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Original poster

Vet Medicine 2021

257 replies

doistayordoigo · 27/06/2020 18:00

Hi, wondering whether there any other parents or students on here applying for Vet Med this year to start in 2021? I was following last year's thread which was very useful and informative, and was hoping for a similar thread this year for the rollercoaster ahead, especially now that things might be very different to previous years.

My DS is probably going to be applying to Liverpool, Bristol, Surrey and Nottingham.

OP posts:
Original poster
doistayordoigo · 13/03/2021 12:30

@Chevalgal Congratulations for your DD!

OP posts:
Colliemayhem · 16/03/2021 13:22

Gutted for ds, he didn't get an offer from Edinburgh. I think he will be ok as he did like Surrey and Bristol is still in the mix as he is still on hold. I think the disappointment is more mine as I would have loved him to study in Scotland and be closer to my family. But, we will reinforce to him that he still has an offer and is going to be a vet, which at this stage and with the craziness of this past year is a big positive.

Nobody2u · 16/03/2021 13:49

@Colliemayhem, He did brilliantly to get an offer from Surrey, and whilst he had his heart set on Edinburgh, I'm sure he'll be happy to go to any of his choices. There are so many that I've seen over on TSR these last few days facing 4 rejections, that I'm sure he's just pleased to have secured a place. He'll enjoy wherever he goes and won't have time to worry about being close to family or not. ( At least I hope so, as my DD will be leaving home for another country!!)

Gertudejeykal · 30/03/2021 21:43

Just found this thread via TSR been following 2021 thread on there closely. DS just firmed HK, only offer 1 out of 4 but that’s fine as he was impressed when he visited Harper in person before all this kicked off. I really didn’t realise how hard things have been just getting an offer this year. I had my suspicions that places for capped courses were in short supply this year, hearing about his friends and the lack of offers are just proving it. Well done to any one getting an offer this year, let’s get assessments over with and let these young people get on with living their lives.

iwasw · 31/03/2021 08:25

@Gertudejeykal

Just found this thread via TSR been following 2021 thread on there closely. DS just firmed HK, only offer 1 out of 4 but that’s fine as he was impressed when he visited Harper in person before all this kicked off. I really didn’t realise how hard things have been just getting an offer this year. I had my suspicions that places for capped courses were in short supply this year, hearing about his friends and the lack of offers are just proving it. Well done to any one getting an offer this year, let’s get assessments over with and let these young people get on with living their lives.
Welcome! You are so right, those young people deserve huge credit. Our DD has firmed HK as her no.1 also. She has never been to any of the campuses but she loves the sound of it. She has chosen Harper campus. Very keen to be on the farm site. Has your lad chosen a campus yet?
Gertudejeykal · 31/03/2021 08:47

He visited Harper in person for an open day and loved the site, waiting to visit Keele in person for a walk round, when restrictions lift a little. He is not sure at the moment. It is so hard making a decision with no in person visits, I am sure they will enjoy the experience of whichever site they choose.

iwasw · 31/03/2021 09:04

@Gertudejeykal

He visited Harper in person for an open day and loved the site, waiting to visit Keele in person for a walk round, when restrictions lift a little. He is not sure at the moment. It is so hard making a decision with no in person visits, I am sure they will enjoy the experience of whichever site they choose.
DD is so thrilled to have an offer that she doesn't care really so long as she gets to be a vet. She can't visit as we are in Ireland. Exciting times ahead hopefully. Fingers crossed for the gradesSmile
kpandthesunshineband2 · 31/03/2021 09:22

My ds has accepted his HK offer ( unconditional following a rubbish last year with exam debacle). Glasgow, Edinburgh & Liverpool rejected. HK is the only one he didn't visit but they both look lovely on websites. Hopefully will get a drive round soon.

Colliemayhem · 31/03/2021 10:44

Hi @Gertudejeykal, welcome and well done to your ds on his HK offer. Just seen an e-mail from Bristol offering DS alternative causes to apply for as his veterinary application has not been successful. He has been a bit in limbo being on hold for Bristol for nearly 4 months! He can now get on and firm Surrey and apply for accommodation etc. It is a tough year for them and getting an offer is a great achievement. Now to focus on the assessments after Easter and hopefully a great summer being able to do all the stuff they have missed out on over this past year.

I have lost track a bit I'm afraid, is anybody still waiting on an offer or have all DC's got at least one offer now?

Gertudejeykal · 31/03/2021 12:46

Hi @Colliemayhem sorry to hear your ds was not successful applying for Bristol, he can firm Surrey and move on with assessments and I’m sure he will enjoy and be successful in the future.😀

saz1 · 04/05/2021 20:03

Hi been following this thread and just wanted some reassurance for DD who has firmed her offer from Nottingham for September in the last few days. We went up to Sutton Bonnington again at the weekend and were all really worried by how quiet it was. Do any of you have children at Nottingham? What is the SB campus like? Thanks for any replies that will put her (and our) mind at rest.

