Applying for Uni 2020

[daydreamornot]

Thought it may be nice to have a 2020 support thread, everyone welcome! (maybe Oxbridge posts could be kept to the Oxbridge thread).

Cranmer It is indeed! Absolutely gorgeous. We've been there for public lectures when she was dabbling with Physics as a preferred subject. But it's probably too close to home. She does appear to want to go away, even though it still seems a very scary prospect.

There are indeed oases in Birmingham - but, and this applies anywhere , if your DC is particularly in need of a calm environment then presumably you need to consider where they'll be likely to live after the first year etc.

Millicent he's resitting because we're in Wales, so the AS does count. Yes, he did just maths this year, FM next year - but his AS papers were both A and his A2s were C, so he might resit the A2 papers to try for a better grade.

My main concern, at the moment, is working out which unis to point him at (i.e. what standard offer to aim for), since his favourites so far are likely to laugh at him with his current results. Yes, we can hope for something better in clearing/adjustment if he does as well as he's capable of next summer, but in the meantime he needs to get some offers in.

My secondary concern is working out what, if anything, to put on UCAS about the ASD-related anxiety which caused him to miss a lot of lessons in year 11 & 12. It's bound to have had an effect on his results, but he doesn't want to mention it at all, saying that it'll just be seen as an excuse.

@AChickenCalledDaal, your DD doesn't really ever have to venture into the 'big city' bit of Birmingham- there is masses of 'post halls' accommodation available in Selly Oak, within a few minutes' walk of campus (and plenty of it actually nearer to the 'business end' of the university than the further halls on the Vale are). Which just feels like living on a residential street in any fairly ordinary suburb.

What about Kent? Or UEA? Both really attractive campuses (Kent with that view over Canterbury that the university uses on its promotional stuff) on the fringes of not overwhelmingly 'busling city'-like cities and good access to more peaceful countryside, the seaside of she wants it etc.

My secondary concern is working out what, if anything, to put on UCAS about the ASD-related anxiety which caused him to miss a lot of lessons in year 11 & 12.

It should be possible for the school to frame this positively in the reference; focusing on how he persevered through the difficulties he faced.

There isn't a place on the UCAS form for him to disclose it himself, unless he includes it in his personal statement.

There is a box to tick on the UCAS form for disabilities, learning difficulties and long-term health conditions, but I don't think this is visible to the admissions teams at the universities. It's used for other purposes (e.g. alerting student finance that he might want to apply for DSA).

one of the giants I agree with Ironoaks that it’s something that the school could mention in their reference.

Agree with marchingfrogs - UEA campus is just lovely and Norwich is such a nice city with a slower pace of life (people are considerate and don't seem to be in a rush). Given a choice (my choice), I would love my DD to attend this UEA - because it has such a feel-good factor. I am sure it may find its way onto DD's list. When we had a look around on a non-open day we were shown accommodation by a young lady who had struggled with the final yr of the degree and she said how supportive the staff had been.

My dgd has swam several times in the Olympic sized pool at UEA in competition.
Dgd went there on a taster day but she won't be applying there as they don't do a course she wants. Pity really it could have been an insurance.

Sosteneuto - I read that as my DOG swam in the pool and thought, DS isn't going there

DH is taking DS to Exeter this weekend (I have a poorly Aunt to visit) which is a shame as I'd love to see it. Look forward to hearing what people think.

Sorry, meant Sostenueto

Thanks for the suggestions Ironoaks and Kingscote - I'll mention that to him so he can speak to college. They set the ball rolling yesterday with UCAS (first day back!), so he's now on it, and found a box to tick for ASD on the form last night. Worth knowing that that may not get through to the admissions team.

Looking at the suggestions for other people, I'll take a look at UEA for him - we visited Norwich a few years ago on holiday, so I know it's a nice, cosy city.

Very envious of all the folks visiting Exeter this weekend - I take any opportunity to go back, but I don't think it's going to be on our list, unless he makes it his "optimistic" option. I love the place!

I have now seen DD's draft PS. It mentions sausages in the first paragraph. I'm unsure whether to be impressed or scared!

winoecclocks we are heading to Exeter this weekend too, shame you aren't going, we could have had a MN secret signal or something.

DS2 is so stubborn, he's driving me insane with his UCAS application because he knows everything apparently. Like in his mind how will the unis know his predicted grades because school won't be putting those out until nearly the exams apparently so he can apply to places way out of his league because they might let him in anyway. He won't listen to me tell him any other way. This is going to be painful. Hopefully when it's not the just the second day back school will be guiding them more because I'm not allowed. Dear lord between his nearly teenage brother and this I may not get through the year!

DD's school seem to have gone into revision mode already. The Physics teacher has given them all a bound folder with the multiple-choice questions from the last 10 exam papers...to complete online so he can establish which topics need more attention.

I am not sure whether we will bother to attend any open days in September now - think DD may leave a few options empty and hopefully we can get up to Edinburgh during the later part of HT.

Chicken I may have missed something, but what is the context of the sausages?

First check of UCAS including PS completed & approved by school.

DS has both his personal statement to write plus a supporting statement to send to Edinburgh for the specific course/apprenticeship he wants to do. I suggested that he start with the PS as it is broader and the detail for the supporting statement would become clear to him, but he’s doing them in reverse, and it’s a painful process! He’s finally finished a first draft for the supporting statement but hasn’t started the PS yet

DD's been working on her PS during form time, the girls all seem to be helping each other with the tutor having 121's with the Oxbridge and Medics first....so no pressure for at least a week. Not sure how many are applying to Oxbridge but there are 3 in just DD's form plus two Dentistry applicants.

Hoghgyni no, you haven't missed anything! The sausages in question were the focus of a real life discussion which genuinely contributed to her decision to study maths. Whether it is wise for her to stick this particular example in her very first paragraph will remain to be seen.

I'm taking a step back and will see what her tutor makes of it.

I have visions of Blackadder teaching Baldrick how to count. What does one sausage and another sausage make? A very small toad in the hole.

I can hear him say it!

However, that cultural reference would probably be lost on our DC these days.

Mores the pity quality telly programme there.

Murderous Maths “The Perfect Sausage” maybe?