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

@FabTab he says that the interview day was fine, a lot like the open day. In the interview itself, they asked a few problems, with the idea that they work through them with you to see how you tackle an unfamiliar problem. You're not expected to know the answer straight away!

He got the golden ticket that others have mentioned from York, but was more impressed by the personal handwritten note on his Exeter letter from the interviewer.

Thanks @oneofthegiantsisme

Well DD failed driving test number two but not so much of a pity party this time, just one major and two minors.
Offer holder days at Wrexham and USW in the next two weeks, then it's decision time.
A fair amount of homework going on interspersed with laying on the sofa/hugging the dog she is dogsitting for/looking at pictures of Johnny Depp/making a mess of the kitchen. She hasn't left the house other than to do her evening shifts at work.

Sorry to hear that Jufusmum ..

Warwick offer holders today - even on a wet, damp coldish day its still DD's number one choice and it just feels so right for her...

DD liked the Uni at York. She is just not sure if she is 100% about the course.

Nottingham was as lovely a campus as I remembered. The course is good but the finances don’t stack up. Accommodation expensive, bursary small, journey long. Shame really as it’s a great university.

Offer holder day woes here - Warwick was first choice but looking around again she didn't love it (not helped by crappy weather and noisy building works). The course is by far the best for her subject, she liked the accommodation, she just wasn't 'feeling it'. Second choice is Durham - prettier and collegiate system she loved but the course isn't as well regarded and is nowhere near as flexible (eg shed like to add a language). She keeps saying 'the sensible choice is to just go to Warwick' with a sad look on her face...not sure what we do from here.

It is so hard to judge on a few hours look round with rubbish weather and building work. Back in the day I remember not wanting to go to Kent because it had snowed and I was cold all day when I looked round. The course was secondary to the weather and feel I got!

When choosing DD secondary school we just did not feel it on the open evening for the school we chose. It was pouring with rain, really busy and we could barely move, the school was shabby and cold, the girl who took us around was unenthusiastic. However, we chose it as it had great results, reputation and was logistically closer (walking distance rather than a 50 minute bus ride away to the school that impressed). DD had a fantastic 7 years there. We are so glad we did not chose the school based on the 1.5hr look round. Your feel for the place has so much baring on who shows you round and the weather on the day.

Go for the course first. The university experience will be made by the people your DD lives and studies with not the buildings/weather.

@SinkOrGin - Is the course a Life Science course at Warwick?

It's not easy when something doesn't quite click - we have seen Warwick at two extremes now in terms of weather - the open day was really hot and uncomfortable and yesterday it was grey, miserable and quite busy.

We didn't stay for long yesterday given that DD has spent a full lab day on site, so just lunch, course brief, and tutorial and then drove through Leamington where DD will probably live in Yr2.. she is also considering adding a language - Japanese if she can.

ARe you going to Durham offer holder day which may help?

@Olympicfan Thanks, that's good advice I know. I went to Kent too, and I have been telling her that my memories are all of my friends, not the campus. It would just have been so much easier if she had got good vibes...

@oneteen It's maths she's applying for - she's done so well to get an offer, it's such a great course. Weirdly she's looking at adding Japanese too! She's in 2 minds about the Durham offer holder day - I don't know if it will help. Even if she loves it and gets the gut feeling, she knows the course doesn't offer what she's looking for so it might make things harder. We have a couple of weeks to decide though

@SinkOrGin, DS1 did maths at Warwick. He had a fantastic time and really loved the flexibility of the course. He did a load of computing modules and has now got a great job as a graduate software engineer. It was a lovely, sunny autumn day when we visited which makes such a difference. DS loved the modern, airy feel of the campus. He didn’t like the older universities, he found them ‘stuffy’ which also helped! Warwick couldn’t be more different to Durham, tbh.

Anyway, phew DS has passed his theory test. I hope he and his driving instructor can find a good date for his practical test that doesn’t get too close to the exams. I think they’re all booked up until May.

@MillicentMartha The maths course and progressive atmosphere at Warwick is incredible, but she likes the old buildings at Durham 🙄. Warwick is the right choice, I've just got to get her more excited about it!

Lordy, lordy - having waited and waited for Warwick and ds saying he was over them they've just come through with a doozy of an offer. BBB and he doesn't have to make them his firm so he can put Warwick as insurance, Birmingham first and he is thrilled. That was worth the wait!

@SinkOrGin... I think its difficult for some DC too choose the right course when Unis are considered prestigous or have nice historical buildings etc...but with Warwick she'll have Warwick (Castle) ... Stratford on Avon and Leamington is delightful. Just wait until its a nice day and explore surroundings..

@mimbleandlittlemy - brilliant news..

SinkOrGin Warwick is fantastic for Maths and really highly regarded. I think the course is quite unique in being able to pick modules from other faculties. DS applied for Maths but has ended up with an offer from the place that can't be named so has declined Warwick. But we know many people who studied there and had a wonderful time - there is also a lot going on socially and a very diverse intake.

mimbleandlittlemy congrats! What course?

Thank you - the relief in the household is enormous, oneteen. All done on the offers front so he can now Firm and Insure with UCAS when he gets back from his half term foreign jaunt.

Languages - sorry, missed your question.

Jealous of that offer, mimbleandlittlemy! What a great pair of universities he has chosen.

And to think at one point he wasn't even going to apply to Birmingham. It's such a lesson in them finding the right place for themselves and I think with those two unis he has the two that will really suit him. Newcastle always seemed a long way away and after Storm Dennis put paid to him getting up to the offer holder day I knew he was really hankering for Birmingham. Thank you Warwick for making it possible to put Birmingham top. What an insurance to have. (I take back all my incessant moaning about them for the last few weeks!)

Great news mimble. A big relief when the path gets a bit clearer.

Great news @mimbleandlittlemy

We’ve had some good news too. DS has an offer from Birmingham. It’s the same as for Nottingham so I’m not sure how he’ll choose between them. Unfortunately the offer came too late for him to get a space on the Saturday offer holders days and he can’t go on the Wednesdays.

FabTab, the main differences between the 2 for my DS (maths) were that costs were cheaper at Brum. Both campuses were lovely. Offer holder day was better organised st Brum and students there were very enthusiastic. At Nottingham there are a few more options in 2nd year. Brum has options 2nd year too, but more core subjects. Maths building newer at Nottingham, more old fashioned at Brum. Accommodation on campus in Nottingham old fashioned and catered. Self catered off campus, privately run and expensive. Some fairly close by, though. Brum accommodation mostly on campus, more modern, self catered or meal plan, cheaper. But really very little to choose between them. DS has to watch finances so prefers Brum. I hope that’s helpful. We did offer holder days at Brum in Jan and Nottingham last week.

@FabTab Great news about Bham offer.
@millicent - well done to your DS on his theory test.

All quiet on this front ...I think DD will hold back on firming just in case reduced offers come through...I can't see it happening with Warwick but not sure about UEA.

Undecided about accommodation (but I guess its a lottery and she could be given any of the 6 choices) - Just a shame there is no accommodation on the Gibbet Hill campus - I'm not over keen on DD walking through the nature reserve at night.

Thanks @MillicentMartha and @oneteen

He really liked York and is hoping for a lower offer from it. What I didn’t like about York was the % of 2:1s and firsts. York Maths has a very low added value score.

His current thinking is to choose Birmingham as his firm because it might be more flexible than Nottingham if he doesn’t meet the offer.

I think if it wasn’t for my worries about degree outcomes he’d go for York. I’m wondering if I should keep my concerns to myself.