Applying for uni in 2021 part 2

[poppycat10]

Hi all, this is a continuation thread from www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/3828249-applying-for-uni-in-2021?pg=40

We're also just back from a quick West Country tour - Exeter and Bristol. It all feels very last minute and I wish we'd been able to visit earlier.

Y12 DD tagged along and loved Exeter, helped by our tour guide studying her preferred subject, so she's looking at campus unis for next year.

DS preferred the Bristol vibe, and will be making a quick visit to Sheffield to compare the two, before Thursday's deadline.

I must say, there were some very stylish mums at Exeter yesterday!

Well ds on the train on the way back from Bristol- they’ve had a lovely time (weather looked glorious), city was great and uni seemed nice but he’s still not sure as he loved Manchester and still wavering about whether he wants to go to London ...

@ShaunaTheSheep
I must say, there were some very stylish mums at Exeter yesterday!

Gulp, I’m afraid I’m a very un-stylish mum!

[quote AvocadoPlant]@ShaunaTheSheep
I must say, there were some very stylish mums at Exeter yesterday!

Gulp, I’m afraid I’m a very un-stylish mum! [/quote]
Ha ha ha...... Well Exeter is known as Surrey by the Sea .
I don't know whether I am particularly stylish or not, often quite slobby actually..... but I AM from Surrey .

Surrey by the Sea? Oh dear!

We did live in Surrey briefly over 20 years ago but moved to the West Country when we had a family.
And apart from when we were having to drive several hours each way on monthly trips to central London for DDs dance classes, I’ve not missed it at all.

@BigWoollyJumpers perhaps we can look fairly slobby together

My DS is at Exeter can highly recommend. First sign of sun they all hop on the train to sandy beaches at Exmouth.

@Lovecatsanddogs - but are you/ your DS from Surrey 😂

No unglamorous from Sussex😬

Phew!!!!

Dd (currently year 11) is considering Exeter so it looks like I may have to up my style stakes over the next 2 years!!

Anyway I think - just possibly- that ds may have made a decision and it’s looking like he’ll firm Bristol and insure Manchester but he wants to go back to London and look at QMUL again.

On a different note dd is starting to look at uni’s for biological sciences. She v high achieving and hard working and wants to try for Oxford and Durham and wants a campus / college type Uni which preferably would offer a 4 yr MBiol. Lancaster looks great but I know nothing about it - does anyone have any first hand info?

I’ve always been a bit sniffy about Exeter as a bit of an unimaginative choice for a middle class student from the south east (my children) but I have to say I really loved it when I visited this week for the first time. My daughters visited several years ago and didn’t particularly like it but to me it was close to a perfect campus. Really hope my son gets his grades!!!!
I was not one of the stylish mums either 🤣

Oh - This is fun. Quite a few headed for Exeter then.

We know so many DC's who have gone to Exeter. Yes, they are all from Surrey, and yes, I suppose it could be seen as unimaginative. On the other hand, they have all been really happy, and successful. If you don't want to migrate to the cold North, front the warm South, it's always one of the top picks.

Kitty, we had a talk from a representative from Lancaster. Very keen to get more students from the South. Funny isn't it..... it's all swings and roundabouts South to North, North to South. I think it is a really good uni, but a bit at the end of the line, if you know what I mean. But from the little I know the uni itself is lovely, very well regarded, and collegiate in nature. A couple of girls from DD's school are off there this year and really looking forward to it.

On the other uni thread, most of those who were rejected from Oxbridge are going to Durham. No way was DD going all the way up there. Too many stories of thermals required . I always think that is a bit unimaginative tbh ie: if not Oxbridge then Durham. London is generally out for South East as it's too local too, and fine for popping in, but not to live.

I am sure all our DC's will have a good time wherever they go. At the very least we are hoping for a more normal year for them. I think if they can all get vaccinated it will hopefully make a big difference.

A lot from here go to Exeter - we’re South Bucks so give a little variety 😂

Wolly thanks for info re Lancaster it looks like it may suit her (although fails on the requirement to look like Hogwarts) although yes I do wonder if it may seem too isolated by the end of 3 years. Yes London is tricky - v close (half an hour into Marylebone) - both dc go in a lot but not sure if they want to live their - also put off by the huge geographical spread of halls (this was what appealed to ds about QMUL). Bristol and Manchester offer similar opportunities for seeing bands and both have good theatres, vintage shops, galleries and skate boarding which tbh are the main things ds is after.

