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Higher education

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

Original poster

Uni offers for 2017 start

980 replies

Carriemac · 19/10/2016 07:25

Could we have a handholding thread? I have two DCs going through UCSS at the moment, would love to obsess here so I can appear calm on the outside.
LNAT results go to the UNIs tomorrow I think, so offers could be rolling in soon for DD who has applied for law.

OP posts:
user7214743615 · 15/12/2016 10:22

I wonder whether this will be a fad that lasts a couple of years and dies out?

I don't think the fad will die out.

Demographics imply that there will be less 18 year olds, and hence probably less UK university applicants, over the next few years. (This trend reverses for those born in 2003 and later.) At the same time, universities are losing EU students and probably non-EU students (the latter due to tighter visa restrictions) due to current politics. So universities will continue to be very keen to use ways to encourage UK students to firm them.

KnowOneNose · 15/12/2016 10:24

I'm sure everyone already knows but if you accept a unconditional offer and then do better than expected on results day then you are not eligible to use adjustment so would be unable to trade up to a 'better' Uni.

Adjustment isn't widely used but it's still something to consider.

user7214743615 · 15/12/2016 10:34

You can still ask to be released from your unconditional offer, and then look for a better offer via Clearing. Not really a route to be recommended, though, as by the time you are released from your offer the better Clearing places may well have gone.

KnowOneNose · 15/12/2016 10:35

I wonder whether this will be a fad that lasts a couple of years and dies out?

It should die out. It promotes the current ridiculous rise of overly optimistic predicted grades. It's unsustainable and makes the whole system even more unfair and more of a lottery. Over 50% of students miss there predicted grades by TWO or more grades. It's crazy.

rightsofwomen · 15/12/2016 10:40

DS1 invited to Southampton applicants day for Electrical and Electronic Engineering MEng. Yay...but FFS...the poor car's engine hasn't cooled down after Manchester's 9hr road trip!

I honestly had no idea that we'd do 5 open days and then 3 applicant days on top - that's ALOT of diesel. At least he can just hop on the train to Imperial.

Anyway, I'm happy for him. This was the last uni he was waiting to hear from.

KnowOneNose · 15/12/2016 10:44

user7214743615. You could definitely do that but it's a bit risky as you could end up with no place at all. Adjustment allows you to hold your current offer and look around. I hear that some Unis can be slow to release students so it could end up being a problem.

JugglingFromHereToThere · 15/12/2016 10:47

Hmm, some interesting statistics here, thanks all.
Potentially helpful in making good decisions I think

(love some interesting stats!)

TheMortificadosDragon · 15/12/2016 11:07

Oh good, rights - and if you're so inclined thats a dept which makes provision for accompanying parents, a talk on funding or something, separate lunch/tour so you're not just trailing round trying not to embarrass your kid. Meanwhile, I haven't been Envy looking at the virtual tour of the watersports centre, oh no.

rightsofwomen · 15/12/2016 11:24

Ah thanks dragon. I got the impression that Manc tolerated accompanying parents rather than welcomed them so it's nice that Southampton put something on specially. I don't feel a need to go with him and he certainly doesn't mind either way, but if they've put something on for parents free lunch? I'll happily go.

Though maybe I will go to the Titanic museum or Ikea (isn't one near us so that would be quite a treat!).

Nice watersports centre!

Needmoresleep · 15/12/2016 12:26

The IKEA is within walking distance of a good shopping centre (with a John Lewis if I remember correctly) and a large Decathlon. Too many weekends with DD swimming at the Watersports centre (which IS nice).

TheMortificadosDragon · 15/12/2016 13:16

I could be wrong but I thought at the watersports centre in my link, swimming would only be done accidentallyGrin?

Needmoresleep · 15/12/2016 14:04

Ah, I was thinking of the big swimming diving complex near IKEA.

I remember a happy afternoon walking between IKEA and John Lewis choosing kitchen bar stools. Both had a great choice. A satisfactory afternoon of shopping. I've not found the watersports centre - I thought it was called Bournemouth!

Needmoresleep · 15/12/2016 15:31

Southampton airport is also good for those who fly. Its own station and the platform is only about 50yds from check-in.

TheMortificadosDragon · 15/12/2016 16:47

Up the Itchen near some of the halls. Though they use Poole harbour as well I think (no, not Envy in the least that I hadn't developed Ratty tendencies in my misspent youth and reminding myself that they go to uni to work hard...Grin).

When they do all know where they're going, I can see there are some great sources of local knowledge!

MyrtleMoans · 15/12/2016 16:56

Child 2 got an "unconditional" offer for English/History as long as she makes it her firm. It wasn't her first choice which is a shame but she's happy anyway. It was a close second so it might tip the balance. If only Newcastle had done the same she'd have been sorted!

MyrtleMoans · 15/12/2016 17:50

Forgot to say it was for Nottingham 😕😊

goodbyestranger · 15/12/2016 18:25

DS has a fourth offer in today, from Durham - hadn't expected any response from there until Jan, so that's pleasing.

EnormousTiger · 15/12/2016 19:20

I will remind my boys to check for Durham in that case although I expect they would have said and I expect they check regularly.

goodbyestranger · 15/12/2016 19:45

Yes I think maybe they're slinging out a few offers before they knock off for Christmas. Although weirdly Track updated with an offer earlier today but then at 6.15 pm Durham sent an e-mail saying Happy Christmas don't worry about not getting an offer yet we're looking at all the applications after the Jan 15th deadline and by the way if you do get an offer (eventually) these are the visit days.

BingBongBam · 15/12/2016 19:50

Birmingham don't do unconditional for my ds's subject, it's a shame as I think he'd do well to go there. His other choice is solid though so either would be ok.

Waitingforsherlock · 15/12/2016 23:42

stranger may I ask which course the Durham offer is for please?

uggmum · 16/12/2016 07:22

My dd applied to Lincoln, Portsmouth, Cardiff and Hull to do Biochemistry.

She received offers from all of them but Lincoln gave her an unconditional offer so she has firmed it.

goodbyestranger · 16/12/2016 07:58

It's a science sherlock but not NatSci. My other DC applying for History have all had to wait until after Christmas for Durham and the two Law DDs have had one offer in before Christmas and one after. I think sciences are earlier generally, on the whole.

Waitingforsherlock · 16/12/2016 08:46

Thanks goodbyestranger. It is Economics he has applied for. He has already done his A- Levels and is having a gap year. The careers person at school said that this made no difference to how they would look at his application though. He hasn't had a single offer yet, but his form only went last week. It's a funny system though as a friend's dc was getting offers a couple of days after submitting UCAS form and now has a full set.