Applying for Uni 2019 entry, parents support thread

[Decorhate]

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...

@Aurea - was it really easy getting a copy of the reference? Did you have to pay?

Our school showed it to DS, but will not send us a copy

Really easy. Just need to call UCAS with personal ID and they emailed it within 30 minutes.

No charge also.

@Smithy01 – Yes, it probably is worth applying if DS thinks he can do better than the current predicted grades. Once he has decided what he wants to do, you can e-mail the admissions people for the courses he is interested in and find out how much notice they take of predictions.

I have mentioned the policy of Newcastle Biomed Sciences before – anybody applying with a prediction of at least CCC will receive the standard offer of AAB.

If he has the UCAS form in and does not get the offers he wants or achieve the grades he was hoping for, Clearing is easier if you are already in the system.

Thanks for your help Monkey2001, he’s predicated is CCC. Basically what he got in his mocks, his school are set against giving higher predicated grades. Especially with the pupils who have just attended their sixth form and not been with them right through secondary. We’ve been to Newcastle Uni but had ruled it out thinking his grades would not be good enough. He is working hard and hoping to get BBC.

@Smithy01, what subject is he interested in?

His A level’s are Maths, Physics and English Literature, he’s looked at engineering based degrees (but didn’t think he’s grades would be good enough) and journalism. Completely different I know but with his mix of A levels he has a bit more scope.

Because student numbers are no longer capped, universities can make more offers than they used to. If the students achieve the grades, the offer is justified and if not, it has not cost the uni anything.

Biomed Sciences is an odd one as a lot of the applicants are 5th choice medics. The Admissions Tutor said he gets loads of applications (6,000?) and makes lots of offers (1,800?) for AAB without looking at any personal statements. On results day he accepts all the ABBs, will also consider lower grades, but at that point may start looking at personal statements.

In the past there has bern a great shortage of applicants for Power Engineering. I was involved with a renewable energy company which found it really difficult to recruit staff in that area. It may be worth looking at the under-loved engineering courses!

@Smithy01 - final thought - has he tried the UCAS tool? Somebody on TSR said that brings up courses which may offer based on your predictions, including courses for which achievement looks tricky.

Good luck!

Thanks for all your help and advise Monkey2001. We’ll take a look at UCAS and try and pin down exactly what he wants to do, then contact the uni’s to see what’s excepted.

Smithy01 - especially if he's struggling to find five courses that really suit him, then yes apply. There's no point in doing a course you're that's not right. Many apply to one aspirational.

Smithy, some universities run foundation courses for students whose grades don't meet the standard offer. Nottingham is one I think. (Some foundation courses are more geared towards those who don't have the right A Level subjects.)

I've had a message from DD that UCAS button has been pushed! Eek!!
At least she can stop thinking about that PS now!

@eatinglesschocolate same here! I was expecting a bit of a wait for college to do their thing, but they turned it around very quickly. They have sent me the reference and am very pleased with it. Now the wait for offers begins.

GokdenRuby It would be lovely if an offer appeared quickly as a 'well done for being so organised' present . She's gone out for tea with friend who also sent hers today. The panicking about offers will no doubt start tomorrow

@eatinglesschocolate good luck to our DCs 😃

eatinglesschocolate and GoldenRuby - good luck to your DCs. Where have they applied?

DD's application needs to be ready for school next week. Her PS is still in draft, she's discussing it with a member of staff and is going to ask a tutor (relevant to course subject) to check over. She's not there with her five choices so may add one on later, although, we know two unis require a second personal statement/essay so that will delay decisions for a few weeks.

My DS wants to be a PE teacher, so has applied to a range of PE/Sport Coaching degrees. He is doing a BTEC L3 Ext Diploma. His choices are BIrmingham, UEA, Nottingham Trent, Oxford Brookes and Brighton.

ifonlyfor York, Lancaster, Loughborough and St Andrews. She's left 5th free just now and will add another before Xmas. What does your DC want to do? DD is IR.

Those of you whose DC have submitted their UCAS applications, I'm so envious. As someone who likes to get things done and dusted quickly it's really frustrating me that DS's teachers have yet to look at the non Oxbridge/non-Medicine/Dentistry ones. GRRRR!

It is a relief to have it gone. DD felt that pushing for an early application meant hers wouldn't be rushed through. Maybe only 20% of school are truly early entry. She wanted in with them as she guessed that the tutors would have more time to look over it rather than being part of the other 80%. She's also scarily organised!!😂

eatinglesschocolate DD wants to do sustainability, but there are only so many courses that are truly ticking the boxes - St Andrews (but it's a long way from us so hovering over this decision), Edinburgh and Warwick. Birmingham has a good course where she can do geography (very interested in human so this needs to be mainly covered) and also study other modules she'd be interested in.

Newmodel DD has to submit her application via school next week, but not sure it'll make it any easier. Two courses require either a second PS or essay. Read yesterday that one will hold off making decisions until after 15 Jan. These are all DDs obvious choices, so we'll have to sit tight. Where is your DC with his/her application?

ifonly4 - DS wants to do Geography but is waiting on finalised predicted grades (initial ones were AAB) before choosing his top 4 (I think keeping one in reserve to do later is a good idea) courses. HO6F and form tutors still gainfully the 50+ applications needing to be in by 15th October.

Having to wait until January to find out if one has been offered a place is a big ask, so maybe submitting one's application later does have advantages...

I started doing a spreadsheet for DS t'other day and I'm not convinced he's longlisted enough universities to give him a good range from which to pick the final choices...

NewModel I've been coming up with courses for DD as well, but she seems to know exactly what she's looking for and I haven't been much help. We have to try though and you never know it might give him something he hadn't thought about. It doesn't help if you haven't got final predicted grades though, they all do it at different times, but mine had her before the summer holidays.