Should I phone the college? UCAS not in yet.

[Miljea]

Will I look like a mad, pushy parent if I call my DS's college (Tech) where he's doing an Art Foundation to ask why they haven't submitted his UCAS, yet, as they apparently submit them all together the day before UCAS closes (is that Jan 15th?).

Several unis told us it was a good idea to submit before Xmas as they had more time to consider each application. Obviously that ship has sailed, but should I call?

DS is 18 but to my surprise, the college did send me his 'progress report', so they can't be too hot on confidentiality! The other issue is DS gets quite annoyed when I 'nag' him about it. He's not that confident so probably wouldn't 'dare' rock that boat himself. And will be cross with me if I do call college.

But I want him to have every advantage going. FTR he's aiming him, to the top rated uni for his course (Graphic Design).

WWYD?

I took the advice from WIWIKAU and called the college, and got through to the UCAS person. She said DS's application will be sent off today or tomorrow!

Continue to keep an eye on it though. There is always the chance that the UCAS system falls over at the last moment, so the sooner it is in the better.

What a stupid system the college has.
DH works in a private school that sends everyones application off by 15th Nov.
DS's state sixth form aims for 30th Nov.
Surely your son's college is disadvantaging their own pupils.

Hi OP, I strongly advise you stay out of all of it. You DS is an adult and your not doing him any favours. If you want to have a good start in life he’ll only doing that by having some independence and not relying on you to do everything for him. Trust me I work at uni and the ones where mummy and daddy ring us to try and sort their problems all fail their course. Not tying to be harsh just honest.

When did he pay and send? It takes several days to process and check his application particularly if he has left it until the last minute (I’m not saying he has but if he has). These things get sorted much quicker when students submit them early.

I've worked in 2 colleges that teach Foundation art. It was standard practice at both to submit UCAS applications after christmas. It gives students time to ensure their portfolios are as developed as possible.

Surely your son's college is disadvantaging their own pupils.

Only if it actually miscalculated and doesn't get the applications submitted by 6pm on the 15th, they're not.

If you have evidence of a university breaking their agreement with UCAS by not giving equal consideration to all on-time applications, I'm sure that UCAS would be interested to hear about it.

Surely your son's college is disadvantaging their own pupils.

No, it is a condition of the University entry system that they cannot disadvantage students who apply later as long as they meet the UCAS deadlines.

And of course universities want you to apply early. It makes it easier for them and gives them more time to market at you like crazy.

Good luck to your DS OP.

Thanks everyone- well, most of you! 😂

"Your DS is an adult and your not doing him any favours"

Massive assumption there. Even the 18 year olds at DD's 6th form didn't magically turn into mature, confident adults the moment they turned 18. DD didn't become an adult until after her A levels.

Just what I was going to say GinforDinner
My dd happens to have had her birthday, but she is still a school pupil going through the whole UCAS application system for the first time.
Being born in November doesn't make you anymore confident about challenging what the school / 6th form college say than if you had your birthday in January or February.

I'm an adult, but I still find it helpful when people in my family support me through tricky decisions and with admin stuff that needs doing. I'm also currently supporting my daughter through university applications and will continue to give her whatever back up she needs.

The college's policy seems very risky and if they aren't listening to the students I wouldn't hesitate to get stroppy.

I work in Admissions. Don't worry - as long as it's in before 15/1 then the universities have to give equal consideration, as others have said. The deadline for making our decisions is the end of March at this point - we don't have to make our decision by the 15th.

Tbh, many schools and colleges don't submit until around this time - I deal with apps for just one department and we're just peaking in terms of applications received.

I strongly advise you stay out of all of it. You DS is an adult

As a parent of a 17y DD who is also applying for university this year I disagree. They are technically adults but the reality is that they are still young and still going through the process for the first time. It is an important issue for a young person hoping to go to university and I feel it is totally justified to be supportive and involved in the process.

DD finished her application ages ago in early November but the school didn't send it off for a while after. I helped dd email her tutor asking for it to be looked at and chased, and then again after that didn't produce results a week later the head of sixth form. It got done that way and was sent off mid December. Its a good job too - she's applying for teaching so has to have interviews. Even by then a lot of the interview slots had gone, and in fact the one she was sent today from the final university clashes with another one she has, and there are no more dates available. She has, with my support, emailed the university to appeal for a new interview date hoping it won't clash with the other 4.

Sometimes our 17y and 18y still need parental help and guidance.

March at this point - we don't have to make our decision by the 15th.

Hopefully it is later than this for some universities as DD's last interview for her course isn't until 18th March and it says offers are 1-3 weeks after that!

@Aragog - sorry, I mean May! . This applies to applications that have met the 15/1 deadline.

Phew - had a bit of a panic then!

Aragog I agree with all of your points, except that at 17 in the UK you are not considered an adult.

I would say that in year 13, regardless of how old they are the students still need parental support.

I've also heard of an art foundation course centre where they wait and send them all off at the beginning of January, so this may be 'normal' for them.

I suppose it does give the students slightly more time to think about what they want to do - one of the odd things about art foundation is that it's a chance to explore different avenues but you still basically have to decide in the first term what degree to apply for. So the extra few weeks may give the students slightly more time to decide - and, as a pp has said, work on their portfolios!

I think, for us, our frustration is because DS has known pretty much what he wants to do from the end of Y11.

He did really well in his GCSEs, to the extent the sixth form (and I!) really wanted him to carefully consider his A levels as he could have done any of them, pretty much, but he chose A level Graphic Design and a 2 A level equivalent BTEC in -um- Communication and Digital Technologies. He got top marks in each, then chose to leave that sixth form to go to a more 'hungry' tech, new people, new ideas, to do Foundation.

He's wanted to try for the most highly rated unis in the country for GD for the past 2 years. He didn't need 'time' to develop; his end-of-year BTEC portfolio was (with permission) kept by his sixth form to demonstrate top quality work to the incoming BTEC students; AQA have kept his A level portfolio to demonstrate A star material to their examiners!

I do feel this college could have submitted his UCAS, mid December, as Kingston suggest.

Anyway, it's done, now.

Sounds as though your ds is very talented (AQA keeping the portfolio!) - wishing him good luck with his applications! It would be interesting to know if all foundation course centres have a similar policy - I suppose the other thing is that if you've only started at the 'new' institution in September (as a lot of foundation students will have), the tutors may feel they need as close to a full term as possible to do the reference - hence the blanket policy.

Still, it is hair raising waiting for the application to go in, I know! As a matter of interest, does anyone know, if you submit the application after 15 Jan may some universities still give you equal consideration anyway?

As a matter of interest, does anyone know, if you submit the application after 15 Jan may some universities still give you equal consideration anyway?

It's really hard to say - it depends entirely on the institution, the course, the number of offers they're targeted to make and how well they're doing against those targets.

For example, in our dept a couple of years ago, we continued to give all applicants equal consideration. However, last year application levels soared and we were able to be more choosy. It really does depend on many factors.

Or, in a further example, all applicants meeting certain criteria may be invited to interview if they submitted before 15/1. But, for those submitting 'late', only applicants with particularly high grades would be invited to interview.

Thanks Sally - yes that makes sense. And in this case the op's ds is aiming for a top rated course - so 15 Jan perhaps more significant maybe than in some other cases! Good luck op,

Aragog I agree with all of your points, except that at 17 in the UK you are not considered an adult.

I agree they aren't at 17y. I meant to ref the OP's DS who at 18y is technically an adult. But still the same academic year as other sixth formers who are usually 17-18 when applying.