Support thread for anyone applying through UCAS this year

[Lorelai]

Following on from a thread in chat I thought I would start this so that we can hold each others' hands through the UCAS process with all its challenges.

Who's with me?

ellis I think it's becoming clear that ds's college is the slowest of the lot! Acknowledgements went out on the very last day allowed, and invites for the 4-11 went out on Friday (the last weekday to give a full weeks notice to those arriving at the start of the week). I still think they should have put 4-10 on the website rather than 4-11, as all the first week interviews finish by the 10th and it would have avoided the confusion for the subjects like maths/physics that start on 11th. Found that someone else on tsr is also still waiting for maths decision from his college, and the big physics short-listing meeting is rumoured to be taking place on Monday, so no-one from anywhere has heard for that yet (ie his college definitely can't have sent out decisions for interviews starting on 11th). I'm now resigned to waiting until next Friday to hear (the last date to give a full weeks notice for second week interviews). Anything sooner will be a bonus.

you admit to it, though, quirrelquarrel.

gelatinous it's going to be interesting to see what college is last and if it's the same as other years. A week's notice is pretty dreadful. I feel really sorry for international applicants intending to interview in person.

A friend of DD3 last year got three days notice for PPE.

This thing about 4th-11th really just means the interviews taking place in ninth week, which is Sunday to Sunday.

At least this is a good trial run for the week after interviews, when your DS is watching and waiting (and possibly listening: some colleges/ subjects phone) for an offer....

It's not a race though ellis, colleges don't keep applicants waiting just to mess them around. They're very conscious of applicants' angst. One of them has to be first and one last [shrug].

Travel arrangements are notoriously difficult, even for EU applicants, but that's part of the deal. The university does what it can: at least the international applicants for Medicine hear tomorrow, a few days ahead of the rest.

oh ellis which college was it last year? Are you allowed to say?

Yes yellowstone a friend of ds is going wednesday for PPE (corpus christi) short notice seems to be normal

ellis said that she stalked TSR to check when offers/ interviews are handed out, so I don't think it's privileged info!

I feel for you gelatinous, do let us know.

yes it is an anxious wait- I think last year some one ( I forget who) mentioned that there is a long haul - the wait for the interview, the wait for the offer, then the exams and the wait for the grade results- I found that helpful, because I made sure to keep my energy levels just a bit in reserve. I do think there is prep one can do as a parent- for example make sure the interview outfit is sorted, ensure 2 mobile phones with chargers, ensure the overnight bags are packed with 3 clean shirts, keep the food regular and wholesome whilst waiting, get the pocket money cash out of the bank and ready, that sort of thing. The mobile phones are in case of invites to further interviews.
Also a copy of the written work sent in before hand, and ask DC to pack the last minute interview prep reading stuff. Oral rehearsals at home for easy lead in questions such as why this college don't come amiss.
I was caught off guard by DD the night before - I cant say in detail but its worth making sure they are home at a sensible hour and get a sensible nights sleep. Looking back, the other thing which DD found helpful and I wish I had done for DS was to drop her off and settle her into the room. This was very delightful as the place was amazing and also it was nice for her to have someone to dhare the first akward moments and take photos to look back on on case of success ( we have a photo of DD by a board which said applicants this way) At the end of the day to get an interview is fantastic. I have to say also that to get an offer is even better so thats why DC and family need to stay focussed on the outcome. Sorry for the long post.

sorry- share;awkward

gelatinous have a look at one of last year's TSR threads e.g. www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1280222&highlight=stalking+page+2011&page=326 post 6518 and you'll see that people were still being being offered interviews in early December and just a few days before the interview date. There were later offers than that one - I think St Hugh's may have been the last but some of their letters were delayed by snow. You can use the search this thread facility to find the combination of college/ course that interests you, you don't have to be a site member to use search. There are universities that make you wait longer for interviews/offers .

There is a consultation on at the moment about changing to a post results system.......

sorry forgot to tick for the link again www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1280222&highlight=stalking+page+2011&page=326 post 6518

ThanBetelguese, so far Kings and Bath unconditional, bristol has invited for a pre-offer open day and UCL have emailed him a questionaire which seems to be regarded as a paper interview.
Its not a grant I was asking about, I meant to ask if they give student loans for the 4th year for a MSc, both UCL and Bath are 4 year Masters.

That was supposed to be 'Thanks Betelguese.........'

The snow played absolute havoc last year with the dissemination of news of Oxford offers. Oxford was spectacular in the interview weeks; but I'm not sure its beauty compensated those students kept waiting for news.

It's worth remembering that Cambridge keeps interviewees waiting far longer for news and is far more clinical and less hospitable during interviews. Also that many, many non Oxbridge students have to wait far longer than either Dec or Jan to be put out of their misery. Even if these couple of weeks are tense, Oxford offerees are probably amongst the most fortunate in having their first choice confirmed before Christmas. It gives them a boost for January modules too I should think.

Lazymum - i hope student finance give loans for 4 years as DS is on a 4 yr MEng!

The online form does ask how many years the course is for, and we certainly got the impression that funding would be available for all 4 years.

Going by events 2 years ago in our household, you should know about Oxford interviews one way or another around Dec 2nd.

You reapply for student loans each year and it shouldn't affect matters if it is a 4 year or 3 year course.

Hi, guys. I can guiltlessly say our letters went out last week, but do all bear in mind that we don't even get the applications till early November, written work we ask to see till the last week in November, and we only had pre-test results four working days ago. We all work round the clock to turn it around fast.... I think some ire might be directed at UCAS?

DC has heard from a top choice rather than insurance asking for module scores, hope this is a good sign...

The system seems fine as it is to me sieglinde, it's worked adequately for years. If the date for decisions was earlier, the angst about whether or not an interview was going to materialise would simply happen earlier, but the angst between interview invite and actual interview would be prolonged. The timetables are published months in advance so everyone is capable of making provisional arrangements. Some fares paid in advance may be lost and some fares may be higher if they haven't been booked in advance, but that's how it is. Internationals can opt for skype if the fares are an issue. For less well off UK students, if they get an offer, the Opportunity Bursaries will more than compensate them for a last minute rail fare from anywhere in the UK.

The best thing is that offers arrive before Christmas, almost without exception, unlike Cambridge (let alone other top unis). The Oxford interview arrangements are also far more convivial than the Cambridge ones. Those things and the lack of icy winds from the Urals make Oxford an attractive option, not deserving of ire.

The Oxford interview and results admin is frankly fantastic - the turnaround is nothing short of miraculous and that was the case for both my DC one of whom was rejected. The DC were made to feel welcome by the colleges and the interview and results arrangements were faultless. I know some students complain about the short notice- but frankly being told which week interviews will be, two-three months in advance, seems to me to be very ample notice.

The Cambridge applicants have a really terrible time of it in January if they are pooled due to a lot more uncertainty. Applicants at other universities don't have such a stressful time because the interviews tend to be staggered (and the pressure/excitement is not so great I suppose). I also think times may have changed. Years ago when I applied there was no angst at all. I think times were much more easygoing then.

^ Yes- imagine having to go down (or up) to Cambridge for more interviews after Christmas! Exam period too. Although the "no news is good news" doesn't really apply when you're waiting on Oxford at Christmas...