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Thread 28 - Corona Cohort Awaiting Offers, Advance Notice, Gap Years and New Jobs

999 replies

OrangeCinnamonCroissant · 07/02/2022 19:35

This is a thread for supporting all young people post GCSEs 2020, regardless of their educational setting. It is respectfully requested that all are supportive and helpful to each other. If you want to start a debate, e.g state vs private, please don't within this thread. Please also be sensitive when responding to threads about grades.

Some of us have been here since first thread back in yr10, some will be new. Everyone has been friendly and helpful in the past. Everyone is welcome. It is hoped this will continue.

Our DS/DD may go down various paths (such as employment, apprenticeships, higher ed) We have decided for anyone interested they will most likely find us within the Further Ed board.
Previous Thread 27 Here

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Fruitygal · 17/02/2022 06:32

Least favourite places for visual appeal were Loughborough, Keele, Derby ….. Lancaster

ExtremelyDelighted · 17/02/2022 06:56

@Fiddlersgreen we went to an open day in Bournemouth (Talbot campus) in October but the weather was horrific - torrential rain and driving wind so we didn't stay too long and didn't go into the town at all, we thought we'd pop back one day as its only about an hour from us but haven't done so yet. DS liked the campus and liked the sound of the course, as did I, but as explained yesterday he is moving away from the idea of a history degree now. We haven't heard about offer holder days either. I know a few parents of past/present students who have all been happy there.

Thread 28 - Corona Cohort Awaiting Offers, Advance Notice, Gap Years and New Jobs
BlueMarigold · 17/02/2022 07:01

@Fruitygal - I didn’t think Lancaster was too bad, although it was raining so didn’t do too much exploring.

Birmingham looks nice for some subjects but the actual Biology building looks boring from the outside. Out of all the places we saw, Southampton had the most impressive Life sciences building. Lancaster had the best library (inside). Birmingham had the most interesting looking library (outside). RHUL had the most impressive main building.
Lincoln had the nicest halls of residence but we weren’t allowed inside that many so it’s hard to compare.

sofakingcool · 17/02/2022 07:23

[quote Fiddlersgreen]@ExtremelyDelighted have you visited Bournemouth? We haven’t heard about an offer holder day yet but thinking about going to have a look around what we can see sometime[/quote]
@Fiddlersgreen I don't think there is an offers day at Bournemouth. The little book that came in the post after DS received an offer had a couple of dates in it - but when we looked on the website, these seemed to be general open days?

We're off for a wander next week during half term. We went to an open day last year but the weather was horrific so it was a flying visit!

sofakingcool · 17/02/2022 07:24

[quote ExtremelyDelighted]@Fiddlersgreen we went to an open day in Bournemouth (Talbot campus) in October but the weather was horrific - torrential rain and driving wind so we didn't stay too long and didn't go into the town at all, we thought we'd pop back one day as its only about an hour from us but haven't done so yet. DS liked the campus and liked the sound of the course, as did I, but as explained yesterday he is moving away from the idea of a history degree now. We haven't heard about offer holder days either. I know a few parents of past/present students who have all been happy there.[/quote]
Ha @ExtremelyDelighted , I just replied to Fiddlers question to you with almost the same answer Grin

ExtremelyDelighted · 17/02/2022 07:42

Grin we've got that booklet on the coffee table, I have glanced at it but that's all. DS is finding it hard keeping up with the emails so I keep an eye on them too and have looked at the websites off and on.

icanbewhatiwant · 17/02/2022 08:11

@ExtremelyDelighted I think Southampton open day may have been the same day as the Sussex open day. The weather was awful, we didn't look round much as it was so wet.

ZittiEBuoni · 17/02/2022 08:43

Ah, I'm so ridiculously influenced by which place has the best architecture. It's a good thing I don't get to choose really.

Dd2 has a friend who is trying to decide between Nottingham and Surrey for Vet Science - does anyone have any insight?

singingstones · 17/02/2022 08:54

I really liked Sussex when we went for a wander there. DS wasn't such a fan of the architecture and it's a bit of a faff to get to, but the course is good and I think it will probably be plan C as it was in clearing for ages last year.

