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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:
GasLIghtShining · 08/12/2015 23:59

Thanks. I didn't notice it - all I saw was the grade C. I can relax now.

Applicants Day is on Wednesday so off we go again! Found out that DS never collected his GCSE Certificate from school and needs proof of qualifications.

BestIsWest · 15/01/2016 20:09

Anyone else still waiting?

DS had an interview at his first choice this week and they have made him a great offer so very pleased. Also got a higher offer from his least favourite and another interview next week. Still to hear from the other 2.

So very relieved. The interview process is so stressful especially as he had to present a portfolio, a short film and complete a task in advance of the interview.

Sparklycat · 15/01/2016 20:47

I hate all the league table rubbish, I always advise students to go to universities that have the best facilities and reputation for the particular course they want to do, not for the prestige of some other uni.

JamesetjeeBomanjee · 16/01/2016 10:18

League tables are really useful you just have to use them carefully. There is so much more information in them apart from the overall university ranking. I know they are not perfect and they always rely on 'historic' information but they are definitely useful if they are used in conjunction with all the other info that is out there.
I think they do a lot for lower ranked Unis as they are a way for them to highlight the areas that they do well in. For example I've seen some courses at lower ranked Unis with incredibly good student satisfaction ratings.

GasLIghtShining · 16/01/2016 23:16

Good to hear Best. Hope the others reply quickly.

DS has all offers (all conditional). Next step the finance application! He is doing BTEC so is not relying on exam results and as long as he carries on as he is he will get the grades. He has accepted his first choice and decided on his insurance too.

Out of the five only one held interviews

BestIsWest · 17/01/2016 00:21

Yes BTEC here too Gas, all being well, he should be fine. At least we won't have to go through the stress of A level results day.

I still have nightmares - when my DD went through it, she was 20 points short on results day and due to an error by UCAS a qualification she had worth 20 points wasn't included in the total. Her university accepted her thankfully but they had to enter clearing just to accept her. She was the only student they accepted through clearing that year(it was the last year before the fees hike). It took 48 hours of waiting and during that time I was in hospital so couldn't help her.

GasLIghtShining · 17/01/2016 00:34

Thankfully first choice and insurance have accepted his functional skills english otherwise we would be having the stress of waiting for GCSE result day!

Your poor DD. It must have seemed like forever.

Have an older DD but this is my first time of going through it all. Do have to be careful about how gushing we are about it all as conscious that we don't want her to think we are disappointed in her for not going. At the same time don't want DS to think we don't give a damn

BestIsWest · 17/01/2016 00:51

Good news Gas , we are in the same position re maths, looks like they have accepted the functional skills. Just had another attempt and went up from an E to a D so at least moving in the right direction.

Original poster
eatyourveg · 19/01/2016 07:46

Anyone know when results day is for BTECers? I'm wondering if it varies and is just whenever they get their last assignment back and get around to sending the results through to edexcel (in which case ds's college are likely to be frustratingly slow). Wondering too if the offers become unconditional then or they have to wait until August. Ds is planning on being away for A level results day but wondering if I will need to have access to ucas to do anything

OP posts:
GasLIghtShining · 19/01/2016 14:12

Not sure but I was thinking along the lines that you are. Imagine the results are fed through from edexcel. Wondering if they do it in one go or as the colleges send in the results? My hope was it would be sorted out so we could confirm accommodation but it looks like CMU look at allocating it after the A levels results.

She could give you her log in and password so you can check on her behalf

More questions to ask my DS!!!

traceyinrosso70 · 24/01/2016 16:01

Well, my DS has a very surprising but amazing unconditional offer from DeMontfort Uni in Leicester for BSc Music Technology. We are going to the open day in February to help him decide whether to accept the offer or go for one of his conditional offers. Does anyone have a DC there ?

GasLIghtShining · 24/01/2016 19:50

Well done to your son Tracey. Hope the open day goes well

traceyinrosso70 · 24/01/2016 20:22

ThanksGasLightShining we are thrilled for him ! He has a very academic big sister who he feels he has lived in the shadow of so this is great that he has his own achievement recognised !

Original poster
eatyourveg · 14/02/2016 10:24

Offer day at Northumbria yesterday - amazing course and amazing opportunities, ds firmed while he was there! All getting very real now.

OP posts:
GasLightShining · 14/02/2016 21:42

That's great veg. What's his insurance?

