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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:
bruffin · 12/02/2018 21:59

Not sure we went to OB a couple of years ago for open day and dd had another tour at her interview.
Cardiff is the farthest for us as well and didnt visit because we knew she would have to go for an interview.

bruffin · 12/02/2018 22:00

Dd did cardiff in a day on megabus. 3.5 hours each way so it is doable

LynetteScavo · 13/02/2018 17:33

Well, I'm just going to put this out there...you will all be horrified as it's not a Russell Group uni...but DS seems to have his heart set on accepting a (conditional, but I'm sure he'll meet it) offer at Teesside. He went for an interview (we didn't go to the open day) and loved it. He thought the people who interviewed him were great, and has decided it's the place for him. Grin I think he only put it down as the woman and the Teesside stand at a Uni Fair we attended did a good job of selling it. Having said that, the course dues seem very good, and even DH was impressed with the Uni when they went up for the interview.

DH & I keep looking at each other and saying "Teesside?" Confusedand reminding each other it's not our choice and we don't have to live/study there.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 13/02/2018 19:31

Good for him Lynette :)

Student Finance is open.

marmiteloversunite · 13/02/2018 20:57

Can you only do finance once you have firmed your offers?

OhYouBadBadKitten · 13/02/2018 22:25

They do need to say where they will be studying, but they don't need to have firmed it and they can change it.

Littledrummergirl · 14/02/2018 14:07

Ds1 still has no offer on the table so we plan to put his favourite choice on the application. This can be changed later we've been told.
Internet is patchy where we are are the moment so it will have to wait until we get home.

Our holiday hasn't gone quite according to plan- I've done something stupid to my knee and can barely walk 5 metres, I've also reacted to something and am covered in allergy rash feeling very sorry for myself. Dh has taken the dc swimming while I'm crashed out on mil sofa with her looking after me. She's brilliant. Smile

shockthemonkey · 15/02/2018 16:28

Oh no drummer I was hoping for better news.

In agonies for you. Are you adding a fifth choice to his UCAS application?

Have you not heard from all of his other four yet? How incredibly slow they are, when applications have been in since early October.

Flowers
Littledrummergirl · 15/02/2018 20:23

Thanks shock. He added a fifth choice when he submitted -it's for a gateway course so no easier to qualify for. He isn't expecting to hear from them for a while and won't hear from Notts until after his interview at the end of the month.
We are going on no news is good news at the moment and from what I've read the Surrey waitlist often has a lot of movement.
I just want him to get his head focussed on his work at the moment!

shockthemonkey · 16/02/2018 06:36

Oh well if he hasn't yet had his Notts interview then there's still a chance for him. And he's on the Surrey waitlist too. I'll let myself hope for him still!

Littledrummergirl · 16/02/2018 13:08

Thank you. We are still feeling positive. We talk a lot about how life doesn't always give you what you want but what you need. This wait and what happens next will be for a reason that will be revealed at the right time.

bruffin · 16/02/2018 14:14

If he needs to wait and reapply next year it wont be the end of the world and he can spend the time getting experience.
Dd will be going to uni on her 21st birthday but i think maturity is really important for her course.

bruffin · 16/02/2018 14:15

Good luck for NottinghamSmile

Littledrummergirl · 16/02/2018 15:36

Thanks Bruffin. Yep a gap year is always plan b but this year still has a long way to go. Grin

LynetteScavo · 16/02/2018 21:39

Yes, this year still has a long way to go....I think there are plenty of places.
DS has had a conditional offer dropped to an unconditional, So I'm guessing more places then applicants.

Justeatthepotato · 17/02/2018 17:48

Agree that there seem to be plenty of places at some universities. One of the heads of admissions Exeter announced (on the offer holders day) that they will take ABB if an offer holder has missed their grades and rings them up on results day (offers officially range from A*AA-AAB).

bruffin · 17/02/2018 18:06

Unfortunately i think some unis are taking on too many students. Surrey is having to hire cinemas for lectures and first years are being housed in Woking, DH and his gf said the library has got much busier in last 3 years.

prettybird · 20/02/2018 18:37

Ds has just got an Unconditional from Aberdeen for Politics & International Relations Smile He's still waiting on Edinburgh, which is his 1st choice, so at least that means he won't get Unconditionalitis Wink

He already had an Unconditional from Strathclyde but Aberdeen was his 2nd choice after Edinburgh as he liked the feel of the Uni (in contrast to St Andrews which he found claustrophobic) and doesn't want to stay at home (I told him that he applied to one more "home" Uni than I did Grin)

Nettleskeins · 20/02/2018 20:18

Ds has his 3rd offer now after interview. ABDistinction. well that is not going to happen because he has already been marked on his BTec and it is not D! A relief to cross it off, nice uni but way too scientific for the likes of us. Surrey.
still waiting on a Scottish and a Welsh...Ds's interview for the Welsh is sandwiched between strike days, I feel sorry for the poor lecturers having to even think about new students when they must be busy enough dealing with the current ones.

Nettleskeins · 20/02/2018 20:26

Drummer I thought Surrey was amazing for the right person btw (Ds was applying to do music, and there was some very strong candidates who had scientific background, so he wasn't really a contender) The grounds were very inspiring, and I liked that outdoor feeling, also so many people applying that as someone said there must be a lot of movement on the waiting list. I grilled a lot of people when we went round and I'd forgotten that applicants' day is just that, not the cohort that will actually go there, but the cohort that are considering it as one of their [many] choices.

bruffin · 20/02/2018 20:28

congrats Nettleskein ds on the offer

Just realised I put Dh and gf were at Surrey, its DS not DH, I hope DH doesnt have a gf

Littledrummergirl · 21/02/2018 12:07

I agree nettleskein. Bruffin that made me laugh.

Nettleskeins · 21/02/2018 21:26

Ds has had the details of his promised offer from OBrkes. 104 tariff points or unconditional if firmed. A very good insurance choice then even if we don't firm it. He likes it there.
So we have Hull and OBrk as possibility, but very high offer (impossible to achieve) from Surrey, so they are off the list) and still waiting for Cardiff audition in March and Glasgow (and Glasgow has not even replied yet)

prettybird · 21/02/2018 22:35

A friend's ds had an audition for music at Glasgow yesterday (he already has an unconditional for Aberdeen). He says it went well but that that means nothing: 20 places max and thousands apply, so it's a long shot. He got about 10 days' notice of the audition.

Nettleskeins · 22/02/2018 08:38

that's interesting Pretty is that the uni or the conservatoire in Glasgow? If there really are only 20 places ds doesn't have much chance competing on grades, unless of course they like the English tuition fees...