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Higher education

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

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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:

goodbyestranger · 12/03/2018 20:24

marmite I'm feeling grateful we haven't been love bombed although I'd rather like to have been love bombed with a new laptop for each of the eight DC. That's the only strain of love bombing I'd have looked on benignly.

maryso in answer to your question I assumed you meant medicine offers without interview at Imperial and UCL because of your own grammar where you conflate the subjects:

The older ones were not love bombed by ICL or UCL but that was when some offers arrived without interview, can't explain why that may be, since it is said med school entry is no more demanding than any other course.

Edinburgh doesn't interview for medicine so it's not unheard of but it is unheard of, to the best of my knowledge, at Imperial and UCL - hence my surprise.

marmiteloversunite · 12/03/2018 20:30

I think DD got a pen and a mug from the offer holders day at Bristol. That's the most we have been offered.

Needmoresleep · 12/03/2018 20:38

Some strange things may happen between March and August as med schools need to get their numbers right - not too high, not to low. Very few (St George’s being the main example) go into clearing. Some accept dropped grades, some reconsider rejected applicants, some operate wait lists, occasionally some offer cash to encourage some to take a gap year. The best way to get a flavour is to read the tail end of last year’s student room threads, where people post what they have been offered.

But...I have never heard of love bombing, and March is early. Some will still be interviewing and offers will be being made till March.

goodbyestranger · 12/03/2018 20:41

Sheffield has been in clearing too for medicine (it certainly was in 2015, not sure about 2016 and 2017).

Littledrummergirl · 12/03/2018 20:54

Definitely no love bombing here from vetmed. It's been fairly brutal. Ds1 is very happy that he has an achievable offer on the table.

HesMyLobster · 12/03/2018 21:04

Nope, no sign of any lovebombing here either.
She did get a "swag bag" at the Durham offer holder day, and a pen and water bottle at the Newcastle one.
But nothing at all sent to the house.

Will Universities always reply to/acknowledge a firmed offer? DD "pushed the button" 2 weeks ago and hasn't heard anything from her firm choice, but has received a couple of emails and a letter through the post from her insurance thanking her for choosing them.

ShanghaiDiva · 13/03/2018 00:43

Lobster
Same here. Nothing from the firm, but has received emails from insurance choice.

maryso · 13/03/2018 12:00

Interesting reactions to the term love bombing... DD and her peers don't tend to see love as a laptop or other bribesswag, merely extraordinary support and experiences offered by events and current medics, none of which is really warranted since the relationship hasn't begun, so to speak. It's about human contact and insight that is not easily found. I would have thought it strange, given the effort taken to screen applicants for a compassionate and empathetic 'job', that material goods would come into the 'selling'. Perhaps that's one for any courses where greed is a key factor?

Med schools did not always interview, although they have done for quite a while now, Edinburgh being the current exception. Imperial has offered (non-med) without interview within the last 5 years, although that was rare even then. and can be a double-edged thing with 'extra' on subject numbers and entrance tests. It will be very rare nowadays.

As for how admissions manage their numbers, that's like driving, in the sense that driving is accessible without having to know how to top up the screen wash or check the oil levels... It's perfectly fine to wait to be processed, perhaps better even not to see the process from the other party's viewpoint. Empathy is these days after all often just something that requires faking while in demanding company.

I will make a huge assumption that no med school is sufficiently incompetent to take more than 5+ months to shortlist. The reason why it's not over by March is demand management. After March it is entirely demand management. Generally people firm early because of accommodation and a desire for certainty. Some hold out if their first choice has not yet declared, so April is a key 'selling' time by way of offer holder and taster days. Almost all med schools will offer a tour at interview, so what is the purpose of seeing again what you have already seen and will be seeing for 5/6 years? There has to be more than that, or material goods, to draw the 'firm' decision out. Nobody in any fit state to practise would be swayed by a laptop.

goodbyestranger · 13/03/2018 14:02

DS4 got Imperial (non med) in the last cycle without interview I really don't think it's rare.

maryso · 13/03/2018 15:14

goodbyestranger you must be right, as always! Makes no sense to interview when you know the outcome. Shame about the laptop though.

