Applying for Uni 2019 entry Part 2, UCAS & offers

[Decorhate]

Here we go!

@Piggywaspushed it is for Coaching and Sport Science (not a course that tends to feature much on MN!). @VanCleefArpels according to NTU rep on The Student Room forum, they only started processing applications this Monday and are doing so in date order. Still no contact from the Uni themselves, just from UCAS Track.

DD waited till after the Oxbridge / Medics deadline before applying to avoid giving the impression that she might have these as preferred choices. Not convinced they really can't see the other choices but I expect once Unis see predicted grades they more or less know who their competition is anyway.

Personal Statements would have not worked in my favour when I applied many moons ago. 2 completely different course options - 1 Arts and 1 Science. I still got 5 offers. It was the interview process which decided me. I do wonder if there was less necessity to commit so early these days DC wouldn't end up dropping out or changing course so much later.

I think the dropping out/changing courses thing comes from the Blair inspired (and ridiculous in my view) expectation that 50% plus of 18 year olds going to University. This normalisation of higher education means that jobs formerly for school leavers now “require” a degree and kids who don’t go to university are somehow made to feel like failures. In that climate no wonder many sign up for courses they are not suited to

Checking in - no progress here. Still in limbo regarding PS review by DS's teacher...

Piggy - if he has the slightest idea where he'd want the course to take him job wise/what he'd like to get out of it, it's worth mentioning (we spoke to heads of department at two unis about what they're looking for and both told us a long term aim job wise was always good to mention and why. If he can come up with something that might add an extra couple of lines.

DD doesn't think they read personal statements either, but she's applying at the top of her grades for competitive course so had to make the effort.

He has no idea on that either ifonly

He is a joy to parent!

I think, from going through this with DS last year, it very much depends on the course and university about the PS. St. Andrews were brutally honest that they didn't give a fig about it and it was all grades, top top top grades, right down to the GCSE and maths challenges for Maths.

Judging by the speed of responses to his application, for Maths, I doubt whether the PS was a deciding factor.

Lancaster, where he is currently studying, and was his first choice, did however write in their offer letter how super they thought his PS was so when he did drop a grade in one of his subjects (not maths or FM obviously...) and they still took him, it can't have harmed to have written a good one.

20 minutes and still no first sentence...

I came across this YouTube video by this lovely lovely boy, now at Durham:

I want to adopt him.

If you are sort of preparing yourself for rejection form Oxbridge keep this in reserve.

My ds has only just got around to making his ucas account - and that took some nagging! He has done a ps, though the teachers need to give an eye to the current draft, and he only has 3 places he wants to apply to. He has discounted one of the places he visited an we have run out of time to visit any more. He really wants to go away to study but doesn't seem to feel the urgency of getting things done.

We now have 1600 characters... hallelujah.

that's progress piggy

dd's applied for 4 places, she found another one she wants to apply for this evening (ffs). Her UCAS still hasn't gone off - status is approved but not submitted, she can't find a way of editing the application. She thinks she might need to wait until it has actually gone off & she can login to track ??? Any ideas?

Laniakea, did she apply through school? Maybe give them a ring in the morning and ask if she can edit it before they add references and predicted grades and send it off?

DS's application has been received at his Uni choices now so its just a waiting game now and the cycle starts again with his younger brother next year!

Yeah, atm it's locked for school not her, I guess. She could get them to release it back to her, or just wait till it's gone in.

Yes, I think an offer after this Manchester visit is standard.

when it's gone will she be able to add the extra one?

Pretty sure the school can unlock it (one of dd's friends changed one of her 5 at this point) or she can add once sent.

thanks!

She says shell speak to her tutor at registration.

Regarding St As, they definitely care about the PS for International Relations and social sciences. They stressed how important it was in the admissions talk.

NTU is in! Four offers, one application withdrawn as a result. All are unconditional or u/c if firmed. Applicant days definitely needed!

Wow Vancleefarpels that was quick!

Thankfully - now can forget about it all till after Christmas at least. DD’s A levels are really coursework heavy so school encouraged early application to get it out of the way

My DD sent her UCAS form to her school nearly 4 weeks ago. It has not been sent on yet . When she asked the head of 6 form he said it was with administration who are very busy and he couldn’t tell her when it would go. This is causing my DD a lot of stress. Is this delay normal or should I contact the school?
Thanks

@Danny2894 I think I’d wait until it’s hit the 4 week mark and then be ‘that’ parent, drop an email saying it’s been four weeks, D is very stressed about it, and you wondered if there’s a problem or if any additional info is needed that you can help with

My d was stressed when it got to two weeks, she’s been told that her ref was finished a week ago, but the school still hadn’t submitted so I guess you’re getting earache every day...

VanCleef that's most excellent :)

Danny - I'd nag school but then I'm a PITA.

Well by the time she got to school they'd send it off - any idea how long it will be before she can login to track & add the extra course?

UCAS do their plagarism checks which took about 24 hoyrs for DS, then you can change your choices. I think you have 7 days to change on line, but can add to blank choices at any time to 15th Jan.