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Higher education

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

Original poster

DS started uni last september, i think he should leave and start at a different uni sept

137 replies

blueskyblues11111 · 10/02/2021 11:55

DS is at a non RG uni, and After this year of covid stop / starting / isolating at uni plus the fact the DS got much better A’level results than he was predicted . I feel he should reapply to a RG uni to re start he uni course of economics this September . Aibu to feel like this ,,?

i have spoken to DS about this possible option , but he says he wants to stay where he is ,,,

I know I really need to stop dwelling on this option but it’s hard when 1st years have had such a tricky start to their uni life ....

BTW , i know i probably ABU :)

OP posts:
SeasonFinale · 10/02/2021 13:41

Also I am still unsure as to whether you mean for him to transfer directly onto y2 at Loughborough or to drop out and reapply through clearing now.

TheJerkStore · 10/02/2021 13:43

i have spoken to DS about this possible option , but he says he wants to stay where he is ,,,

And there's your answer....

It's really up to him.

Original poster
blueskyblues11111 · 10/02/2021 14:49

it was to re apply to start in September as 1st year

OP posts:
TheJerkStore · 10/02/2021 15:19

@blueskyblues11111

it was to re apply to start in September as 1st year
I can fully understand why he wouldn't want to do that! An additional year of finance to cover very similar content he's already completed?

He's obviously happy with his current university which really is the most important thing.

chopc · 10/02/2021 15:58

I don't understand mumsnet. On one hand you are to encourage your DC to go to the best university they can. On the other hand you should let them make their own decisions etc etc

I get where you are coming from OP and it's a shame your DS didn't get better guidance before hand. However given that he he has already started at a Uni he is happy with, I suggest you tell him to get good careers advise so he can apply for internships/ work placements in good time

smoothchange · 10/02/2021 16:02

@blueskyblues11111

it was to re apply to start in September as 1st year

Can you do that?

TheJerkStore · 10/02/2021 16:56

Can you do that?

You can but it is dependent on a few factors. The 'new' university would need to be willing to offer you a place and that's not guaranteed even if you did meet last year's entry requirements as they change from year to year and you'd be competing against a different cohort. The deadline for equal consideration has passed so there's a chance a competitive course may already be full.

Transferring into a second year could be an option but the university would have to be willing to accept a transfer of credits /accreditation of prior learning and may have specific requirements around that. Plus they may not have places.

PresentingPercy · 10/02/2021 17:13

To be fair, a lot of posters are consistent: aim high. For Economics there is a very distinct pecking order. LSE is obvious but high future earnings definitely are skewed to the top notch universities. Not necessarily RG, but mostly. In the NE, Newcastle wouldn’t be useless though. Did he go where his friends were going?

I too doubt Loughborough would have spaces but DC might want to look at masters courses in the future so that could be a way forward. It’s a bit of a shame he didn’t see there were better options earlier.

Movinghouse2015 · 10/02/2021 17:24

To apply for a September 2021 start the deadline has passed. They extend the deadline until the end of Jan 2021.

It might be worth seeing if you can make a late application (I wouldn't leave it any longer). Otherwise it is trying via clearing in the summer.

clary · 10/02/2021 17:29

@blueskyblues11111

I’d prefer not to say , but it’s in the north east. The uni that i thought he may be better off at , for the social / sports of things and economics course is Loughborough uni
Loughborough is not an RG uni anyway OP. Not that there's anything wrong with that - it's my DS's top choice and I am very happy with that.
JunoTurner · 10/02/2021 17:44

For Economics there is a very distinct pecking order. LSE is obvious but high future earnings definitely are skewed to the top notch universities

Oxford and Cambridge also obvious and rated higher than LSE for economics in several 2021 tables, as are other universities including St Andrews. In fact Loubrough is only one place lower than LSE in the Guardian’s ranking this year.

Anyway, the pecking order isn’t the point. It’s insensitive to point it out when the OP’s son has told her he wants to stay where she is. She can’t force him so she needs to make peace with the situation and what she can influence.

OP, this year has from the sounds of it been such a mixed bag in terms of provisions during Covid. Is your son unhappy with it and if so, could you encourage him to gently complain or request some changes?

Just because he’s not at a RG university doesn’t mean it’s not good or the course isn’t great. It doesn’t mean your son won’t have a great career, be well paid or won’t be happy. Don’t read about other universities or posts where posters are talking about the high status of their DC’s course or university. On here you’ll hear the parent’s perspective without also getting their child’s. High status doesn’t necessarily mean happy. Earning & career potential doesn’t mean it will actually actualise. Focus on what is going well for your son and his good points. Give him information by all means but otherwise step back and support what he’s doing now.