goodbyestranger · 13/03/2018 17:35

maryso I'm absolutely certain that I'm correct about my son's offers. As in 100% certain. Indeed I saw it on Track with my own eyes, it wasn't merely related to me by him. A number of his friends also got offers for different subjects at Imperial though fair to say a couple did interview. I'm not clear why it would be a matter of doubt . Nor how an offer from Imperial without interview relates to a laptop . Nor actually what your problem is , merely that you appear to have one :)

maryso · 13/03/2018 19:25

HesMyLobster · 13/03/2018 20:50

DD has just had a bit of a lovebomb.

Well I'm not really sure if that's what it is as the whole subject has thoroughly confused me!

Not only has she had an email from her firm university (phew!) they've invited her to a week long pre-term course in her Subject. I guess kind of a head start, settling in thing.It sounds brilliant, right up her street and she's very excited!

blueskypink · 13/03/2018 20:53

Love-bombing? What a bizarre term.

marmiteloversunite · 13/03/2018 21:30

That sounds exciting Lobster! Great to make friends and have a head start before the madness of Freshers takes over. We are still waiting for one more offer holder's day next week before DD can press the button. I think we just all want a decision now. This seems to have been the longest process ever.

goodbyestranger · 13/03/2018 21:59

Lobster it's compulsory for certain subjects to do the pre-week and your DD's course is one of them.

goodbyestranger · 13/03/2018 22:01

Not that you can't count it as a love bomb if you want to.

HesMyLobster · 13/03/2018 22:43

DD did the compulsory 2 week course last summer so it's not that Goodbye I don't think.
The invitation said it was a pilot-scheme that they're trialling for the first time this year.

goodbyestranger · 14/03/2018 08:01

That's interesting Lobster. What does the college say the purpose is? I thought the purpose of freshers was to familiarise and that can seem quite long enough for a lot of the students. And is it just your DD's college? And all freshers or a selected group? Don't answer anything you don't want to but I'm curious about a pre freshers week which isn't one of usual ones which is subject led. I'm assuming it's a good idea anyhow, just wondering about the thinking behind it.

HesMyLobster · 14/03/2018 08:26

Goodbye After DD talking to her college and course applicant group chats on Facebook, it seems to be only Classics as far as they can tell, and only a handful (I think she said about 4 or 5 out of 30+ in the group had had the invitation)
From her own detective work she thinks all the invitees are from state schools so it could be something outreach related? Although I thought that mainly focused on getting dc to apply, not once they already have?
They are also all from different colleges, so not college specific.

HesMyLobster · 14/03/2018 08:27

I'll get her to forward the email to me so I can see the exact wording!

goodbyestranger · 14/03/2018 08:49

Thanks Lobster, I did wonder if it was sate school. Which leads onto: what two week course is compulsory? (this is re DD - I did say I might pick your well informed brains!). Is it run by the university? Does it cost? When does a prospective applicant apply? Thanks :)

goodbyestranger · 14/03/2018 08:49

state nor sate grr.

HesMyLobster · 14/03/2018 12:36

If they haven't studied Latin at A level they are required to attend a Latin course - they recommend the JACT Latin Camp which runs for 2 weeks each summer, which is what DD did last summer. Other dc with offers for the same degree course (Classics II) who haven't previously attended have it as one of the conditions of their offer that they attend this summer.
I believe the college will then fund their place.

We did pay for DD to go last year as she thought it would make her application stronger. It was £700 for the 2 weeks. She did receive a small bursary from her school towards the cost.
She had studied Latin up to roughly GCSE level (but only by herself) when she went, and at the end of the 2 weeks sat an AS paper and achieved full marks, so she definitely learnt a lot (and had a wonderful time too!)

HesMyLobster · 14/03/2018 12:41

I think we applied around this time last year. But have a feeling your DD is a couple of years younger? So no rush yet.
Although I think the minimum age is 14 or 15, and DD has said she wishes she had known about it sooner so she could have attended previous years. There were a few there for their second or third time.
DD is considering attending again this year, but it depends which Music Festivals it clashes with

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