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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:
minesawine · 29/03/2019 10:42

Yay. DS did well in his mocks and we are so relieved. The school have told students who didn't get a C minimum for their maths mock that they were not allowing them to take their exams in May/June, which I think is terrible. Its all about the school looking good and not the kids at all. Some parents are now paying for the DC's to take the exam privately and I was considering it, based on his tales of gloom. The good news is that he did well and his hard work (and expensive tutoring!) is paying off. Small celebration then head down again. I cant wait for this to be over Gin

blametheparents · 29/03/2019 12:08

DS has just texted me to tell me that he got 92% in his Maths mock - SL IB Maths - Smile. He is really pleased, looks like the hard work is paying off.

Well done to your DS @minesawine - I'll be joining you on the Gin tonight! Tutoring can be so expensive so it is great when it pays off. I too am looking forward to it all being over!

minesawine · 29/03/2019 12:20

Thanks Blame. My poor DS is still being taught content for maths, which is done on a Saturday, with revision happening during the week. It is all a bit chaotic and the school is panicking and being quite ruthless about removing students from the final exam. There is a horrible atmosphere, which doesn't help the students focus. Luckily he is now on revision for his other 2 A'Levels.

University will be a breeze after A'Levels.

Laniakea · 29/03/2019 13:36

Dd finished physics content this week - thank god. Biology & chemistry are nowhere near done. Total fuckup sums it up really.

ProlificLurker · 29/03/2019 14:59

Well done to your DSs blametheparents and minesawine. Fingers crossed for the real thing now.

Mine has this week completed the syllabus for all 3 subjects (phew!) so now it’s head down for revision all the way .

Finally made his choices on UCAS too and applied for accommodation. I was actually quite impressed with Sheffield’s accommodation application. Students put a bit about themselves which they can choose to use as a public profile and the ones applying after them can then use the information to decide which flat to select. One flat had its rooms almost completely filled with people into K-pop/Korean culture, so the system appeared to be working in that respect.

(Disclaimer: I’ve not seen any other accommodation application systems, so apologies if they are all like this)

Wiifitmama · 29/03/2019 15:04

Ds has his mocks next week. He is in the slightly odd position of being right in the middle of the most hectic and intense part of the application process for degree apprenticeships right at the heavy exam revision stage. It is all so much later than the Uni application process. He firmed those quite a while back. Next week, on three days (all the same days as mocks), he has interviews or assessment days for three different companies. Two of them (the interviews) he is squeezing in around his mocks), the assessment day is very very far and all day so he has had to ask permission to take his mock a different day. Fairly intense and likely to continue as there are more rounds to come for all the companies.

Flyingarcher · 29/03/2019 16:38

Confirmed first choice today after we found out that sports scholarship lowers grades. Phew! Now girding loins for whole accomodation hoo haa. When applying for student loan, I am sure we only qualify for the minimum. Do I still need all the salary details?

Piggywaspushed · 29/03/2019 16:48

Mine is still procrastinating... apparently he can't decide 'because they are all so average'....

DS2 (year 10) had a careers talk about Law today and is already more motivated about this than DS1 is about his immediate future!

AtiaoftheJulii · 29/03/2019 17:19

When applying for student loan, I am sure we only qualify for the minimum. Do I still need all the salary details?

No, it asks you if you want to apply for more than the minimum and if you want to give financial details, and you can just say no. Which means the whole thing is done and dusted in about ten minutes, if that.

AtiaoftheJulii · 29/03/2019 17:20

Well that's good news Piggy, didn't like to think of you going through this again!

Piggywaspushed · 29/03/2019 17:21

I think I would run away from home if I did have to atia !

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 29/03/2019 17:25

When applying for student loan, I am sure we only qualify for the minimum. I guess it's up to you. DS's initial estimate came through with the minimum loan BUT that seemed to have been generated automatically before parents' forms had been completed. I reckon it's three weeks since we'd all completed the relevant forms, so thinking we should hear revised loan figure by Easter.

OP posts:
AtiaoftheJulii · 29/03/2019 17:25

This is a good guide. Scroll down to Living Costs for info about the maintenance loan and how much you can borrow.

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 29/03/2019 17:42

I wonder if it's still the case that Oxbridge students get the equivalent of the London living loan (it used to be so with grants).

OP posts:
AtiaoftheJulii · 29/03/2019 17:59

No, it's not!

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 29/03/2019 18:05

Is the Oxbridge accommodation reasonably priced (by 'modern' standards) then?

Positive news that your DS2 is already thinking ahead to university. I think DD is going to be harder work than DS1, TBQH. At least we get a few years' respite here.

OP posts:
justasking111 · 29/03/2019 18:13

A bit off topic, but worrying the mumps going around NTU Hull and one other university. It is popping up on FB. Apparently we can ask our gp to give DS a booster MMR jab before he goes to uni.

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 29/03/2019 18:21

A booster on top of the ones they will have had when they were little, justasking111? Is this because of the children (who are now late teens) who've not had the MMR vaccinations?

OP posts:
minesawine · 29/03/2019 18:24

I saw this Just and it made me a bit worried as DS has firmed NTU. I spoke to my doctor and will send my DS for any boosters after his exams.

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 29/03/2019 18:25

It is worrying, particularly (potentially) for the boys.

OP posts:
OKBobble · 29/03/2019 18:44

Not only is Oxbridge accommodation reasonably priced they generally pay for term time only and the terms are only 8 weeks long. They can apply for extra weeks too and there are genrous bursaries available from the colleges for families with low incomes.

OKBobble · 29/03/2019 18:44
  • generous!
MarchingFrogs · 29/03/2019 18:58

thetab.com/uk/brookes/2016/04/01/oxford-students-start-receiving-london-loans-11288

Please note the date...

justasking111 · 29/03/2019 19:08

newmodelarmy. No not because they were not vaccinated but because it has not taken. It does happen.

AtiaoftheJulii · 29/03/2019 19:59

There have been at least two mumps outbreaks in Oxford in the 3 1/2 years dd1 has been there. Dd2 hasn't heard of any in Newcastle in 2 1/2 years, although her housemate did have mumps, but no one else they knew about.