University offers for 2018? (Part 1)

[OnlyTeaForMe]

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.

DS is applying other than to Uni, I am excluded by the title.

Not really, but that's why I'm on the other thread.

thanks Roisin :) I think she has one more to come that doesn’t look at pretests, then Warwick which offer a standard offer with a slightly lower offer depending on MAT/TMAU and then Cambridge which will offer a scary offer.

Just to add, I did the UCAS thing with DD last year so am happy to answer questions if needed.

thanks :)

Another vet. Medicine here.We are reapplying this year as Dd is on a gap year.Dd and I are much calmer and laid back than last year 😀.

Unis that look at the maths pre-test results, do then offer differentiated grades.

Warwick are transparent about what offers they give based on pre-test results. There really isn't that much variation in offers from other places either. Outside the top 6 or 8, (strong) pre-test results aren't used for maths except in trying to bribe students to accept.

Also a friend of a friends son apparently was offered an unconditional offer in math.

Very few higher ranking universities make unconditional offers for maths. Birmingham is keen on unconditionals in general as a recruitment strategy but even they don't give out many in maths. (I think their threshold for an unconditional in maths is straight A star predictions, i.e. way above a standard incoming student's grades, or very high UMS in maths modules.)

User918 - top 6 or 8 what? Unis? I thought only a very small number had access to the MAT scores anyway?

What is the source of your info?

Anecdotally, last year ds had much earlier, slightly lower offers from same unis than a 'similar' friend, which ds put down to MAT scores. (Both ended up at Cambridge.)

Waves at teta. Good to know I'm not alone.
I wish I was calm. Ds1 is doing better than me.

roisin: MAT is no longer the only maths pretest in use. There is another test, administered by Cambridge Assessment (which is BTW not part of Cambridge University)

www.admissionstestingservice.org/for-test-takers/test-of-mathematics-for-university-admission/preparation/

and the results are passed to all universities just as STEP etc is. This test is now included in offers or taken account of in offers by more universities than MAT is. (I am an academic in this field.)

But it's new this year, trialled last, I think? So we don't know how admissions tutors will use it?

It is used in a very transparent way by most universities: like Warwick the courses are declaring what their offers are likely to be, including NTUA grades. Very few maths courses (Imperial being a well known one) give variable offers.

Outside the very top maths courses decisions are in any case taken by administrators rather than academics, based on the rules given by academics. Only cases that fall outside the usual guidelines are passed over to academics for decisions. This is why the decisions are quite transparent for this specific subject.

An offer for my daughter from Leeds today so she’s just waiting to hear from one more. Was interested to read further down the thread about Exeter being early. It is the only on she hasn’t had an offer from yet, though several of her friends have (different subjects, fortunately).

(I think their threshold for an unconditional in maths is straight A star predictions, i.e. way above a standard incoming student's grades, or very high UMS in maths modules.)

Last year it was A stars in English Lit. so that wouldn't surprise me.

Hurrah! He's had an offer from Warwick (AAA). Huge relief - I think he genuinely thought he wasn't going to get any, although I kept saying it was 'early days etc'.
I suspect that all the top 20-30 unis are busy wading through applications that will have come in just before the 15 October Oxbridge deadline, so are probably very busy this week?

Yes after getting one offer a couple of days after applying we have heard nothing. I am hoping it is because the unis are busy. Hate this waiting game! I am very impatient I have discovered!

After writing that earlier she has had a low offer from Bristol so she is really pleased.

That's great Marmite - what has she applied for?

She has applied for music. She is also a really keen rower so we could only look at unis with good rowing !

That’s fab Marmite, well done to her!

Congrats to your DD Marmite!
After posting here, DS also had an offer from Bristol this afternoon!
They must have been busy

He's feeling much happier now.

That's great Onlytea! Such a relief to get offers! Well done!

Thank you fairy and kitten too! Making it feel more and more real now though. Bit scary! Waiting for York and Kings, as well as Oxford possible interview. I think York do interviews too.

That’s brilliant OnlyTea :)

Glad some offers are arriving. Big relief for mums as well as offspring!
Silently nervous here about the 3 we await as these are the places she really wants to go! Nagging doubt - hope PS is good enough, never know for sure in really competitive unis/courses. Fingers crossed for us and you all.

Interview at Manchester yesterday for physics. Only got 5 days notice. Dd offered a place . She's pleased though waiting to hear what their Ib offer is as only told her A level so far. AAA