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Higher education

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

Original poster

Where to start when looking for a uni - dd feeling overwhelmed

96 replies

Sadik · 26/05/2019 22:05

DD (yr 11) needs to think about open days, but is feeling pretty overwhelmed and uncertain as to where to start.

She's interested in physics, so something that's offered pretty much everywhere. It's quite hard to predict her grades, but probably likely to be decent to very good. Knows she doesn't want to be in London, but otherwise struggling to narrow it down. Anyone else's dc in the same boat?

OP posts:
LolaSmiles · 27/05/2019 15:56

I agree with mateysmum. Draw up a list of criteria and then get onto lots of visits.

springbirdsong · 27/05/2019 16:46

My ds is just finishing physics at Bath Uni and has had an amazing time. Far better than his experience at the local comp. It was small enough to try lots of new things; karate, ballroom dancing, Mandarin, theatre and make lots of friends but not too wild which suited him.
He is now off to do a masters in London in biophysics at UCL, he feels more ready for London now.
He doesnt have ASD but has always been rather quiet and self conscious.
It is a difficult choice as when we looked around I liked many of them, but Bath is a good size and a beautiful city (although expensive) and it was his favourite, (after Oxford), I don’t know how strict they are now as to the actual grades but ds said not everyone there had the required grades. Having said that it is a difficult course and the better results the more prepared students are.
I wish you and your dd well in finding the right place that suits.

Original poster
Sadik · 29/05/2019 22:10

She's booked on to an open day at Bath, so that's a good start :) We've also booked to stay in student accommodation overnight beforehand which I think will actually also be really interesting for her.

OP posts:
titchy · 29/05/2019 22:13

Oh what a great start!

Original poster
Sadik · 29/05/2019 22:15

Does anyone know anything about Physics at Sussex Uni? DD's now looking at options with lower grade requirements to try to have a spectrum of possibilities. We've got family ties in the area, so although it'd be a long way from home it could be a good option for her.

OP posts:
TheFirstOHN · 29/05/2019 22:16

springbirdsong thank you for the feedback about Physics at Bath.
DS2 wants to be a biophysicist (although this may change).

Sadik that sounds really positive, and good to have something planned.

Original poster
Sadik · 29/05/2019 22:17

(Should say, Sussex also offers a placement year option)

OP posts:
TheFirstOHN · 29/05/2019 22:27

DD's now looking at options with lower grade requirements to try to have a spectrum of possibilities
Would she consider Leicester? DS1 is just finishing his first year there (not doing Physics) and they have been very supportive of his MH needs.

Original poster
Sadik · 29/05/2019 22:34

Its definitely another one on the list - not great for accessibility from here unfortunately

OP posts:
hellsbells99 · 29/05/2019 22:55

@Decormad38 Leeds Uni is a campus university
Sorry don’t mean to derail the thread!

Itscoldouthere · 29/05/2019 23:02

DS did a Chemistry summer camp at Sussex when he was 16, it’s a nice leafy compact campus, slightly dated but had a very nice atmosphere, it’s a bit in the middle of nowhere but I assume that the transport into Brighton must be good (I’m basing this on a friends DS who goes there and is a party boy so he must get into Brighton somehow as he doesn’t drive).

Decormad38 · 29/05/2019 23:06

@hellsbells interesting campus uni as halls of residence are scattered across city !!

BackforGood · 29/05/2019 23:25

It is good (if you have the time and the means to get there) to look at different sorts of campus / non-campus / in City / in smaller town type places. With all of my dc (we are looking round with dc3 at the moment), we found that the first one was a bit odd for them, as they don't really know what they ought to be looking for / what to compare, but after the 2nd visit, they can start to see differences.

I found Push.co.uk useful with my first dc, particularly. He was doing History, so available pretty much everywhere and found it hard starting with such a huge number of options. You have to register, but don't then get spammed with lots of stuff from them. You can filter universities by all sorts of things - things like living costs and geography as well as expected grades. Useful to play with if she is a bit overwhelmed by knowing where to start.
dd2 likes unifrog.
Student room give students opinions (though - bit like trip advisor - remember some of it 'might be the student' rather than the uni).

