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Higher education

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

Original poster

Has anyone got an offer from UCL for Sept 2016 start?

88 replies

katemiddletonsothermum · 04/03/2016 22:25

DD has applied to UCL. She already has 4 offers but UCL is her top choice. They are dragging their heels and have not yet made her an offer / rejected her. However, in the meantime, DD is concerned that the best rooms in the student accommodation for her other choices will be snapped up as students confirm their first choices.

Anyway, I suspect DD is on the bottom of the UCL pile and I just wish they'd hurry up and reject her so that she can confirm her place at another very good uni. She won't feel too bad about that (we've talked about it) - but I wondered whether it was UCL who are being slow in sending out offers, or whether it's just DD who hasn't received an offer yet.

Her school said that they'd chase UCL up, but god knows how the system works these days Confused.

OP posts:
Hassled · 04/03/2016 22:28

DS got an offer from UCL quite a while ago - maybe December? It does seem odd it's so slow. It's probably the subject/department rather than the institution that's being slow - have you trawled The Student Room forum? There's bound to be a thread there, and you'll be able to see what subjects have had offers.

Hassled · 04/03/2016 22:30

Have a look here

Original poster
katemiddletonsothermum · 04/03/2016 22:38

Thank you! She sent in her UCAS form in October and started getting offers within the week. I'm tempted to tell her to tell UCL to stuff it and to go to another highly reputable London college instead, particularly as she has two unconditional offers not a stealth boast, honest guv

She's on the Student Room all the time, bless her.

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SueDunome · 04/03/2016 22:40

ds applied in October and got an offer last week. They were the last of his chosen universities to respond. He has already rejected them and firmed elsewhere.

Original poster
katemiddletonsothermum · 04/03/2016 22:50

Good lad, Sue's DS - I like his style. It's March FGS. These kids wouldn't apply to UCL if they weren't high calibre, would they?

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Needmoresleep · 04/03/2016 23:37

Kate, two years ago when DS was applying I found myself lurking on The Student Room, as at this point he was still waiting for three of his choices (UCL, LSE and Warwick). I understand that Durham and Bristol can be similarly slow.

I assume it is a competitive course. From what I read Unversities have a problem. They have to give all EU candidates equal treatment but the cut of for applications is only mid January, and London Universities tend to attract a high proportion of overseas candidates. Then, at least for some courses, they find that some EU qualifications don't sufficiently differentiate so they require some to sit an exam. Then they shuffle through their holding pile. LSE (where DS ended up, after being rejected by UCL in late March) accepted a few more each Thursday and rejected some each Friday. DS had not expected it to be so difficult and it provided additional stress at a point when there is already a lot of pressure.

It is horrid. Does UCL say how many applicants for each place? LSE say that overall they have eleven applicants per place. This means a lot of well qualified candidates are rejected.

I hope she gets what she wants....and soon. And congratulations on the two unconditional offers.

(Medicine is worse. DD applied by the October deadline yet only had the first of three interviews a week ago. At the second place they told her it would be 5-6 weeks before she heard. I don't think they need to tell her till mid-May. At which point there is a real danger that bad news will have an impact on her A2s.)

HocusCrocus · 05/03/2016 05:08

Kate, would you say which subject it is. ?

Ds has two friends who were applying for a humanities subject - same department / faculty , different courses (both at UCL). One got an offer before Christmas, one had his in the last few days.

Which other London college would she prefer or has an offer for?

With the benefit of all of 12 months hindsight (i.e. DS in first year of university now) this waiting bit for all the offers is fraught. I do feel for you and wish your Dd all the very best. Fingers crossed for her.

tantalisingduck · 05/03/2016 12:41

DD got an offer from UCL within a week or two of submitting her application which didn't happen til the first week of January (long story - illness) and from another three choices soon after...I think it must be faculty/department dependent.

She's still waiting on Exeter, which is odd - they're generally very quick, but I guess she's in the very last pile of applications to be considered. They did ask for her subject choices (a combined honours degree) in mid February...but then nothing....and it was only when she wrote to ask if there was any more information required, that they replied to ask for further details about one subject choice....and then nothing again since. I keep telling her that her choice of degree is to blame - presumably each of the three subject departments has to confirm there is 'room" for her on the course. But still....

it is difficult though - as you say there are accommodation issues and also open offer days - sometimes they are full up before the last offers are made...

good luck all

Original poster
katemiddletonsothermum · 05/03/2016 13:16

History....

She was asked to write an essay for submission in the middle of January.

