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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:
GnomeDePlume · 22/02/2018 08:44

DD has now been to all the offer holder days for courses still in the running. All for Chemical Physics.

AAB Bristol
AAB Sheffield
BBB UEA (unconditional if firmed)

She is almost certain that UEA will be the insurance. The decision is now between Sheffield & Bristol as her firm. She liked both courses.

Sheffield presented itself as inclusive with extra help available for students who need support in specific areas (DD is a little concerned about her lab skills). They have also said that students should not worry if they drop one grade on the offer as they will still get in.

Bristol presented itself as very much a premium course. Lots of talk about average entry grades for students being A*AA. DD worries a little bit that this would be a course where students are always having to run to keep up.

Decisions decisions.

prettybird · 22/02/2018 08:50

That was the University. He had the workshop/audition for the Conservatoire over the weekend just past (for a different course, not pure music) at the weekend - I believe that they were looking for older kids (18/19 rather than 17/18 - but that might also be to do with the particular course). His prefered courses are the pure music degrees at Aberdeen and Glasgow.

prettybird · 22/02/2018 08:52

....no idea what his Higher results were, nor his predicted Advanced Higher results (or extra Highers). I get the impression that his offers have been based on the auditions - he had an audition at Aberdeen too before he got the unconditional offer from them.

Littledrummergirl · 28/02/2018 21:46

Ds1 has had his final interview, he has also heard from the RVC gateway course and has a ccc offer!
So pleased for him. Grin

madnskint · 01/03/2018 13:44

Brilliant news littledrummergirl so pleased for you all Smile

Littledrummergirl · 01/03/2018 21:17

Thank you. Smile

teta · 02/03/2018 08:52

Fantastic news littledrummergirl.Your Ds must be so thrilled and relieved. I bet he gets another offer now.

bruffin · 02/03/2018 09:11

Grin littledrummergirl

prettybird · 03/03/2018 10:45

Fantastic Smile

Fifthtimelucky · 03/03/2018 12:59

Justeatthepotato: interested (and most encouraged) to hear what you say about Exeter. I wonder whether it applies to all courses.

We were there last weekend at an offer holders' open day (didn't get to an admissions talk) and my daughter has now made it her firm choice (it was a close thing with Birmingham). Her original offer was AAA and they then reduced that to AAB. ABB would be much more comfortable!

She has put Nottingham as her reserve, but as that offer was always AAB she doesn't really now have a proper reserve.

puppypower1 · 03/03/2018 13:05

Fifthtinelucky - did Exeter reduce your DDs offer before she firmed them or after.

We are having similar discussions here - AAA offer, but if they reduced to AAB (like the other contender), DS would firm them straight away.

Bham likely to be insurance.

What course has your DD applied for?

Fifthtimelucky · 03/03/2018 13:14

Psychology. How about yours?

No, she had the AAA offer back in the autumn (she was very keen and applied early). If I remember rightly they reduced it in January. She didn't make her mind up until going back to Exeter last weekend (we'd already made a second visit to Birmingham). First time round she loved them both.

She was really hoping she would like Exeter better because she knew it made sense to go for the lower offer, but didn't want to choose it just because of that.

Ideally she would want Birmingham has her second choice but obviously that wouldn't work as they still want AAA!

MabelWotsits · 03/03/2018 13:54

My DC loves Exeter, it's a fab place to go to uni.

Fifthtimelucky · 03/03/2018 14:13

Mabel: any suggestions on best accommodation to go for?

My daughter wants self catering, ideally on the campus. I have agreed she can have en suite in her first year, as her elder sister had it (pure luck, and we didn't have to pay more in her case).

puppypower1 · 03/03/2018 16:13

Fifthtimelucky - politics here. I really hope they reduce their offer because AAA for Exeter vs AAB for the other one still in contention for firm is a meaningful difference!
Exeter would be firm in an instant if they did.

MabelWotsits · 04/03/2018 17:36

Lafrowfa is the most popular place to be on campus, but my DC didn't get any of their choices when the accommodation was allocated.

Luckily it worked out ok but not to get any of the choices after filling out forms on preferences, lifestyle etc was a bit rubbish.

blueskypink · 04/03/2018 17:50

Mabel - the same happened to DS2, who is now in his 3rd year. He just applied to residences on campus and didn't get any of his 3 choices. His accommodation application was in well before the deadline, he achieved his offer grades yet they went beyond their publicised deadline for allocating accommodation. Caused us a lot of anxiety as we thought maybe he'd messed up his application some how. He ended up in the Printworks which is a privately run hall, about 25 mins walk from campus. Very few first year students there. Also one of the more expensive residences! I was gutted for him as he's a very sociable animal and we didn't live close to his secondary school so he'd had 7 years of having to travel to meet up with his mates outside of school.

With hindsight I think everyone wants to be on campus, but the demand is huge so he should maybe have included one off campus, but not too far away.

Ironically DS3, at Southampton got his first choice of accommodation Confused

chemenger · 04/03/2018 18:26

Dd has four of five offers for deferred entry in Modern languages. Interesting spread - Unconditionals from Glasgow (expected, she's got good highers) and Newcastle (unexpected), BC at advanced Higher from Bristol (very achievable) and AA from York (unlikely) still waiting for St Andrews.
Conservatoire audition coming up but like a PP's son she's young so very unlikely to get through first time (or ever given the odds).

Fifthtimelucky · 04/03/2018 22:51

Mabel: thanks. We went to see a room in Lafrowda which my daughter liked. We'll need to do a bit more research on the other options before she puts in her application.

I do hope she gets something on the campus itself.

shockthemonkey · 06/03/2018 12:48

OH goody! So very please for drummer's DS.

Lovely news that he's got that gateway in his pocket! If Notts comes up trumps he'll have a fantastic result. If they don't, then RVC is going to be very lucky to have him, I'm sure.

Congratulations drummer's DS!

Littledrummergirl · 06/03/2018 20:42

Thanks Shock. Notts didn't offer but we are all thrilled about the gateway course. There are so many good things about it- I like that he has a year still studying, perhaps not quite as intensely as if he was straight into the course proper. He will not long be 18 when it starts so he will have time to adjust to the new lifestyle. He has said "great, two freshers weeks! "
Of course the biggest plus is its the RVC, he has always said he wanted to study there, and it was a joint favourite for him so it's very exciting. I think Bristol has now been discounted by him regardless of whether they offer a place or not. I've told him to hold of firming it until the end of March in case Surreys wait list turns into an offer but I know he is thrilled with his offer.

LoniceraJaponica · 10/03/2018 10:41

DD has 4 rejections and one offer for a course she doesn't want to do (she applied for medicine)

One of her friends is currently working at Es and Us, and has an unconditional offer for history.

DD finds this hard to swallow. Why would a university offer an unconditional place to a student who may not even pass a degree?

This girl often doesn't do homework because she doesn't understand it, yet doesn't go and see the teacher for help.

HesMyLobster · 10/03/2018 11:33

Oh Lonicera I really feel for your poor DD.
It does seem so harsh and so hugely unfair.

DD has a friend who only just managed to continue into year 13 by the skin of her teeth and is hoping for Es but really expecting Us and is sitting happily on 2 unconditional offers.

Will your DD apply again next year?

LoniceraJaponica · 10/03/2018 14:41

That is her intention. I don't understand why universities want students who aren't degree material.

LIZS · 10/03/2018 15:03

Those low down the pecking order want some bums on seats to ensure their course is viable. I can't remember what it is called but could she reapply in May to alternatives. Some unis will interview potential medics after results day if they have spaces to fill. Having said that a year out building work experience and applying with results in hand may be no bad thing.