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Higher education

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

Original poster

University offers for 2018? (Part 1)

868 replies

OnlyTeaForMe · 02/08/2017 17:56

OK, I know I'm a bit early, but let the hand-holding begin...

Come and join us if you (and your DC) are about to start the UCAS process in September - applying for a place in 2018.

I've got DS1, who wants to do Computer Science in 2018. Looking at various Russell Group unis and maybe Oxbridge.

OP posts:
TheDrsDocMartens · 02/08/2017 18:55

Dd1 is looking for languages. So far likes Durham and Cardiff.

There's a year 12 thread running too if you want to join us ? It's in Further education.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 02/08/2017 19:40

Dd would like to do Maths. Trying not to think about As results.

raspberryrippleicecream · 02/08/2017 20:51

DD is applying for Classics. Also trying not to think about AS.

MrsMontgomerySmythe · 03/08/2017 06:33

Was hoping there would be a 2018 thread Smile.

DS1 wants to study Geography.

We are British living abroad so no AS levels for us or GCSEs. His offers will be based on the end of year results which he already received. He was very happy with them - so that's the first hurdle cleared.

We have been to one open day and a few self guided tours of campuses over the last year.

He has never lived in the UK so we have enjoyed mini trips to check out different cities and give him a flavour of them.

At the moment his favourites are Exeter, Nottingham and Sussex.

We hope to still get to York and Manchester too in the coming weeks.

For his PS - we had a brainstorming session at the beginning of the summer holidays but am not sure how much of that he has written up or drafted!

His school only send the applications off in early November which seems late to me. But they have a really good record of guiding the kids and a high offer rate so I am trying to not worry about timing.

He is so excited about the future and really ready for this next step. Am so happy for him and am looking forward to sharing this journey ahead with him and here on MN.

whiteroseredrose · 03/08/2017 07:56

DS wants to study physics.

He's applying to Oxford amongst others so needs to do a PAT test. Problem is that we're up north and all of the preparation courses seem to be in London! Aargh.

I keep commenting on how impressed we were with other places to soften the blow for if he doesn't get an offer from there. Sad

whiteroseredrose · 03/08/2017 07:58

Yes. Blooming AS! We're on holiday when they come out as I naively didn't worry about them. I have since been told!!

OhYouBadBadKitten · 03/08/2017 08:27

link to Year 12 thread where we have a lovely mix of people, some hoping for uni, some looking I think at other ideas, all of us looking to keep sane Grin

Whiterose have you seen physics and maths tutor? model solutions for all PAT tests. It's really difficult if they fall in love with one place. Is he also looking at places like Imperial and ucl?

dd has been doing a bit of MAT practise and she's geeing herself up to start working on STEP.

MrsM, for none Oxbridge applications then sending the applications in November is fine and he will be ahead of many people still in terms of timing.

dd has been to a few open days and I've been to a couple of unis over the summer with her. Most visits have resulted in a resounding 'no', I'm hoping that she will actually end up with enough unis to fill the five choices!

MsAwesomeDragon · 03/08/2017 08:34

Hi. Dd wants to do computer science. She loves Durham so is desperate to go there, but would be happy in any campus uni, definitely no city unis.

LadyMacnet · 03/08/2017 08:50

DS1 wants to do engineering. He's waiting for maths and further maths AS results and then he'll have to have a think about his choices as this will effect his predicted grades. He has been to open days for his preferred courses, apart from Leeds and UCL which are both in early autumn. His school UCAS deadline is end of term 1 unless Oxbridge etc. So far he likes the look of Southampton and Durham but his real interest is in studying in London. Apparently we have a magic money tree to fund this dream!

whiteroseredrose · 03/08/2017 21:38

Thanks kitten. Will have a look.

goodbyestranger · 03/08/2017 22:16

whiteroseredrose you do not need a 'preparation course' it sounds a terrible idea.

whiteroseredrose · 04/08/2017 19:54

Hi stranger. Unfortunately DS was at a taster day recently. Most of the others were from private schools in the SE and were getting PAT prep at school. Just trying to Level the playing field a little.

goodbyestranger · 04/08/2017 21:01

Still not convinced whiteroseredrose. Of my six DC who have sat Oxford entrance tests (and got offers, five now having graduated, all extremely well) all were in the same position as your own (state school which gives no prep) and I think they did equally as well if not better because of it. The Oxford website is necessary but, in my humble opinion, sufficient. Certainly beware of paid for courses outside the confines of a top end fee paying school.

