our questioning (DS1 pre-tests on Monday week).

Well done to your DS for getting a place

HattyJack · 11/09/2013 10:21

Don't let on that you have an extensive wine cellar, and park the Aston Martin somewhere else for the duration.

Everyone likes a hot drink and a biscuit.

Good luck :)

Runningchick123 · 11/09/2013 10:23

I would offer coffee/ tea /water and have out a plate of biscuits. I'm not clued up on Etons home visits but most schools do home visits for bursaries just to check that you are not living way beyond the means on your application would suggest.

IndridCold · 11/09/2013 11:31

I didn't go through this process, but DS is at Eton (and also has many friends there who are on bursaries BTW).

I will say this to reassure you though. If your DS has a conditional place then that means that they want him. They are proud of their selection process and will not want it to fail at this point, and so they will be doing all they can to make sure that he can go and that you will be given the bursary you need.

Try and relax and just treat your visitors like any other visitor, tea and biscuits would be good. From my experience of the school I doubt that they will be at all snooty, and will be aware of the fact that this process can feel quite invasive for you and your family and will want to make it as easy as possible.

Very well done to your DS, he will have a fabulous time at Eton!

Original poster

DoctorGradaAdParnassum · 11/09/2013 12:32

Thank you for your kind replies. I am feeling slightly reassured now (and will remember to park the Aston Martin elsewhere ). I might even brush the dog!

I do hope it all works out, as DS hasn't applied anywhere else. He is completely set on Eton, and he's so happy to have been offered a place that it would be a great shame if he couldn't go.

OP posts:

Somethingyesterday · 11/09/2013 14:06

As Indrid says, it's very unlikely that the school would have got this far into the process without being fully committed to having your son there. So I think there'd only be a problem if a prospective parent consistently refused to let them in or was never at the address they claimed to live at!

If you live outside the south-east they may have had a long drive so will probably be grateful for your tea and biscuits.

You'll know already that they probably won't be coming from "the school" exactly. I think the bursary people are a sort of separate body - so it's unlikely to be a member of staff who you might meet once your son is there.

Relax, enjoy, do not stash your Monet collection in the loo!

1805 · 11/09/2013 20:36

HI - well done to you and ds.

We had a home visit from dd's school, and I cleaned the kitchen (where the only table is) and put out coffee and a few biscuits.

When the bursar arrived, he refused the coffee and biscuits and got straight out our bursary application and went through the figures on it with me. It was good because it gave me chance to explain and expand more on what was written on the form. He was probably here for around 1 hour, then left! Didn't look around the house, see the garden, go to the loo or have a drink of water or anything!!

I was a bit , but he was friendly and polite, and we got the money we needed!!

I think so long as you don't live in a mansion, with a rolls royce outside, 3 staff fussing around dusting the paintings etc etc, you'll be fine.

Just be yourself, be polite and friendly and be honest.

Good luck.

Original poster

DoctorGradaAdParnassum · 12/09/2013 15:12

Thanks, both. This is all very encouraging, and all the nicer as I'd half feared a Mumsnet roasting for DS having been offered an Eton place!!

OP posts:

Somethingyesterday · 12/09/2013 15:32

Will PM you...

dapplegrey · 17/09/2013 08:44

Congrats on your son's conditional place. All the very best - he'll have a great time.

Original poster

DoctorGradaAdParnassum · 17/09/2013 15:07

We have just had the letter from the Admissions Office to say that our form has been received, and the bursary company will be contacting us to arrange a visit.

One more thing I was wondering was whether we'll need to dig out bank statements/credit card statements/mortgage documents and so on, for them to check that they match up with the figures on our form? It would be slightly embarrassing if they asked for them and it then took me 30 minutes to fail to find them in the piles of paper on the floor in the sitting room!!

OP posts:

grovel · 17/09/2013 15:32

I'm pretty sure the bursary company will give you advance notice of what they want to see.

Original poster

DoctorGradaAdParnassum · 17/09/2013 18:21

Thanks. Good point!

OP posts:

grovel · 17/09/2013 18:24

Congrats, by the way, to your DS. Mine left Eton recently. He loved it.

Mutteroo · 17/09/2013 23:18

I'm sure you'll be told what proof will be required as in my experience, each school has their own rules & criteria. We've been through the bursary process twice & didn't have home visits. DD's school expected us to prove income yearly where as DS's school gave a bursary through the whole of his senior education without the yearly hassle of filling out forms.

You must be enormously proud of your boy. Only know of one lad at my son's prep who won a place at Eton. He chose to remain at the senior school attached to the prep as they offered him a free place. Congrats to you & your boy & all the best with the home visit.

Original poster

DoctorGradaAdParnassum · 19/09/2013 10:20

Thanks very much, grovel and Mutteroo. We are really pleased for him, and our experience of Eton thus far has been enormously positive. DS is not an easy child (as we have told them), but we are confident that Eton will bring out the best in him - assuming we get the bursary!!

OP posts:

lisad123everybodydancenow · 22/09/2013 01:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Disapdad · 19/11/2013 12:20

DoctorGradaAdParnassum,
Hope all went well and can you share your experience/result?

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