After posting on wrong thread I’ll now post here 😂

Not quite last minute (but pretty nearly) and ds has finally firmed Bristol and insured Manchester- either would be a great fit for him so now just to keep everything crossed!

And in further excitement he was lucky to get vaccinated today as a local centre had some Pfizer jabs about to expire so he went down with his girlfriend and was jabbed!

@KittyMcKitty no idea if this is interesting but Bristol main area by the river (v close to city halls), think it's called Park Street, is skateboard central. Every day there are loads of people doing tricks and stuff - it's v impressive. And looks really sociable. And a little bit cool. DD more into the electric scooters they take to Asda.

@mumsneedwine thank you that’s really great to know. Bristol has a big skate scene and I know he would love it there (it’s a high offer though and he really struggled with lockdown (worked very hard post lockdown to claw back some lost ground) so I just don’t know if it’ll go his way with grades and I doubt Bristol will take him with a dropped grade (especially as he’s applied for deferred entry) so we can just keep our fingers crossed 🤞🏻

Sorry meant to say skateboarding is super sociable- everyone really looks after each other.

My ds had an offer from Exeter and I was a bit worried about the whole Sloane/1/3 of students being from private school backgrounds thing but my husband did point out that there are state schools and state schools and ds was at a comp in an affluent town (not Surrey but not far away) so we couldn't really say anything which was probably true.

It is a lovely city and a nice campus and I know it reasonably well as my mum lives about 30 mins away. And it's an easy journey for us. But in the end ds opted for York so we'll see if he gets the grades.

Glad everyone’s DC’s have decisions sorted. A stressful couple of weeks here. DS had a complete change of heart at the last minute and realised he’d applied for the wrong degree.

He was holding offers for geography but decided he should be doing engineering instead! Swung from thinking he’d just take a year out and reapply next year to ditching all 5 and using Extra to see if he could get anywhere for this year. He has been so stressed.

In the end we spent half term visiting all 5 of the places where he had offers as he hadn’t been to any of them before. That was quite some driving! He then contacted his 2 favourites to see if they would let him swap. Exeter said their engineering courses were closed so they couldn’t consider him but on 9th June, Lancaster came back with an offer - just before the UCAS deadline! Has been so stressful but he’s really happy now.

In the end because track updated again it moved his deadline to reply to 14th July. So we’re now waiting to hear if Cardiff will also let him swap courses so he can hold an insurance offer too.

Has been a bit of a rollercoaster but hopefully has all worked out ok in the end. Now he just has to hope he gets the grades!

@pistachioicecream. Wow! That was a full on half term. So glad it has worked out for him and well done to him for having the courage to act

That sounds so stressful @pistachioicecream! I’m so glad he was successful at getting an offer through extra . Well done to him for being so gutsy.

@pistachioicecream what great maturity from your DS to recognise he wanted something different and have the courage to follow through.
At the same time, eeks!! How stressful!!
So pleased to hear it’s all worked out though.

@Revengeofthepangolins, @Longtimenewsee, @AvocadoPlant. Thank you. It’s not been an easy few weeks and it’s definitely been a big learning experience. I don’t think lockdown last year helped. He really struggled to engage with university and for it to seem real. Made such a difference actually being able to visit and visualise himself there. Been such a tough time for all our year 13s.

My DD has a place in Portsmouth but decided she wanted to do an apprenticeship instead. We didn't decline the place, paid the accommodation deposit but kept applying for apprenticeships. We went to the Portsmouth offer holders event and tour and she is suddenly enthusiastic about uni again. So as at today she wants uni over apprenticeship. I will just humour her until results day. It's all,very stressful.

@minesawine you have my sympathy. It's so stressful when they go backwards and forwards about what they want. But totally understandable. There are so many options and every decision feels so big.

I hope results day goes as she hopes and she feels happy with whatever path she chooses!

4 weeks to go. Don't know about anyone else but time seems to be dragging so slowly at the moment. Feels like life is just in limbo really until results come out. Anyone else feel like that?