Applying for Uni 2020 :2: Offers arriving

[MillicentMartha]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/3655914-Applying-for-Uni-2020?pg=40

Previous thread

So it looks as though St Andrew's is dragging its feet, whereas Edinburgh is quicker this year. I wonder how many offers listed are for those with grades in hand.

I am always interested in Stats and I had a good look at Durham's stats from last year. There are certain niche subjects that tend to attract more Oxbridge calibre private school DC and it looks like they make earlier offers in these subjects using their historic data (not sure what your DD's friends subject was but I guess it could be a subject where they entice such candidates with lower offers).

In terms of wanting students - Most of the top Uni's/competitive courses will want the students they are making offers too....contextual or not, given that the DC will all have the course predicted grades in order to apply.

It's a widely offered course She has 4 offers from Exeter, Bristol, Durham & Warwick, 2 reduced and one offering £1000 as well if it's her firm choice.

DS's friend has a Durham offer for music. I think DS is a bit miffed that he hasn't heard from Durham yet (for maths) despite claiming not to be particularly interested in going to Durham!

Presumably they're interested in MAT scores though, hence the wait.

@hoghgyni - Is she at a state school now?

DS has just had another offer, Birmingham, standard offer for maths. Surprised it came through on a Sunday! So only Southampton to hear from now (and Manchester after the interview.)

Southampton seems to be slow of the mark with offers; was Bham your DS's favorite?

I'm not entirely sure which Uni's will finally be on DD's list apart from Warwick (favorite) and York...she was looking at UEA for insurance and liked the social side of the clubs and societies at Bham...She's at DF's overnight so catching up with her for breakfast tomorrow given I am working away for a few days.

Yes, but contextual offers look at where you took your GCSEs, not where you take your A levels. Her current school wouldn't tick any boxes either, it simply offers a broader choice of subjects than those available in her indie.

Contextual offers relate to GCSE's but she would tick a box as a state school pupil on their stats...so if they are trying to increase the balance in a subject that is more bias towards private then she would tick the state school box. It also depends on the performance of the private school e.g. There is a private school in my town where most DC achieve 5 passes between grades 4-9...so if a DC was to achieve 10 x 7/9's at this school they would really stand out. Hence why it is so wrong to judge all private schools the same.

Birmingham is my favourite, not necessarily DS’s.

Contextual offers have to follow the university’s own policy. It might vary from subject to subject but should be written down somewhere.

Birmingham is my favourite, not necessarily DS’s.

Same! I have to remind myself that it's DS who will be going, not me.

Well obviously I don't know about the student Hoghgyni but I do know a little about the changes this year, where at one top uni all independents are being banded in Cat 1 regardless of results. Probably not before time!

Only pointing out that not all early offers from Durham are contextual offers. She's just a great candidate and universities appear to be fighting for her attention.

I doubt if her highly selective girls school would have ticked any boxes either!

Contextual's may also be based on what the Uni had in clearing this year and Durham had over 60 courses in clearing...

I think Bham's a fab Uni. my niece has just thrived from her study at Bham...she's just got a Distinction in her Masters (which was funded), won a national competition for the Inner City Rejuvenation scheme (from the placement Bham effectively sorted for her). All on the back of an Unconditional offer.

Oh well I've only heard of contextual offers for Durham so far, and none at all for our school, so I'm drawing my impressions from that. I think people read a bit too much into the timing of offers. Durham's target market isn't necessarily those who are dead certs for Oxbridge but those who just miss out. It hates being used as an insurance.

@Hoghgyni - But she's applying to UNi from a state school ...she's left the private school 2 years ago so on the stats that is what will be recorded. She's obviously done well and like I said all DC who are given offers contextual or not have worked hard and thoroughly deserve their offers....

I'm extremely dubious about any student being so stellar that they're being fought over too! There are plenty of seriously good students and so far our 10 grade 9 students with every extra curricular box ticked to a high level aren't all in happy possession of four offers. In fact none of them are. I expect they'll all get to Oxbridge though. I think the process is really quite sophisticated so it's best just to relax and not over analyse.

@goodbyestranger - I think one of the DC on the Oxbridge thread has an offer from Durham who is at the very impressive Indie in Cambridge (that sounded a lower offer than standard)

It is a great boost to your confidence though to have 3 or 4 offers lined up already knowing they are achievable. Well done to Millicent's DS.

Perhaps Durham has decided to turn their usual admissions system on its head and they are making offers based on the alphabetical order of counties. Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Cambridgeshire, Cornwall...There will soon be a flurry of activity for Cumbria, Devon, Dorset & Essex. There's no rhyme nor reason to the offers made so far so I throw this theory into the ring!

@hoghgyni - Definitely - I'd settle for just getting DD's UCAS application sent at the moment...although as time goes on I'm getting more chilled because she ticks all the boxes to get an offer...

Of course she will Oneteen. I'd be more concerned about those new car keys if I was you!

@hoghgyni - I'm actually relieved that she has a car with SatNav...she is probably one of only a few DD who failed her DoE expedition because they got lost (This was bronze). No sense of direction at all...You cant wrap them in cotton wool though...