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Original poster

Thread 19 - Corona Cohort, Enrolling on Year 13, hopefully NOT unlucky for some

999 replies

OrangeCinnamonCocktail · 02/09/2021 22:37

Place holder

OP posts:
icanbewhatiwant · 12/09/2021 16:27

He's feeling better already after a dose of calpol. He will probably be fine tomorrow. But I expect it'll take until Friday for results....so he will be home from school all week.

icanbewhatiwant · 12/09/2021 16:29

@Oblomov21 are they doing much at the open days? We are booked for Sussex in 3 weeks. When ds1 looked round a few years ago we had various talks in lecture halls...I don't think they'll do those with covid will they?

Seeline · 12/09/2021 16:40

We did open days at Nottingham and Birmingham this weekend. Birmingham did some talks, but not subject talks. Both had campus tours, drop in sessions for subjects with staff and students on hand to ask questions. We could look around and in some accommodation, student union, library etc. But neither were the large scale events I did with DS 2 years ago.

Original poster
OrangeCinnamonCocktail · 12/09/2021 16:42

@Oblomov21

Orange just got back from Southampton open day. I was probably sat next your dd, at one point? in the PS talk. Wink It was all very busy, and I never even managed to get the bus to visit the accommodation. Sad
She wasn't at a PS talk, she did find the waffles stand though! Was wearing her fluffy sliders Hmm and a spotty skirt. They spent a lot of time watching the Music student performances and had a tour. Spoke to a Tutor about the interview process which was good...it's quite competitive apparently. She is determined to get there somehow. I hope it keeps her going...gives her a bit if a push. I think this term will be tough for them.
OP posts:
Monkey2001 · 12/09/2021 17:14

I would be interested to know how physical open days work. DS and DH planning to go to Newcastle (DH says I cornered all the trips and he missed out for DS1, although he has done no research so both will need briefing before they go), but it is a really long way, so if not much is happening, maybe it is a silly idea to go? I think that for interviews it is really helpful to have been there.

Piggywaspushed · 12/09/2021 17:36

The PCRs only tske about 24 to 48 hours so you should get results by Weds.

Oblomov21 · 12/09/2021 17:51

I thought that they put on a good attempt, at an open day, in difficult covid circumstances. Southampton Open Day had a number of 'follow me' tours, tonnes and tonnes of students everywhere to ask questions advise etc, they were all really nice.

Huge queues for the all the lectures, which were inside the lecture halls : a 360 welcome tour, a finance lecture on applying and student loans. The personal statement one I went to was for 1/2 an hour, on the hour every hour, was full to capacity. A few wore masks, most didn't. The whole atmosphere was relaxed.

One accommodation couldn't be seen because they had international students. The other was a 5 minute bus ride. The bus queue was horrendous.

They had marquis's and tents everywhere. For depts. the finance and accountancy one where I stood and talked to a course leader and then a year one student, was the best aspect for me. (Said tent was infront of the music dept).

I still think they are well worth it, icanbe.

Oblomov21 · 12/09/2021 17:55

Southampton man who did the personal statement lecture said that Southampton generally don't interview. Basically, apart from for a few things like midwifery where they need to know student has empathy for example.

I videoed the ps lecture if anyone wants a copy.

Original poster
OrangeCinnamonCocktail · 12/09/2021 17:56

I think the only things missing from the Southampton one seemed to be subject talks (subject staff available to.chat and student dept tours available) and more accommodation open to see. There was still the 'festival feel' so many of them like to do, student union presence, finance /wellbeing/personal statement talks.

I'm glad she went. Who knows what will be happening over the next year.

Surrey is next on the list but they seem to be sticking to virtual for now. It is only 40 mins or so on the train so will be looking out for visit opportunities.

Notts and Lincoln still to sort...might chat to her about leaving one space free though. Lincoln would be an easy insurance, I can't actually see her going there if she needs an insurance. She wants to be near home and it is the same entry grades as Surrey.

OP posts:
Original poster
OrangeCinnamonCocktail · 12/09/2021 18:03

@Oblomov21

Southampton man who did the personal statement lecture said that Southampton generally don't interview. Basically, apart from for a few things like midwifery where they need to know student has empathy for example.

I videoed the ps lecture if anyone wants a copy.

I forsee Corona Cohort kids going to some of the same places....not necessarily ours but there are lots of commonalities on the threads!

DH said one of the tutors was talking about the interview for music...looking at how they'd fit into the department. Not sure how I feel about that, it just seems like another hurdle for Dd to jump, she's got her grading but only in one instrument (her voice) passed the theory, doing all the extracurriculars because she loves it so blah blah. Oh well.

Did you end up going on your own @Oblomov21?

