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

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Following on from the previous thread.

Some of obU is fine. Bath is also very expensive

I forgot to say, my DS went there as his Insurance choice and had not problem to get accommodation. NTU's accommodation situation sounds stressful.

Accommodation stuff was not like this in the Dark Ages. I feel so out of my comfort zone. Totally agree, Piggy. I cannot believe the cost of it and when we were considering the pros and cons of different universities, it didn't strike me that anywhere was considerably cheaper than anywhere else for halls (clearly there will be a difference in post Year 1 private rental costs). I think when we were students it was accepted that we would have to 'slum it'.

@Mushroom, very glad to read your of Swansea. DS should be visiting over the half term. Trying to decide which one to choose between Swansea and UEA for Computing.

Swansea looks a lovely university (and sounds it from your post, Mushroom). Tried to get DS to consider it but he's fighting shy of other than English universities.

I honestly think Some of the Welsh universities are hidden gems for want of a better word. They are very low key but actually offer great value. Swansea, Aberystwth, both have some very strong departments.
Hopefully DS will let me come to Swansea with him.

Shimy I think you're spot on. Hope your DS is wowed by Swansea.

I hope so too. I’ll report back.

report back Shimy. We can't go to that one as we are away. I have asked dd to email them to ask about coming to visit privately and going to a lecture and we'll see what they say.

DS is also very tempted by Swansea. They have suggested he apply for a music scholarship, so he's practising like mad for an audition at present.

They've written dd a really nice letter. I am going to drag her there I think.

@Fazac that sounds exciting. . DS likes the sound of the whole ‘Bay campus’ beach side of things, I’m worried about the distance and also keen to find out how they what support and how they prepare students towards finding a placement.

It's only 2 hours from us. It also has a lecturer there who wrote a book that we based her epq on! She just doesn't think Swansea is very cool

Should have said 'she' based her epq on! I know nothing about the subject!

Shimy - how far is Swansea from home? What seems to be DD's first choice is a solid 7 hour drive, I suffer from travel sickness and DH couldn't drive that far for health reasons. If she gets in, I think we'll travel up with three suitcases of clothes and go out and buy toiletries, stationary and hopefully have an Amazon order for bedding/some homely things for her room. Not going to be easy though and I guess we'll see her three times a year.

@ifonly Swansea to home is 4hrs drive, 4 and half to 5 by public transport.
@fazac what did she say is not ‘cool’ about it?

DS has a good friend doing computing, Swansea currently ranked 13th in the UK for computing.(after an offer holders visit he picked it over Manchester as his insurance, his firm was aspirational) Bay Campus has brand new halls, all en-suite, but more expensive than living out, which is around £350 plus bills. Being of the gaming variety, I don't think DS has made as much use of the beach as he could have! We are a four hour drive away too. DS has tended to get the Megabus that stops at Bay as it's more convenient (and cheaper) than the train. As he has had quite a full high contact lecture/practical timetable (Engineering), except for main holidays, the between semester gap and revision week in May, we have tended to go to visit him for the weekend eg at half term(which suits me as I like shopping there!). His friend doing computer science also has a high number of contact hours. (I think Engineering and Computing have high contact hours where ever you go)

Mushroom, that’s great to know. Is ds’s friend on the Sandwich pathway do you know?

He isn't but is thinking of switching to it (currently 2nd year). It depends on how he did in his 2nd year first semester exams.
If you visit, Swansea go and visit Wind St (Student nightlife street), the shops and indoor market (best to park in Tesco to walk round or take any of the buses from Bay Campus to the bus station) and visit Singleton Campus too as some of the clubs and societies are based there. It's also pleasant to spend a few hours at the Gower Peninsula. They have a bike scheme similar to the one in inner London but as my son has his own bike he hasn't used it (Many students have bikes). One thing to be aware of it does rain a lot more than in the east!

To either do a year in industry or at a uni abroad you need to be working at a solid 2:1.

Students choose which pathway they want to follow at time of university application. DS’s offer is for Computing WITH a years placement. I can’t really see how they can mandate needing a 2.1 afterwards. Obviously it’s a good thing to be working towards a 2.1 but it’s not a prerequisite to doing a work placement, why would it be?

When DD was looking at Lancaster for biomedical science she was told that only students with strong A levels and working at a high grade could do a year abroad because the change and the move abroad is unsettling and can affect academic performance. The year abroad is often likened to being a fresher again. I imagine that a year in industry is considered in a similar vein.

Lonicera i don’t know about the yr abroad pathway. But all universities state the entry requirements for each pathway before students apply.

Once an offer has been made I can’t see how the university can turn around afterwards and add a new clause .! Imagine someone admitted to a Sandwich course, 2yrs on has secured a work placement but unfortunately only for a 2.2 at yr end, is the university really going to tell the student they’re not allowed to go for their work placement?

At the end of the day it’s not the university that gives out work placements, it’s the students themselves that finds one. They go through normal recruitment procedures and the employer offers a place based on their qualifications to date (including end of yr university attainment) and performance at recruitment. The student then has every right to take it up. Why shouldn’t they?

An employer may well prefer the student on a 2.2 over the one 2.1 student because of other strengths.

Apologies for typos here young on a dying gadget that’s developeda life of its own.

Dd has an offer for a four year course including a year abroad

OB do second year abroad IF you are working at a high level

DitheringDan, that's excellent news for your DS. Good luck to him.