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

I wish they’d do that for DS. Seems unlikely for maths, tbh.

One of the major professional exam bodies has exams next week. They have issued guidance today that face masks, goggles & gloves can be worn in the computer based exam room and students can take in hand sanitizer (if they can get it). Some employers have told their students that they do not have to take their exams if they feel the risk would be too great, despite studying for them since Christmas.

Oneteen I initially read your post as a reduction to DD, rather than for DD. Either is nice!

DS has just had a message from Manchester that the offer holders’ day next Wednesday has been cancelled due to Corona and strikes. He hasn’t been there yet, so is relying on his Father’s (30 year old) memories. Maybe a day trip at Easter? But then he wouldn’t get to see accommodation or talk to staff.

What a shame, Kingscote! I’d better get DS to check if Southampton offer holder day is still on.

I went with DS to open day at Manchester (excuse to see DS1 who moved there in September.) The uni buildings are ‘city’ but pretty much all together without other buildings in with them, so it felt like an academic campus. Some of the older buildings were lovely, (as your DH will know) some of the modern ones were impressive too. (Loved the very new Turing maths building.) We saw the accommodation at Fallowfield. Very similar to elsewhere, mixture of more traditional and modern. This was a couple of miles away so a bus journey or cycle ride.

It’s a big university, but was a lot nicer than I expected.

@Hoghgyni - My standard of English is poor (severely dyslexic) so not surprised ...I normally miss out words or reverse them.

@milicent - Maths is so competitive I guess they don't need to offer reduced grades. I'm not expecting DD to have a reduced offer from Warwick either but hopefully, she will from UEA. I'm not quite sure which course she will insure because she has two offers for different courses from UEA.

Re accommodation costs we found Durham one of the most expensive and you had to move out at Xmas etc.

Still waiting on one uni here. They’ve said should hear by April 😲

oneteen it was me, not you. DdD for your DD would have been nice. I had an EE offer in my day.

DS seems to have come to a decision on which universities to choose, looks like he’s going to firm Manchester and insure Birmingham. I would have preferred him to have firmed Brum, but it’s not me who’s going!

Southampton was fine, but just too expensive. Bursary is half the size of both Manchester and Brum making their slightly more expensive accommodation out of reach. Shame, because they guarantee accommodation to insurance students as well as firm.

Probably a good decision in some ways @millicent given that your older DS is working in Manchester - you can visit both at the same time.

I've not been to Manchester in ages so no idea of what it's like anymore.

All quiet here...

Oh gawd I haven't really looked into the accommodation side of things. DS is down to Bristol/Bath/Loughborough.

StSaul that was an error I made with DS1. Luckily he got into his firm, Warwick, rather than his insurance, Exeter, where accommodation would have been much more expensive. I had rather assumed they'd be all much of a muchness. But there's huge differences in prices, even if you're going for the cheapest accommodation in each uni. I know Bath was out of our price range, but partly due to not qualifying for any bursary from them.

oneteen that was definitely a plus point for DS, he gets on well with DS1. I've been really impressed by Manchester this year. DS1 is loving it up there. It wasn't on my radar before as it's 3 hours away. We only looked at the uni because DS1 was up there and I was surprised how much we both really liked it.

DD went to USW Pontypridd for offer holder day last week and liked it, it's now between there or Carlisle (please not Carlisle).
Failed her driving test for the 3rd time this morning, sacked her instructor and has announced she will be doing her test at the next nearest town.
I don't want to go home to the pity party number 3!

@jufusMum - One of DD's friends failed DT 3 times too, it gets harder I think the more times you fail...although she did pass on her 4th test and already had a bang in her car!

Ha, my exH passed on his 5th attempt. He has lots wrong with him but his driving is fine.

I passed the first time but managed to reverse into a post within two weeks of passing...I'm quite relieved that we seem to have had a mild winter so DD has not needed to drive in really bad conditions...although mummy's taxi still seems to be running on a regular basis for 18th birthday parties...

Sorry I went a bit quiet - you had dropped off my TIO. DS has applied for student finance and DSA (needs assessment completed).

Dds student finance came through extremely quickly @Ironoaks... Very impressed...

The student finance approval came through within about 3 days I think.

The approval to be assessed for DSA also came through very quickly. DS has had his study needs assessment, and the assessor has submitted the report of recommendations and sent DS a copy. So now he is waiting for the student loan company to confirm that they will fund the recommended support (estimated time up to 4w). Hoping this is just a formality.

Need some advice please. Ds has just had a letter saying he has qualified for a scholarship and unconditional for Aberystwyth but only if he firms, does that mean he can't put them as insurance? He really wants to put York as firm and Aberystwyth as insurance, is this even possible?

Lightuptheroom he can still put Aberystwyth as insurance. It's just that if he does that, he would not qualify for the bribes unconditional offer and entry scholarship.

Thanks for that.. he's got some thinking to do!