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Higher education

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

Original poster

Universities bribing dcs with free gifts - has anyone else's dc had this??!

185 replies

headfried · 06/04/2018 15:36

My ds got an unconditional offer from UEA but it was his least favourite; hasn't yet decided on his firm.

Had had various letters, calls etc from UEA - ds is predicted good grades so I can see why.

But today, ds got...a free pair of Apple headphones through the post from UEA! Grin

Real ones. Shock

And the best bit is...ds is now thinking of going there as a result.

Anyone else's dcs feeling the lurve? Grin

OP posts:
goodbyestranger · 06/04/2018 15:49

No, across seven DCs going to uni I can honestly say not one of them was ever courted with gifts. Bristol and York were the ones acting most obviously come hither but the other choices (Oxford, Durham, UCL, Warwick, St Andrews and Birmingham) were pretty stony faced having dished out offers. And Bristol and York were fairly modest with their chat up lines come to that, just quite a few e-mails keeping in touch. Bristol did accept DS3 on results day even though he'd got his grades for Oxford so that was a bit forward, but no apple headphones (it's a shame - do they get taken back if the DC doesn't go?).

SluttyButty · 06/04/2018 15:51

humph, no! Dd was offered a large cash incentive if she chose Exeter but we've not had any freebies Shock

Original poster
headfried · 06/04/2018 16:22

No way ds is giving them back! Grin

Good thing he's not got an Android phone, clearly. Confused

Guess it's due to this: www.theguardian.com/education/2018/apr/05/university-applications-fall-despite-surge-in-foreign-students

OP posts:
TheSecondOfHerName · 06/04/2018 16:58

One university sent DS1 a pair of socks, and offered a laptop and a discount on the first year of accommodation if he makes them his firm choice.

Two other universities have offered him money off the first year tuition fees if he makes them his firm choice and then goes there even if he gets grades higher than the offer.

boys3 · 06/04/2018 17:00

headphones constantly going astray in this house, so will be strongly Grin encouraging DS2 to apply to UEA this autumn.

Original poster
headfried · 06/04/2018 17:52
Grin
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lljkk · 06/04/2018 18:06

which course did he apply for, headfried?

derekthe1adyhamster · 06/04/2018 18:08

Nothing ! And we need headphones....

Roselind · 06/04/2018 18:15

I would be more concerned about unconditional offers than free gifts. They are very tempting for a stressed out sixth former and may (as is of course the idea) sway them into taking a place not otherwise their first choice and ease up on work meanwhile.
The student potentially loses out twice - they do not work as hard so grades not as good as they might have been (and some employers pay more attention to A level grades than they do to degree marks) + may not go on as good a course as they could.
DD pondered for ages just this situation - in the end (fortunately) saw sense and went for the 2 unis she actually wanted to go to.
As an aside she did get personalised begging letters (seriously) from a uni she expressed an interest in but did not even put on her list of 5. She actually found it quite stressful that they persisted in writing and emailing her so I told her to email back and ask to be taken off their records.

MrsCobbit · 06/04/2018 18:17

Have duly appropriated the UEA headphones 😊

BubblesBuddy · 06/04/2018 18:26

Headphones would actually make someone choose a university!!!? Words fail me. No wonder they cannot make ends meet.

quartermooninatencenttown · 06/04/2018 18:58

Think they are missing a trick - free clubbing vouchers would be a winner

DrWhy · 06/04/2018 19:04

UCL have been trying to attract students by giving unconditional offers to people who have offers from well reputed universities since at least the late 1990’s to encourage the student to make them their second choice in case they don’t get the grades so that’s definitely not a new practice - I think headphones might be!

MycatsaPirate · 06/04/2018 19:14

Pfft! DD1 didn't get anything!

However, when she went to uni and obviously we went with her as chief removals people (thank god for the camper van) we found lots of naice things in her room in Halls. A sort of welcome box. It had some weird things in it though, pickled onions, chewing gum, condoms, a few other things ... I'll have to find out from her exactly what was in there but it was over a year ago.

They get given lots of freebies through the year too. These never seem to make it home here though.

KendalMintCakey · 06/04/2018 19:18

How bright is your lad? Hull Uni never sent me any bribes. V downhearted... what kind are they? Can we see pic pls? UEA feel free to bribe me to complete a MA!

MySockIsWetAgain · 06/04/2018 19:18

Hahaha, and we have been discussing stopping the practice of handing out free pencils with the department & uni name on them, as "the costs are adding up"! Blush

goodbyestranger · 06/04/2018 19:19

I'm not clear how UCL would be able to know (as opposed to guess) that applicants have offers from 'well reputed' unis? So UCL make these offers and don't tie them to a condition of UCL being firmed? I've not come across a student with an offer like that, despite having come across lots of students with offers from 'well reputed' unis and UCL down as another choice. Those students have just received the standard offer.

My DC would have been very happy to receive decent headphones but it would never have altered their choice. They all had a clear running order of preferences which they stuck to once the various offers were through and they knew what the options were.

KendalMintCakey · 06/04/2018 19:20

I'm going to be cruel to be kind for your DS. UEA is the modern day equivalent of the old polytechnics. Or a cheap hooker. It's ok, it performs a service. Or an old lada... your lad needs to go for the Ferrari.

Horses4 · 06/04/2018 19:21

I work in marketing for a university, albeit I’m focused on academics, rather than student recruitment, but we are definitely not that generous!

Hellsbellscockleshells · 06/04/2018 19:25

I’ve heard of one giving a way a hoodie for accepting a firm place but this in no way compares with Apple Headphones.

goodbyestranger · 06/04/2018 19:26

Mine do come home with lots of (v useful, colourful) biros from the local UCAS day, so I've had an almost annual supply for the past ten years. But that's the limit of the largesse. Some are really quite exceptionally nice biros :)

greathat · 06/04/2018 19:49

I am sick to death of unconditional offers. They are being handed out like sweets. The kids then go for them and all effort stops. ~disgruntled a level teacher~

boys3 · 06/04/2018 20:50

Headphones would actually make someone choose a university

Apple headphones, bubbles, I'm not sure you are taking this incentive seriously Grin

Second which Uni offered the laptop? and more importantly, and in keeping with the spirit of the thread, what brand was it? :)

boys3 · 06/04/2018 20:58

On a more serious note though, greathat's point highlights what appears to be an increasing issue. UEA is hardly a lower ranked uni. Elite end handful aside, is the unconditional offer essentially becoming a damaging marketing tool across the board?

Original poster
headfried · 06/04/2018 20:59

MrsCobbitt - have you received a pair in your house too? :)

Ds I think is feeling like they really want him - which is nice.

To me they just sound a bit desperate.

That said, DS is my PFB.

So maybe they're right to be desperate? :)

OP posts: