Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
OhTheRoses · 22/09/2017 23:33

Yes, but if they are applying for Oxbridge Voilette they have to apply for the other unis by the Oxbridge deadline.

Icouldbeknitting · 23/09/2017 08:17

You don't have to have all your five choices down at once, you can add to the them providing it's before June 30th. See "adding more choices"

www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/apply-and-track/track-your-application/making-changes-your-ucas-undergraduate-application

It means you can meet the Oxbridge deadline and then go on open days and take some time to make your mind you for the others.

NigellasGuest · 23/09/2017 18:47

Went to first open day today - London college of Fashion. Somehow makes everything more concrete! DD liked it very much and wants to go there - but very tough competition. We have more open days lined up so hopefully DD will realise there's more out there!

Original poster
OnlyTeaForMe · 10/10/2017 12:53

Well, DS's form went off at the end of last week, and he has had confirmation that the universities are now 'considering his application'.
Some of his friends who are applying for the same course, but got theirs in a week earlier have already had offers (from Southampton and Bristol I think?)
After it was sent he was suddenly so relaxed and happy, and I realised how stressed he had been about it Blush!

OP posts:
Lolimax · 10/10/2017 13:14

Oh can I join? I’m 47 and have just sent off my UCAS form to go nursing, something I’ve always wanted to do but life got in the way. I have a degree in something completely unrelated. My nerves are in bits so I’d appreciate some hand holding!

OhYouBadBadKitten · 10/10/2017 13:39

of course you can Loli :) welcome!

dd has sent hers off too. Apart from an extra form from one of her applications she’s not heard anything yet.

Original poster
OnlyTeaForMe · 10/10/2017 15:02

Has anyone whose DC applied to Durham submitted a separate personal statement. DS's school have just told him that it's possible tp do this, but it's not clear what the benefit of doing this is, unless you're applying to Durham to do a completely different course, which might benefit from a different personal statement. He isn't, so not sure if he should worry about this?

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 10/10/2017 15:49

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the 'extra PS' was only an Oxbridge thing?

OhYouBadBadKitten · 10/10/2017 17:03

Durham do an optional ps. Dunno why.

forgottenusername · 10/10/2017 17:35

hello :) I'm joining too as dd2 is applying for chemistry to start next year. We've nearly finished the open days - we've visited Bristol, Warwick, Oxford, Manchester, Sheffield, UEA, Birmingham, Cardiff and Southampton. Just Nottingham to go!

goodbyestranger · 10/10/2017 17:36

No Errol, Durham has offered it for a few years now.

OnlyTeaForMe all of my DC have applied to Durham except the medic and none has used the extra PS even though all also applied to Oxbridge. The extra PS is intended for Oxbridge applicants so that they can do a less academic/ more extra curricular focused PS (allegedly), also so that if you choose one course at some unis and a different one at Durham you can focus on that. They all got offers so I don't see that the standard Oxbridge PS is a problem. You can't use the extra PS facility unless you fall into those categories named on the website.

goodbyestranger · 10/10/2017 17:41

Sorry, I'm not actually sure the extra PS facility existed for the earlier DC but the latest DC haven't used it despite falling into the right category and it hasn't been an issue. I'm not clear at all that it gives an advantage for an Oxbridge applicant although it might conceivably for a 'different subject' applicant. The tutors can't see the original statement if you submit a substitute one so if a student is happy with the original it seems to make sense to go with that - saves work!

OhYouBadBadKitten · 13/10/2017 13:23

it’s a bit weird this waiting lark. All of the intense effort to get the form out in time, then apart from a supplementary form and a couple of acknowledgement emails, nada. Not sure what I expected though.

Icouldbeknitting · 13/10/2017 13:28

I spend my days trying not to ask if he's checked Track recently. He has form for not looking at emails for weeks at a time so I don't have much hope that he will see an email notifying him of an update.

