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Higher education

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Original poster

It's August ..... the countdown begins

556 replies

doglover · 01/08/2017 15:53

How's everyone feeling? My dd was pretty much able to forget about results during July but said in a very quiet voice this morning, "I'll find out this month where I'm going."

Is anyone doing anything yet in preparation for 17th? Should we be doing anything yet in preparation for 17th?!

OP posts:
TheMightyMing · 21/08/2017 22:49

I'll have a look, I think we won't have a great deal of choice st this stage :(

Travelledtheworld · 21/08/2017 23:08

Kath6144 thanks for all that advice about Liverpool accommodation.
There were no halls open for us to visit on Sunday, do we are doing this all from what we can see on the website.
She is going to apply those new SC rooms on the main campus, but I did just warn her to be grateful for whatever she gets allocated at this late stage.

However...when she tried to accept the offer on UCAS track this afternoon, THE COURSE DIDN'T SHOW UP ! Too late in the day to phone the university, so she is now in a panic and promises to get up at 8am and get on the phone tomorrow, last day she can accept the offer.

kath6144 · 22/08/2017 12:30

Travelled - fingers crossed it is just a problem with UCAS, it sounds it.

The SC accommodation is lovely and the facilities good. Was asking DS yesterday if he had friends in catered - he said yes, and general feeling was food could be repetitive, lots of chips and sometimes same meals 2 days in a row, obviously re-heated.

He did mention, 2 of his close friends that he met on first evening (knew each other from same school, 1 got in via clearing) - had gone into private halls on edge of campus, SC but cheaper than the halls. So that may be an option.

Shewhositsbythesea · 22/08/2017 12:31

Hi - this topic has been really helpful as I go through this for the first time.

My eldest just missed his firm of Sheffield for politics but has accepted his insurance of Liverpool.

He applied for accommodation last Thursday and received an offer of university-approved accommodation yesterday. There are no details of this though and he will receive no further information until early September.

We would be grateful if anyone could provide any information on what this is likely to be. He is disappointed not to get halls but I suppose that's the risk with insurance offers.

Thanks in advance.

kath6144 · 22/08/2017 12:49

Shewhosits - can you not ask the accommodation office what it is likely to be?

As per my last post, it sounds like private halls - but the ones my DS's friends had were fine - not as plush as his (which to be fair were only 2yrs old so v nice), but not as expensive either. And on edge of campus so close to all other halls.

Incidentally, there are always people leaving uni in or at end of first term, so if they really want to get in halls, they may be able to then. My DS's flat lost at least 1 at Xmas.

Shewhositsbythesea · 22/08/2017 12:55

Thanks for that - the accommodation office could not provide any information on this offer (my son called them yesterday to ask). We did however have to pay the booking fee with no details!

We shall see, but the information on private halls is reassuring.

user1471531877 · 22/08/2017 14:32

Mine was in the catered last year - as I mentioned above loved it and had a ball - it's not palacial but perfectly clean and they all loved the food . There is a Carnatic bar on site and lots of events so it's super sociable
There is lots of camaraderie and a real community spirit there - I really wouldn't worry at all if you are allocated it - it was perfect for mine

user1471531877 · 22/08/2017 14:39

Ps
There were plenty of people last year in the student village that had come through clearing so this is a likely option

Travelledtheworld · 22/08/2017 15:47

UCAS track confirmed my daughters offer to study politics at Liverpool at 3pm this afternoon. Now she is confused because it says "start from Foundation year". Does anyone know if this is just the terminology they use in that faculty ?
I can't see any mention of a Foundation Year for this course in the prospects.

It's August ..... the countdown begins
titchy · 22/08/2017 15:53

No - a Foundation year is for students who don't have the qualifications to go straight into the first year. Successful completion of foundation year means they can then start the first year. If she was a few grades below their normal offer that might have been what she was offered... she needs to check asap.

Travelledtheworld · 22/08/2017 16:20

Tichy that's what I thought.
She has an A grade in politics, C in English and Music, so wouldn't think she needed to do a foundation year with those grades !

titchy · 22/08/2017 16:36

If their usual offer was AAA she may well be in the foundation. She needs to check either way.

IvyWall · 22/08/2017 16:45

www.liverpool.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/politics-ba-hons/entry-requirements/

Travelled, just checked this page for you. Is your dd an International student as they mention Foundation for International students in the side. And there is a number to call for queries +44 (0)151 794 5927

Good luck

LIZS · 22/08/2017 16:51

Ds was catered last year but did his own breakfast in his room, at weekends he went for brunch from 11:30. His catering only included a discount on food purchased rather than actual meals.

Lucysky2017 · 22/08/2017 18:42

OddB, we hear tomorrow which halls the twins have but their rent was about 7800 each when I checked so your £5600 above looks cheap compared to that. May be mine will not get the en suite they asked for and thus save me a bit of money! Their sister advised not to ask for en suite so that you had more chance of getting where you applied. We shall see. We just learned their big brother is working that day so I will need to share driving with one of the twins which he doesn't mind he says and has done some motorways already.

TheMightyMing · 22/08/2017 18:45

Went to Hallam today - was very impressed with the uni , lots of facilities and very modern ! Lecturer seemed nice too. Could only look round one accommodation ( they are all private not owned by the uni ) which was nice .

Accommodation request submitted and so I think we are all sorted now Smile

cowgirlsareforever · 22/08/2017 18:54

That's great news TheMightyMing. Is your ds feeling happier now?

Travelledtheworld · 22/08/2017 18:58

IvyWall thanks, but no, she is a British student.
I would understand the foundation thing if English was a second language, or she hadn't done conventional A levels.

I have told her SHE needs to phone the university and get this clarified, not me.

TheMightyMing · 22/08/2017 19:18

Cowgirls yes he's buzzing bless him. Such a relief after last weeks bad news when he missed both offer and firm. Advice to other would be 1) have an attainable insurance choice if possible and b) consider Btecs as an alternative to a levels, easier to get a high mark and lots of my friends kids have got into RG unis with a combo of Btecs and a levels , maybe it wouldn't be the case for highly academic courses but def worth looking into.

Hope everyone else is getting sorted, I'm sure we'll all be glad to get them there now. I'm off to look at my uni checklist requirements to see what I need to buy

Travelledtheworld · 22/08/2017 20:30

All sorted now it was a problem with UCAS, but the university definitely have her down for BA Hons politics.
Phew.

Blogwoman · 22/08/2017 20:48

Great news Travelled and Mighty. My DD is trying to find others in her accommodation & on her course through FB groups, & is making a long list for IKEA Smile It won't be long until we're seeing them all off!

TheMightyMing · 22/08/2017 20:51

I've bought lovely single bedding from tk maxx and it might be a 3/4 bed, bugger!!!!

I need to make a list, that's for the weekend.

Travelledtheworld · 23/08/2017 10:18

I am making a list too.
And I will be checking it twice.
Over to another thread now !

tobee · 23/08/2017 11:55

Travelled re your dd phoning; it's very weird changing that mindset. They are so used to you doing those awkward/boring things.

Made a (mental) list for ds. He'll mostly get dd's cast offs from uni, kettle etc. But he'll get new beer glasses and coffee mugs, essential for ds Grin and new duvet cover. He's not bothered about having her old gear but I feel slightly sad that he won't get to choose stuff with me, me being a second child too. Stuff dd chose was restricted by price but she at least chose the colour.

user9512736123 · 23/08/2017 12:20

I'd have thought you'd have more chance of getting what you wanted if you asked for en-suite as they are more expensive and so maybe less popular. Still, I suppose it depends if it's a popular university with well off/private school pupils where money is no object.