SeasonFinale · 10/02/2021 17:45

In her original post the OP referred to getting better A levels than expected so he probably had very sensible advice to apply to an aspirational and some sensible choices. He probably chose his firm based on where he liked and what he thought he would achieve which is emminently sensible and ensured he got in.

For anyone watching who may find themselves in such a situation upon getting the grades that mean they may be eligible to get into a "better uni" they can look at going through adjustment. This entails checking with the uni that they have a place available but then you have to release from your firm choice to enable them to make an offer for you to accept.

Covidcorvid · 10/02/2021 17:49

Just because a uni is high up in the rankings doesn’t mean it will be any better for that particular course. Even if that course is ranked higher doesn’t mean your son will like it as much. Or that the teaching and assessment will be as good.

Plus it’ll cost him over 20k to repeat a year by the time you consider fees, accommodation and living costs. Are you offering to give him 20k?

Veterinari · 10/02/2021 17:50

@blueskyblues11111

it was to re apply to start in September as 1st year
Well he can't do that - he he deadline has passed, he also doesn't want to and Loughborough is not a RG uni anyway.
sammyjoanne · 10/02/2021 17:51

RG uni doesnt carry much weight in the eyes of an employer. Sure the uni might have more reasearch funding, but unless its something like imperial/oxbridge then an RG uni like Leeds or York, Warwick etc wont make any difference compared to Reading, Lancaster, Bath etc.

Loughborough isnt an RG uni. its like Reading. People often assume that that is too.

My eldest is at Lancaster and for her course she has a lot of funding, research, internship possibilities and uni highly regarded in her field, so thats the reason why she went where she did. If the student is happy at uni, and loves the course, and has got good prospects at the end of it then thats the main thing :)

Amiable · 10/02/2021 17:54

Please leave him be. It is his life, his choice. Going to an RG uni is not the be-all and end-all of life

Letseatgrandma · 10/02/2021 17:54

Your whole post is about wanting him to go to a RG university but then say it’s Loughborough, which isn’t a RG University?! Can you clarify?

Would he even get funding for another year at university? That’s another £9000 a year fees and £4-9K maintenance loan?!

TheJerkStore · 10/02/2021 17:56

Well he can't do that - he he deadline has passed, he also doesn't want to and Loughborough is not a RG uni anyway.

Well he can.... the deadline for equal consideration has passed but many universities will take late applications through ucas extra until July ( after that it's clearing) . It just depends if there are still places.

AllMyPrettyOnes · 10/02/2021 18:00

@TheJerkStore

Well he can't do that - he he deadline has passed, he also doesn't want to and Loughborough is not a RG uni anyway.

Well he can.... the deadline for equal consideration has passed but many universities will take late applications through ucas extra until July ( after that it's clearing) . It just depends if there are still places.

This.
Covidcorvid · 10/02/2021 18:00

@Letseatgrandma

Your whole post is about wanting him to go to a RG university but then say it’s Loughborough, which isn’t a RG University?! Can you clarify?

Would he even get funding for another year at university? That’s another £9000 a year fees and £4-9K maintenance loan?!

Yes, you can get 4 years of UG funding.
QuantumQuality · 10/02/2021 18:02

Jesus. Back the fuck off. You’ve picked a random university which you know nothing about and suggested you’re DS wastes a year of his life on going there, clearly with no idea of the financial implications. I think the only ex poly in the NE that does pure economics is Northumbria, which has an excellent sports reputation. This is top level bad helicopter parenting.

LastDuchessFerrara · 10/02/2021 18:05

@QuantumQuality - u ok hun?

QuantumQuality · 10/02/2021 18:07

@LastDuchessFerrara I’m fine, thanks for the concern. Do you read the OP?!

LastDuchessFerrara · 10/02/2021 18:10

QQ I did read the OP but didn't see anything in it that warrants you being so aggressive and rude. Thought you might be struggling with lockdown ... maybe you need a screen break.

Motnight · 10/02/2021 18:18

Honestly Op the fact that he seems happy and settled at the university of his choice gives him a huge advantage. What would happen if he did go to a new university and hated it?

You need to let him to continue to make his own choices. I know that it's hard because he is your son, but he is a young adult now.