She's also got an offer from King's which probably needs firming up sooner rather than later Confused

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Original poster
katemiddletonsothermum · 05/03/2016 13:19

Thanks for your good wishes Flowers. Let's be honest - she's on the slush pile. Now that's nothing to be ashamed of, at least she got this far and wasn't rejected within nanoseconds. I think she should confirm King's this weekend - it's a great place! But then again, I'm only the Mum.

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titchy · 05/03/2016 13:49

There's no rush to firm Kings...... It won't benefit her at all!

Molio · 05/03/2016 15:08

DS2 got his History offer in late November or early December, having been asked to write a short piece on something or another ('What makes a good history book?' I think). Others heard earlier but some much later and I'm talking about offers not rejections.

Good luck to your DD. titchy is right - your DD might as well wait it out, it can't be long now.

Janjanmama · 05/03/2016 17:34

My dd got her UCL offer (humanity) in October, a week after she sent back the questionnaire which had to be written in essay type. Same case as her schoolmate who applied computer science.

Her another friend is still waiting, goes for English, straight A's in AS.

And another very outstanding friend goes for law was rejected in November before interview.

I think it all depends on different departments. Some do it quick; some work out slow. No news means your daughter's profile is under consideration. Besides, application for UoL accommodation is not open yet. So no need to rush to firm King's. Good news may come any time!

HocusCrocus · 05/03/2016 17:48

The example I gave was History at UCL, so heard about a week ago. It does sound though that people heard at all sorts of times so I certainly would echo others - no need to rush into firming Kings. Fingers crossed for her.

exexpat · 05/03/2016 17:56

DS is still waiting to hear from both LSE and UCL - he applied back in the autumn, and got an offer from Warwick within a week or so. It's for economics, so very competitive, but they do seem very slow.

Original poster
katemiddletonsothermum · 05/03/2016 18:11

Argh argh argh, says she after drinking red wine all afternoon.

janjanmama what you say is very encouraging and proves that those who bluff it out are those who succeed.... but.....

I'll leave this one to her sixth form tutor and to DD herself. I know I shouldn't say this, but she is is 17 and I actually like and admire her... so she knows the right thing to do. Teenagers are actually quite nice sometimes.

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Original poster
katemiddletonsothermum · 05/03/2016 18:14

Also, to add, this is Mumsnet at its best. Love you all Flowers OK, it's mother's day (weekend), I've been in a ver nice pub iwht vair nice Wine but I still lovve you

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GinandJag · 05/03/2016 18:17

When DS applied to UCL, he had an interview early December and an offer s few days later.

I don't think he rushed with his accommodation (he leaves everything to the last minute) and got a student house in Gower Street across the road from his department.

GinandJag · 05/03/2016 18:22

There's no need to firm until April. Wait for all the offers to come in. Patience.

HocusCrocus · 05/03/2016 19:13

exexpat - Ds was rejected by LSE and I am pretty sure he had heard by this time last year. Not for Economics though. It seems so variable when these things come through but albeit speculation - I hope it keeps your spirits up.
(Mind you - I careered wildly between hope / gloom / speculation for most of last year Grin )

exexpat · 05/03/2016 21:53

Thanks, Hocus - in fact DS is now at least 80% convinced he doesn't want to do economics after all and may be turning down all offers to take a year out and reapply for something else...

Needmoresleep · 05/03/2016 23:19

exexpat, DS is loving economics at LSE but...it is very mathematical. There is scope to take finance, accountancy or economic history options, or even switch to a related degree if you do well enough in your first year, but mainstream economics is an awful lot of maths.

Your DS did very well to get an offer from Warwick. They seem to be looking for slightly different things. Languages seem to help.

BaconAndAvocado · 06/03/2016 18:06

DS got an offer from UCL for MEng in February, think it's going to bee his insurance as they told him yesterday at the Open Day that he could drop a grade, but would have to do the BEng.

Unfortunately he chose 5 courses with the same grade requirements Confused

Drinksforeveryone · 06/03/2016 23:39

Yes, DS had an offer a while ago and has been on the open day in Feb.

I think he has decided against UCL though. Has three others lined up.

Maybe it depends on the subject as to when they send out their offers?

Good luck to your DD.

BoboChic · 07/03/2016 18:32

exexpat - DSS2 applied to LSE, Bristol, Warwick and UCL for Economics last year. Bristol and Warwick gave him offers very quickly, LSE rejected him mid-February and UCL made him an offer at the end of March. DSS1 applied for Economics three years ago and only got one offer, from Bristol, towards the end of March.

Economics is highly competitive and a bit random but it doesn't seem to matter where you go of the courses I mention, plus of course Oxford and Cambridge, in terms of outcomes (Masters and job offers) providing you bust a gut working once you are there.