Applying for uni 2020 :3: Decisions and revision.

[MillicentMartha]

New thread ready for us.

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

Thanks ragwort! He is on the case so fingers crossed he gets the accommodation he wants.

@thesunwillout thank you. Do you know whether the Cardiff accommodation is first come first served? DS has had a recommendation from a friend but we haven't seen any of the accommodation and want to get it booked as I understand you can apply as soon as you have an offer. He has his results already so is definitely going there.

Just back from an interesting offer holder day at Bham. Lots of positive aspects of the course and future employability. I think we both liked the feel of the University (even though it was a cold day) but I think DD' is still in favour of Warwick ...just aswell that she received an offer from Warwick today - her chosen Masters Course with a Yr in Industry - standard offer but that's fine. 2000 applicants for Bham Biomed this year with 200 places available.

@SirBObby
No problem.
I'm really not sure about it, have you looked online, or perhaps phone the uni?
What course has your son gone for?
I think I looked a while back and you can apply for accommodation when you've firmed? But I get muddled up, as DD still not making that decision till she looks at Liverpool (who let you apply when you've got an offer- which we haven't done anything about)
All up in the air really.
I've had a good look online at Cardiff accommodation, admissions lady said most 1st yrs go to Talybont North or South, for the reassurance that you're all together.
I think there are a couple of smaller ones that could be suitable. But got the impression could be mixed more with 2nd or 3rd years, and possibly a little isolating.

Interested to know of the recommendation you've had and what made your ds choose Cardiff, as I don't read much about it on here.
We live in Devon.

Congratulations on Warwick offer Oneteen. Will she go to Warwick offer day to decide.

@oratory1. Yes - definitely important that she does go to the Warwick offer day now.

It's not easy for our DC to make the decisions. DD certainly felt that she would enjoy being at Bham, it offers everything she would like socially and I really loved the feel of the Campus - 7 minutes train journey from the city, the station on site - lots of decent accommodation.

We both thought the way the course was structured was excellent and the way they had revamped the 3rd year exams so they were out the way by January with just the dissertation to complete afterward took lots of pressure off the students. Lots of research work available during summer holidays and with the QE hospital being on site it ticks lots of boxes...

Bham should on paper be a better fit for DD but gut feeling is still Warwick at the moment...probably due to the green space that DD loves.

DS1 went to Warwick, loved it and did really well, but he was never impressed by pretty buildings! To me it has more of a concrete/glass feel than of green spaces. The landscaping around the Birmingham accommodation is lovely in comparison. But you are only on campus in the first year. Leamington is around 8 miles from campus and is where the majority of students live from Warwick, whereas Selly Oak is on the doorstep.

Which is more prestigious for her subject, oneteen?

We visited Bham open day last year and i thought dd would like it. On paper it sounds great. The main campus was lovely but dd didn't like the medical school building where biomed is taught.
We visited a lab there and compared to other open days they were so uninspiring. No demonstrations to see and we didn't feel welcomed there at all.
This completely put her off despite them offering CCC if she firms them.

@Snozzlemaid - I felt the same about the Labs although DD did have a taster session in the Lab yesterday and said there wasn't much difference, the equipment was very much the same as Warwick. I wish I could put a finger on what didn't click because like you say on paper it sounds great and has a lot to offer. I actually like the Med School building but I like old buildings.

@MillicentMartha There is not a great deal between both Uni's, one course is a BSc the other is an Integrated Masters...both seem to be moving up the rankings ...

It would be nice of offer holder day came through quickly....DD also struggling with anxiety at the moment so it is really important to make sure she's really happy with her decision.

DS visited Birmingham and the physics department was lovely. The building is aesthetically pleasing, the students were enthusiastic, and the teaching staff were approachable and engaging.

I seem to have missed the first thread. DD has completed all nine of her applications and has an early offer of admission with a very generous scholarship grant from Clark University in Massachusetts. Unfortunately, it's not among her top choices, which at the moment are Wellesley (a bit of a stretch school), Smith, Bryn Mawr and Mount Holyoke.

I'm just thrilled that all of her paperwork is in and Clark would be a perfectly acceptable choice if it came to that. Her new laser focus is getting her driving license. I dread thinking what that will due to our insurance premiums.

Ds heard back today he has an unconditional for Lancaster following his interview. He is over the moon (as am I!) and takes the pressure off the exam situation and his ocd. Will definitely be firming it. I am so relieved.

Fantastic news specialted! Ice cream all round!

