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Higher education

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

Original poster

Non RG or Ex Poly ucas applications - Come out come out wherever you are

114 replies

eatyourveg · 12/10/2015 20:41

I'm sure there are some dc out there applying to places which don't often get mentioned on here. Hoping this will be a safe place to discuss these much overlooked (by mn) but still wonderful universities. Sometimes middle ranking institutions in the overall tables often trump over several of their more famous cousins when it comes to subject tables and don't really deserve the silent treatment.

OP posts:
Nydj · 20/11/2015 14:20

DH and I both graduated from polytechnics and both have reasonable jobs in careers we are happy in. DS is in year 12 so will,hopefully, be applying next year but we are trying to prepare a bit this year as things a changed since either of us studied so this weekend will be our first open day at a local former polytechnic.

BestIsWest · 20/11/2015 15:28

I'm a former Poly grad myself and it served me well.

GasLIghtShining · 21/11/2015 22:18

eatyourveg I hope you don't have a long wait. Hope gets one of yours two.

My DS had finally finished his PS and has submitted it for the college reference. His personal tutor is off sick (planned) so I told DS to ask when he was back or if there was anything in place. Amazingly he has listened and is meeting with the HOD to go through the reference.

I am hoping that he will have at least one offer before Christmas.

Original poster
eatyourveg · 22/11/2015 09:31

Thanks Gas Is your ds going for PA at CM for his top choice?

OP posts:
GasLIghtShining · 22/11/2015 13:54

CM as first choice. His friend already has an offer there. NT didn't make it on to the list in the end

GasLIghtShining · 26/11/2015 21:49

Any news eatyourveg?

DS has offers from Lincoln and Gloucester and an interview at Worcester. Apparently his friend had to wait for about a month for an offer from Cardiff (can't bear it!). Gloucester is his insurance offer as they accept functional skills so if he fails his GCSE he will still have a place.

yolofish · 27/11/2015 11:51

DD tells me she cant firm up her 1st and 2nd choices because she hasnt heard from 2 others yet, and that they (the unis) dont even have to reply til May... is this right? because she thinks you cant start student finance application until you've chosen your top 2. it's all so confusing!!!

GasLightShining · 27/11/2015 13:58

yolo is there any information on the UCAS website.

I will ask my DS later if he knows

cricketballs · 27/11/2015 18:27

yolo you can start your finance (normally opens end of January) with any of the 5 being named as firm; if the firm you give to student finance changes then its a very easy and quick change to make.

We always recommend starting the finance applications started as soon as the window opens as there can be a lot of paperwork going back and forth and this takes a long time if there is any issues

DanishBlue · 29/11/2015 08:09

Yolo, if your DD has offers from her Firm and Insurance choices, she doesn't need to wait to hear from the others, just withdraw from them on UCAS and firm her top two, she can then apply for SF as soon as it comes available.

Original poster
eatyourveg · 29/11/2015 21:00

Yes Gas form finally went off on the Friday and by teatime the following Tuesday he had had 5 offers. Smile

Still has his heart set on heading to Newcastle, standard offer which he should exceed fairly well so qualifying for a rather generous scholarship. Insurance is between NT with a year in industry or MSci at Hull both with ridiculously low offers, the latter being way below the published standard offer which makes me wonder about the calibre of the course but its a new one so maybe they are desperate for takers, why then bother publishing something higher?

Good luck to your ds with his GCSE retake, are the results out soon?

OP posts:
Decide4Yourself · 30/11/2015 00:55

DD didn't apply for Lincoln because the course wasn't right for her but we were bowled over with the place. I've four DC at Uni and I've visited a lot of Unis in my time but I think Lincoln was my favorite.

GasLIghtShining · 30/11/2015 20:18

Decide My DS didn't go to the open day but I was up there the same weekend. Looks a lovely city though.

GasLIghtShining · 30/11/2015 20:24

eatyourveg That is great news. I can't remember but is your DS doing BTEC or a levels?

DS is not taking GCSE until the summer. Had to spend last academic year doing functional skills and then this academic year for GCSE. So although he is doing BTEC and in theory should know by July if he had the BTEC grades will actually be a week behind the A level students while waiting for BTEC results!!!

Original poster
eatyourveg · 30/11/2015 20:38

iirc he's doing the same BTEC pathway as your ds.

OP posts:
GasLIghtShining · 30/11/2015 22:40

Of course I remember now!

The advantage of BTEC is that they will know their results in July and that in theory as long as they carry on working as they are and don't get knocked over by a bus and miss shed loads of lesson they should get their predicted grades - no worrying about how the exams go.

DS highest offer so far is DDM

Still waiting for CM to come back

Original poster
eatyourveg · 01/12/2015 07:39

Gas Ds put his grades in the grade calculator and it seems as long as he passes the rest of the units even with a P, he will meet his offers which is really encouraging so he's just working for the scholarship now - highest offer here is also DDM.

Hope CM come back soon - are they known for waiting until January? Might be worth looking at TSR to see if you can get any clues as to when it might be.

BestIsWest did your ds get his form in? Did he go for Bath Spa in the end?

OP posts:
BestIsWest · 01/12/2015 19:13

Just one thing remaining on the form which he needs to query with his tutor tomorrow EYV then it can go. He finally made a 5th choice too. Hurrah. Bath Spa is on the list. All his choices interview and review portfolios so there will still be some way to go.

It's like pulling teeth.

Original poster
eatyourveg · 01/12/2015 19:23

Pob lwc iddo fo!

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BestIsWest · 01/12/2015 19:29

Diolch yn fawr!

GasLIghtShining · 04/12/2015 23:25

eatyourveg His friend had a reply from CM after about a month so am hoping we will hear before Christmas but expect it will be be in January allowing for Christmas holidays

Hope it goes well for your DS Best

Original poster
eatyourveg · 06/12/2015 18:08

A month is a long time to wait although I know technically they can wait several months before a response has to be given. Was your ds's friends offer for PA?

OP posts:
GasLIghtShining · 06/12/2015 23:01

Sport & Exercise Science which is what DS has decided to go for.

GasLIghtShining · 07/12/2015 21:07

Offer through today!

He said they have not mention English GCSE so is not sure whether it is a mistake to whether they are happy with the functional skills. GSCE is specified as a requirement on the website. His offer from Lincoln specifies English so it can specify on the offer.

He is going to e-mail and check as he is worried that if it is a mistake and is spotted the might withdraw the offer. He'd rather know now

Original poster
eatyourveg · 08/12/2015 07:37

Well done on the offer. The ucas website says that CM accept FS L2 as equivalent to GCSE see here so he should be fine.

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