Applying for Uni 2019 entry Part 3, UCAS & offers

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

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

Does anyone here know anything about Essex university? It’s one DS’s choices and hehas an interview coming up. I don’t know why but I just feel a bit uneasy about it.

Shimy someone maybe on this thread said something about Essex. HOpe they return.

Oh DitheringDan sorry I'd missed that. Yes sometimes the 'CBA' brigade (talking about my son here) just can't be bothered with creating and logging in to a student portal. It is a (t)ask too many for them. I virtually had to stand over him to do the UCAS 'clearing' email that many of you flagged up last week or possibly earlier.

Very positive that your DS is working his socks off justasking111. I feel a bit as if DS has taken his foot off the pedal while he's busy doing the to-be-submitted coursework for History and Geography.

DS's first exam seems to be on 21st May.

Student surveys............ woah this is a bit of a hot potato.

thetab.com/uk/cambridge/2019/01/25/why-you-should-care-about-being-bribed-to-do-the-nss-survey-with-hot-drinks-119676?fbclid=IwAR3Q0-sg9ULVH9pROFjBg9BfHBpK4ZaX1VwRCuaJZLGtMudM4hzsjzif_p4

I'm aware of this 'bribery' from universities but very surprised that in this day and age students can be bribed with a hot drink.

Thank you justasking
Just doesn’t seem to be much about on here even though it’s ranking is bad (I know it’s not all about ranking!)

@Piggy on theUCAS clearing email, did that arrive after DS chose his firm and insurance? I stood ‘on top’ of DS over the weekend after reading about it but he didn’t have one. Wondering wether it’s because he’s still waiting hear from one of his choices.

DS said there was some offer if he did a two hour survey. He would get £100. Will have a word with him tonight and have a decko. A hot drink yeah that would not impress him.

I’m sure on last years thread, an mners DS got a nice pair of socks in the post from a uni and another got an expensive set of headphones . I don’t think we’ve seen anything yet.

The socks were my DDs [grins]
She got a comfort pack from Northampton which had socks and a tea bag and a notebook. Also got a pair of headphones from UEA. These came after the offer. I think Northampton was also offering a free Laptop.
She ended up at Cardiff and very happy there, except this morning being woken up at 3am by the fire alarm.

I must confess that I'm chuckling at those saying your DC s have 'early' exams in May. The IB exams are all in May. DC1 will be completely finished on Thurs 23rd! .
Their results are out on 5th July.

Bluffin- So we have BruffinJnnr in her socks from Northampton, with headphones on from UEA sitting at her study table at Cardiff .

@Bruffin sorry but my iPad does not seem to like your username. I’ve had to type it at least ten times and each time it keeps changing it to something else. It only works when I prefix it with ‘@‘.

Bruffin that is funny....

Having grown up not that far from Essex uni ... it was then an unappealing campus outside an OK but not very large city. I've no idea what it's like now, but I think it would be a mistake to choose it without visiting.

"sign paperwork that we will ban DS from the internet "

I'm quite surprised that that is considered enough - how can it be policed? Also, what's to stop a dc speaking on a landline or seeing a classmate? It's a lot of temptation for a 17/18 yr old when so much rests on results.

On the other hand I can see the problem of requiring a teacher to be the 'guardian' and have the dc to stay the night at their home.

In the cases I've known of, the dc have chosen to do all three on the same day (this was GCSE though, so perhaps not quite as heavy) - that was where the alternative was staying the night with a teacher, which I don't think they ever seriously contemplated - more of a 'let's get it over with' mentality!

@bringonthescience - DS's combination of IB subjects means he's finished by May 17th!
The school has said that results are out on the 6th July, whereas I have seen the 5th July mentioned too. It would be good to know which is accurate.
English Oral this week, and foreign language oral before half term.
It will be good to get those ticked off.

@Errol, I’ve heard that a lot, about the campus location. The accommodation is supposed to be a bit meh! as well. I’ve heard nothing aboutEssex from an academic or employability point of view.

I don't think he could have done all three exams in one day : they are too long and I think the MFL needs a level of expert supervision.

But, yes, it does seem rather to suggest that the declaration is sufficiently scary to instil honesty and obedience in all parents!

shimy that wasn't me but my DS did get that email : he doesn't know this but I do because I hack his account... it was a 3 second process to do it.

I mentioned Essex as that had been in the running. I got some really helpful replies, mainly very positive and encouraging. In the 80s/90s, it had a bad rep because of the nearby barracks, but that didn't seem to be an issue any more. It's another one of those fairly standard campus unis, I think. Standing in League Tables is pretty good.

going in on Saturdays !

@Piggy, sorry I mixed you up. Re: hacking

I believe there is a 5 and a half hour limit to exams in a day.

Is it really 5.5 hrs? That would preclude 2 a level papers in one day (esp for an extra time candidate)!

I thought it was more like 7 hours.

Just checked the JCQ rules - it is 5.5 hours for gcse and 6 hours for A levels.

This:
If multiple exams are timetabled for the same day (and the duration of exams is more than that specified above) candidates may be allowed to take an exam the following morning, including Saturdays. If “overnight supervision” is to be implemented, the school must ensure that:

Candidates who take an exam on a later day than that published in the timetable must either be sitting exams or under centre supervision from 30 minutes after the published starting time for the delayed exam until they begin their exam. This is to make sure there is no contact with other candidates.
A member of centre staff or an invigilator is appointed to supervise the candidate at all times while he/she is on the premises.
The supervision of a candidate on journeys to and from the school and overnight is undertaken by the candidate’s parent/carer or centre staff. The school must determine a method of supervision which ensures the candidate’s wellbeing.
The JCQ form Timetable Variation and Confidentiality Declaration for Overnight Supervision is completed (available on the JCQ website).
The parties involved (parents, candidates etc) are told that any infringement of the conditions governing overnight supervision may lead to the application of penalties and sanctions as detailed in the JCQ publication Suspected Malpractice in Examinations and Assessments: Policies and Procedures.
They are satisfied that arrangements maintain the integrity and security of the examination.
All completed forms are kept and made available in your school for inspection until the closing date for enquiries about results has passed.
The relevant awarding body is informed immediately of any known or suspected contravention of the arrangements for overnight supervision.
The headteacher is satisfied of any arrangement for overnight supervision and accepts full responsibility for the security of the exams throughout.