Miss apologies for my ignorance, but how far away from home are all of her options? The US system is so different honours. We're agonising over (say) a 400 mile away uni.

Someone mentioned on FB or similar to check Lancaster's unconditional T&Vs very carefully, as on some courses they reserve the right to transfer you to a similar course in the same dept with lower standard grades if you fail to meet the standard offer for the course you applied for. They were fuming and advised everyone to check the small print very carefully.

Hoghgyni thanks, will look at that. Although I'm not sure there's many alternatives to modern languages courses! Maybe going in ab initio
As opposed to advanced ?

That's it exactly. If you had applied for (say) French & Spanish with a standard offer of AAA, but only got ABB, they reserved the right to move you to (say) Spanish & Mandarin if the standard offer for that course was BBB.

Ah I see. Luckily it's pure Spanish so hopefully ok . Will still check it out though . Thanks for advice

@Hoghgyni One parameter that we all agreed on (including DD) was that we would only look at uni's that were within a four hour drive, or about 250 miles. We're in New York, not all that far north of NYC, so we are spoilt for choice as you Brits would say. Many of the best US universities are on the US northeast coast simply because that part of the country was settled first.

Bryn Mawr is in a suburb of Philadelphia, so about 3-4 hours south of us. Smith and Wellesley are in the Boston area, so 4-4.5 hours north. Clark is the closest in central Mass. so about 3 hours away. DS is currently in his second year of uni in Boston, so logistically it would be lovely if she wound up near that. We have loads of family in the Boston area, so that's another plus for those options.

We just bought a bigger car, a Subaru Forester, to help manage the fall drop off and spring pick ups more easily. For all other trips back and forth they can take the train.

And I forgot to mention, best wishes and good luck to your DC as they make their choices. Is anyone on the thread looking a university options in America?

Congrats @specialted it must be a huge relief.
All this talk of Birmingham has made me quite twitchy today as we’re still waiting to hear from it and I think it is DS’s first choice.

Thanks fabtab. Hope your ds hears back from Birmingham soon. I think it took at least three weeks for ds to get a reply from them.

@Fabtab - Bham is lovely and please don't be twitchy ...my niece has just finished her Masters at Bham and I can't speak highly enough about the Uni.

To put things into context DD applied blindly to Bham because we didn't need to see the Uni before offer holder days given the amazing feedback from my niece. It has a lot to offer and I was more than impressed with the campus and every student we spoke to was enjoying being at the Uni.

However, Warwick Uni started my DD's journey into BioSciences when she attended a lab day 2 years ago ...so it was always her first choice although up until last night she did not have an offer...

Not everyone will like the same Uni, its very much personal opinion based on your course too.

Thanks @oneteen and @specialted
I think it’s just like when you’re on a diet all you can think of is food and today every time I looked on this thread Birmingham came up.
I’m so old you had to number your choices and I put Birmingham 5th so I totally get it isn’t right for everyone or every course.

@thesunwillout DS is going to study Geography. He applied last year and his first choice was Nottingham but he missed one of his grades so accepted his insurance option. He then decided to defer his insurance place until this year. He then decided he fancied Cardiff. It's a busy vibrant City, which he wants, lots going on, music and sporting events, nightlife etc and part time job opportunity if he wants to get a job. Its a better rated Uni than his insurance option and within an hour of where we live so he can still support his football team and come home to visit friends (and us) if he wants to. Tallybont South was recommended. I will call the relevant uni school to see if we get to look at accommodation on offers day.

He withdrew from his deferred place and applied to Cardiff and has had an offer which he had accepted.

According to the uni website accommodation is allocated in order of when they get their unconditional offer and make their application. As he has his results his application is already unconditional so if he applies soon be should be given a high priority, hopefully!

What subject is your DS going to study?

Hi there, I've got a dd who has been offered a place for journalism and English literature, with a reduced offer recently received if she firms.
Quite an achievement as lost lots of education through ill health over the GCSE yrs.
We both love Cardiff, have been to lots of music events the past few years.
Great park, great people, the bay is fun.
Today she's said she's thinking of Cardiff being her first choice.
That little bit closer to home (3 hours) than Liverpool, which she's keen on, but I think the reality is kicking in.
Just better for travel, getting home in case she's unwell etc
Be interesting to hear what the dept say in your case about accomodation visit on offer holders days. We were told there wasn't.
Only on the normal open day.
New journalism building opened last yr next to BBC building, which was lovely. So she'll be moving between there and near main building.
Also they r building a whole new extension to the student union.
I think it will be great.