Entrance 2020. When do we start looking?

[CoddledAsAMommet]

I'm after some help, please. Dd is in her first year of A-levels, studying Maths, Modern History and English Language. She's looking to go to university in Sept 2020 but I don't know when we should start looking for courses, ordering prospectuses (is that still a thing?) and looking to do tours. Could anyone help, please? Her college is very good but an hour's commute every day so we're not at all involved in whatever advice they may be giving. I'm desperate not to leave it too late! Thank you.

I had 2 DDs that were unsure about what they wanted to study at first. We looked at various degrees that might suit - on line first. That tended to lead to possible universities and narrowing down courses. Both DDs were allowed 3 days off school to go to open days and we went in y12 summer term. By that time DD1 had also done a subject day after the decision was made about what subject. She also had early closing so leaving it too late to do a subject day and a visit would not have been helpful. Certainly the autumn term in y13 would be too late.

The school gave a talk and had individual chats to the girls. They didn’t organise any visits though. Well, they did for a few hand picked pupils, but not mine. That’s another story.

If she can decide on a subject, university open days are the next step to investigate fairly soon. Try and narrow down a subject or the day can be too wide ranging when you get there! What faculty will you look at?

Most investigation can be done on the web to hone choices, but I think it’s important to visit the front runners. Try and consider campus vs city vs smaller city/town. Obviously where likely A level grades might take you is another consideration. My DDs also talked to friends and eventually had some clear ideas of their own that did need further investigation. This tended to be the focus of open days for us.

MatchingFrogs - was the Exeter rail discount code for offer holders days or general open days and could you direct me to where I can get this? Many thanks

Definitely for offer holder days
www.exeter.ac.uk/visitdays/exeter/#travel

Great Western Trains are currently offering a20% discount on Advance Purchase ticketsto any visitors attending the Exeter Offer-Holder Visit Days.Bookings must be made viathis link.Discount is only available against advance fare tickets on GWR routes. This offer can also be used alongside other railcards for further discount (a total of 50% discount is available if used with a Student Railcard).

Sorry, trying to look things up / post en route, so to speak.

I'm pretty sure that they offered the discount for the 2018 open days, as I have a memory of finding it just after I'd booked tickets. Perhaps that will pop up when the actual booking opens, as it's just 'register interest' for this year at the moment?

Yes we have registered interest so hopefu9llt I'll spot something either by email or on website. Thanks though at least I will know to look!

I would definitely go to a couple this Summer. As others have said, dates can clash in the Autumn, or it can clash with other things going on in your life. Students may be allowed some days off, but they then have to catch up - I preferred to aim not to have any planned time off if it wasn't absolutely necessary.
Plus, you may get someone like my dc2, who completely changed the subject area she wanted to study after her first university visit - establishing that in the Summer is better than in the Winter.
They will be writing their PSs in the Autumn, so good to have an idea.

Another site I like is Push.co.uk - good for narrowing down all sorts of different choices, as it can be quite overwhelming to start looking.