Applying for Uni 2020 :2: Offers arriving

[MillicentMartha]

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

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Gosh, Serin, that’s a tricky one. I really wouldn’t know what to advise him. I absolutely loved my 3 years at uni, but that was in the distant days of free tuition and I even got a small amount of grant.

DS has his offer from Southampton through. Another standard offer, no surprises here! Just waiting for the interview at Manchester now then he’ll have a full set. He’ll do a few offer holder days to help him make his mind up as he likes the top four equally!

That's great Millicent and he will have plenty of time to make his mind up which I think is good.

Thanks, HuaShan, we can relax for a bit.

Did your DD’s form go off in the end, oneteen?

KaptainKaveman I take it the interview at Manchester went well? Many congrats on the Cambridge interview.

MillicentMartha congratulations to your DS, what a fantastic position to be in.

@MillicentMartha....Errrrr No [anger]! Awaiting for an appointment with HT (beggars belief given HT leaves at the end of the year). DD is going to remind the HOC on Monday ... DD isn't very pushy (unlike her mum). I'm seriously hoping that it does go this week I'm getting pretty fed up with how the school deal with UCAS ...by all means, check it but then process it!

Well done to your DS on his Southampton offer.

My dd's hasn't gone off either oneteen. Her form tutor said it should be sent by yesterday, but that didn't happen.
It's so frustrating isn't it? I just want it sent so she can hopefully get some offers.

Same here, although in fairness DD was quite laid back about submitting it because most of her friendship group apart from the Medics are in the same situation. I cannot understand why the HT needs to have a 5 minute read through with the girls before the application is sent. I'm just a little concerned that some Uni's will be on strike from 28th for 8 days- so it would be nice not to get in the backlog of applications that will build up... I'm not convinced it will go next week although if it doesnt I may growl!

Oneteen and snozzlemaid I feel your pain my DD’s application just went on Friday despite being submitted before half term .
To make things worse she is applying for Physiotherapy so it will be no quick offers as the course is interview first (one of her friends has already had an Uni interview) so I think we are in for a long road.
Deeply envious of all those offers coming through congrats to everyone so far.

Oneteen, how frustrating.
I'm hoping DD will find out tomorrow if it's gone or going. She was off sick from college Friday so didn't get a chance to hurry them up.

DS got an email from UCAS after they received his form. It went on Friday and he got an email on the following Monday.

Though, TBH, I think I was influenced by all the early entry folks on here. It felt like DS should get a move on with it, but most of our RL friends haven’t done theirs yet. The sixth form deadline isn’t until mid Dec, so lots are aiming for then.

DC's has not gone off yet. They are having a gap year and reapplying for a completely different subject. The school have certainly put them at the bottom of the pile for a reference. The internal deadline was 5th November. DC had their's sent to them in October. They are happy to have last year's reference added as they discuss DC's ability in each of their A level subjects and lots of extra curricular and school stuff- senior prefect, top mark of the year in EPQ.

The school is charging DC for adding the reference - nearly £80 for the 'teacher's time'! I have never heard of this before. It is a state school BTW. DC's first choice university is LSE. So there is no hurry as they do not give out offers until well into the New Year.

Blimey Cranmer £80 is a lot.
Surely to complete the UCAS forms comes within the remit of the head of sixth form/personal tutor anyway?
I thought I was being generous in sending in a big box of nice chocolates. 😳

Dgds school has told all those wanting gap years next year to apply and defer as they will not provide a reference for anyone who has left the school as they have too many applicants to deal with each year without those wanting a gap year.

Gosh, DS’s state sixth form do recommend applying now and asking to defer, so they can provide help and advice with school timetabled ‘futures’ lessons, but some universities won’t accept deferrals. They are quite happy to support those in a gap year. It seems really mean not to!

@Cranmer Hmmm would not be happy with £80 charge. UCAS needs to review how they handle DC taking a Gap year given that the school would have little knowledge of what DC has done during that year. I would have thought it best to keep the old reference on file, update the A level results and DC update the Personal Statement.

DC had deferred as they were not sure about their chosen course. The gap year, and reflecting on their achieved A level grades, has meant they have had a complete change of heart. Keeping in touch and visiting friends at university has given them a real insight into what different universities are like and the distances involved in travelling home.

The gap year has been a blessing and they have loved it so far. They are really looking forward to getting back into studying and have loved learning different skills and meeting new people since A levels.

It takes a lot of time for teachers to write references. Each subject teacher writes a bit then HoY writes main reference. All has to be co-ordinated and the schools priority is to those still at school/college. After you have left school they are no longer responsible for you. So maybe that's why they charge or encourage you to apply while you still attend school and defer. Just how long should a school support you after you have left?

Just how long should a school support you after you have left?
At DDs school the answer is 3 years for academic support and lifetime for vocational support.
DD spoke to the school before completing her ucas application (on gap year), and they completed the references within a week.

Oh well lucky then error. Unfortunately dgds state (very big) school do not have the resources to do that. They support each and everyone of their many students on a low budget and other circumstances. I would not expect school to support me after I had left. I would expect them to help me with uni application whilst at school but not if I decided to have a year or two off before attending uni. After all that is a personal choice. They would, however , go out of their way to support anyone after they left who was forced through illness, bereavement etc to have to have a gap year or two.

It doesn't take a lot of effort to update a reference ...probably only needs to state what A level grades have been achieved...I'd like to think a school would continue to support its pupils and agree with @millicient its really mean of a school to make demands on a pupil when they do not want to defer.

DC is happy for them to use the reference on file (DC requested it from UCAS and it is absolutely fine for the new choice of course). So it is just a cut and paste job, rather than hours of work.

If you make a choice to have a gap year then the school should still prioritise those that are still attending school and see to their applications and devote as much time as possible to give them the best chance of success first before last year's students who have already left demand updated references ' because it doesn't take a lot of time' ( but if even only10% is a lot of ex pupils records to trudge through).
We were told in year 12 at a parent's meeting that because the trend for gap years is increasing year in and year out especially recently the school will not be doing references for them after they left school.
And, you do hear it a lot now, though I think it is a personal choice which I am not against, and seems to becoming a ' rite' of passage or fashionable e.g. similar to hitting 17 and must learn to drive etc and go on a gap year and travel!
I do believe that a gap year is useful for lots of reasons already mentioned by other posters. I am not against it. But don't believe that schools should bend over backwards and devote valuable time to X pupils especially if resources and teachers are in short supply when having a gap year is a personal choice ( barring illness, bereavement etc)

We were told in year 12 at a parent's meeting that because the trend for gap years is increasing year in and year out especially recently the school will not be doing references for them after they left school.

So who would add the compulsory academic reference... their primary school?

Gap years happen for all sorts of reasons. DC has not 'demanded' a reference be added. This year only 4 pupils have had gap year at DC's school this year, 2 of whom were medical school reapplications. Should they be penalised by having a school refusing to add a reference because they achieved top grades but did not get an offer in Y13? Luckily DC's school is happy to do a reference, it will just be charged for even though the reference is on file.