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

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Following on from the previous thread.

Kent super-super rooms over £7k as well. I do think that in all the discussion about fees and loans etc there needs to be done adjustment of accommodation fees so they bear more than a passing resemblance to available finance

The loan is not drawn until registration so you can cancel or amend.

Had a lovely weekend in Swansea! Some reservations from DS, who very much liked the course, the lecturers and the beach, but was underwhelmed by the town itself, the rather sparse number of people, and the music opportunities (they don't offer a music degree, so perhaps don't attract many top-level musicians).

Picky so and so.

Manchester next, and then he needs to find a separate time to see Loughborough as he missed the Offer Holders Day.

Dd felt the same dan. She's thinking she'd have to get the bus to cardiff a lot!

That's a shame Dan. DS is very introverted and so the quietness of Swansea probably went completely over his head. I understand there's a street called "Wind Street" where they all go for nights outs, clubbing, eating out etc plus poodling about on campus which would more than be enough, as far as DS is concerned for socialising but i guess could be quite claustrophic for a more outgoing person. Of course Cardiff is only 1hr away for the more adventurous.

NewModelArmyMayhem18- her music exam is 14 June. We're seeing teachers on Friday for final time to discuss her work, present likely grades, so I plan to ask if she's still on course for her predicted grade, bearing in mind they know how she's done on 60% of her marks.

She hasn't firmed yet, but it seems her firm will be St Andrews. She's used to being away from home term time, but 400 miles is a long way. I can only take five Sundays off a year in one of my jobs, so not much opportunity for a long weekend visiting her. Edinburgh can be her only insurance, and that's not much better at around 350 miles - would be good for a weekend shopping/sight seeing.

Am I the only one with a DC who might end up at St Andrews or Edinburgh?

Ifonly4 hope you/your DD get good feedback when you go to see the teachers on Friday.

I was also keen for DS to consider the Scottish universities but again he wasn't keen (not sure why but think it had to do with distance from home). It's not really as if Edinburgh is that much further away from where we are than Durham...

Newcastle is far away enough (300 miles) - dd1 was very keen on St Andrew's for a long time and I was quite relieved that that didn't happen.

Have had quite a productive day with ds - he looked at bank accounts, applied for student finance, and applied for his accommodation.

Talking of distances has anyone done the train travel route costs. I did, it varies considerably.

It depends which route you take and what time of day you travel. It is worth perusing a railway map of the UK and putting alternative routes into The Trainline. For example, it is cheaper to get to York from where we live if we go via Leeds.

I despair. I think if I never mentioned uni again and neither did nor suggested anything , zero zilch nada would happen. Feeling disconsolate .

Ds looked at the Birmingham accommodation portal today and discovered that you can select accommodation even if you haven’t firmed the university, so he went ahead and made his 6 choices.
He also found out that Bath accommodation doesn’t open till 8th May, good news as he is still waiting to hear from Bath.

Piggy, I wonder if you should genuinely stop pushing/helping? Maybe he really isn’t ready for this yet.

I have an older DC at uni who wasn’t ready even after a gap year, and it’s been heavy going for h all the way.

DS may yet opt for Swansea as he’s worked out that it’s under 90 mins by train to the nearest army reserve band. That may sound extreme but he currently travels 2 hours each way to band practice twice a week.

He’s not remotely bothered about clubbing - poodling round campus with enough congenial guitar fiends would do him fine - but he’s desperate for decent orchestral / band opportunities.

Dd is keen on Swansea too. I worry she'll find it boring. She really wants to.do a year abroad though and she'll need a good average percentage to be allowed to.do it, so I guess she'll have to work hard rather than party anyway!! I did say it's only 3 years of your life, no time really, so your uni town doesn't have to be where you spend the rest of your life!

fazack where are you guys from? Is it London? Swansea is really a pretty lively place, honest! The Mumbles is very studenty and bustling. I know people who studied there and they are not wilting violets, honest! Somewhere like Keele or Aberystwyth, possibly Stirling and Lancaster are definitely quiet but Swansea isn't like that ime.

dan you may well be right. Time will tell.

Also, must add, Loughborough is quiet compared to Swansea!

I was thinking about that piggy
Loughborough is very quiet

Uni town was one of the most important thingsins to dd. Shes wants a new city to explore. She enjoyed her offer holders day , just needs to go to Durham and then she can put down her firm and insurance. She's already mentioningredients ideas for dissertations!

Uni town is important to dd, but to be honest the course is more so. That's what you have to console you when it's raining, you miss home, you don't like the people in your flat and the boy you like asked your mate out! Knowing you are on a good course with supportive lecturers gives you the boost to get through it!

DS is also quite a home bird, so I don't think he will mind being somewhere relatively quiet. Of course, Newcastle is just up the road though...

We live in the Welsh sticks, so Loughborough would seem manic to DS. A friends DD is desperate to go there because of her course choice.

DS is going to Leeds, I think it will be a culture shock for him after, hills, mountains rivers and lakes. It will be interesting to see how he copes, I do wonder if he will go a bit mad to be honest.

DS has just messaged to say maybe he should have packed a coat (he's staying overnight with a friend before his Manchester interview).

Erm... yes.

Weird one....
DS just got an email from Reading lowering his offer
His offer is ABB or BBB if put first
They have just offered him BCC with no conditions.
Does that mean they are low on people firming them?

So did my friend's son today !