Finance application next!

Any further down the line with his work placements?

Original poster
eatyourveg · 14/02/2016 22:46

Its Nottingham Trent Gas but only because they gave him a lower offer - he says if he doesn't get Northumbria, he'll go for a higher apprenticeship.

Work placements are one week in the local uni helping post grad research students, one week with the multisport camp thingy, sleeping on his brother's settee and the third week is still being negotiated but looks like it will be with a sports journalist in London.

Interestingly one of the tutors yesterday told us that the btec results would be out at the end of June and his place and accommodation would be confirmed then rather than on A level results day which is a relief as he'll be in St Lucia coaching and I don't really want the responsibility of managing emails.

Will your ds firm CM or as he already done so?

OP posts:
GasLightShining · 15/02/2016 14:02

Firmed Cardiff Met weeks ago! Amazing how organized they can be if they want. Gloucester as insurance as it's a lower offer. Cardiff I think are asking DDD and Gloucester I think is DMM.

He can apply for accommodation on 1 April. It is not allocated until after A level results but is done on a first come first served basis so he still needs to apply on the 1st.

In theory your DS shouldn't have a problem getting the grades though should he.

St Lucia sounds great. Is it with the company you asked me about?

Hope he gets the third week sorted. Like the sound of having three different placements. He's got a variety there and if he doesn't like one of them he only has to do it for a week.

Original poster
eatyourveg · 15/02/2016 17:42

Paid deposit on accommodation today (Gulp) got his first choice in a flat with 3 other first years and of course he hadn't looked at the price and it is the most expensive hall! A pittance in comparison to his db in London though.

Its DDM with DMM as insurance but hopefully he'll get triple D or double D and a D. Anything over triple D gets him a scholarship which he will have to use on rent because his student loan won't cover it.

He went with Changing worlds which one mnetter mentioned and yes hoping 3 different placements will stem any boredom.

Am waiting to do student finance until I know whether ds1 has been accepted for a masters just in case it has an effect on our contribution

trying to read back to see where everyone else is at

BestIsWest Hope the interviews went well, did the other offers come in?

Yolofish did your dd hear back from the two she was waiting on?

traceyinrosso70 Did your ds go for the unconditional at De Montford or somewhere else?

How is everyone else?

OP posts:
BestIsWest · 15/02/2016 19:50

He's had 4 offers EYV and one rejection with an offer of an interview for a different course (which he's not interested in).

Best offer is MMM from USW which also happens to be his favourite and the best choice for him so he's over the moon with that.

We have two offer visitor days coming up and he has ruled out the fourth after visiting for interview but the other offers are higher (DMM and 280 points) so I'm not sure how much use they will be as insurance.

Anyone know if you can firm but leave your insurance decision until later?

GasLightShining · 18/02/2016 13:51

Best has he asked at college. I have no idea but it would seem strange to have your insurance offer with higher grades

BestIsWest · 18/02/2016 20:39

I've checked and both firm and insurance have to be accepted at the same time. He has to have some medical treatment next month so will miss one of the offer days now as well. However, I think that he has a 40 point qualification that might count towards the 280 point qualification which would bring it down to MMM so that might do as insurance. Seems pointless putting a higher offer as insurance.

traceyinrosso70 · 18/02/2016 21:33

eatyourveg thanks for asking ! We go to DeMontfort on Saturday for their open day and that's our last Uni visit so Saturday is make your mind up day !!!! He's decided if he likes DMU in reality as much as he does on paper he will accept his unconditional offer and if he doesn't like it he will accept his conditional offer at UCLAN which he's sure he can meet . He also had another unconditional from Leeds Beckett but that wasn't one of his top choices so whilst it was lovely for him to get it it didn't sway his decision .

BestIsWest · 18/02/2016 21:43

Amazing to get unconditionals Tracy. Must take the stress of it all down a level.

GasLightShining · 18/02/2016 21:54

That's brilliant tracey. Hope Saturday goes well

traceyinrosso70 · 20/02/2016 21:47

So, Open Day done and decision made ..........DeMontfort it is !!!!!!!! Everything ticked all his boxes - the course is just what he wants, he liked the campus and it's city centre location, he's visited a hall of residence he likes and the unconditional offer is just the icing on the cake !!!!!!! So, Leicester here he comes !