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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

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Original poster

DD got a no from her uni application!

22 replies

Susiesue61 · 17/02/2020 20:15

Anyone else in this situation?
She applied very last minute, only to one university. She was encouraged to apply by someone who lectures there, she didnt have the confidence to apply before. She got a no this evening - one reason was lack of work experience which we thought may be an issue, but they also said she didnt have a driving licence which was a course requirement, even though she said she did in her personal statement!!
It feels like they didn't read her application properly.

DD being DD is now saying she won't apply again. I know she'll get over it but it just feels rubbish when her peers are getting offers 😕
She left school after year 11 and went to college to do a BTEC.

Just feeling sad for her (I'm sitting in the car waiting for DS2 so nothing to distract me!)

OP posts:

hellsbells99 · 17/02/2020 20:30

Sorry to hear this. Was she applying for something like paramedics? She should contact them and tell them she does have a driving licence. In the meantime, can she get some more experience and apply for other places?

Yummymummy2020 · 17/02/2020 20:31

Ah that is upsetting especially that she has the driving license, how annoying that they made this mistake. I wonder would she feel differently in some time if she got the extra work experience? I don’t blame her not wanting to re apply now, but in time she might like to give it another go and given she already can drive it’s only one box left to tick! I’m sorry though she didn’t get in, it’s crap for her!!!

Original poster

Susiesue61 · 17/02/2020 20:45

Yes it was paramedic science! She had her heart set on an apprenticeship originally but then was told it was best to go to uni.
She's pretty tough usually, but she's just given up a major sporting hobby too so it's all a bit much!
It will all calm down and then she can think again, I hate these teenage problems I can't fix

OP posts:

Sunshineand · 17/02/2020 20:57

Sorry to hear this. It's such a competitive course! It's definitely worth emailing them to point out the mistake about the driving license.

Veterinari · 17/02/2020 20:58

It's a very competitive course but she needs to contact them and highlight the error on her feedback, then focus on getting work experience

Gymntonic · 17/02/2020 21:02

Y to correcting their misunderstanding about driving licence. Would she consider other universities? I'm sure she can add university choices to track at anytime until June. After the January deadline it is worth contacting universities directly to ask if they still have places to apply for though - especially for popular courses

Bessiebigpants · 17/02/2020 21:41

Would she consider an apprenticeship at her local hospital There are some amazing ones and I'm sure Emergency Depts have apprentice's bit of a halfway house and excellent experience for her next application There is also Wage so she could sort out driving Have a look on NHS jobs website

SunnySideDownBriefly · 17/02/2020 21:52

Can she go back to her contact and see if they can help.

My SD did this and got a place immediately.

Katharinblum · 17/02/2020 22:23

I agree re getting some kind of work experience as a hca in a/e if poss, but if not then a busy medical ward, admissions unit. Even applying for bank work initially would give her a taste of health care related work, working in a team, thinking on her feet etc. I suspect that many older applicants with a bit of life experience/maturity will apply for these degrees and the job to be honest isn't for the faint hearted, at times it can be distressing and stressful

Original poster

Susiesue61 · 18/02/2020 10:06

Thanks for everyone's advice.
The application was a bit of an afterthought and we knew she didn't have the work experience. She's going to take a year out after college and think about what she wants to do. Hard for her when her older brother got 5 offers when he applied for uni!!

OP posts:

mushroom3 · 18/02/2020 10:49

She still has the opportunity to add more places to her application as she only applied to 1. Also, she should contact the University who turned her down to see if having a driving license changes their mind.

mushroom3 · 18/02/2020 10:50

She could wait until clearing if she wants, when she has her grades in hand. Having done a BTEC will mean she can apply earlier, with her results in hand,than those who've done A levels.

Katharinblum · 18/02/2020 11:12

Sadly these courses are massively oversubscribed. My experience is that quite a few ambulance drivers apply for paramedic courses. She may well have a distinction in her btec but practical hands on experience is vital.

gottastopeatingchocolate · 18/02/2020 11:46

Sorry for your DD, OP, but she can't compare with her brother as she only applied to one University. She was never going to get 5 offers from 1 application.

It sounds to me like that application was a bit of a last minute thought, but that the rejection has made her realise that she wants that route? If so, as PP have suggested, maybe she can a) contact the Uni to clarify that she has her driving licence, b) add other Universities to her application and c) consider clearing (and gain more work experience in the meantime). Or the idea to take a year out is also a good one, but perhaps she can build her experience in the meantime?

BubblesBuddy · 19/02/2020 10:32

Possibly volunteer for St Johns Ambulance service? Also add in other universities as suggested. Or get relevant work experience and apply next year in a more considered way.

Baaaahhhhh · 19/02/2020 11:19

Has she looked to see if there are an Degree Apprentiship available to her. Going to Uni isn't the only option now.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 19/02/2020 11:23

She could volunteer with St Johns ambulance ,good way of getting experience.

Didn't she put down other unis, didn't she have an insurance?

MarchingFrogs · 19/02/2020 17:49

Didn't she put down other unis, didn't she have an insurance?

She applied very last minute, only to one university...

LIZS · 19/02/2020 18:42

She could still add another choice, or apply later on

BubblesBuddy · 20/02/2020 10:31

The work experience issue might be the problem with other universities though. Also if these courses fill up, presumably courses are full and offers made? If she only wants the local university, then getting the experience is the only solution. A decision needs to be made regarding whether she must get work experience to be successful and whether she wants to leave home and add in other universities. But won’t they all require the work experience?

Ciancianese · 20/02/2020 13:33

Paramedic Science is an oversubscribed course. There are plans to develop apprenticeships but last I checked there were none offered. My DS has an unconditional place this year but did not get offered one last year despite a BTEC and Access course (Healthcare). What changed? Applying with achieved qualifications, in his case passing his driving test and most of all relevant work experience. There are places in clearing each year so thats worth a shot too. Good luck to her, I am so proud and happy for my DS- its a great career.

Original poster

Susiesue61 · 23/02/2020 19:28

Thanks for all the replies 😊
She is planning to rethink her choices. She is a real homebird so no, she doesn't want to move away.
She never really wanted to go to university but suddenly was persuaded that was the best thing to do ( not by us!)
Her dad is a careers advisor!! So they are going to have a look at apprenticeships this week

OP posts:

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