Lucysky2017 · 08/08/2017 13:19

I did it x2 for the twins just this last year. Applying late November is not a problem although I prefer them to get it in earlier. The twins' school did the Oxbridge children first (100% of them didn't get places by the way..... mine didn't try) and then the others. I think they were in by half term (first drafts of PS in to the school by July before summer holiday).

(My twins chose Bristol over Durham - they had offers from both as did their older sister but Durham is really nice and my father went there and my chidlren's cousin and I am a bit biased as originally from the NE. So those above interested in Durham - go for it. It's also a lovely small city and close enough to Newcastle if you want parties and clubs etc).

voilets · 10/08/2017 14:16

Another one liking Durham here. History and MFL, Combined hons. PS needs more work !!Smile

OhYouBadBadKitten · 12/08/2017 11:32

Durham just didn't suit dd despite having gone to look at it. I think it must be a marmite thing.

LockedOutOfMN · 12/08/2017 11:40

Good luck to all of your children with their applications! Mine are still little; I'll be in school on Wednesday as a teacher looking at our A Level results and who has made their university offer criteria from our Year 13 cohort.

Our school does AS in very few subjects, and not in the one I teach, so relatively relaxed about them...until term starts and we start on at them all about UCAS, etc.!

I agree with previous posters that it really helps if your child can visit the uni if they possibly can before applying. I wish them all the best.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 12/08/2017 12:00

lalalala

inchyrablue · 13/08/2017 23:17

I was most cross with DH this evening when he said to FIL (ex teacher) that results were this week. In my head, it was still very much 'next' week. DD has been miserable these last few days worrying about AS results and predictions. I do really just want it both over, and not happening at all!

raspberryrippleicecream · 14/08/2017 12:49

DS1 didn't like Durham at all a couple of years ago after visiting and DD isn't interested in looking at all.

HesMyLobster · 14/08/2017 17:26

DD has just booked onto Durham's September open day.
She has pretty much already chosen her 5 just based on course content, and wasn't going to bother with any more open days (she did Oxford by herself and Nottingham with friends in June/July)She says that the 5 she's chosen are the only ones with the right course so there's no point looking around them yet, or any others. She had planned just to go to offer holder days if/when she gets offers from them.
I've "encouraged" her over the summer to consider 1 or 2 more open days before making final choices, so she's decided to go and look at Durham and then possibly Bristol.
The only other one on her list is St Andrews, which is so far away from us that I'm happy for her to wait for an offer before visiting that one!

OhYouBadBadKitten · 14/08/2017 17:58

dd has two more planned, Then that's that. I hope she likes them both enough to put on her form, else it's going to be pot luck!

raspberryrippleicecream · 14/08/2017 19:33

HesmyLobster we drove up to St Andrews on Saturday for DD to have a look. . The town is gorgeous, but she's decided it's probably not for her, though she's going to have another look at the course. She felt it was a bit small.

Exeter open day is booked for September, and she'll have a peek at Warwick on the way back.

LoniceraJaponica · 15/08/2017 00:55

DD has changed her mind about what she wants to do, so it is back to the drawing board for looking at unis. She has two on her shortlist but needs to look at more. I feel we are running out of time as she wants to do medicine and the applications have to be in by mid October. She has been practising UKCAT tests most days and has her test next week. She also has a taster day at Imperial College at the bginning of September.

TheSacredCow · 15/08/2017 22:34

DD wants to do Biological Sciences. She will be the first person from our families to go to University as an undergraduate. She is looking at Sussex, Cardiff, Bath, Exeter and Swansea. We haven't started visiting yet as DD was too stressed with mocks in June, her school don''t do AS anymore. DD did really well in mocks and is now predicted AAB or maybe even AAA if she works really hard, which is why we are now looking at Bath as an aspirational choice.

I feel we are a bit out of our depth, but hope the school will give us some guidance.