Applying for Uni 2019 entry Part 3, UCAS & offers

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Wow that last thread filled up quickly. Well done to your DS, Piggy!

The campus at Bath Spa is really lovely, though It’s a bus journey into the city from there.

Phanny we are in Cornwall too, and DS insisted on applying for universities in Scotland and the far north. He didn't visit many and is now at Durham. We made it clear that if he got in there was no way he would be getting any lifts, and he has been fine with that too. Sometimes he flies up, and sometimes goes on the train.

I do sometimes worry about how long it would take us to get up there if anything went wrong (Nothing's going to go wrong Mum,) but several of his friends are at universities in the USA, and that's even further

DS has 4/5 offers for mech eng, all at solid Russell group northern ( ish) unis.
We live in North Yorks ( rural part) so of course he has his heart set on his fifth, Bristol who have said to him no offers until applications close. I have said to him that if he gets an offer then he is going by train to the offer holders day, just to give him a true appreciation of how far away it is).
Dc2 is there doing medicine and i have never had a trip there and back without substantial roadworks/delays.

Can I join? My son's school sent his UCAS form in last Sunday and he has offers from Exeter (A,B,B), Kent (B,B,B) and Portsmouth (B,B,C or unconditional if firmed). He's waiting to hear from Edinburgh and Warwick (which I think are his two top choices) but I don't think there is any chance he will hear from Warwick until the school term starts again as we submitted an AWARDS form (extenuating circumstances) and I think they will want to talk to his head of year. He wants to do biological sciences if any one has any thoughts on that subject at these universities.

I feel so unprepared for this - no idea there may be help with expenses! Thank you Piggy. We are ok for public transport but just soooo far away from civilisation! Even Bristol is 3 hours drive away on a clear run!

I did wonder if Bath Spa were hoping to impress her with an amazing visit The Frendo but I still think it's worth a visit. I have no idea about where the campus is error - it's a part of the country I really don't know at all. I grew up in North Yorkshire and lived all over the Midlands until we moved down here.

TonTon - glad it's not just us that have offspring with wanderlust! It helps that my Mum lives near York so any journeys North can be split if needed. Mum is also happy to hop onto a train to Manchester or Newcastle in an emergency!

Rosieposy we generally do ok as we're generally heading against the flow of most of the traffic and by the time we reach civilisation, the roads have cleared! However, we too have had some epic journeys, generally involving overturned lorries! But equally, it doesn't take much for the main train line to be shut in winter at Dawlish, cutting off Cornwall from the rest of the UK. And Megabus takes 3 hours to get to the Devon boarder by the time it has visited every town in the county

PhannyMcNee we have the reverse - DS has applied to Exeter (Penryn Campus) which seems truly a massive journey for him.

I've advised DS to start mulling over his offers (B'ham still pending). Not convinced that he will do any of the offer holders' visit days but we shall see.

Phanny have you considered flying? Are there flights from Newquay to Newcastle? The metro runs into Newcastle from the airport.

@PhannyMcNee I amm on my laptop now. There are daily flights between Exter and Newcastle, and in the main most flights are much cheaper than train fares.

We looked at Bristol last year, and had such a horrendous train journey home (back to Sheffield) that it was the final nail in the coffin (DD didn't like Bristol anyway). Apparently Cross Country often terminate trains at Birmingham because they don't have enough crew.

Lonicera there are summer flights from Newquay to Newcastle and Edinburgh. We did look at Exeter flights but the airport isn’t easily accessible by public transport and us still 1.5-2 hours drive away!

NewModel I live close to the Penryn campus - I am biased but I do think where we live is a great place to study if you’re into the whole beach/sea/outdoor lifestyle.

It's a pain that many regional airports aren't near mainline train stations. I would have suggested flying to Doncaster and getting a mainline train to Newcastle, but you have the hassle of getting from the airport to the station.

Marking my place - offer days coming in Feb so till then all things quiet on the Uni front at my house!

Sigh. DD is still waiting for a reply from Manchester. Given that she already has AAA in the right subjects at A level I don't understand why they are taking so long.

LoniceraJaponica do you think Manchester might wait until after 15 January?

Possibly. I don't know why DD doesn't withdraw her application so that she can firm Newcastle. Maybe she just wants to see what Manchester says.

DC1 has an invitation to interview on an applicant day at Manchester. Email arrived on Friday. Unfortunately, the date clashes with an oral exam (20% of final mark in that subject), so we're hoping to be able to reschedule the interview!

For what subject "BringOn*?

DD wants to do biomedical sciences

Lonicera Linguistics and Anthropology

Unbelievably dd had an email from Southampton today inviting her to an offer holder's day.

Why on earth on Christmas day!

How bizarre! It's automated I guess!

Can I join. Very late to the party.

Not my fault as ds didn't submit his PS until Friday just gone. He is a devil for leaving everything until the last minute! His teachers were also tearing their hair out!

He hasn't involved me in the process at all really so I don't even know his 4th /5th choice uni

His first choice is Loughborough. One of only two places that do the course he wants to do. The other is Birmingham but he didn't even apply to this one! So really putting his eggs all in one basket. And needs AAB!!

I don't get all the talk about insurance, firm etc. But am a willing learner!

Congratulations to all who have offers. Watch this space....

(Although he probably won't even tell me if he gets an offer so private is he!! )

Welcome pasanda!
You'll soon pick up the jargon. Firm is the offer that you choose as favourite - if you get the grade then you go there. Insurance is a lower offer that's your 2nd choice, in case you miss the grade.

Thank you Science! I really hope he gets an offer from Loughborough as I think it will help him work harder to get the required grades.

Fingers crossed!

Good luck all with New Year University/ Conservatoire shenanigans!

Lonerica we are in the same situation as you with regards to Manchester. Dd is considering withdrawing her application as she doesn’t want to go there. We are going to the offer day at Cardiff and we looked at flying. It is cheaper than the train but it took 23 hours. It involved flying to Glasgow and Amsterdam!😗

that’s quite a journey!