Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Applying for Uni 2019 entry Part 4, UCAS & offers (and thinking about exams)

999 replies

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 31/01/2019 09:58

Following on from the previous thread.

OP posts:
Itscoldouthere · 27/02/2019 22:56

Interesting to hear all the ‘inside information’ on accommodation at UEA.
DS will probably put it as his insurance.
Still nothing from Bath despite DS sending an email last week, if he doesn’t hear by next week he’s going to withdraw as he wants to apply for accommodation and student loan.

MarchingFrogs · 27/02/2019 23:14

juicy0, at the moment, it is either an insurance for Leeds (which she revisited today, with DH in tow, and is as we speak formulating a cunning plan to deal eith her worry that she may not get the tequired A in French), or a regretful goodbye altogether if she decides to accept her UIF from Birmingham. She does like UEA and Norwich, though, as we all do, having visited a few times now.

DS2 paid his first visit to UEA with us last week and was smitten. If he ends up at NUA for Architecture, he may spend plenty of time up there enjoying the Art, the pool and the Broad.

SirB0bby · 27/02/2019 23:24

Does the reserve offer have to be accepted at the same time as the firm one or can they be done independently?

Piggywaspushed · 28/02/2019 07:03

Reading all these posts , I am still beyond bewildered as to why my DS disliked UEA ! He is just being contrary, I think.

VanCleefArpels · 28/02/2019 07:51

@juicy0 my son about to graduate in geography at Nottingham. Just wanted to comment on your comment that UEA has a more human geography focus. We found that all geography courses have compulsory mix of physical and human in first year thereafter students specialise either way, my DS definitely a human geographer! He also had an offer from UEA but chose Nottingham as his geography teacher advised it was a much better course, and (if you think it matters) it is a RG university. DS has had a great experience, staff really supportive and the course has been challenging in a good way. Good luck with whichever you decide!

juicy0 · 28/02/2019 08:35

Hi vancleefarpels thank you for your comment, I'm pleased you've had such a positive experience and I hope I'll be saying the same in 3 years time!

We looked closely at all the compulsory and optional modules throughout the three years and they were very similar and each seemed equally flexible. The UEA do offer two or three modules that Nott didn't and typically it was those that DD was particularly interested in. That combined with the lack of SC accommodation on campus is pushing her towards UEA.

I know Nott is RG but everything I've read suggests that RG is t held in the same high regard it once, I'm not sure whether that's true or not. UEA seems to be gaining both credibility, in terms of rankings, research and teaching standards and popularity in terms of positive student experiences so it's hard to split them.

The talks at UEA, Birmingham and Nott were all so similar I don't think there is much between them so it comes down to personal preference at that point I suppose.

Fazackerley · 28/02/2019 08:40

Dd has had her swansea offer dropped by a grade. They've been really proactive, and I know it shouldn't matter, but the fact Bath has been troublesomely late means she is now at least keen to go and look at Swansea! So open day booked.

Fazackerley · 28/02/2019 08:45

Also, three As at Swansea means 3k a year scholarship which sounds brilliant

MarchingFrogs · 28/02/2019 09:06

Iirc, if you are nominating an insurance, you have to do it at the same time as nominating your firm. Any other offers held are cancelled at that point. There is no requirement to have an insurance, though, and if your firm option is / becomes Unconditional if Firmed, by definition, you can't have an insurance choice.

Shimy · 28/02/2019 09:18

Fazack - Haven’t seen you on here in a while. We visited Swansea it quite amazing. When are you visiting and which campus?

VanCleefArpels · 28/02/2019 09:29

juicy0 completely agree with you and it sounds like you have the identical bag of offers DS had 3 years ago!! DS actively wanted the catered option for accommodation so didn’t have the dilemma your DD has. I do think UoN have got it slightly wrong by sticking with that model on campus, although it’s probably due to the cost of altering the layout of the current buildings which were obviously mostly built when catered was the model back in the day.

