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

Have come to join you. DD has applied for economics. She's been given offers by Exeter, Nottjngham and Glasgow and rejected by Leeds. Still waiting to hear from Bristol. What happens next?

What happens next?

The normal course of events would be that she

• waits for Bristol's decision, meanwhile, signing up for applicant days at any or all of the three which have already made her an offer
• makes a decision re Firm and Insurance choices, once all decisions are in and relevant universities revisited
• enters said decision on UCAS Track, before the decision deadline (5th May, iirc, if Bristol lets her know by 31st March, later if not - universities have until early May to send their response to an on time application).
• applies for student finance (this process can be started at any time after the system opens, usually sometime in February- no need to wait until she has made a final decision re her Firm choice).

Even if Bristol comes back to her straightaway after the holidays, there is no need to rush into making her decision, even if she thinks that one is her absolute favourite. There is a 14 day 'cooling off period', but in a few months' time, TSR will be filled with anguished threads along the lines of, I don't want to go to University X any more! I want to go to Univerdity Y! How do I get out of the situation I got myself into totally unnecessarily six months ago? Please don't let your DD be one of them

Thank you MarchingFrogs!

I have applied for a part time uni degree course. I'll be a mature student at the age of 38. I'm awaiting the reply and hoping I get a place. Its a Ba Hons in Outdoor Learning in early years and primary education. Fingers crossed.

Good for you @HomeEdRocks18. Good luck!

Where have you applied home, as that sounds very niche.

Good luck with that home I did a primary PGCE at 41. You're never too old to study.
DD1 has her mocks the third week of Jan and is currently working on her History coursework.

Is it like forest school education, HomeEd? Love a bit of forest school.

We have an unconditional from Staffs for two courses.
I'm So proud as this is our home uni and my sons first choice.
Received a conditional from Derby, just waiting on keele then we can accept Staffs.
Not seen anyone mention either of these unis?? All I seem to see is the big cities. Not sure why.
Revision has continued over the hols too.
I'm impressed how determined he is.
Now need to get our heads around fees and loans.
Neither myself or hubby went to uni so we have no idea really how it all works.
My son will be the first in our families to go to uni so it's a big thing for us. I just want to get it right for him.

Flamingo fantastic news! There is a lot of snobbery around universities - my son's school only recommends Russell Group ones, and for the law course he wants to do, that is probably right, as law is very snobby too. But time and time again I hear of friends' children that go to unis, hate them and reapply somewhere more local, less 'prestigious'. And then, thank goodness, are much happier. Happiness and the ability to get a job afterwards have to be the most important factors!

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-50839814

But happiness is probably directly linked to the ability to get a job after university tudorbuff. As far as law goes, it's not 'snobbishness' so much as law as a profession being competitive and certain courses being more rigorous than others, rather than some empty attachment to particular institutions. Lawyers need to be competent - their work affects all sorts of vital aspects of their clients' lives. More generally, 'local' might be completely excellent or might be a huge disappointment and terrible value for money with no material enhancement to job prospects; that all depends on what course you're applying for and where in the UK you live.

Tudorbuff thank you.
Yes I get that impression.
We looked around so many but he wants to stay home and his college is right next to staffs uni so he is familiar with it too.
Having been ill last year with his mental health the push to move away was just one step too far.
He's doing psychology and counselling starting with undergraduate then onto a post graduate.
His course is full on but they do an awful lot of extra curricular things such as trips and pub night. So I feel better knowing he will still be experiencing some uni life away from us.

And yes of course there might be powerful reasons to stay close to home - I was talking generally.

Just found the new thread.
DD 4 offers, did mocks the last week before Xmas.
That wasn't fun, but done now.
Has at least had the chance to relax a bit and eat chocolate for days.

Flamingo - we have looked at Derby for Engineering and it has great links with local inundustries etc. It is half an hour drive from us and has made an unconditional offer to DS. Not sure he will keep it as one of his 2 choices but the support and teaching look sound for Engineering anyway. A lot more organised than Northumbria ( offered CC at A level plus DDD for the Btec Eng? ) and a more organised course structure. If DS gets cold feet and wants to stay near home it would definitely get our vote.

It’s horses for courses, almost literally! My DS1 went away from home to do maths as he was very competent at maths, he wanted a challenging course to suit his abilities and that wasn’t going to be local.

My DS3 will go away from home as well, again, because the type of course he will thrive in isn’t available locally and he fancies living away from home to get the ‘full experience’ now he’s seen DS1 enjoy it so much.

DS2, however, is much happier living at home and for him that is more important than what course he does. He’s got the rest of this year to go at the local college completing an HND and then will be looking for a local job.

I’m equally proud of all three of them! This thread is all about our DC applying to whatever universities suit them and to allow us to share our experiences and be supportive of whatever choices they make.

It sounds like an unconditional at Staffs might be perfect for your DS @flamingo40. Takes the pressure off and his MH is more important than anything else.

It's such a hard time isn't it hoping you've got it right and they've chosen the right uni.
I know my daughter will be the complete opposite and go away to uni, she's just a different child altogether.
It's nice to hear off people whose children are staying at a home uni as most threads h find are for those moving away, so thank you.

We will be going through the uni thing again this year for my DD, really hoping she will stay local because of anxiety issues.

I do envy you @flamingo40 being able to have your DS at home. Unfortunately there are no suitable universities in this country so I have had to send both DS back to UK. They both seem to be coping well but DS1 certainly had a few wobbles in his 2nd term. Really hard to deal with from long distance so do send your DC wherever you feel they will be happiest

My DS would love to stay at home but neither of our city’s two universities are suitable. One requires all A* and STEP and the other doesn’t offer the course or anything similar.
We did wonder about OU but DS ruled that out.

Thanks you've all made me feel so much better about him staying home. I was thinking he would miss out in so much

DS doesn’t have mocks until March

That’s a bit late to get a wake up call. DD had mocks in December and just after Easter. Obviously they couldn’t cover all the syllabus by December hence the Easter mocks as well. We also had the problem of the recurring Beast from the East that caused the school to close for several days, and delaying the completion of her A level courses.

Where are you based Whatagoodidea? DD has friends from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar. Do these countries not have any good universities at all?

I'm in one of those. There are 'local' unis which are not of a high enough standard. There are also some branches of UK unis but they dont seem to have as much depth. A friend's son completed a foundation year at Herriot Watt in Dubai with the view to go to Scotland and was then told he would have to do another foundation year there before starting!

@Ginfordinner I agree March is late for mocks but DS is doing a one year A level course.

DD doesn't have mocks until after Feb half term, but she is up to her neck in coursework until the end of January.

Fab several of my friends have DC who stayed locally. Some continued to live at home, others lived in halls and they all kept their part time jobs to top up their cash.