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

Price and availability of accommodation wasn’t something I checked out when DS1 applied, it’s been much higher on our list of priorities this time around.

One thing I've realised from mn is that although there's a focus on first year (hall-based) accommodation at open days, what happens in yrs 2-3 (or 4) can be just as important. eg will dstudents be needing to scramble to arrange yr 2 accommodation by mid October of yr 1, is there a better supply/demand balance than in some areas, how much will it cost, where will it be etc? It seems harder to find information about this, but ideally would be factored in to decisions!

I forgot how early they needed to start sorting their year 2 accommodation. My eldest DD had a girl in her flat who took against her immediately and arranged a year 2 flat for all the girls in her flat and the flat opposite to share. DD hadn’t really met many people at this point and had no one to share with. One of the girls in her flat was doing her on her course so hadn’t met loads of other people. In the end she shared with a girl from the Uni Band (one of the societies she joined) and the girl’s friend and they lived happily together for year 2&3 and are still friends 4/5 years later. It was a horrible time though because the flat mate who excluded her was also actively bullying her. This girl then dropped out of uni before Easter (so never moves into their year 2 flat) and left them with an empty room and a problem trying to fill it.

DS1 had all sorts of problems getting a Y2 house share. Firstly, the didn’t know how the uni run system worked so missed out on lots of houses, then couldn’t find a 7 bed house, then they found a 5 bed house and DS1 was in the odd 2. He and his friend found another 5 bed and 3 others to share. First one, then another of the 3 others dropped out. They ended up having to advertise on FB for a complete stranger to fill the last room. He turned out to be pretty asocial...

3rd year was much better! Having to decide within a few weeks of starting uni, who you want to live with in 2nd and 3rd year is really hard.

Having to decide within a few weeks of starting uni, who you want to live with in 2nd and 3rd year is really hard

I agree. I don't know how this can be changed. Obviously I have no idea how everything will pan out, but DD and her friends sorted out next year's house in November. They are all friends anyway, but another reason they all want to share is that none of them want to share with skanky students who never clean up after themselves.

DD2 s first year flat decided to stick together for second year this year and it’s worked well. They’re not necessarily greatest of friends and have different interests and subjects but they knew from the first term that they can live harmoniously together and have similar views on cleanliness and noise etc so thought that was more important than jumping in with brand new mates you might not actually enjoy living with.

Whatagoodidea That was my thought – she didn’t lose anything by leaving the application in.

Ginfordinner If they were late replying etc I could definitely see a reason to withdraw but nothing to gain right now

bpisok She loved Manchester so will firm that I think but has offer holders days at Liverpool and Cardiff as she hasn’t visited those before deciding on the insurance. I agree, that withdrawing might offend Kings, and although she isn’t considering it now, who knows what might happen at a later date (postgrad, although I’m sure they won’t be at all bothered as they’re not short on applicants!).

MarchingFrogs She doesn’t want London right now, but I’m mindful that things might change at a later date

Thanks everyone! DD thinks school might want to record a good application/offer rate but as they don’t publish these anywhere, I don’t see why. It’s a state secondary so no pressure really.

We now how all offers in.
Conditionals for derby and keele and an unconditional for staffs which is his first choice.
So today he's accepting staffs.
I'm so proud and excited for him.
Mocks start next week which he's studying hard for.

Great progress Flamingo.
Hope all goes well for the mocks.
Back to college for DS here next week too. Next stop is getting another week work experience organised and keeping up the motivation in these last 5/6 months - I'll be pleased when this tertiary bit of education is over - talk about parental support!!

My teacher still has not written ps and is saying that it won’t submit it until the deadline. Do many teachers do this or is he just doing it to be annoying?

It's going to be a long road ahead. I thought GCSEs were tough! This is a whole other level isn't it?
He's hoping to do a post graduate after too so it feels like it's never going to end.
I suppose for us because he's staying home it's taken one extra added pressure off at least

StarlightGold, that does seem a rather odd policy - I assume that you did keep at least more or less to your school's internal timetable for applications and didn't just spring it on them in the last week of term that you had decided to apply after all?

I assume also that you mean reference and not PS ...

Try not to panic Starlight. Uni's can't disadvantage you as long as the form is in by the 15th Jan.
Flamingo - I do agree but the Uni's seem to give support to the student as an adult as it were and then the student can involve you as well if they want to.

At the moment I feel as if I am doing the liaising with College, sorting out work placement, supporting Uni application visits etc and trying to support DS without being interfering if you know what I mean. When he goes it will be different and he will lead more I'm hoping as that is how it's been with DS1.

DS is still waiting for a Newcastle Offer Holders’ Day invite - has anyone else had one?

DD is at Newcastle now. Her offer holders day was in February last year. I can't remember how much notice she had for it.

Yes, Kingscote, ds got his offer holder day through before the Xmas break. His is on 15th Feb so first Saturday of half term. This is for Modern Languages.

Our current problem is you can’t book that far in advance on LNER from Kings Cross to Newcastle because of engineering works out of Kings Cross. Driving me a bit mad as it’s not a cheap trip even with a railcard.

Have you signed up for the ticket alerts? We had the same with a weekend in York in November with tickets released 3 weeks before. On the bright side, lots of people gave up waiting, so it was easy to get seats.

@mimble - Probably not much difference in the cost of train and plane maybe consider flying from HR to Newcastle.

What is HR? Heathrow?

DD has friends at uni who fly from Bristol because it is cheaper than the train. It is easy to get to the university from the airport as the metro goes straight there. The university stop is Haymarket.

Happy New Year, everyone! Congratulations to all the DCs with offers.

DS is back to college tomorrow, but mocks were before Christmas, so no major stress just now.

His UCAS finally went in the day they broke up, so he's had an acknowledgement from UCAS, but nothing else so far, he says, unsurprisingly. Hoping things start happening now the holidays are over, but trying not to nag him too much!

Yes, Heathrow...BA fly up to Newcastle flights may not be as cheap now but they are normally about £60 to £70 return.

DD has added a Pharmacology course to her UCAS application now (5th option)...she saw no point in adding another Biomed because she was happy with the choices ...hoping she gets an offer from Warwick sooner rather than later and we are going to the offer holder day at Bham later this month.

Just a word of warning. My friend's son is doing pharmacology, and one part of the course involves animal testing.

@mimbleandlittlemy snap! My DD is also going on 15 Feb for modern languages and also travelling from London! Is you DD keen on Newcastle? We went to Newcastle about 18 months ago for a couple of days, and DD loves the city but hasn't seen the uni yet. If she likes the uni it will definitely be her first choice!

@ginfordinner -DD is aware of course content - most Uni's subscribe to the Animal Research Concordat...

teawith - Newcastle is in ds’s top 3 and they have offered him BBB if he makes it his Firm which is making it very tempting but he is waiting on Manchester interview and has a hope Birmingham might drop. He loved the head of languages on the open day and we were really impressed with the uni too so ds is dithering.

Off to look at LHR flights to Newcastle
.