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Higher education

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

Original poster

Applying for Uni 2019 entry, parents support thread

998 replies

Decorhate · 09/09/2018 09:51

Now that they are back at school, working on Personal Statements, doing the final Open Day visits, I thought we could do with a new thread...

OP posts:
LittleSpace · 09/09/2018 10:23

Youngest child applying this year. Here I am again but this time I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Original poster
Decorhate · 09/09/2018 10:34

Second child here. I feel like we are going to a lot more Open Days this time round. Still 2/3 to do.

All the ones he likes so far have the highest entry requirements. He needs a couple that are more realistic achievable.

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ChairinSage · 09/09/2018 10:38

First child here. She had a bit of a confidence crisis in June after her mocks and refused to go to any open days. After a summer to reflect on it, she's decided she wants to go so we're playing catch up... looking at either civil engineering or aerospace engineering so she's going to look at degree apprenticeships too.

errorofjudgement · 09/09/2018 10:41

Grey to have a new thread, we’re taking DD back to school today, and in addition the usual rubbish, sorry I mean very important things that fill the car to bursting point, are half a dozen new plays she needs to read for audition monologues.

Original poster
Decorhate · 09/09/2018 11:12

Chairinsage Ds is applying for Civil Engineering. Was talking to an admissions tutor yesterday (at a RG uni) & they said it's not usually an oversubscribed subject so if their predicted grades meet their standard offer they would make them an offer without looking at the personal statement. Which helps a bit. I think Ds's predicted grades will be ok but I am worried he will not actually achieve them...

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VanCleefArpels · 09/09/2018 11:12

Hello error - I think we were on a thread for our older children just about to go into third year (under a different name for me!)

Yes we have started doing the rounds - the next few weekends booked up, luckily for me no duplicates as that would be excessively boring.

Personal statement possibly less drama than last time with excellent feedback from the first draft so I’m hoping that can be put to bed soon as this is a coursework heavy term for DD

VanCleefArpels · 09/09/2018 11:15

decorhate my older DS got offers within 24 hours of submitting his UCAS form 3 years ago - you can’t tell me any human actually read the PS! I’ve tried to play down any angst about PS with my younger one on this basis..

Witchend · 09/09/2018 11:28

Hello all.
This is getting very scary for all. Good luck to all our children. May they get realistic offers for their favourite place and get the grades!

LittleSpace · 09/09/2018 11:29

ds has only been to one open day and he has one more lined up. He saw lots of universities when youngest dd applied as he tagged along.

He will probably go to the Offer days (if he gets any) instead.

ChairinSage · 09/09/2018 11:38

That's reassuring, Decorahate, thank you! We're a bit late to the party so playing catch up with what needs to be done.

MrsBartlet · 09/09/2018 11:41

Second (and final) child for me. We have now done 4 open days including UEA yesterday. UEA would be a good insurance for him as they give a standard BBB offer.

Like you said Decorhate I feel like we are doing more open days this time round but then DD knew exactly what she wanted to do and where she wanted to go. The process has been more useful with ds as we have been to more talks/lectures and it has changed his ideas about what he wants to do. We are now looking mainly at straight politics and we started with him looking at American Studies!

VanCleefArpels · 09/09/2018 11:41

I agree offer days very useful - DS did not go to Open Day of his Uni —because he put it on the list at the last minute— but after offer day he firmed and is having a ball!

LIZS · 09/09/2018 11:57

Second time round here too - dc1 also into third year. Dd has an internal deadline of next Friday for her ps which is way too long atm.

Original poster
Decorhate · 09/09/2018 12:12

Waves to MrsB

I think we were on similar threads with our eldest!

PS was more important for dd last time as she was applying for medicine. But it mattered less where she applied as she was going to be grateful for a place anywhere.

Ds is less confident so it is important he feels comfortable where he ends up going.

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MrsBartlet · 09/09/2018 12:16

Waving back at you Decorhate! My ds is so much more laid back than my dd. He is very easily pleased and much less fussy than her so this has all been fairly easy. What will be more tricky will be getting him to knuckle down and do any work Grin

FrameyMcFrame · 09/09/2018 12:46

Hi can I join you?
I'm feeling very overwhelmed with it all at the moment, DD very borderline with her predicted grades. We went to Leeds yesterday and I liked it but DD not keen. We have Glasgow and Manchester coming up. She not even sure what courses she wants to do yet. Sad

Original poster
Decorhate · 09/09/2018 13:04

Welcome Framey! The key thing at present seems to be getting the predicted grades to match what you need. Some schools are more accommodating than others...

It seems like a bit of a game tbh. Unless they are applying to a very oversubscribed course, once they have an offer it is more likely the uni will accept a dropped grade (or two) on results day.

I am not getting too caught up on league tables etc with ds. He will probably only apply to ones in the top 20 for his subject but I know there are plenty of other places that would work out fine through clearing if necessary

OP posts:
glitterbiscuits · 09/09/2018 14:22

My DS is thinking about Geography. We are off to Cardiff Open day next weekend

eatinglesschocolate · 09/09/2018 14:27

DD just saw pics online of friend in year above who's off to St A's. 'Thought she was at St A's but it looks like she's in The Handmaid's Tale!' I have explained about the gowns now and the Sunday walk....Hmm She has now announced its off her list! She's fed up of traditions i think Grin

AtiaoftheJulii · 09/09/2018 14:47

Hello to familiar names and new. Third time round for me (one more still to go). Ds very laidback about the whole process, I'd love to be chatting about things in more detail with him! He has a favourite, and seems to think the other choices don't salt matter Grin

AtiaoftheJulii · 09/09/2018 14:48

Don't REALLY matter!

minesawine · 09/09/2018 16:38

Hello. Its been a while. My DS still doesn't know what he wants to do post-year13 but is now saying he wants to do a degree apprenticeship, but wants to keep his options open, although he still has no idea of what course, work area etc. he wants to go into. He changes his mind weekly. I am finding his lack of decision making really frustrating. Am I being a bitch or should I be pushing him to make a decision. I am also thinking that maybe he should take a year off after his exams and think about what he wants to do, less pressure on him.

sergeantmajormum · 09/09/2018 16:44

Hello all
I too recognise many names from years of MN lurking. DC1 going into 3rd year, DC2 applying for medicine so early deadline; open days all done, just got to get the shortlist down to 4 and finish the PS, and then we wait. Hopefully we can all get some support on here.

SauvignonBlanche · 09/09/2018 16:45

Second time round for me so am finding DD’s neuroticism quite wearing. Having been dragged to a few Open Days she’s now completely changed her mind after a week’s volunteering with disabled children and now wants to do Child Nursing. I hope that doesn’t mean more bloody Open Days!?

Have helped proof read her PS which I’m sure she’ll re-draft a thousand times. Hmm

GoldenRuby · 09/09/2018 18:09

First time for me with DS. We've decided not to do open days (he coaches and plays sport on a Saturday), but will do offer holder days for all that give him an offer to determine his firm and insurance. He has narrowed down his choices based just on the course content - they all differ slightly but all are PE/sport coaching related. He isn't keen on sports science as they don't typically have as much emphasis on the coaching element. He is doing a relevant Btec Extended Level 3 Diploma, and his choices all say they accept these, we shall see! First draft of the personal statement is done, I've helped him edit it to get into the word limit but content is all his. He is severely dyslexic so getting to Uni will be an amazing achievement.