Best of luck - geography is a great interesting degree with lots of flexibility

Fazackerley · 28/02/2019 10:10

Hi shimy. Bay campus on the 9th. Nice to hear you thought it was good. It was an outlier and dd has always been reluctant but they've been quite active in pursuing dd and the course looks perfect so we'll see!

Shimy · 28/02/2019 10:24

Smile Bay campus was where we went as well. Fab! but don't know if DS will firm it yet. We are actually going on Cardiff's offer day on the 9th. We stayed at the nearby Travelodge i highly recommend it, just in case. Looking forward to hearing what you thought of it.

Fazackerley · 28/02/2019 10:57

It's only just over 2 hours from us which is another thing in it's favour!

mushroom3 · 28/02/2019 12:56

Accommodation on Bay is plentiful, all ensuite, around 5k a year. Second years tend to go to either St Thomas or Uplands. St Thomas is better for Bay as it's 10 minute bike (segregated cycle path all the way) or bus ride. It's also walking distance from Sainsburys, Lidl and Wind St. Rents are around 350 per month, a bit more if bills are included. The market in the City Centre is also good for student food shopping. The intercity Megabus coaches stop at Bay Campus so can be an easier (and cheaper) option than the train. There are frequent day and night buses going between the two campuses.

Shimy · 28/02/2019 13:45

Mushroom that is marvellous info you've given. I was wondering about accomodation for later yrs and how accessible to the uni it might be. Good to know about the shops and market too. Do you have a dc at Swansea?

Fazackerley · 28/02/2019 14:18

Fab info thanks mushroom

mushroom3 · 28/02/2019 14:26

Yes I do, he's at Bay. The nearest place to Bay is Crymlyn Burrows which is across the road from Bay Campus. There isn't however much there except a few houses and a small sub post office. This is why St Thomas is better as it's 10 minutes journey to Bay from there, but also convenient for shopping/going out. It's just to the east of the city centre. A good thing about Swansea is that it's big enough to be a fully functioning city, but small enough that everything in the centre is walking distance; and it's safe. With two universities it's quite studenty (The other Uni have just built a new campus in the waterfront part of St Thomas near the waterfront Premier Inn). I have a year 12 DD so I've been following this thread for next year!

Ragwort · 28/02/2019 15:41

Does anyone have any views on applying through clearing to a Uni that you have turned down an UIF offer? My DS liked this particular Uni but realised that his first and insurance choices were stronger academically. However if doesn’t get the grades needed for either would the UIF Uni look unfavourably on his application as he had previously turned them down? (If that makes sense).

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 01/03/2019 07:19

Ragwort I wouldn't think it would matter. When it gets to Clearing stage presumably they just want to ensure they get 'bums on seats' from the strongest candidates available to them.

OP posts:
ifonly4 · 01/03/2019 08:05

Ragwort, also is the course likely to be in clearing? None of my DD's choices were in clearing, in fact, nothing that meets her criteria was. If she doesn't get a place, she'll have to have a complete rethink.

blametheparents · 01/03/2019 08:28

Just kicked DS out of bed to apply for accommodation at Nottingham. Applications opened today, which seems a little unfair as there are many people still waiting for offers from other universities.
Hopefully he will get his first choice.

Fazackerley · 01/03/2019 08:46

Luckily dd isn't bothered about accommodation- well, not enough to get stressed by it. She sees it as it is - a thinly veiled attempt to get students to firm them out of panic.

Itscoldouthere · 01/03/2019 08:53

The whole accommodation thing seems so random, it does seem unfair to allocate based on first come first serve basis when all uni offeres haven’t been given yet, but I suppose you have to factor that in when you are making your uni choice as well (although I’m sure most DC won’t think about that).
Mind you it’s a minor consideration as it’s only for one year and I’m sure most DC will cope with whatever they get.
Feel for all those parents getting their secondary school places today.... remember that, so glad that’s all in the past !

Itscoldouthere · 01/03/2019 09:00

Frazack I presume you are still waiting to hear from Bath?
I went on the UCAS offer rate calculator as mentioned on another thread, (didn’t know about it before) and it gave a really low chance for my DS getting an offer (16%) so I don’t know why they haven’t just rejected him, it’s very frustrating.