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Higher education

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

Original poster

Applying for Uni 2019 Part 5: UCAS, offers and exam season looming

992 replies

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 19/03/2019 13:09

New thread started. Here's the previous one

OP posts:
DrMadelineMaxwell · 20/04/2019 19:18

Well, dd went to her local (ish) bank today and opened her student account ready for Sept. They took her letter of thanks for accepting her firm offer and just opened it.

I wait to see if that was wrong. But she'd seen something in ucas with a code for if she wanted to open her student account and thought that meant she could.

I feel slightly guilty that she's taking maintenance loan and tuition loan but it would have a huge impact on our standard of living if we tried to cover that for her. So she will be borrowing. And in Wales she can borrow more than she would be able.to in England. Which I'm grateful for as she can borrow enough to cover her accommodation and we will then help.fund her general day to day expenses... while strongly suggesting she gets herself a pt job as soon as exam season finishes. She's making noise about volunteering again but I think she should be earning instead.

I have to request a replacement p60 for me as the only one I need for her student finance application is the one I can't find!

Shimy · 21/04/2019 10:03

@Marching, the spread at UEA was quite something!

Fazackerley · 21/04/2019 12:31

I've really enjoyed going to all the days with dd. But now I feel I've missed out as we had zero meals provided, except Bath and then it was a sandwich and apple and crisps (not that I'm complaining as that's a decent standard lunch)

Piggywaspushed · 21/04/2019 12:47

Hull did a really nice spread. Nothing at all at the other applicant days apart from free tea or coffee and the odd sliver of cake.

LIZS · 21/04/2019 13:14

York did free bacon/sausage butties on arrival and tea/coffee and cake later. Free tea and coffee for waiting parents at Edinburgh.

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 21/04/2019 14:15

Well we missed out on all those delicious lunches, given that DS couldn't be encouraged - for love or money - to attend any offer holders' open days.

I'm clearly is some type of denial because the whole going off to university thing seems very hypothetical at this stage.

OP posts:
Fazackerley · 21/04/2019 15:43

Why did he not want to go? Is he just of the 'what will be will be variety?

Itscoldouthere · 21/04/2019 16:14

We just got tea/coffee and biscuits at Bath, it was only half day so no lunch offered.
UEA was definitely the best, very nice Thai beef salad and chocolate brownies, they gave us seconds for the journey home as they had so many left.

Shimy · 21/04/2019 18:54

Hello everyone, hope everyone is enjoying a lovely Easter weekend, with this glorious weather? My post is nothing to do with uni, but just wanted to share I just turned 50! And had a lovely weekend away in London with the family. Smile.

Piggywaspushed · 21/04/2019 18:56

Happy Birthday!!CakeCakeWine

Shimy · 21/04/2019 18:57

I'm clearly is some type of denial because the whole going off to university thing seems very hypothetical at this stage.

You are not alone.

Shimy · 21/04/2019 18:57

Thank you piggy Smile

ZandathePanda · 21/04/2019 19:02

Glorious day for a birthday Shimy Cake.

Shimy · 21/04/2019 19:05

I know Panda, couldn’t quite believe it.

MarchingFrogs · 21/04/2019 19:47

By way of a distraction, DD will have three weeks in Madagascar in between A levels and results day, before following DS1 to Birmingham in September.

I am considering splashing out on an upgrade for my satnav for when she goes to university, as it has taken to sending me off on random tours of Northampton on my way home from visiting her brother. Not fun.

(With apologies to any of you who live in Northampton, naturally. I'm sure it's a great place. Just not actually on any sane route between Selly Oak and the Frog abode).

Itscoldouthere · 22/04/2019 08:31

MarchingFrogs interesting that both of your DC have chosen Birmingham.
What made them really like it?
I think DS is going to firm Birmingham and I don’t really know much about it, so any information would be useful.

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 22/04/2019 08:43

Shimy a belated Happy Birthday. Hope you are having a lovely weekend.

I was a bit disappointed DS didn't put B'ham as his insurance choice TBQH.