Fferny1 · 17/02/2022 08:54

Nottingham would be the better option I think @Zitti. DD did lambing with some Surrey vet students and they seemed unhappy with the course. I can't remember why though. Nottingham has a solid reputation and I think there's a farm there - I seem to remember lots of cows.

Decorhate · 17/02/2022 08:59

@ZittiEBuoni @Fferny1 I think the Surrey courses has only been running for a few years?

Fferny1 · 17/02/2022 09:00

Thank you @extremely & @fruity for the DSA information a couple of days ago.

ZittiEBuoni · 17/02/2022 09:04

Thanks, fferny, DecorHate - Nottingham sounds like the ticket. He's a farm boy so looking for somewhere really good for the farm animal side of things.

JustHereWithMyPopcorn · 17/02/2022 09:39

We did Nottingham offer day yesterday. Oh my god, my legs are killing me! I had no idea the campus was that big and so hilly. I must caveat this by saying I am very unfit but I did 12,000 steps and 47 flights of stairs by noon! It was very windy which didn't help. That said, we loved it and DS is even more set than before.

mummyinbeds · 17/02/2022 09:39

@Fruitygal

Least favourite places for visual appeal were Loughborough, Keele, Derby ….. Lancaster
Keele has its good bits - I loved my time there 🙂
Thread 28 - Corona Cohort Awaiting Offers, Advance Notice, Gap Years and New Jobs
ExtremelyDelighted · 17/02/2022 09:40

You're welcome @Fferny1.

@icanbewhatiwant yes, it was the same day, I remember talking about it. We went to Sussex the following week but didn't end up applying, neither of was keen and the journey is a bit tricky for us too.

mummyinbeds · 17/02/2022 09:41

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn We're doing the Nottingham offer holders day on Saturday. Any tips?

Delphigirl · 17/02/2022 09:50

Hi everyone - DS is definitely going to defer but I’m struggling to understand the process and if DS understands it he isn’t sharing. Can anyone help? He has 3 offers. Does he firm and insure and then ask those 2 to defer? Or does he ask all three if they will defer, get the offers changed, then firm and insure? Or something else?

JustHereWithMyPopcorn · 17/02/2022 09:55

@mummyinbeds take hiking boots! Grin Main tip, don't get there too early as the law specific bit isn't until 2pm (check your letter, yours may be different but DS didn't read his properly and wouldn't send it to me!), we were there for the start of registration (lots of people were) but there is only so many bits to see - we did the sports centre (nice costa cafe to warm up after the wind had blown through us), a few of the halls and the student union bit and had lunch there in the food court.

They were doing campus tours but DS didn't want to do that as he'd been before with DH but I think it might have shown us (me) a bit more of the campus.

The law talk was really useful I think, sounded really interesting and we had a good chat with a third year student afterwards. Also make sure you get a goody bag after the talk where they serve the tea and coffee! Grin

Monkey2001 · 17/02/2022 10:14

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn glad to hear goody bags are back!

Alsoplayspiccolo · 17/02/2022 10:16

Delphigirl, DD may yet defer, so I hope someone can answer your question.

ExtremelyDelighted · 17/02/2022 10:16

@Delphigirl I think there is a good chance my DS will defer too, but I haven't got a clue either. His are not hotly contested courses which probably makes it easier but I'm not sure how to go about it.

JustHereWithMyPopcorn · 17/02/2022 11:26

@Monkey2001 we almost missed them until I saw someone ask if they could take one and then I was straight in! Grin

Monkey2001 · 17/02/2022 11:42

Re deferral, once you have an offer it is best to contact the university and ask whether you would be able to defer, some encourage it, others don't permit it. For example, I don't think St Andrews makes deferred offers at all. Once you know which ones allow deferral, it can all feed into the decision making process.

singingstones · 17/02/2022 12:03

We're also visiting Nottingham shortly so thank you for the tips, Just. We have wandered around the campus before (I too was knackered) but want to see the accommodation and the subject specific stuff. There is a lunch where you can meet staff and students, which DS will no doubt refuse to go to in case someone actually talks to him Hmm But hopefully he will get something out of the practical demos etc.