Original poster
OnlyTeaForMe · 13/10/2017 17:12

Agree totally. I had (stupidly) assumed that DS would have at least one offer by now - one week after submitting him form, but apart from confirmations from UCAS and the unis, there's not been a peep Sad

Can I just check - do they get notified by email when they get an offer, or do they actively have to login to Track to check?

OP posts:
Hollybollybingbong · 13/10/2017 17:20

DD sent her UCAS form yesterday and got an offer today for English at Exeter, she's feeling relieved to be holding an offer. Last year with DS he received 4 offers within 10 days and a Cambridge no thank you in November.
OnlyTea he received an offer from Durham for CompSci without doing an additional PS. DD has also applied to Durham without an additional PS for English.
Since they applied for very run of the mill courses it seemed unnecessary.

Original poster
OnlyTeaForMe · 13/10/2017 17:25

Thanks Holly - yes, Exeter seems to be quick off the mark this year - that's where his friends have offers from!

OP posts:
OhYouBadBadKitten · 13/10/2017 17:36

Bristol seems to be super fast too and I’ve heard of a manchester offer.

I was told on another thread that they get an email to say something has changed on Track.

Hollybollybingbong · 13/10/2017 17:40

Sorry OnlyTea, x-posted, they get an email telling them to check track when they get an offer.
Last year was my first experience, I found DS overly relaxed about checking track, I was constantly asking him to check. Today DD came into the school where I work to tell me she had an offer so this year should be easier!
What I remember most about this time last year was that we wait for the offers thinking we can relax once they have them, once you've heard from all the universities you start worrying about whether they are still in target for the grades. Then they have to choose just 2 from their offers.
The speed of an offer only pushes you to the next stage of worry quicker!
Enjoy the ride with your DC's!

OhYouBadBadKitten · 13/10/2017 18:13

I hate this year already Grin

Hollybollybingbong · 13/10/2017 18:56

OhYouBadBad, not just this year, next year we get to wave off our DC a they embark on a new adventure with barely a look over their shoulder and we get NONE of the promised Skype calls and text messages only if we beg! 😱
I might be exaggerating, he is loving university (his insurance choice, so not the end of the world even when he missed those the grades) and has visited (for less than 24 hours, but who's counting? (me!!!))
Forgive my wittering, I've had caffeine and it makes me chatty, may turn my phone off! Grin

Fifthtimelucky · 13/10/2017 18:59

Thought I’d join you. I have a daughter hoping to do psychology next year. She put in her UCAS form a couple of weeks ago and has had 3 offers, including from one of her joint favourites. She hasn’t heard from her other joint favourite though. In a way it would be easier not to as she keeps changing her mind about which she prefers. She loves them both!

While it’s great to have the offers, I am by no means confident that she will get the grades she needs. Fortunately she also has a slightly lower offer from her favourite insurance uni, but even that might be a bit aspirational. I shall be very nervous in August!

OhYouBadBadKitten · 13/10/2017 19:31

I like it when people witter, it means I can witter back! I’m so glad your ds is enjoying university. I’m not even thinking about next year other than mentally filing things such as imaginary towels into an imaginary box that dd might need next year. It will be very full by the time next year comes, even if nothing gets bought in reality until September 1st!

Risotto301 · 16/10/2017 07:13

Hi all, I'm a mumsnet newbie and I am from overseas. My DS studies in upper 6 in the public school in UK and has sent off his UCAS applications in the first week of October. He is applying to Oxford, Imperial, Manchester, Sheffield and Birmingham for Materials Science/Engineering. We thought he should be getting offers pretty quickly from Sheffield and Birmingham as those do not require interview, and his predicted grades surpass their entry requirements. And some of his classmates got interview offers from Imperial already but DS hasn't got anything yet except acknowledgement of application received by all unis, and an open day & interview invite by Manchester. He is a bit anxious now while trying to focus and work hard preparing for the PAT of Oxford after the Oct mid term break.

Good luck, everyone!

OhYouBadBadKitten · 16/10/2017 07:34

Welcome Risotto, good luck to your ds. It’s an anxious wait now!