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Higher education

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

Original poster

A Level Results Day

479 replies

3catsandadog · 30/07/2018 09:50

Hi If UCAS does not update first thing before the school opens for result is it a bad sign that the offer has been missed.
Good luck to everyone awaiting results :)

OP posts:
eniledam · 20/08/2018 13:59

Clearing was the best thing that ever happened to me. I was predicted AAB, wanted to study English Lit.

I ended up getting ABC. Phoned up the clearing hotline for the best uni on the list (a great RG one), told them I had an A in English Lit and they immediately accepted me.

It was a better course and uni than my original firm choice. I had the best three years and met my DH there.

Nagaram · 20/08/2018 14:11

I am another one who went through clearing and loved the place I went to.
Hope all goes well with the remark vivprod

JuneMyNameIsJune · 20/08/2018 14:48

Thanks for the positive stories.

It's actually been a really stressful time. He kept saying he didn't care about his results and TBH I think he may have been depressed this year but hiding it as we had a very significant bereavement at the start of Y13. This is when his work began to slide.

I don't know whether to suggest exploring this more or just draw a line, be positive, and encourage him to move on in this next exciting phase.

Cogratulations to those kids who made their grades and hope those who are having to find a different path have a positive outcome.

McNutty · 20/08/2018 15:33

@Nagaram That's an amazing result.
@Viviprod Good luck to your DD.

vivprod · 20/08/2018 22:02

Thanks for all your best wishes. She has gone through clearing and has been made a number of offers. Some RG unis and some not. She is now deciding which to take. I feel that the decision has to be rushed. One particular smaller non RG has offered for her to do a Masters which I really like the sound of, its in good town and the uni is up and coming with a good rep, but she is really hung up on a RG uni!?!?!? purely for their reputation and all that other unis being inferior except for the major players of course! which seems to be the opinion of most of her peers. She feels that all degrees are not equal. The whole process is so difficult when you think in a matter of weeks they will be starting. I would like to send my best wishes and good luck to all who will be starting on this particular journey.

JuneMyNameIsJune · 20/08/2018 22:15

vivprod that is really great news. You're daughter sounds very wise and switched on (wish the same could be said for my offspringHmm).

I hate to say it but I think she is smart to prioritise the RG offers, especially as she does have very good grades despite the shock and disappointment. There are exceptions to this of course, where specific courses are very highly regarded but unfortunately there is a pecking order.

I've encouraged my children to regard University as an investment in their life. Mine are paying their fees themselves and they need to be getting the very best they can back in return.

The masters is a bit of a red herring as she can apply anywhere to do her masters, possibly to her original firm or insurance uni. That decision is a couple/few of years away and I wouldn't be swayed by that.

Good luck to her - sounds like she has lots of positive options.

ErrolTheDragon · 20/08/2018 23:36

The masters is a bit of a red herring

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the situation with loans is different for an integrated masters versus doing a bachelors and then a separate masters.

All degrees are not equal... but it's a combination of the course and the institution, RG is not necessarily the most important criterion. (I got to know the Times Good University guide far too well when my DD was working out where to go!)

vivprod · 21/08/2018 00:02

There too many students now a days that cannot handle the pressure and end up either dropping out or worse - the mental health of our youngsters in this competitive age is so fragile. I do agree that there are some good universities that are not RG but students are mocked by their peers if they even consider not going to a RG uni. I want my DD to consider the bigger picture.

ErrolTheDragon · 21/08/2018 00:19

students are mocked by their peers if they even consider not going to a RG uni

I never heard of that happening... but sounds like it'd be a handy filter for knowing which former school 'friends' to ditch as you go on to whichever uni course actually suits you best. Where of course, your student peers won't mock you for being in the same place as them. Whatever the 'bigger picture' is, that surely isn't part of it?

LoniceraJaponica · 21/08/2018 00:37

DD is seriously considering Lancaster which is not an RG university, but is in the top 10 of all league tables. Several RG universities are ranked much lower thsn Lancaster. Should she not consider it then?

