Applying for Uni 2020 :2: Offers arriving

[MillicentMartha]

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

Previous thread

Thank you @oneteen. That is an insightful and useful post from last year.

Phphion's post is not Durham specific as she is at another highly regarded university, but it makes sense.

No, it's not Durham specific but it was posted on the Durham thread to explain how admissions tend to work and it does make sense ...

DD got the standard offer from the university I'm fairly sure she works at, which suggests there is no rhyme nor reason.

Hog (may I call you Hog? ) Durham obviously see something rather special in your DD. Can she lend some of it to my DS?

Agreed @MillicentMartha - I predict great things for mini @Hoghgyni!

Durham obviously saw something they liked very much and wanted to tempt their way.

Do you mind me asking if she fit any of the criteria listed overleaf re DurhamGinfizzlife?

Bold fail.

Also, the reason I am asking is my DS has applied to Durham. I have told him it will be ages until he hears. I think Hog's DD might be the exception rather than the rule.

NotEnoughTime no I think Durham is giving lots of early offers from what I hear. These things can and do change year on year - I've heard of several in the past couple of days and that's just people I know. It seems to be certain departments only though.

@hoghgyni - Not sure (don't know what the subject ratings are like at both the Unis or whether its subject that has a poor state/private mix maybe at one Uni that maybe seeking to change the balance). It's irrelevant, Durham is obviously keen to attract your DD whatever their admissions policy is and what a wonderful situation to be in.

Thank you goodbyestranger that's very helpful. In that case I will keep my fingers crossed that he hears sooner rather than later from Durham.

To be fair NotEnoughTime I haven't asked whether the offers I've heard about are reduced offers since I don't want to rain on anyone's parade if they're not. Although tbh the ABB if firmed is useless for anyone with an Oxford offer as Durham well knows, as is an AAA offer for most subjects bar a few science ones, where it could be used as insurance. Durham seems to strongly dislike being used as insurance for Oxford or Cambridge (more scope with Cambridge offerees) (we've had questionnaires sent to the DC asking why insurance only). But for some subjects such as PPE Durham will know exactly which one an applicant is applying to. If this is Durham's new strategy - early and very low offers if firmed, it's an interesting development, policy-wise, and smart. It's time it shifted its reputation of being up itself and keeping applicants (esp non science applicants) hanging around. Time to be a bit more come hither!

It does appear that its the Contextual offers coming out from Durham there were a couple of postings on TSR. There was an ABC offer from Exeter (Eng)on a standard offer of AAA/A*AB that the DC is querying why so low...although he lives in a Quintile 1 area but attends a grammar school.

That makes complete sense goodbye. Thank you.

Hugo I used PPE as an example because of the two only Oxford offers PPE (Durham now does too - it didn't use to - which is why Durham will get a lot of Oxford PPE applicants applying to it) whereas Cambridge doesn't. Some other courses are only offered by Cambridge and not Oxford eg NatSci (although this isn't an exact comparison because my understanding is - as a non scientist - that the Cambridge NatSci course is fairly unique. Durham won't be able to distinguish for all courses obviously eg History, MFL, Classics etc.

That;s also based on applicants who submit before the early deadline. Only a very few won't be Oxbridge applicants.

Giving up in the light of my inability to type at this late hour and going to bed - hope you get the gist of what I mean.

ABB from Royal Holloway. DD hasn't been to any open days, and is mainly relying on research and word of mouth.

Some other courses are only offered by Cambridge and not Oxford eg NatSci (although this isn't an exact comparison because my understanding is - as a non scientist - that the Cambridge NatSci course is fairly unique

Other unis offer Natural Sciences nowadays, I've no idea how they compare to Cambridge. However, it's certainly the case that people applying for Cambridge NatSci may be applying for single sciences elsewhere.

thewomanontheshore good news.

@thewomanontheshore well done on the offer. Whenever I pass Royal Holloway I always think the buildings look amazing. My DD is a massive Harry Potter fan and I am sure if we had visited RH it may found its way onto her list.

Thanks oneteen I have so far refrained from TSR as I spend too much time on the computer as it is!

That's great thewoman My colleague's DS goes to RH and loves it. He is staying on to do a postgrad/masters. It is a beautiful building as oneteen said.