New Batch of Year 13 parents this way!

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Hopefully this thread will appear on TIO! No need to use it til our old thread is done, but at least we have it for when we are ready.

I just looked up our postcode on the polar map. It gives a score of 5 (the top) but our area has a lots of student residences and houses let to students. Surely that will skew the figures in this and similar areas?

kitten definitely book that holiday up & have a second emergency contact in UK whilst away. Hello to all the new posters

I'm getting very nervous with all the early UCAS applications talk, as we have 3 more Unis to visit (I too am completely over open dayed too!) Despite e-mailing teachers for predicted grades I'm getting nothing back. DD's PS has been OK'd by subject teacher & HoD still not given any input 3 weeks on & yet saying school deadline needs to be met by mid-October - so frustrating!

That sounds very frustrating Lashings. Don't be nervous about the early entry bit though, there are a few admissions tutors on the other thread saying it doesn't make the blindest bit of difference.

I've started googling holidays :)

Yes I feel so much better having read the applications thread.

DD started her personal statement in the car on the way from Newcastle to York.

Anyone know anything about Liverpool? I get totally confused between the two Universities. DD is going on Saturday but that is to Liverpool University, not John Moores. Is one better than the other for particular subject areas?

It gives a score of 5 (the top) but our area has a lots of student residences and houses let to students. Surely that will skew the figures in this and similar areas?

No, because it is looking at those in your area who turned 18 and then participated in higher education, see Hefce:

www.hefce.ac.uk/analysis/yp/POLAR/

BTW in practice there is really no significance in terms of university admissions whether you are polar 3, 4 or 5. It is only the lowest two categories that may play a role - and even then it is not only polar data that is used in contextual admissions.

People on MN also seem to over-estimate the grade discounts allowed under contextual offers - it is rare for the discount to be more than a grade in one subject, not least because studies indicate that students coming in with significantly lower grades than the average are more likely to drop out/do poorly, particularly for high tariff courses. Of course in practice many courses do also allow grades to be dropped in any case in August so e.g. an AAA course may give an AAB contextual offer but then accept ABB. Contextual information is used when deciding about candidates who missed offers.

What other factors user would affect a contextual offer if you don't mind me asking?
We live in a level 1 area, but am under the impression that as DH and I are both graduates, this means that dd wouldn't be eligible.

Dd starts her ucas stuff tomorrow
To add to more stress
It seems to be constant testing and more essays this year it's our birthday Thursday so I'm hoping she can relax a bit
I don't think dd would qualify for a contextual offer

Many university courses don't use contextual offers - they take school results, Polar data etc into account for near misses. (The UCAS form does display GCSE and A level scores from the applicant's school, thus enabling you to put into context their results and their predictions.) Courses that do make contextual offers will combine polar information with school result information usually.

Bristol uses a strange approach where they make contextual offers (one grade lower) to pupils from schools in which results are below the national average. This is imo a recruitment tactic as it is clearly not fair: a school's results are to a large degree set by its intake. A pupil in top sets at an outstanding school whose results are below the national average is not at a disadvantage to a pupil in a requires improvement school with above average results.

It's difficult to take into account parental education because not all pupils fill this in on the UCAS form - and of course it would be hard to verify.

Pupils from private schools would almost certainly not get contextual offers - the exception is again Bristol, which I believe includes private schools with low results on its list.

At least you know it's something that many of them are going through Fantasy.

OYB
Yeah I suppose, I suppose I just feel for some of dds friends she has two friends who are funded from the social services to go to school? Would that be taken into account for them even if they are at a private school? Curious

Well it’s our birthday today! 19 years have flown by

I think I may be mixing up general contextual offers with widening participation type schemes run by several unis. Bristol does have a scheme for local students which takes additional social factors into account though such as whether parents went to university. It is a bit controversial that some independent schools are included in the scheme.www.telegraph.co.uk/education/2017/03/01/bristol-university-criticised-disadvantaged-pupils-scheme-offers
Other unis have similar schemes too. Here is the one for Newcastle uni where Looked After children are one of the criteria (if that is why these dcs are having their school places funded). www.ncl.ac.uk/schools/partners/eligibility
Hope that helps with your questions fantasy

kitten can you tell me which thread it is on MN that admissions staff are talking about early applications?

Fantasy, in the cases you describe it would be usual for the head teacher's reference to mention the circumstances. These would then be taken into account by the admissions team.

Lashings I will try to link to the thread:
(Never managed successfully on the app before - fingers crossed!

Non Oxbridge early application - good, bad or neutral?
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/3033121-Non-Oxbridge-early-application-good-bad-or-neutral

Many happy returns fantasy. We were 18 here a week or so ago. DD loves it - being ADULT!

DD won't turn 18 until after A levels and after prom. She won't even be able to legally drink alcohol at prom.

Happy Birthday to your dd Fantasy :)

dd is planning hers with a friend. All I have to do is hand over some dosh. That sounds good to me.

Fantasy - Happy Birthday to your DD.

DS is 18 at Easter time so a while to wait....

Happy Birthday to your DD Fantasy.

Dd is 19... so we have done the whole ‘18’ thing she’s saying she’s old I laughed and Said what about me? I’m 54 today

Happy Birthday fantasy and violets. Ds1 has a way to go yet.

Bristol use the polar data as a criteria for contextual offers as well. Ds1 school won't be on the list but his postcode and uneducated parents are.

They all seem to have different criteria, I can understand why dc who qualify for contextual offers need them- it's a minefield that would be almost impossible to navigate without help, support and advice.

Happy birthday violets it’s clicked what you meant

Lobster many thanks for the link - much appreciated

Fantasy & Violets many happy returns on the birthdays

Belated Happy Birthday to Fantasy and your DD, hope you've both had a lovely day.
Happy birthday to your dd too for last week Voilets.