Scottandcharlene · 04/05/2021 20:32

Hi @saz1, my DD is in her first year at Nottingham. She has had a great year, although obviously not a normal experience so it’s difficult to comment on what it would normally be like. She has a car which means she can get out and about easily but there are regular buses if they don’t drive. My DD only went back on Saturday after Easter as she had been on a 2 week lambing placement so it may have been that not all the students were back on campus. Compared to many I really think they’ve had a good year. She has had weekly dissections and animal handling sessions so has been very hands on and met lots of people and made lots of friends. They have had events when possible, but they have been in lockdown for much of the year as they were in tier 3 before Christmas. Hopefully this summer they will get a chance to have a more normal student experience but she really has had a good year in spite of Covid and hasn’t felt she’s missed out on anything by being at Sutton Bonnington. Good luck to your DD.

saz1 · 04/05/2021 20:56

@Scottandcharlene thanks very much for getting back to me. That’s all really helpful and reassuring. Glad your DD has had a good year and so much hands on experience too. Hope she continues to enjoy the course - sounds great.

mumsneedwine · 04/05/2021 21:00

@Scottandcharlene helloooo. Hope lambing was good. DD loved it !
@saz1 my DD has a friend at Notts as she's had a brilliant year too. Although DD is v annoyed that Notts get to do open book exams and hers are proctored. But it's to do with American accreditation apparently so have to be done as normal as possible. She's still annoyed 😂.
Notts is a brilliant student city (eldest is a medic there) and she'll have such a great time.

saz1 · 04/05/2021 21:40

@mumsneedwine thanks a lot for your message. That’s good to hear re Notts. Good luck with the exams!

Scottandcharlene · 04/05/2021 21:46

Hello @mumsneedwine she did enjoy lambing thanks, although my goodness she worked so hard! It was a very intense 2 weeks which I don’t think she will ever forget. She was very pleased to get a cheque at the end of it which was a lovely surprise. The open book exams are definitely a bonus too, but it will be a shock next year when they get back to normal (fingers crossed). Hope your DD is enjoying some new experiences now things are opening up. There’s so much to look forward to.

mumsneedwine · 04/05/2021 22:08

@Scottandcharlene DD got paid too which was a fab bonus after a brilliant 2 weeks. I now can't eat lamb after all the cute photos.
And she has been embracing all the opportunities Bristol has to offer 😂😂. Clubs booked from 21st June and pubs now being sampled. Sports back on. She's even found the library. Sounds so happy ☺️

Scottandcharlene · 05/05/2021 09:51

That all sounds really positive @mumsneedwine. It looks a lot more hopeful for those starting in September.

mumsneedwine · 05/05/2021 15:29

🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞and for everyone with offers this year too.

carmur · 08/05/2021 07:24

Hi All,
My daughter will start VetMed in Notts sept 2021 and we are now looking at accommodation options. My question is whether SB campus is too quiet and isolated and if it is wiser to apply for accommodation in University Park or Jubilee Campus. We have never been to Nottingham so it is really difficult to decide what is best. All feedback very welcome

Scottandcharlene · 08/05/2021 08:21

Hi @carmur my dd is in her first year at Nottingham and obviously it hasn’t been a normal year so I can’t say why the normal experience is, but she has loved being at Sutton Bonnington. They have certainly managed to have lots of fun. It is easy to get to the main campus by the regular bus, and also into Nottingham if that’s what they want, and loads have cars so can get around easily. My dd has visited just about every supermarket and garden centre there is as for a long time they were the only things open. We did find this quite amusing as the image of students mixing with the pensioners down at the garden centre was an unexpected one! When we spoke to current students on offer days and open days they all loved it at Sutton Bonnington. There is something very special about it, which over the last year has been a huge benefit. I think covid has made us all rethink what is important, and perhaps given the awful experience many students have had, we might start looking for different things from the university experience. My dd has found it easy to make friends and meet people and everything felt right from the very first time we visited. She has managed to have fun despite the lack of formal events taking place and is really looking forward to moving into her house with 5 friends in the summer. Good luck to your dd.

carmur · 08/05/2021 08:36

Hi Scottandcharlene, thank you very much for your reply. Initially I thought SB would be great - in the countryside, away from city dangers, socialising with other VetMed students etc. So things were clear - accommodation in SB! However, then I read some reviews from students on studentcrowd and I started to hesitate. I am very grateful for your feedback as it is really what I thought from the beginning.

Scottandcharlene · 08/05/2021 09:38

@carmur I completely understand your concerns. As a parent SB is very appealing as it seems so safe, but of course you want your dd to have the best student experience. My dd has grown up in a very rural area and has always had to travel for fun or to see friends. In her sixth form years she discovered the delights of nightclubs and going out in the evenings and so was really looking forward to a very social student experience. Of course 2020 meant that was impossible but I think because they are all very like-minded on SB they have gelled very well and found opportunities for fun where they can. In normal times there are lots of things going on on the campus so they won’t be short of fun. I just can’t believe my dd is nearly at the end of her first year. It has gone so fast!

carmur · 08/05/2021 09:44

Scottandcharlene we are in a similar situation. My dd loves going out and having fun, so I worried about the isolation. I want her to have the best student experience- work hard but have a nice social life. I was also concerned about cars going back and forth to Nottingham city late at night as the chances of an accident....... Maybe too much worrying unnecessarily!

Scottandcharlene · 08/05/2021 10:05

I think they would use taxis for evening Nottingham trips. I think doing vet med makes you a bit different from other students anyway because to get there they have had to do so much more than just pass exams. The course means they have a lot more than just lectures. There’s the EMS commitments and the animal care rotations which add extra hours, so they do have a different student experience anyway. Your dd will have a great time, I’m sure, and you will continue to worry about numerous things because that’s what mums do Grin