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Higher education

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Original poster

UCAS Exhibition??

17 replies

MEgirl · 17/01/2016 21:50

Do any parents attend these events or do the kids go on their own? I'm just about to pass on information to my DTs so they can request time off from school to attend.

OP posts:
ShhhBeQuiet · 17/01/2016 22:15

I went with a couple of my kids because it was more convenient for me to take them than them catching the school bus. We split up when we got there though. I had a wonder around and a chat to various admissions people who seemed delighted to have someone to talk too. I stepped away if it looked like a DC wanted to chat to them though.

They are really useful for collecting prospectuses. I know the kids can order them online but it's a lot easier to collect them at the fairs. I got the DC to get a really wide range of them.
It depends what you DC are like but a lot Of DC seemed only to be interested in collecting the freebies.

eatyourveg · 17/01/2016 22:18

Around here they usually go with the school.

Original poster
MEgirl · 17/01/2016 22:19

There are a couple coming up locally and we've not yet heard anything from the school. I might send an email to the head of 6th form to ask whether they plan to take them.

OP posts:
Sammy3 · 20/01/2016 21:19

I went with DS as his college didn't take them and none of his friends were interested. I was there mostly for company and was definitely in the minority. There were mostly groups of teens wandering around picking up bags and pens, etc. I wouldn't go in future with my other DC since DS felt a bit conspicuous even though no one seemed to notice or care. He didn't get much out of it either, other than being able to get lots of prospectuses. He did enjoy shopping afterwards though, as we were in Brum.

Sadusername · 22/01/2016 21:54

Do all the main RG universities tend to be at these events? The ucas exhibition local to us is in a fairly small city. So I am wondering if there would be less stands and/or preponderance of local unis and colleges, than if we went to one in a major city?

AtiaoftheJulii · 22/01/2016 23:56

The one in our non-RG university town (have had dc go there two years running) had loads of universities from all over, including Oxbridge. The dc came home with plenty of RG prospectuses.

BackforGood · 23/01/2016 00:11

Where and when are these held?
Not heard of them (and I have a dc at Universtiy as well as my dc in the 6th form) Hmm

Sadusername · 23/01/2016 08:44

I hadn't heard of them till I saw this thread. Here's the link, they are all over the country, by the looks of it. Presumably no entry fee!
www.ucas.com/events/convention-exhibition

eatyourveg · 23/01/2016 09:20

Thats right Sadusername its free but you do have to book. ds 1 went with his school and hated the whole thing, spent the entire time in the café. ds3's college however weren't going and so I took him. He loved it and came away very excited and incentivised to knuckle down and get the best grades he could. He picked up loads of prospectuses and spent ages talking to the reps from each of the places on his rather long shortlist. So two very different experiences.

The link should give you a list of all the exhibitors coming to each event so you can see who will be at your town. Only one place ds3 was interested in, didn't have a stand, so it made it through to his open day sift but didn't make the top 5 for the form.

Sadusername · 23/01/2016 10:10

I wonder how many will schlep down to Cornwall? I suppose, if they have to be in Exeter the next day.

I imagine my dd will find it motivational if the universities she is interested in are there. Plus if there are any free goodies........

lljkk · 23/01/2016 10:33

It's in Uni interests to spread net wide to get best students, but then it also costs money so only bigger/richer Unis & most common courses will be represented. Minority/specialist the students will need to make more effort.

Sadusername · 23/01/2016 12:56

I managed to find who was exhibiting in Cornwall, and while it was about a third of the universities who are in London, it includes all but one of the universities on my daughter's current short list.
I couldn't find a link to the page where you find out whether or not your child's school has booked to go.

eatyourveg · 23/01/2016 14:40

You won't find a list of schools going - your dd will need to ask her teachers

BackforGood · 23/01/2016 15:10

Thank you sadusername Smile

BackforGood · 23/01/2016 15:18

Oh - that's disappointing - they are only open during the school day. So, if the school isn't taking them, then pupils can't access them (or the one in my City, I've not looked at all the dates). I was expecting them to be open in the evening, or to have a day at the weekend.

mumeeee · 23/01/2016 15:29

I've had 3 DDs go to university. In my experience I've found that schools and Colleges take their students to the UCAS exhibitions or they give them time off to go.

Sadusername · 23/01/2016 18:04

We are lucky, it a non pupil day.

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