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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

ds has heard from 4 out of 5 unis - is it worth chasing the last one?

19 replies

basildonbond · 02/03/2015 15:26

ds has got offers (yay) from four of his choices but still hasn't heard back from Exeter

His first choice is King's (and unless something goes very badly pear-shaped this summer he should get the grades he needs ), however if he gets Exeter that would be his second choice, obviously dependant on the offer.

Everywhere else made an offer within two weeks of getting his form. According to Track Exeter have until 7th May to make up their mind, which will be after he's already started his exams - argh!

He wants to get on with choosing and going on offer holders' days, sorting out accommodation etc but is in a bit of a limbo

Is it worth contacting Exeter direct or do they not like that?

OP posts:
chemenger · 02/03/2015 15:32

A quick look at Exeter's web page shows that applications recieved before the 15th of January deadline will normally be given a decision by the end of March at the latest. I don't imagine they sit on decisions rather than sending them out so I doubt of contacting them will speed up the process.

Info here:

www.exeter.ac.uk/undergraduate/applications/offer/

stonecircle · 02/03/2015 15:48

When did your DS's application go in? My DS submitted his mid November and, while Exeter was the last to reply, they sent him an offer probably within about 3-4 weeks. He's going on the offer day next week.

I wonder if it depends on the subject?

fannyfanakapan · 02/03/2015 15:53

I think it depends on subject. DD submitted November, had offers come in through December (incl Exeter), but we waited until mid feb for Cardiff.

Some faculties are very slow in processing theirs.

stonecircle · 02/03/2015 15:54

I think it would be reasonable to ring admissions and ask when you might hear as you want to make sure your ds can attend an offer day. DS booked his offer day a while back and I know one of the dates was full then.

I went with DS to an offer day at Royal Holloway recently and the admissions tutor said that, when deciding whether or not to admit students who have just missed their grades, one of the things they look at is if they attended an offer day. That's because they want to be sure they take students who know what their uni is like so are likely to stick with them (and why they avoid clearing). So I don't think it can do any harm for your ds to contact them and show how keen he is!

gonegrey56 · 02/03/2015 16:39

DS should ring, if he decides to, not Mum !

MillyMollyMama · 02/03/2015 17:06

Exeter is his likely insurance choice though, behind Kings. So Exeter probably won't get him anyway. I have never known anyone ring before the end of March. They still have a month to make decisions and lots of universities don't decide until March, even with October applications. It does no harm to wait until the end of March to find out the normal way, except it does not help his his curiosity. I would just wait, like everyone else, because how can Exeter field all the phone calls from the worried insurance offer candidates with 4 offers already?

Original poster
basildonbond · 02/03/2015 19:15

thanks everyone - just to be clear, ds would be making the call, not me ... Grin

ok .. I'll tell him he'll just have to be patient for a while longer (although patience is not one of his virtues ...)

OP posts:
RedHairDontCare · 02/03/2015 19:48

I used to work at another universities admissions department and assuming Exeter works the same as the one I worked at here are a couple of points

  1. depending on the subject, the personal statement will be 'graded' by an academic and then the decision made is based on grades etc by admissions, therefore going or not going to open days or calling/meeting academics won't help the application
  2. the courses are (at my uni) split between people so it's not like one course will be left until the end
  3. saying that, honestly I worked so so hard to get the applications done as quickly and fairly as possible, sometimes the academics made the process slow, sometimes other things slowed us down. Calling to ask how long it will take probably won't help unfortunately, and when we get lots of calls it just distracted us from getting the applications done! That probably hasn't helped much but good luck to your son!
RustyBear · 02/03/2015 19:53

I have a friend who's son is still waiting on Exeter - she rang them on Thursday and they said they hadn't decided yet!

They are worth waiting for (tho' I'm biased, 3/4 of our family went there!)

likealaugh · 02/03/2015 20:02

My son is waiting on Exeter too. He is applying for History is that makes a difference . Does it matter how soon you take up an offer ? My son wants to choose Reading and we are just hanging on for Exeter even though he probably won't use it.Trouble is he can't accept and offer on ucas until all offers in . I'd hate him to miss out on anything because of hanging around.

stonecircle · 02/03/2015 20:16

I'm surprised actually OP that Exeter would be an insurance after Kings - I'd expect Exeter to be a higher offer so not much use as an insurance? Kings ask for AAB for geography for example, but DS's offer for Exeter is AAA.

Original poster
basildonbond · 02/03/2015 20:37

well it would be offer-dependant stonecircle ... however Exeter don't do his first choice subject (War Studies) so he's applied for History and International Relations for which Exeter's typical offer is lower than King's for War Studies

we shall see ...

OP posts:
butterfly1234 · 02/03/2015 20:42

My dd had the same problem. Contacted uni over the weekend to ask when she should expect to hear from them. Got an offer this morning. Could be a coincidence though I guess.

MillyMollyMama · 02/03/2015 21:48

Reading over Exeter? Really? I don't know anyone who would do that as Reading offer is likely to be lower.

Molio · 02/03/2015 22:14

OP he'll only get a bland response there really is no point.

likealaugh · 02/03/2015 22:19

MillyMollyMama my son might not get what Exeter requires , hence Reading over Exeter ! Also he's a quiet lad and loved the feel of Reading .

YouAreAngryyyyyyyy · 03/03/2015 09:33

I'd call, and I'd happily call on my DCs behalf. I've never had an admissions tutor been sniffy about it either. It's a two minute phone call.

LikeaLaugh. If a uni is taking too long to decide and your DC has decided against them anyhow then your DC can withdraw that part of their application.

My DS did that when Bristol took months and months to make an offer. DC already had offers from his first and second choices so there was no point waiting for them to make a decision.

Original poster
basildonbond · 26/03/2015 17:49

Update - he didn't call them in the end, just contented himself with obsessively checking Track every five minutes ...

And finally got an offer today - yay!

It's quite a low offer so he's going to put it as his insurance

Now he's just got to keep himself going for the next few weeks - his exams start in just over a month - eek Shock

OP posts:
senua · 27/03/2015 20:06

Well done him for getting five offers.Grin Must be a relief to have it all finally sorted.

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