OP posts:
Delphigirl · 12/09/2021 18:24

Hi everyone. I found the Southampton day really useful. A few takeaways:
We got there early but stayed a while and it was not busy at ALL which really surprised me. Maybe people are assuming there are no open days and not noticing the few there are. But it meant that we didn’t have to wait for anything, and people were delighted to see us for tours etc. DS found it very useful for the tour of the waterfront campus and chance to speak to students doing his particular course alone. He also spoke to the admissions prof and that was v worthwhile. We didn’t spend much time on main campus as his subject is based at waterfront. We did our own drive-past tours of halls - to get the geography (this is my 3rd kid and I know most halls are the same inside - either grotty and needing refurb or newly constructed which all look the same). We also did a look at the student area for 2nd and 3rd years. So we spent most time at NOC and then in the city. DS really liked it and it was so much more informative than the virtual open days, which he had also sat through for Southampton. Nothing beats seeing it for yourself and talking to current students, particularly for a science course I think - where quality of labs and facilities is so important.

Piggywaspushed · 12/09/2021 19:12

DS is very bored now of the Virtual Open Days but I don't think there are any in person ones in any of his long list. Apart from Bath which we missed.

Seeline · 12/09/2021 19:18

The Birmingham one was pretty busy. You had to pre book into all talks/tours/drop ins although nobody seemed to be checking whether you attended the right session.

Original poster
OrangeCinnamonCocktail · 12/09/2021 19:29

@Delphigirl

Hi everyone. I found the Southampton day really useful. A few takeaways: We got there early but stayed a while and it was not busy at ALL which really surprised me. Maybe people are assuming there are no open days and not noticing the few there are. But it meant that we didn’t have to wait for anything, and people were delighted to see us for tours etc. DS found it very useful for the tour of the waterfront campus and chance to speak to students doing his particular course alone. He also spoke to the admissions prof and that was v worthwhile. We didn’t spend much time on main campus as his subject is based at waterfront. We did our own drive-past tours of halls - to get the geography (this is my 3rd kid and I know most halls are the same inside - either grotty and needing refurb or newly constructed which all look the same). We also did a look at the student area for 2nd and 3rd years. So we spent most time at NOC and then in the city. DS really liked it and it was so much more informative than the virtual open days, which he had also sat through for Southampton. Nothing beats seeing it for yourself and talking to current students, particularly for a science course I think - where quality of labs and facilities is so important.
I knew someone was going to NOCs! Looks fab down there.
OP posts:
Delphigirl · 12/09/2021 19:32

It was so impressive @OrangeCinnamonCocktail… but it is one of the best places in the world to study oceanography (Shanghai ranking has it at 4) so I knew it would be good. I just didn’t realise HOW good!

icanbewhatiwant · 12/09/2021 19:33

@Piggywaspushed when I ordered the pcr it said delivery Tuesday. So I'll post back tues. they will receive it back weds...all those I know sending off pcr have waited 3 days for result. That will bring us to Friday. But I hope you are right and it's sooner.

icanbewhatiwant · 12/09/2021 19:37

@Oblomov21 thanks.

Do many universities interview? Ds1 didn't apply to any of the top universities but the only one he was called to an interview for was Essex. The man told him his job was to persuade Ds to firm them, not to interview him! So didn't really ask anything. UEA where he goes didn't interview.

SandyBayley · 12/09/2021 19:58

It depends @icanbewhatiwant - DS1 had interviews at Oxford, Imperial and Manchester. Oxford and Imperial felt like 'proper' interviews but Manchester was definitely a 'pick us' interview. It was a bit annoying as the train ticket wasn't cheap and it wasn't ever really a serious contender.

Piggywaspushed · 12/09/2021 20:18

Oh sorry ican didn't realise it was postal which takes a bit longer.

Warwick were interviewing last year for some subjects.

icanbewhatiwant · 12/09/2021 20:22

@Piggywaspushed I could take Ds to a test place about half hour drive away. He didn't want to go. So have no other choice but wait for post. At least the rest of us don't have to stay indoors. I'm sure he will be fine tomorrow, then miss a week off school. But I think it's best to get a test.

cariadambyth · 12/09/2021 20:30

Sorry for my very irregular gate crash but I was wondering what the general feeling is about Royal Holloway? I’ve had a look at old threads on here and it seems people can be a bit sniffy about it and it not being RG. I think it would be perfect for DD and she agrees but is very conscious that it’s not one one of the big names which she may not even get into anyway. She’s looking to do history.
Thank you for sharing your insights and knowledge, you are my ‘go to’ people 💐

Piggywaspushed · 12/09/2021 20:35

I have a few colleagues who went there. I think it's well regarded for history.

Oblomov21 · 12/09/2021 20:36

Royal Holloway is on my ds's list, and a couple of others on this thread, Cariad.

Piggywaspushed · 12/09/2021 20:36

People on MN are sniffy as a hobby sometimes!

cariadambyth · 12/09/2021 20:59

Great, thank you. I really just want her to be happy with her choice and then to spend a happy 3 years there, wherever ‘there’ might be. I know exactly what you mean about sniffiness being a hobby!