University 2020 :4: The wait for grades and better days ahead

[MillicentMartha]

New thread for us. Interesting times.

Old thread here

Millicent did you say your child has applied for accommodation for firm choice AND insurance?
My DS only applied for accommodation for his firm choice now I'm worried we missed something!

You should do the accomodation application for both as some uni's allocate according to date of application or even 'first come first served' and you only accept once they know they have a definite place

DS’s insurance is Birmingham and their accommodation applications were open to insurance places too. They just don’t get a guarantee or priority. Some unis might not open applications to insurance students. It’s worth checking out the accommodation pages on their website.

I know Southampton, for instance, will guarantee some accommodation for both firm and insurance places.

Checked Exeter’s accommodation website & they don’t open to insurance.

DD has picked her top choices for accommodation, her favourite is in a brand new block, due to open in September. I’m concerned that it may not be ready given the lockdown, but at the same time it’d be a shame to miss out on this one because of fear of delay.
Is anyone else facing the same issue, or got any advice/experience?

Error - some building work seems to be happening but yes that might be an issue. I’m sure they will find space for those who need it especially if fewer international students?

Oh that’s a good point! There will be more space this year - i’d forgotten that.
So hopefully it’ll all be fine - thanks for the reassurance

Just my current thoughts,

If university doesn't start in autumn, do you think the gov will extend child tax credit for a few months.

I'm also thinking , that DD would be better off deferring a year.
Yet I'm not sure if there'd be enough places in 2021.

DD doesn't seem to be thinking about any of it.

She's firmed Cardiff but I've yet to apply for finance.
I was told by a colleague I need to prove my divorce, and I cannot find the papers.
To replace will cost £60

Less if I knew for certain which court did it, but I can't ring my old solicitors to find out!

I have my council tax bill with 25% single reduction on it, not sure this is proof of living alone.

Anyway, back to Netflix!

Happy Easter everyone. Xx

Where'd my paragraphs go?

Sorry!

I think there’ll be more pressure on places in 2021, plus the unis will have the surety of students who’ve sat their A levels applying for places.

@thesunwillout, I have had to send a copy of my decree absolute every single year to SLC! (5 times so far!) But single person council tax discount also counts. You should be fine. My middle DS will be leaving education this summer so I won’t be eligible for council tax reduction anymore from July.

It would be great if child tax credit could be rolled on but I doubt it. I’ll also stop getting and maintenance payments from my ex.

I’d get on with applying for student finance. The deadline is normally in mid May sometime to guarantee payments by the autumn but I can’t find this year’s deadline online anywhere. Maybe they’ve extended it due to coronavirus? It can take up to 6 weeks to be processed and they are on a skeleton staff at their call in centre, so it’s worth getting on with it. It’s fairly easy to do, just remember it’s not last tax year, 2019-20 but the one before, 2018-19 that they want figures from. If the coronavirus has caused your earnings to go down significantly (over 15% I think) you still have to give them the 2018-19 figures but can ask for a current year estimate to be used instead.

In fact, not just if coronavirus has affected your earnings, any reason.

@aibutohavethisusername, Exeter was DS1’s insurance 4 years ago. I was glad he got into his firm choice and his top option for accommodation there!

MillicentMartha where did he end up again?

Warwick. He was very happy there, but I’m sure would have been equally happy in Exeter. In fact, that’s where he expected to go as Warwick was a bit aspirational. The uncertainty about accommodation was a worry as he needed cheap accommodation!

Oh, @MillicentMartha, any tips re accommodation at Warwick. It's DS's firm and he's had a look online but any tips would be very useful. TIA.

DS went cheap and cheerful, Ducky! He was in Cryfield before the new village and his room was tiny. The large kitchens made it very sociable though. He’d say Rootes are friendly and have a lot of parties. Whitefields were a bit scruffy but perfectly adequate. The more expensive bigger roomed ones are all fine but can be tricky if you are in a kitchen of 4 and the other 3 aren’t your type. Those right on the edge of campus away from the SU are quieter. The very expensive ones used to have mainly international students who didn’t always mix, but that might not be the case this year?

I only know this because he’s been asked before.

Where did he go for in Brum Millicent. I'm guessing Mason and Tennis Courts

Got my M s wrong Maple Bank and tennis courts

Maple Bank, The Spinney, Ashcroft and Tennis Courts I think? Neither of us can remember exactly, but the 5 or 6 cheapest.

Two snaps with DS1 there :). DD2 says Maple Bank is fine it just hasn't been refurbished like the others - so a bit tired and run down but brilliant value for money.

Still crossing fingers, Oratory! 🤞

Brilliant, thank you very much - I'll pass info to DS.

To be honest, Ducky, he’ll be fine wherever. If he doesn’t get on with people in his kitchen/flat, he can makes friends through societies or his course. DS1’s kitchen had a lad in it all the time from a different hall who someone had met in the first week. He just preferred their kitchen to his own. When they moved out in second year into 3 houses he came too.

Thanks, he seems pretty laid back, it's his neurotic mother (me) who is worrying about it