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

@ChazsBrilliantAttitude

DS1 is waiting on Warwick that sent out an email a few days ago saying there would be a delay in offers.

Dd2 had the same email from Warwick for mechanical engineering. She’s thinking of firming Loughborough because they have been very proactive and have a reputation for being friendly and Warwick seem indecisive.

DS1 has 4 offers so is debating ditching Warwick so he can respond to the other unis.

DD2 has had offers from all her other unis too. She liked the course at Warwick because it had a broad engineering first year, but all the unis she applied to had aspects that she liked.

The hardest thing for the prospective students is not being able to visit any of them.

Loughborough is great (hand friends who went there)
And ranked 6th in the uk

@Mysillydog DS1 is in his 2nd year at Loughborough doing electrical engineering. We've been very impressed with the uni. Let me know if you have any questions.

That’s great to know @calculatorqueen
My DD2 is very shy and not great at making friends, or indeed putting the effort into her existing friendships. I hope Uni will help bring her out of herself. Almost certainly an undiagnosed aspie. It will either make her better or worse.

How are your dc finding the virtual tours/open Days?
I know they are trying really hard but they are a bit patchy.
Tech issues don't help matters.

DS2 was completely thrown (as in, he's got a clear favourite course / university / city in UEA, or so he thought) by the Sussex offer holder day and now thinks he may prefer to go there instead. Warwick's turn to woo him on Saturday and UEA's make or break evening on the 22nd.

The department at York completely put him off when they launched straight into insisting on camera on interaction ('tell us about yourself, your favourite animal' etc), 'because research shows that this leads to better results' or something similar. I have to say that my first thought was that this is okay when you are addressing a roomful of people who are already 'yours', iyswim, but not really for an audience of complete and unrelated strangers. Up to that point, the morning was going well, though.

Birmingham was mainly student only sessions and he seems to have participated happily in these, so I am assuming that their approach was less daunting.

Whilst it's nice to be wood and chased by universities, why do some universities do this and not others?

Also would any DC have turned down the offer of an Oxbridge college if they haven't visited? Probably not. So I don't know why it's so important to visit universities before choosing them based on the information already provided

I think life at any university is probably what you make of it , how outgoing you are; if you are happy being in a small university town centre towards students or in a big city with lots of industries and therefore job opportunities presumably

Ds was very keen on Leicester initially and really engaged with the subject specific session but once Nottingham reduced his offer it seemed daft not to firm.
He really likes the Nottingham course - and almost didn't apply! They wanted AAA and A at EPQ.
He won't get an A for geography and doesn't have an EPQ so it was very much a long shot but we thought "why not!?" :)
He has 2 sessions at the end of this month - subject specific and one on the societies he can join.

Hello, hope it's ok to jump in.

unfortunately pretty late to the game as DS had been adamant since year 11 that he didn't want to go to Uni. He had been doing well as has works within his industry for for 3 years already, and had a full time job with accommodation lined up for when he finished college, but just before xmas that fell through. Cue utter spiral into despair. (luckily he was already having counselling from Camhs)

Anyway in Feb he applied for 5 universities,
and has offers from 2, an offer conditional on interview, and an interview. But is waiting for his favourite to get back to him.

Thing is I know nothing about the process, I went to uni at 21 as a mature student long ago. He doesn't know much more than me because he never took any notice as never planned to go.

Is there a time limit on how long he can wait before accepting the other offers? dose he only accept 2? as in firm and back up? or accept all of them then make firm and back up?

I secretly hope his favourite doesn't offer, because it's a different course to the others, and I know it won't suit him. But dare not raise it as he has only just pulled himself back up.

fingers crossed he is starting to lean towards his second favourite more, just got to hope he does well in his interview as that's the one conditional on interview.

Here you go:
<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.ucas.com/undergraduate/applying-university/advice-parents-and-guardians/ucas-undergraduate-application-process&ved=2ahUKEwijq6-Kn5fvAhUAD2MBHbOlCw8QFjABegQIBhAJ&usg=AOvVaw0Bv-I88pdGguest9QD4MRf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.ucas.com/undergraduate/applying-university/advice-parents-and-guardians/ucas-undergraduate-application-process&ved=2ahUKEwijq6-Kn5fvAhUAD2MBHbOlCw8QFjABegQIBhAJ&usg=AOvVaw0Bv-I88pdGguest9QD4MRf

Sorry for the long link!

Just realised ds1 won't be back 4 days per week from next week as I assumed but only 1.5 days :(
I was so looking forward to having the house to myself!!
He's going to finish his geography nea tonight 😁

Thank you Bee0808

I've been popping on and off there in the past month, to get info as and when I needed. DS seems to have things in hand sort of, but is being slow to organise stuff, and its making me anxious as I don't want him to miss out on something then we end up back being very depressed and seeing no point to life again

He's waiting on Leeds, are they normally late to offer? Hull and Lincoln were fairly quick.

Can I ask a dumb question, for those of you that “firmed” the offer, what does that mean? That you click an “accept” button somewhere? Send an e-mail?

Sorry if I’m clueless, am going through this process with DS (am not native speaker and not educated here myself) thanks!

He’s had 2 offers, but not sure we can/need to do anything until we know his grades? For example Loughborough gave an offer for A*AA, so we can’t do anything until he knows he got those grades (in August some time?)

To firm an offer and choose insurance choice you go onto ucas track and click on the relevant university and then decline the others (so if you have 5 offers you will need decline 3 of them)
You will then get e mails from the universities you have chosen confirming that choice.

You need to decide on a firm and insurance by end of June I believe....the universities will get the grades and let you know accordingly on results day which is 10th August this year.

Thanks @Bee0808

Is there a national deadline for that, or does it vary per Uni?

We’ve only heard from 2

If results are not as expected then you can go through "clearing" which will find you a course and university that will accept your grades
Hope that makes sense!

Some universities are very slow in awarding offers, sadly.
My sons friend is still waiting for Warwick and st Andrews...

I think the deadline for offers from universities is end of May...

Thanks Bee0808 very helpful and reassuring

You're welcome.
The ucas website is pretty good for info