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

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

New thread started. Here's the previous one

[Fazackerley]

Well, despite a terrible week in and out of hospital after her fall, dd has just limped downstairs to say she's had an offer from Bath. Finally. It's their standard high offer but she's really happy through the haze of painkillers.

[BringOnTheScience]

Well done to Fazackerley's DD 😀👍

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Brilliant news for your DD, Fazackerley. How's her back now?

[Fazackerley]

It's a lot better. She does have two cracked ribs though! She's revising from her bed.

[ifonly4]

Fazackerly, what a week for you, but so glad it's good news at the end though. Do you think she'll firm, or just needs a bit of time to think about her options.?

[Fazackerley]

She will not be rushed into anything - slow and steady, unlike me! So she'll go to the applicant day in a week or so, then probably firm although she loved Swansea . Thst will be insurance.

[amiw]

Potentially stupid question...do they email through ucas to chase when they will know the decision (Birmingham) or direct?

[AtiaoftheJulii]

If your dc is still waiting to hear from Birmingham and wants to follow it up, they should email Birmingham admissions to ask when a decision might be made.

[blametheparents]

How's the revision going? I always remember revision being so boring so I feel for them all.
DS is now in full swing and is working hard. Easter hols will include lots of time spent revising. It will all be worth it in the end - I hope!

[Laniakea]

dd spent all this weekend trying to make some sense of the PAG situation. The chemistry PAG books tuned up in the chemistry office - where it looks like they've been all along.

Physics is done (god I love the physics department!) - PAG is complete, books handed in, content finished. All is fine.

Biology, content should be finished this week. There are three experiments missing from the PAG list, they are trying to get them done this week. Final date is April 22nd & they break up on Friday so it's urgent now.

Chemistry still half a year 13 module and half a year 12 module to cover. Still only one chemistry teacher. Five, possibly six, experiments not done at all. They have a finish off the content day in school over Easter (won't all get done) & they will have to do the same for the practical stuff if they have any hope of getting the endorsement. DD's been in tears over it, I've told her to focus on what she can control - there is nothing she can do. She's got four hours of tutoring in the next couple of weeks so will need to make the most of that.

So not really at the point of being able to revise yet - school have brought study leave forward though so it will now start a few days before her first exam!

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Exam revision started here but DS still completing History coursework which I don't think is ideal (especially as the submission deadline is in three weeks' time).

[Itscoldouthere]

I booked DS on 2 weeks half days of Easter Revision due to him not being in school, just revising at home. Booked for Cambridge and yesterday they emailed with details and it had been changed to London, they hadn’t asked if it was suitable for us or anything 😳
Luckily DS was ok about getting there on train/tube, I had a right old moan and they are going to reimburse his daily train fare.
Hope it’s worth it!!!

[blametheparents]

@itscoldouthere - DS did a two day Maths revision course over Xmas. He found it really useful. Revision can be so boring I think it was nice to get out and mix with other people too. It was really expensive so I am glad he found it useful!
Hope your DS finds his course helpful.

[mushroom3]

Hi Fazackerley,
I hope your daughter feels better soon and well done to her on her offer!

[Piggywaspushed]

Tried to have the talk with DS1 about actually making a decision.

Minimal progress.

He is now deciding between 'Stinkoln' (BBC) and 'Dull' (Uif)...

Really he wants NTU but I can't bear the thought of him having nowhere to live or being stuck in some less desirable accommodation, miles from the Uni in the Meadows or somewhere.

Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv stressed.

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Hi Piggy poor you and your DS. It seems absolutely ridiculous that everything hinges on the availability (or not) of decent accommodation for those not quick off the mark back in March. Clearly NTU should be the 'firm' option. It seems such a shame that he can't go where he wants to go.

[Princecharlesfirstwife]

@ProlificLurker I was just browsing this thread reliving ‘university application trauma 2018’ and saw your comment re: Sheffield accommodation. DD1 lives in an 8 room flat in Endcliffe chosen through that process - it was definitely worthwhile having at least a semblance of an idea about potential roommates likes and dislikes; she has very much found herself with (mostly) people that she gets on very well with and 5 of them will be living together again next year. She seems to have loved every second at Sheffield - hope the same goes for your DS.

[Piggywaspushed]

Thanks OP. I have told him I'll phone NTU tomorrow and see if they can say what is left to choose from.

They let both frims and insurances book so the irony is that some fo the people 'hogging' the accommodation may not end up there. Same with many unis I guess.

[ProlificLurker]

@Princecharlesfirstwife that is fantastic to hear, thank you. I’m glad your DD is having such a positive experience. Makes the trauma worthwhile.

Piggy I feel you. I think DS only got his finger out to make me shut up. At least you’ve only got 30 days left before he has to decide. (Actually, I did intend that to make you feel better (the end is in sight kind of thing) but reading it back I’m not sure if it’s just more worrying )

Fazackerly hope your DD is on the mend soon.

[ProlificLurker]

Cross post Piggy. Fingers crossed that NTU are helpful.

[Piggywaspushed]

Thanks! I didn't get any for Mother's Day so I will happily take yours!

[Itscoldouthere]

Much to my surprise DS 1 pulled his finger out last week and put in a late UCAS application. He’s applying for a model making course so only applied to 2 places.
He got a reply straight away yesterday and now has to submit an on-line portfolio (which he hasn’t yet got together 😳). Can’t quite believe he got this far so easily, he is 21 and is a lot more together than he used to be.
Didn’t think I’d have both of them doing UCAS as the same time!

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Well done to your DS1, Itscoldoutthere. Was he spurred on by his sibling applying?

[Itscoldouthere]

Newmodel ha ha yes I think it helped, he did think about it at 19 but he wasn’t committed enough then.
He’s currently doing a course at Pinewood Studios and loving it, but thinks he won’t know enough to get a job at the end, hence his looking at degree courses, I don’t know if he’ll get offered a place, but I’m amazed that he managed to apply.
He’s grown up a lot in the last few years, he’s worked (at Wagamama) and it’s made him realise that doing something you actually enjoy is really important, that’s why he’s come back to education.
I’d love him to go to uni as he’s really social and now he is a bit more mature I think he would get a lot out of it, he’s also desperate to move out of home 😂

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

They all grow up at different rates, don't they? 18 is the right age for some to go to university but others just need more time. Good luck to him in getting his portfolio together and fingers crossed for two offers!