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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:
Piggywaspushed · 06/04/2019 11:23

I guess it may also be that the Scottish unis are highly prized so, for many, no need to travel. You might be regarded as a social pariah if you came from Glasgow and chose Edinburgh (only mildly joking there), for example.

The exception is St Andrew's.Mainly English students there. When I was at school not one of my friends applied to St Andrew's.

I am sure there are a range of reasons why people desire a new location. the desire to stay within easy travelling distance is certainly disadvantaging certain - very fine- unis. Even some young people choosing between Cambrisge and Oxford choose Oxford because it's easier to get to (and out of!)

I have definitely noticed at offer days and Open Days that most accents are at least reasonably local to the uni. The exception actually was Aber. I guess even for Welsh students it's not very accessible!

Piggywaspushed · 06/04/2019 11:25

It's funny that someone changed their username at some point and I STILL recognised their posts as being them under a different name when I stumbled across some very old posts! We all have our distictive voice...

Piggywaspushed · 06/04/2019 11:28

Yes, Portsmouth is good for those things and , apparently, Politics. I based my theory on the fact that DS got a UiF from them (and is hardly someone who a uni would bite their arm off to get) and some Twitter searches. Lincoln is on Hinds' hitlist and I have yet to hear of anyone who DIDN'T get a UiF from them.

VanCleefArpels · 06/04/2019 11:33

Both my kids didn’t want to be too far away from home, but far enough away to be reasonably independent if that makes sense. DD will be about an hour away and that was a very important factor to her choices. Older DS is further away but still just about day trippable if required (good for end of year clearouts!). I think it will really depend on what’s available nearby - our most local Uni is quite high end so not accessible for all anyway. Culturally university is seen as the first step out if the family nest so maybe there’s almost an expectation to go further away?

justasking111 · 06/04/2019 15:04

Perhaps it is a northern thing to not wander too far from home transport wise because our public transport is just not that good. Seasonal tourism wise for a start. The trains half at least in the winter.

We looked through the student room and other forums. Then looked at public transport, then accommodation. One place DS fancied was three train changes and £132 each time. Luckily the other research he did put him off.

I do wonder if the locality of the uni. in relation to home causes a higher drop out rate as well.

Piggywaspushed · 08/04/2019 17:31

I have today told DS he has until 6pm to make a decision (having kindly phoned NTU again for him and found they have smatterings of accommodation available : today anyway!). He obviously has some kind of commitment phobia...

Fazackerley · 08/04/2019 17:37

Good luck Piggy. We are going to Bath on Saturday so dd will make her decision on the way home.

Shimy · 08/04/2019 17:47

It's funny that someone changed their username at some point and I STILL recognised their posts as being them under a different name when I stumbled across some very old posts! We all have our distictive voice...

Thought it was just meWink

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 08/04/2019 17:55

Piggy good luck to your DS with decision making. I don't blame them for having commitment issues (reminds me of when I got my first mortgage). It is a massive decision and firming/insuring just makes it seem all the more real, doesn't it?

Hope your DD enjoys her offer holders' day in Bath, Fazackerly.

Everything is coming together in preparation for the final push, isn't it?

OP posts:
justasking111 · 08/04/2019 18:11

Do boys procrastinate more than girls I wonder??

Piggywaspushed · 08/04/2019 18:12

Certainly all the ones I know do...

MarchingFrogs · 08/04/2019 18:22

Piggywaspushed, it is now some minutes past your deadline...?

Piggywaspushed · 08/04/2019 18:28

Indeed it is. He was rollign about on the sofa like a three year old at 6.05. He was dispatched and told to return again. 10 minutes later he said he was choosing Lincoln, 'because it makes most sense'. Not done it online yet because he is so so unconvincing.

Itscoldouthere · 08/04/2019 18:30

Fazackerly do you know if it’s a general open day on Saturday or course specific? DS has been invited to a half day on Wednesday 17th April, but a Saturday might be a bit easier for him to get to.

Fazackerley · 08/04/2019 18:40

I know it's course specific but it might be an open day as well ? He could probably just sneak in?

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 08/04/2019 18:46

Do boys procrastinate more than girls I wonder?? Mine definitely does. Any indication that he is on the ball is more a reflection of my continued nagging encouraging him than his own proactive approach to life, love and everything.

Good luck with getting your DS to commit his choices online, Piggy.

I could just do with a day out in Bath. Hope you manage to do some mooching about the city when you go Fazackerly (and you too, Itscoldouthere if you go with your DS).

OP posts:
errorofjudgement · 08/04/2019 19:03

Can I just pop back with an update - DD has now heard from her final drama school and has made it onto the reserve list! It’s a massive achievement to get this far as they only accept 30 people from over 2000 applicants, so to get onto the reserve is a great confidence boost Smile

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 08/04/2019 19:07

Well done to your DD, errorofjudgement, that is a brilliant result!

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 08/04/2019 19:07

That's fantastic news for your DD error . Well done her.

In the piggy household, the button has been pressed. Made me feel a bit sad rejecting all the other offers. I'm a softie but I feel they all went to an effort (inlcuding marking exams!) for DS. He has turned down at least two good unis, but he was probably never going to get the grades for one of them, to be frank.

Shimy · 08/04/2019 19:34

Aww Piggy did he not choose Aberystwth then? Sorry if you’ve already said, haven’t been on here a while. Know what you mean by feeling sad as he rejected all the others. I felt that way about UEA, but who knows what will happen on results day. Just on boys again, a tiny bit of revision is finally going on, followed by lots of stomping around, sniffing and more sleeping 🙄.

MarchingFrogs · 08/04/2019 19:35

I suppose I ought to ask DD whether she has found her ID number yet, since the mislaying of it the other evening was what was holding her back from acting on her decision to firm Birmingham...

Shimy · 08/04/2019 19:36

Error, well done to DD. She must be so excited. So what happens on from now on? An interview?

Piggywaspushed · 08/04/2019 19:42

stomping around and sniffing sounds very familiar!

No, Aber, despite being the best offer was definitely out of the running shimy . He didn't like the place at all and the lecturers did stage a bit of a borefest....

Hopefully, he'll get some decent accommodation at Lincoln and all will be well.

May well look into Hull again for DS2. Would certainly recommend it to others in future.

errorofjudgement · 08/04/2019 20:32

Thanks for the congratulations.
Shimy - No more interviews, just a waiting game now.

ZandathePanda · 08/04/2019 20:33

Piggy my friend’s Dc got in to Lincoln on clearing and ended up in some swanky university en-suite flat with views overlooking the marina. They love it.