Applying for Uni 2019 entry Part 3, UCAS & offers

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

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

I have not let the cost of accommodation dictate where my DS will study, the decision was determined by the course. However I have made it clear the he will have to go with the cheapest accommodation option as I will struggle to afford the fees. It may be a park bench for him outside his uni of choice!!

As a side question (Because it's far from being relevant to my DS!) I have always had the impression, even since my own uni days that there is no one at Durham who actively wanted to be there : even more than any other 'Oxbridge reject' university. That msut have quite an impact in many many ways.

Surely there MUST be some students who have it as first choice, and who haven't been rejected by Oxbridge??

minesawine I think the point being made is that under some allocation systems and in particular if you end up with the insurance option, there may not be much choice and you might be offered something unaffordable or in some other way unsuitable or undesirable. A good example is Brighton where they guarantee accommodation for all first years but that might actually be a house share far from campus, not Halls. This markedly affects the fresher experience

piggy I have been reading all the student room type forums. I want my DS to be happy so that he does not become a drop out statistic. My other two DC`s moved halls within a couple of months to somewhere they preferred because of early drop out students.

Piggy, my DS has Durham as his first choice for MFLs. He is predicted 3 A's, but did not want the pressure of Oxbridge, if he had applied and been offered a place.

We thought they would be slow to offer, but he put in his UCAS on 2nd Jan, and had an offer by 4th Jan. We are still waiting to hear from the other 4 universities.

Durham was a popular 'aspirational' choice among my DDs schoolmates - we're in the northwest, many only seemed to consider northern and some Scottish unis.

Fozzley pleased for you Durham grabbed him. Elsewhere on the thread they seem to be dragging their feet. Your DS was perhaps a no brainer with those grades.

Errol, living oop North and checking train fares to the sarth.. I can see why that might happen.

Justasking, I think it's because he ticks all Durham's boxes. Although he has no As predicted, and his GCSEs were A and A with a couple of Bs (as opposed to a clean sweep of A*s), he's doing 3 languages at A Level including Latin, another MFL outside school, has done quite a bit of extra reading and, if this counts, has some very impressive credentials in 2 sports at which Durham competes. Having said that, in view of the likely competition, it was his aspirational choice. It will be interesting to see if St Andrew's comes up with the goods!

DS has Durham as his aspirational choice (although grade predictions match the offer given) and is most likely going to go for it, although it may take him another month or so to make up his mind. He got his offer within a fortnight of submitting his UCAS application so was clearly lucky compared with others who are still waiting.

I do think though that it probably does have many undergraduates who applied but didn't get into Oxbridge too (it would be interesting to know the %).

OMG son has had an unconditional offer from the uni. he wanted. Such a relief.

Well done to your DS, justasking111. Will he firm that one or wait to see what the other offers are?

95 percent of posters here have teens applying to Durham!

Anyone with "middling" uni applications? Dds aspirational is Bath which she hasn't heard back from yet, otherwise its Swansea, Nottingham Trent, UEA and Cardiff Met.

Surely there MUST be some students who have it as first choice, and who haven't been rejected by Oxbridge??

Well, I know of one. Also MFL, 3rd year, currently somewhere slightly warmer and sunnier than Durham, I believe.

He will firm that uni. I think. Went a week ago to the offer day with his portfolio, they said they would be in contact within a couple of weeks. We have been on tenterhooks. In theory he still needs to go to NTU and LIncoln offer days but he wants this uni. So what do we do, if he will not change his mind.

My Ds is applying for primary education offers in from Brighton and Reading, still has interviews to do at Derby and UWE. Withdrawn from NTU. No unconditional offers here as have Government maths and English tests to pass first. This is an expensive and long process.

DS is trying Loughborough, Manchester, Swansea and Surrey, Fazackerley -- nearly all above his paygrade, really.

Dd really liked NTU and they've made her an offer but it's very high! If Bath offer it won't be any higher.

Dd's first choice has changed today from conditional to unconditional.

I was so hoping dd would get an unconditional! That's great news nico

So much stress here, DS birthday makes him youngest in year, he gave up driving lessons because it was just all too much with studying and uni choices. Now perhaps he will have another go at driving. My other DS actually passed his test whilst at uni. because he was so busy in his final year at school.

Nico you must all be relieved and happy with that result.

My DIL went to NTU she said it was a great place to study and enjoy.

Fazack - my DS also has Bath as aspirational and he hasn’t heard either, very frustrating waiting 🙄
His other aspirational is Birmingham, he went to an offers day yesterday and was very impressed, not sure if he’ll get the grades though as he’s retaking and self studying at home with the weekly help of a tutor, it’s quite tough!

My DS was also at a Birmingham offer holder day yesterday. The staff we met were impressive, and he enjoyed the taster lecture, but DS didn't warm to it. We found it a bit underwhelming. It has helped DS make his mind up though, so he is going to firm UEA. He preferred the UEA campus and sports facilities and just felt more at home.