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?

My advice (as someone with very stretched means) would be to follow his heart, no question. There's a different sort of pressure which comes with compromise, or selling yourself short. It's about happiness at the end of the day and a lack of student debt for a super talented DC is probably marginal to that.

My twopence worth.

No offence whatsoever intended to Southampton in that.

I think you are probably right yellowstone, he was very taken with Ox at both open day and interview.

As a Durham graduate myself it saddens me that I consistently hear poor reports of the admissions process at Durham.My ds has always been keen however one open day visit and he was put off for life,he felt it came across as hard nosed and arrogant and to be honest the course for his subject didn't live up to the hype(i could have told him this because I did it!).A friend from another part of the country went the same day and her daughter thought the same ,although she has gone on to apply .

At his sixth form meeting where they pooled feedback from open days etc the only one which was consistently negative was Durham.What really upsets me is that in reality the University has a good record for pastoral care and nurturing its students yet they seem to consistently get it wrong at this stage,of course the students still apply for all the obvious reasons but it leaves a nasty taste .

Thanks Yellowstone, you have (in my humble opinion) an excellent vocabulary I'm sure it rubs off on your offspring. Gelatinous what a decision, I suspect Yellowstone is right he may always end up wondering 'what if?' DD has an offer which comes with various scholarships but when she analysed them they didn't amount to that much. I wait for the final offer/rejection with interest/hope.

Cambridge offers out today...

OMG...it's an offer.

Now I need a TSR-style jumpy upanddown emoticon...

Brilliant! Jump up and down all you like.

Get jumping! Well done .

Well done! What subject? Well done! Did you have the job of opening the letter and phoning through to your DC?

Well done cassidee ....feeling a bit sick here; DS has been 'pooled' for vet med at Cambridge - anyone have any hopeful things to say? The college he applied to had 45 interviewees for four places so I suppose he hasn't done too badly but he is disappointed.....

Fingers crossed for your DS BCBG - remember you are not out until you are out!! Pooling does prolong the agony but at least he is still in with a chance.

Maths...I wasn't given the job, I took it. I haven't phoned; I think he'll want the news when he gets in.

Your ds has done well to be pooled, BCBG - there are lots of rejected TSR posters (and more than one mum lurking, I'll be bound...) Will it mean another interview? That's what I was dreading - although much better that than rejection.

Me and my TSR lurking habit...I'm gutted for the applicants I'd "got to know" on there who haven't got in...especially one particularly endearing poster who was all set to be ds' best friend....

Helicopters? Moi?

BCBG, I don't know if having a look at TSR would help you or your ds - there are lots of students on there discussing being pooled by Cambridge. My ds doesn't want to go on TSR, hence my helicopter habit. If you had a look first, you might be able to pass on helpful thoughts, and encourage him to have a look if you think it could be useful.

Can I just google TSR and join in then?

yes, and then look under Cambridge threads and then pooled thread...

We have been lucky here too-offer for engineering!

Not so good here as ds got rejection from Cambridge today. But he wasn't optimistic following the interview. I was hoping he was wrong, but he wasn't! He doesn't seem too upset though as he has offer from another v. good uni. I'm glad he had a go, even if it hasn't come off. Bit :( for him but in some ways I think he might enjoy somewhere else. Cambridge bit too much like his school..... (Also been following TSR - guilty something - don't know if it's pleasure though )

Yes, BCBG, I only lurk - I haven't registered or anything. And wouldn't presume to post!

Sorry to hear that, Ucasnewbie. I reckon it's a real double-bind - it's good to have a shot at it, but they have to be ready for it not to come off. At least they all know it's very competitive. Good on them for having a try.

Might "guilty addiction" be the phrase you're looking for? Or is that just me? I do think TSR is pleasingly similar to MN, so that would be why we feel at home there. The threads move as fast, so the addictive refreshing is similar.

Congrats, Wolfbrother, on the engineering offer. Fantastic news.

Thanks Cassidee and congrats to all those with offers. He doesn't seem that disappointed to be honest - I might even say a bit relieved! Intensity of Cambridge perhaps not for him in the end - his subject very competitive as well, even for Cambridge. No respite though as his 'firm' needs same grades as standard Cambridge offer. Fingers crossed for August. Does your dc need to do STEP now (don't really get all the STEP stuff...)

Yes, addictive might be word for TSR. I would never post there but have been lurking for a while and found it quite useful as source of info as well as following the stories of all the applicants. Must wean myself off it though - wasting too much time at work!

Yes, he's still got to get mega-good results in two STEP exams in the summer, so unlike students of other subjects, his place is by no means in the bag. The whole process really has been a series of steps with STEP being the grand finale. We'll see. Would be galling to lose the place because of messing up one of the STEP exams. The A levels are minor by comparison.

I found TSR useful to get my head round the whole application process, STEP, and what might concievably be going on in ds' head.

"conceivably"

Very well done indeed to your DC too wolfbrother, s/he must be thrilled :) Sorry for any disappointment ucasnewbie. I know that some of my younger ones would hate the intensity of Oxford and Cambridge though. I think DC5 may perhaps be clever enough but I know that he'd just be far happier elsewhere and that's infinitely more important than anything else, it's got to be. I think I hope that he doesn't apply. I hope your DC gets his grades and feels it's all worked out for the best. BCBG, 45 interviewees for 4 places! That's why I much prefer the Oxford system. Much more ruthless culling, much cosier interview regime, much faster result. Good luck to your DC, the extra wait must be bad.

Congrats to the DC's with the offers they wanted.

I actually think that rejections are kinder than keeping people waiting for news. Pooling, not so much. They have tried for Oxbridge rather than wondering, what if?

No-one should be kept hanging on the way they process applications, it wouldn't happen in other walks of life. I DD is sick of waiting for news about her dream course.

Thanks Yellowstone, Cassidee and ucasnewbie.
He is indeed very happy.

Congratulations to all with Cambridge offers and good wishes to all those in the pool. Commiserations to those who didn't make it this time.