Clairetree1 · 21/08/2018 00:40

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the situation with loans is different for an integrated masters versus doing a bachelors and then a separate masters.

I think its to do with the funding, if you are doing an integrated masters, you still count as an undergrad for funding purposes until you have finished both the bachelor and the masters degree.

Otherwise it costs a lot more

ErrolTheDragon · 21/08/2018 01:21

Loniceria - yes, Lancaster rates well. I'm sure you've seen this page:

www.lancaster.ac.uk/about-us/rankings-and-reputation/

Obviously it depends on subject ...for some it'd be odd not to consider it.

MarchingFrogs · 21/08/2018 07:15

I think its to do with the funding, if you are doing an integrated masters, you still count as an undergrad for funding purposes until you have finished both the bachelor and the masters degree.

Otherwise it costs a lot more

Indeed. The extra year for an integrated Masters being charged by the university at a uniform rate, the same as each year actually physically at the university as part of a Bachelor's degree (any year abroad / on placement normally being charged at a much lower rate), plus maintenance loan available

Vs the loan of c.£10 000 for a stand alone Masters which has to cover both fees and living costs and which in reality may not actually cover the fees charged by some universities, let alone leave anything over over for rent / food / travel.

'Friends' mocking because she is considering non-RG universities? Time to get new friends.

Justanothermile · 21/08/2018 07:27

My DS's life is ruined then, given he's chosen Lancaster to do his MMath as it's not RGGrin

As errol states, it's top 10 is all three tables overall and 5th for maths. But most importantly, it suited him down to the ground and it was his favourite. I didn't know it wasn't RG until he'd chosen, it doesn't seem relevant given the above.

I had not heard of students mocking others I must admit, DS and his mates didn't even discuss unis on results day, they just went to the pub quiz because it was Thursday night as usual, I asked how they'd got on when he got in but he didn't know (extreme I know, but true!).

I liked everything about it Lonicera, we've seen a lot recently as DD will be going this coming academic year and so we have already started open days again.

My only caveat would be that it's not a 'big city' university, if that kind of feel is important.

UrsulaPandress · 21/08/2018 08:14

There is a deal of snobbery around Universities.

prettybird · 21/08/2018 08:20

Iirc, St Andrews is not RG Confused shows how arbitrary and self-selecting the group is Hmm

OhYouBadBadKitten · 21/08/2018 08:27

Bath isn't RG either. It's a very good university.

vivprod · 21/08/2018 08:36

My DD has decided to that the non RG will be where she wants to go she has looked into the course, spoken at length to the lecturers, looked at the course content, loves the location, joined the various chat rooms and getting feed back from the other students already studying there. She has decided that she wants to be happy for the next 4 years and said that surely if you work hard a degree is what you make it! Yes there is some snobbery about RG unis that does mean to say they are the best.

IdahoJones · 21/08/2018 09:05

The RG stuff drives me nuts, as if first year undergraduates are going to go in and require a particular (self-promoted) research environment.

Reading University also isn't RG, I don't think? But it's very good.

ShanghaiDiva · 21/08/2018 09:10

Agree with others that RG are not necessarily the best universities. When ds was choosing we looked at league table performance - both recent and over the past 10 years, location, course, campus vs city, where employers recruit from - lots of factors.
His final five - Warwick, Bath, Loughborough, Lancaster and Leeds was a mixture of RG and non RG and imo the service and response from some non RG was so much better than the supposedly elite RG - looking at you Warwick!

LadyWarleggan · 21/08/2018 09:14

Loughborough isn’t RG either, I’d be delighted if DS gets in there.

LadyWarleggan · 21/08/2018 09:15

Cross posts with Shanghai.

Twistella · 21/08/2018 09:18

I'd be thrilled if dd got into Bath or Loughborough!

LadyWarleggan · 21/08/2018 09:37

Bath not only is an excellent university but in a beautiful environment. Terrific industry links too.

voilets · 21/08/2018 10:30

Loughborough is v.good and a really fun place to be -know students there. Ds really liked it -was his insurance but in end decided a bit far from us.