BubblesBuddy · 29/05/2019 23:33

I do think students can change at university too! Quiet people discover night life. I didn’t mean to imply all students were partying and drinking but overall there will be many students doing this. It’s a good idea to seek out quiet accommodation if necessary.

TheFirstOHN · 30/05/2019 17:28

Update: Nottingham have now responded to DS2's query. They hope to develop quiet zones in the the future. They provided a helpful list of contacts and FAQs for students with ASD.

Original poster
Sadik · 30/05/2019 21:25

I do agree Bubbles that people can change - I think that's one reason Sussex might suit DD, being a campus uni but with a lively city very near by & with easy transport.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sadik · 03/06/2019 21:58

Doing well here - two open days booked (Bath & Bristol - so one city & one campus), & hopefully a non-open day visit to Sussex when she's down there just to see the campus followed by open day in the autumn if it looks interesting.

OP posts:
Itscoldouthere · 04/06/2019 08:06

Sadik is your daughter going to disclose her ASD? Some universities give contextual offers for students with disability.
Bath took a long time to offer my DS, his predicted grades did not match their standard offer, they did eventually offer him (at the standard AAB) but when we spoke to them I felt there was possibly some wriggle room. They say they consider contextual offers on a case by case basis.
DS didn’t firm them as he was worried he wouldn’t get Bath grades and Birmingham had offered him reduced grades of ABB.
Reading reduced his first offer by a full grade drop as a contextual offer.
I believe your DD is predicted high grades so she may we’ll be offered some unconditional offers.

TheFirstOHN · 04/06/2019 10:27

Itscoldouthere
DS2 is planning to disclose his ASD on the application (and apply for DSA).

For Physics with an integrated Masters, both Birmingham and Bath give a typical offer of A* A A (as do Nottingham and Warwick).

TheFirstOHN · 04/06/2019 10:46

On their information pages about contextual offers, none of these universities mention disability as a factor, only the usual markers such as children looked after, average GCSE results of the school, progression to higher education from that postcode etc.

If disability is one of the markers, then they are not being open about this.

candycane222 · 04/06/2019 12:43

Just to chuck in re taking a year out - my dd thought she probably would want to, but wasn't sure and also wanted the school's support while she applied, so she applied in y13, got an offer and then deferred hen she'd made her mind up. This did not seem to be an issue at all, but it is always something to ask at open days - useful to have a question to keep the conversation going, anyway!

And if there is a big change of mind they can re-start the process in "y14" applying somewehre else with a level grades in the bag, which will make it all very straightforward.

Bristol is definitely a party uni for extroverts - bath had a much quieter campusey vibe. I believe their pastoral support is good, based on experience of a friend's dc. (my dc who is fairly extrovert chose Bristol) Bath also have a good year in industry programme, at least in engineering, which might help give some extra support easing into the wide outside word?

Itscoldouthere · 04/06/2019 14:08

thefirstOHN if you look at the Bath website under contextualised data they say this...
“you have declared a disability on your UCAS application”
They do not apply a standard criteria for contextualised offers but consider on an individual basis.

TheFirstOHN · 04/06/2019 15:04

Thank you Itscoldouthere

Original poster
Sadik · 04/06/2019 22:38

Itscoldouthere I'm pretty certain dd will disclose her ASD, I think she is hopeful of some support - things like quiet halls for example would be very relevant for her.

She'll be applying with AS level results (we're in Wales where they still apply) so will have something a bit more concrete to work with after the summer.

OP posts:
springbirdsong · 05/06/2019 09:23

I think it is worth putting at least one aspirational uni down. Physics is not the most popular subject! Three years ago my son got into Bath uni with a B in physics but this was supported by A* maths, A in further maths and an A in philosophy plus an extended project in physics and philosophy. Maybe they saw he had a good work ethic! The maths part of the course has always been the easiest part and the experiments were a real challenge at his local comp. He has found them much better at uni.