OP posts:
2BoysandaCairn · 22/04/2019 09:46

Happy Birthday to Shimy.
DrMadelineMaxwell don't feel guilty, it's the system our DC are forced to use. Our family would need to take out loans to pay up front. Ds1 has less in savings then 1 years tuition fees.

The repayment start salary went up on 1/4/19. To £25750. We only found out as Ds was looking at job with starting salary of £25750 and went online to check what his repayments would be.
So thats £25750/year or £2143/mth or £494/week.
According to SFE on a salary of £35000 your monthly payment is £60 out of £2916.
£40000 salary £109 out of £3333 a month.
So the 1st one is about a price of coffee a day whilst at work. 2nd one a meal deal lunch per day at work.
Thats how we as a family (only a mortage and car loan as debt, no credit cards) see it.

I think your DD is in Wales, on the SFE website theres a notice about Welsh cancellation of £1500 of students loans.
Didn't read it as we are in East Yorkshire.

Once again god luck to all DC's sitting exams. Ds2 does GCSE's this year.

Shimy · 22/04/2019 10:18

NewModel & 2Boys Thanks very much for the birthday wishes.

DS has finally pulled his finger out and been doing lots of revision. It’s justvery sad that he’s started this late in the day after 2yrs of doing next to nothing. All we can do now is wait and see what happens on results day. We’re being quite matter of fact, that if he does well, he goes of to uni and if he doesn’t, he’ll just Have to retake.
It will be a good learning experience for him.

Sorry about all the hops and odd capital letters but I on a tablet that’s on it lastlegs and it’s developeda life of its own. Spaces where I didn’t put a space, joint up words the whole shebang.

What’s are people’s plan B’s if things go tits up on 15/08?unless you’re lucky enough to be confident this scenario won’t play out.🤷🏻‍♀️

Piggywaspushed · 22/04/2019 10:45

Now , I am allowed to say this , as I live in the vicinity, but the thing about anyone from Northants or Beds is they don't know where anywhere is, other than their own village or town (and really they're not always sure about that). Maybe your SatNav asked a local for the way.

We know someone who was driving from Bedford to Cambridge for a cricket match via the very large A1/ A421. Pretty well trodden route. He got 8 miles from his home and turned right at the A1. Towards London. He had no clue whatsoever that he had gone wrong until he reached the outskirts of London, approximately 70 miles from where he needed to be.

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 22/04/2019 10:53

What’s are people’s plan B’s if things go tits up on 15/08?unless you’re lucky enough to be confident this scenario won’t play out. Again, Shimy, a bit in denial and haven't even started to think through a Plan B in my mind although I should be (as I previously said DS let himself down in his GCSEs). He has been working much harder for A Levels than he ever did earlier on his secondary school career, so trying to remain quietly optimistic whilst keeping one foot firmly on the ground.

DS's school does offer the option to resit again, a year down the line but not sure if there is much additional support for such students. Certainly it's apparent from this year's A Level timetable that there are italicised exams marked in which are for resit candidates. DS has not seen any evidence of them in lessons though.

I will try to keep an open mind until the writing is on the wall (or not) come 15 August.

OP posts:
Itscoldouthere · 22/04/2019 11:50

DS is on a plan B year.

It’s been ok, he isn’t allowed into lessons at school but will sit exams there.

He’s been self studying at home, sees a tutor 1 hour 1:1 and 2 hrs in a small group most weeks and has just been on some Easter revision courses.

He will defiantly go to university this year as his insurance isn’t far off his current grades and I’m pretty sure they will let him in even if he doesn’t improve them (I’m sure he will improve 🤞🏻).

Piggywaspushed · 22/04/2019 11:51

Well mine has his Unconditional if course. But who knows whether this means he will be eating to go to uni come August.

Itscoldouthere · 22/04/2019 11:53

piggy I also live in the vicinity, Bedfordshire, but I’m not a local so don’t know where I am half of the time 😂

Piggywaspushed · 22/04/2019 11:55

Well, you certainly aren't alone there!