Year 12 - 2024/25 - Support, Discussion and Looking After Each Other (Thread 2)

[BlackBean2023]

You’re a chatty lot… continue

How are your DC finding the new PS format? My ones kvetching non-stop, but I think its another way to procrastinate!
Will be visting Manchester & UCL later on in the summer - Warwick is close by & she's familiar with the campus, Birmingham is a no as its our home Uni, Scottish Uni's ruled out as "too far" which I think is a shame - however she changed order & uni's at least 3 times...🙄 so who knows.

Imperial went well today, DS really liked it, lots of friendly staff and students very happy to answer questions. Accommodation costs are slightly terrifying though. Single ensuite room with no view (i.e. literally facing a concrete wall 1m away from the window) £325/week for 39 weeks so £12,675 for the academic year! this self catering!

Compared to the equivalent accommodation at Uni of Notts (probably with a view) it's £136.90/week = £5,339.10 for the academic year, or 232.89/week = £9,082.71 for the academic year catered. Unfortunately, this is a big hurdle.

@GirlsInGreen I think the new format is good - just 3 questions, so it provides a bit of structure without turning it into a questionnaire. The key thing is that it has been developed in consultation with the universities so as to provide the information they are looking for (broadly: are you right for the course, and is the course right for you?).

All sorts of really unhelpful myths had developed around the freeform PS, like “start with an inspiring quote to create impact for the reader” - but admissions tutors don’t want to read quotations from the great thinkers of our time, they want to get genuine insight into the applicant. In their own words, prosaic though they might be!

@JessyCarr I much agree - I know which of the two I'd find less daunting.

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn Thank you for the comparison.

DS has come back from Imperial more confused than before - he loved the sound of the Economics, Finance and Data Science course and was positive about the Mech Engineering course (and still hasn’t decided between these two types of courses). But a bit freaked by the idea of uni in London (from an experience rather than money perspective, though I’m certainly thinking about the cost!). I did say that if he does an Economics/Finance type degree, chances are the jobs will be much more London based. So more reflection still to come.

@JessyCarr thanks for the advice, really useful. DD spent the day on her own yesterday starting her draft and has made some good progress on ideas. I am trying not to do anything other than offer advice on making things more concise because she has her own ideas based on the next steps week she has just taken part in. They were given a lot of detailed info about what to put in which part so I am letting her do what she thinks for now. Once handed in on Monday she can get some feedback, I did warn her she'll probably rewrite it 50 times before submitting though 😂.

@GirlsInGreen I think the 3 parts make it a bit easier to decide what should go where. I think DD is struggling not to overlap between section but seems to have a good idea of what should go where. I think the starting part one was tough just to find the words to convey what she wants. Just getting something down yesterday has made her feel better, still a lot to do though.

Anyone familiar with the Metro in Newcastle? We are planning on doing a park and ride to the open day tomorrow and get the Metro in, any advice welcome. Bit concerned how busy it will be though if everyone else has the same idea!

Yes. I am familiar with the metro in Newcastle. Which park and ride? How can I help?

@Wehaditsogood thanks, we are coming from Yorkshire so looks like Heworth might be the one we need? Do you think it will be too busy on open day due to everyone thinking like me coming from the South?

I have never been to Heworth TBH, but where I live park and ride is not too busy at weekends. Very sorry. It is helpful.

DD just called as she got her PG early, bio, chem, psych all A star! She is v happy and hopefully can move her focus to UCAT now, 2 months to go.

I do wonder where she gets her love of science from as her dad and I were useless at it at school 😂.

Wow @bluefineliner what brilliant news! Great to hear.

DD has just said that she won’t be getting her predicted grades until September! Bit annoying. We are off to Notts today - first proper open day and I’m looking forward to it.

Fabulous news @bluefineliner !

Very frustrating for your DD @GreatGranPam especially if the school are expecting them to be making decisions on their UCAS info.

Looks like it’s going to be a scorcher tomorrow, not looking forward to traipsing around campus in the heat. 😫

great news @bluefineliner well done we still have a long wait, and was told to keep hold on to any discussions until it’s out, DD is just marks below expected grade. On another note ICL visit yesterday now derailed the course again, I am wondering if there is anyway we could make the PS work for few different courses. diff streams of Engg/Phy for example. The more I read I see that everyone’s focus is on one particular course, what would be our options, you think? Bringing Cam Nat sc into the picture then ads another layer of complexity, only good thing is the exam then is the same as ICL need

Well done to your DD@bluefinelineron her predicted grades!

DS and I have been to UCL today and, despite the utter farce that was queuing to collect wrist bands at check in points, it was a great day. UCL is now top of DS’ list.

As @JustHereWithMyPopcornsays, the accommodation costs in London are eye watering. I have told DS that rental costs must factor into his choices and he would be expected to contribute.

He’s sacking off Birmingham’s open day tomorrow as he’s got a lot of homework and has also pretty much decided his five UCAS choices.

Hope everyone enjoys their weekends whether you are at open days or not 😊

Well done to your DD @bluefineliner!

@waspiesounds like a successful visit to UCL. Do you mind me asking what you were particularly impressed by? We might not get to UCL tomorrow after all as the talk timings don’t work well with the sessions we are booked into at KCL, but DS is interested in HPE.

@Wehaditsogood interesting insight into PPE, thanks.

I think the UCL campus is lovely @ComingInByAnsible. You do not feel as though you are in central London. The whole area feels safe and part of a semi-gated community, if that makes sense? The architecture is gorgeous and there are libraries and cafes, plus gardens and green areas with picnic tables. It felt as though there was plenty of space despite the campus being really quite small.

The course feels different from that of the other universities we visited. It’s still modular but it feels as though the student is being guided and channeled toward finding their particular passion which they will write their third year dissertation on. DS loved the history talk and the taster lecture. He felt that he would be well supported by the department. Having the British museum just up the road is also a big plus point!

We didn’t go to the HPE talk as it clashed for us too, but we did look around the SSEES department which has its own building on Taviton Street.

Many thanks @Waspie that sounds great. Think we’ll have to see if we can find an opportunity to come and look around the UCL campus at some point!

DS went to his first open day today - UCL. He was not overly impressed. Secretly I'm relieved as I don't want him to stay at home and I think he felt being in London and only a bus journey away it didn't feel special enough. I think we'll have to look at a campus one next to see if he likes that vibe better.

@AuntyBulgaria DD has refused to consider anything in London for exactly the same reason! She initially wanted to be within about 2 hrs by train from London but then alighted upon Edinburgh and all rules went out of the window.

Your DS is a mathematician, I think, so could go absolutely anywhere! What do you think will be next on the list?

@JessyCarr Loughborough has sparked his interest - it's a campus and has good sports facilities. Or perhaps Warwick. When we get his A level result we will know what tier of uni to be targeting.
I'm liking the sounds of the reports coming from everyone who has been to Exeter so at the very least I fancy a visit there!

@AuntyBulgaria Yes, Exeter has a great vibe and everyone we know who has been there has had a great experience. DD has been interested in it from early on (we visited in Y11, Feb half term) and wants to go again for an October open day “just because”. As in, it’s already on her form but she loves it there. Perhaps we will coincide in October, though I can guarantee DD will be nowhere near a maths lecture!

Gatecrashing! Did anyone go to Newcastle this weekend? I went with DD and she really loved it!