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

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

New thread started. Here's the previous one

Ahh thank you, yes it’s very true, We lived in London till DS1 was 14 and he was growing up too fast to be honest, we moved out to the stick and it put a stop to some of the things he was doing 😂
Most of his friends are just finishing Uni now, but it doesn’t seem to be putting him off, I do think his brother going has been part of the push he needed.
Defiantly fingers crossed as it’s a long shot 🤞🏻

Hi all, wondering if anyone has any info on Sheffield accommodation?

We are looking at Ranmoor and Endcliffe. I think Endcliffe is the more popular village as ur has more facilities but Endcliffe seems maybe quieter?

Hi Framey

My DS is going to Sheffield this year (hopefully!) and he has chosen to be in the City accommodation. He’s fairly quiet though and wanted accommodation close to the campus. Apparently the student union is very close though if he changes his mind and decides to be a party animal!

I think I heard that Endcliffe is the more lively area, but I’m not 100% on that. There are a few threads on the student room about accommodation at Sheffield, such as this one - maybe worth a look.

I’d be interested in whatever you find out Framey - Sheffield is ds’ insurance & there’s a good chance that’s where he’ll end up (firm offer is high). We didn’t get to look at the Sheffield accommodation at all as it was the very last open day he went to & the students were all in place already.

framey DD1 is in a flat in Endcliffe Vale - chosen mainly because it was the cheapest option (£4.5k fo the year). She’s very happy there- shared showers/toilets and kitchen a little tired but I’m not sure she cares too much about that. She walks into town for lectures - takes about half an hour, they seem to take Uber’s when they’re going to clubs for nights out. From what she says it’s not ‘off the scale party central’ but it’s active enough there. She is pretty sociable and it seems to suit her - I think I’ve said below that she’s loved it from the very start (lucky to have clicked with most flat mates from day one which is most of the battle I think).

Piggy did you get anywhere with NTU accommodation? I think I mentioned before that my DS missed out on all the Uni halls but has got into private halls, just a few minutes walk from the main Uni site and no price difference. He went to view them last week and seemed happy. There are lots of private halls so hopefully somewhere will have a space? They aim to put all the first years together as well. Good luck.

Hi ragwort . I tried yesterday. they mentioned one place they have some partnerships rooms left in (Nottingham Square). I then googled all the other private halls and apart from a new one called Medici they are all literally fully booked.

She did try to persuade me their halls in Basford were not far away. I wnet to Nottingham Uni and know exactly where Basford is!

Nottingham Square is supsiciously cheap!

Where is your DS going to stay?

Piggy my DS is booked into the Glasshouse, also run by the same organisation as Nottingham Square I think?

What was your view of Nottingham as a city? It’s a part of the country we really don’t know very well but enjoyed our visit there, seems to be a lot going on, we live in a bit of a rural backwater so it would be very exciting for our DS if he gets in ....... assuming he gets the grades .

I am not impressed with the way NTU organise their accommodation, & presumably if they allocate accommodation to ‘insurance’ offers there is going to be masses of reallocation after results day . We haven’t done anything about accommodation at DS’s insurance uni, will just have to sort it out if it comes to that.

Piggy just looked at Medici Halls, they look very nice and being brand new for this year’s intake should be in very good condition?

I aksed about the reallocation and she did say there's a waiting list and people cancel : but who would risk that? I thought about insurance offers and , also, those who don't make their grades.

Sadly, Glasshouse is full. Medici does look quite nice : not sure about location. The newest ones are pushing further out. Mind you, more or less all that is left at Lincoln now is a 15 minute walk.

It's all part of the game, isn't it? And I don't like this game!

Thanks PrinceCharles, Endcliffe village is the place she wants to be, it seems like there's more going on than Ranmoor.

I have found out that they release accommodation in blocks as they don't think it's fair that those who have early offers can get first choice. So it's showing not much left on the portal at the moment but they've assured me that lots more will he added.
I guess we just have to keep checking every day which is a bit frustrating and time consuming

DD turned down her u/c offer for NTU primarily because of the accommodation issue. She was not in a position to firm (or otherwise) before the date the accommodation opened then when we found out it all basically went in the first few hours she decided she didn’t want the uncertainty. Compared to the place she has firmed where you could apply as an offer holder and they allocate between your preferences after results when they know who is actually coming. So much fairer for everyone

Silly, isn't it? I'm sure NTU isn't desperate to acquire my DS. Notwithstanding, somewhere else will get his fees.

I moved about 3 times in my first year. If the course and location in general is the best, I think the accommodation is a much easier thing to fix. People are always moving in/out of accommodation. 25 people dropped out 😱 of university from the year above my Dd in the first year.

I am crossing fingers that Sheffield will honour their commitment to find accommodation for all first years even if not originally firmed. Plus I saw something recently where they were trying to entice other years to stay in halls too so hopefully they have plenty.

The city accommodation seems less popular with first years but ds probably wouldn’t care as it would be a shorter walk!

I am relieved dd won't end up choosing NTU. The accommodation thing is too stressful plus the course talk was 10 minutes and they were unhelpful about making her the correct offer. Their offer is absurdly high - the same as Bath uni!!

NTU is renowned for some of its courses though, isn't it? Particularly more directly career pathway ones, so there is every possibility that some will require equally as high grades as universities some would consider to be of higher status?

Yes it's very good for some subjects.

I agree NTU very good (including for DD’s subject) and innovative. Which makes its admissions system all the more irritating. By opening the accommodation very early and using a hotel booking system (as opposed to an “express a preference and we will allocate later” as operated by most other places) it favours early applicants and those with u/c offers. It was staggering to me that they were still running offer holder days AFTER the city campus accommodation was booked up. I do hope someone from NTU reads these and other similar online conversations about this and realise they are potentially losing many very able candidates in this way

I think the fact that so many students from NTU got unconditional offers and hers was so high put her off also 🙄

Wish my DS had got an UC offer from NTU, he will be very lucky if he gets the grades required, just hoping he might get in with slightly lower results. Anyone have any experience of this?

Wish my DS had got an UC offer from NTU, he will be very lucky if he gets the grades required, just hoping he might get in with slightly lower results

Hundreds of courses at NTU were in clearing last year, including the one dd applied to. However, its reputation as a premier party uni has grown this year so its probably far more popular than it was. Although the amount of UCs it has given out - not sure how many places will be left!

DD just confirmed her room at at Sheffield, she's in Endcliffe, Howden. It's a mixed sex flat with 8 bedrooms, en-suite bathrooms and a shared kitchen and living area with sofas

Decorate, from what I've read, Stephenson hall usually has space right up to term time because it's catered but it's also supposed to be really good socially... it's in Endcliffe so benefits from all the facilities.

My DS didn't get an UC for NTU and none of the students I teach who applied did.

Lincoln is the same : last offer day last weekend : even on Facebook they were touting accommodation talks using pics of accommodation not available.