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Higher education

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

Applying for uni 2020 :3: Decisions and revision.

990 replies

MillicentMartha · 21/12/2019 11:19

New thread ready for us.

Old thread
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/3721248-Applying-for-Uni-2020-2-Offers-arriving?pg=40

OP posts:
Lightuptheroom · 22/01/2020 11:47

That's my hope, the uni he's thinking off putting as insurance is lower, but typically he really wants the higher offer one.

HugoSpritz · 22/01/2020 12:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

KingscoteStaff · 23/01/2020 20:59

Both DH and I think DS should take a gap year, but he’s having none of it! He’s got some great offers to go and coach sport in Aus or SA (where we could visit!) but just won’t consider it.

HugoSpritz · 24/01/2020 07:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SoundofSilence · 24/01/2020 09:59

DS just received his fourth offer. I'm trying not to grill him constantly since it could be ages till the last one. He's not talking about gap years, but I am seriously wondering if it would be good for him. He's really demotivated about school at the moment, says he's been there so long he's sick of it. I suspect a year out of education then going to uni fresh wouldn't be a bad thing. I could have done much better in my first degree if I hadn't treated it like an extension of school and done the bare minimum at every opportunity.

MillicentMartha · 24/01/2020 10:04

Isn't he doing maths, @SoundofSilence? Or am I mixing you up? It's not advised to take a year of maths because you need to keep the skills up. Don't make him work over the summer, if you can afford it. That's a good long break.

OP posts:
MillicentMartha · 24/01/2020 16:41

*year off from

OP posts:
Peaseblossom22 · 24/01/2020 16:47

Well done on all the offers , just popped back in to say ‘aargh Durham why do they take so long’ . I want to think it’s because they are taking care but to be honest I am not convincedHmm

oneofthegiantsisme · 24/01/2020 17:00

DS has interview dates now for York & Exeter - the Exeter one is the day after the York one Shock - looks like DS & DH will be spending a lovely night in a cheap hotel somewhere in Devon!

Still waiting for Lancaster & St Andrews, which are the two he's most interested in, of course!

Xenia · 24/01/2020 17:15

My sons are already at univesrity but I remember one of them was so sure of his grades that his firm and back ups were fairly similar in terms of grades - very risky strategy. The rest of my children have done it the traditional way (and the older 3 in days when there were many fewer places in clearing at anywhere decent before the numbers cap was removed for universities) - their favourite and then a back up which is easier grades in case of disaster although my older son didn't even geat the grades for his back up never mind Exeter (first choice) so went to Reading via clearing.

Dearover · 24/01/2020 17:53

Reading seems to be the insurance offer of choice at DD's sixth form. They don't offer her degree course, so she didn't look at it. I assume it must be far nicer as a campus with its huge lake & leafy campus than Reading itself.

Xenia · 24/01/2020 18:59

Yes it was pretty nice. My son could even drive there from home (his choice) in his last 2 years (hardly the university experience but what he wanted to do).

TheDrsDocMartens · 24/01/2020 19:24

Still waiting on Heriot Watt & Manchester Met. Dd2 refusing to chase up Manchester Met but they said they should reply within 4-6 weeks and it’s over that

oneteen · 24/01/2020 19:42

@KingscoteStaff and @Peaseblossom22 hope you both hear from Durham soon...DD still waiting to hear from Warwick which is her favored Uni and it is unsettling...You just want them to know what they are aiming for so they can get on with their studies.

A level mock results were pleasing she hit both the predicted grades in Biology and Chemistry with not too much effort on the revision front...Physics is till work in progress but she knew she had screwed up the second paper running out of time and not answering several questions...so exam technique will hopefully help.

SoundofSilence · 24/01/2020 20:12

MillicentMartha yes he is. I wasn't aware that it was a bad idea to take a break from maths. So much for that idea.

He likes working, although he does have a holiday booked for after his exams. It's education he's sick of right now.

mimbleandlittlemy · 24/01/2020 20:22

oneteen - still waiting on Warwick here. That’s since the end of October! ds bit over them now - said the other day he didn’t care now really as he has offers from places higher up his list and that was a single honours course and all his others are joint.

Snozzlemaid · 24/01/2020 20:34

Reading is a nice campus, dd really liked it. I think she is going to pick that one as her insurance with Exeter as her firm.

FabTab · 24/01/2020 21:27

DS heard from Birmingham today that his application has been referred to the admissions tutor. Although it would have been nice to have an offer, I am impressed (and more importantly so is he) that they let him know within the window they’d set out in a previous email what was happening.

Dearover · 24/01/2020 22:01

I think for DD's insurance I'll be applying pressure to pick somewhere she can get to with as few train changes as possible, especially if they have to clear their room out for holidays.

MillicentMartha · 24/01/2020 22:52

I found Birmingham very good for looking at the individual. DS1’s offer holder day invitation referenced his personal statement, someone had actually read it. I hope your DS gets an offer, FabTab.

OP posts:
FabTab · 24/01/2020 23:19

Thanks @Millicent

oneteen · 25/01/2020 15:04

@mimbleandlittlemy... I am expecting that DD may think twice about Warwick when we go to Bham's offer holders' day on Wednesday...Bham was very quick of the mark with their offer. A few months ago I would have said that DD would not be swayed but not sure now ...

DoTheNextRightThing · 25/01/2020 15:06

I am a graduate of and now a member of staff at UWS so if anyone has questions about there, just let me know!

mimbleandlittlemy · 25/01/2020 16:14

Oneteen - ds's Birmingham offer holder day was today so he has spent the day schmoozing the admissions person for his subject! He really likes it and if they were to do what Cardiff did and come back to him with a dropped offer I think that would be it. Warwick came through to him yesterday afternoon (at last!) asking what ab initio language it was he wanted to do with his main one - quite clearly on the UCAS form so he isn't impressed by that. I think Warwick are doing very well in the whittling him out stakes!

Manchester interview Wednesday and that might throw the cat back amongst the pigeons in terms of choices.

StegosaurusRex · 25/01/2020 16:35

I got an interview/visit day from Bristol this afternoon. I'm so relieved to finally hear back. It's not until April 1st - of all days! - so still lots of waiting to do.

Glad your sons day went well, @mimbleandlittlemy. I went to Birmingham open day and was really impressed. Sadly a bit too far away for me