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Higher education

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

Original poster

Another path - now we have a map

999 replies

chopc · 10/08/2021 14:27

Chopc - Durham-History
@jano69 -Durham -History
@OnTheBenchOfDoom -Durham - Natural Sciences
@Majaso12 -Imperial - don't know subject
@bendmeoverbackwards -Bristol- History
@Pumpkintopf -Imperial/Cambridge -Natural Sciences
@ChimneyPot -Brown (US) - ? Subject
@Stillcrikey -Bristol -MML
@Tenpastseven - Bristol -also modern languages?
@Longtimenewsee - Durham - Chemistry?
@MidLifeCrisis007 - Durham -History
@BigWoollyJumpers - Exeter- History
@SeasonFinale -Bristol- History

OP posts:
AvocadoPlant · 27/08/2021 07:00

Great news @chopc and to get his first choice too! So pleased for you that it’s finally settled.

@jano69 sorry to read that your DD has had to cancel so many events, hope she’s better soon

Peaseblossum22 · 27/08/2021 07:34

Excellent news @chopc what a relief for you

OnTheBenchOfDoom · 27/08/2021 08:07

Excellent news @chopc, very pleased for you and your son. Hopefully everyone else waiting on Durham accommodation will find out soon. Ds's email for South was sent at 1.18am!

Is anyone waiting on any other uni accommodation or is everyone else on here sorted? Is it just Durham?

@jano69 your poor DD, she has really had a crappy time hasn't she?

@Xenia good to know that is an option to go on a waiting list and maybe it will work out okay. I am glad you are on here telling us it will all be alright. I do appreciate your input and other posters who have had older children go through this process.

calculatorqueen · 27/08/2021 08:30

Great news @chopc and fingers crossed for those still waiting.

Peaseblossum22 · 27/08/2021 08:57

I think there are some real problems at other universities as well. Someone on the Facebook site on which I lurk is waiting for Edinburgh and they have to be there in a week. And Exeter is a mess some people still waiting and others have been allocated accommodation way out of their budget or self catering but with only a microwave . I struggle to believe this but someone said that some Bristol first years are being accommodated in Weston Supermere (sp?) and anecdotally speeds is still up in the air. There was also a poster up thread here that said her daughter had been told there was no accommodation available until at least Xmas and to go private . So whilst Durham has the complications of Colleges I don’t think they are alone . You would have thought this was always going to happen so they could have had a plan though .

bendmeoverbackwards · 27/08/2021 09:14

@jano69 your poor dd, I’m so sorry. How long is she isolating for? Can she reschedule her birthday plans?

Original poster
chopc · 27/08/2021 09:20

Thank you everyone! Feeling the support.

I have attached the numbers and email for accommodation here in case it is useful for anyone. I don't know if it did DS any good but he did get his allocation a couple of hours later

Another path - now we have a map
OP posts:
AvocadoPlant · 27/08/2021 10:31

Exeter mums - DD tells me they’ve cracked the code to identify their flat and are able to start finding flatmates.
She’s in a flat if 8, 6 identified so far equally split between gap year students and school leavers.
Hope yours are having equal success

BigWoollyJumpers · 27/08/2021 10:39

Excellent news that Durham is now confirming accommodation. Finally!

Get Well Soons to those DC's and by extension Mums and Dads suffering from Covid.

BigWoollyJumpers · 27/08/2021 10:44

@AvocadoPlant

Exeter mums - DD tells me they’ve cracked the code to identify their flat and are able to start finding flatmates. She’s in a flat if 8, 6 identified so far equally split between gap year students and school leavers. Hope yours are having equal success
Yes, DD now "official" student at Exeter. All email accounts, log ins, laundry passes, security, etc etc done. She decided in the end to transfer to the uni GP. She thinks they may be better than our local one - she's probably right!

Her block are allocated numbers like 003, 106, 210. They have surmised that this means "floor" and then probably grouped by six sharing a kitchen. So 001-006, 007-012 ground floor, and then upwards. I think she has already found one in her "group" but also quite a few from the block.

Booked in for dropping off late morning Saturday. She wanted to get in early, in order to settle down before it gets busy. Sunday seems to be the preferred day.

calculatorqueen · 27/08/2021 10:55

@AvocadoPlant @BigWoollyJumpers Where do we find the code for the room etc? We've just logged in but can't see anything.

BigWoollyJumpers · 27/08/2021 11:00

[quote calculatorqueen]**@AvocadoPlant* @BigWoollyJumpers* Where do we find the code for the room etc? We've just logged in but can't see anything.[/quote]
DD here: if you've set up your login, then go to the website studentstatement.exeter.ac.uk and login with your Exeter IT account and it should give you your room number.

calculatorqueen · 27/08/2021 11:34

Thank you @BigWoollyJumpers DD. We've not received the welcome e mail yet, so can't set up the login. Hopefully we'll get it soon.

BigWoollyJumpers · 27/08/2021 17:01

@calculatorqueen

Thank you *@BigWoollyJumpers* DD. We've not received the welcome e mail yet, so can't set up the login. Hopefully we'll get it soon.
DD again; you don't need the email to set up an IT account, just head to as.exeter.ac.uk/itreg/index.php and once you have set that up the other link should work with your exeter login :)
Dobbyismyabsolutefav · 27/08/2021 17:38

So sorry to hear of so many plans cancelled for our teenagers. Our year 13's have had a really challenging 18 months.

Thanks for all the Exeter tips and I hope that everyone's accommodation is sorted very soon. It is so difficult being up beat for our DD's and DS's whilst thinking oh for goodness sake just give them a break and let them secure decent accommodation.

Any way I need to get back to packing for our UK break. DD hasn't even started yet and doesn't seem that keen. I've packed for the British weather and apparently it would be so much easier to pack if we were going somewhere with guaranteed sunshine. To be honest I agree with her but actually I'm quite excited to be heading SW.

calculatorqueen · 27/08/2021 17:47

@BigWoollyJumpers DD Thank you! We've got the room number Grin

ilcailca · 28/08/2021 08:02

Hi - not sure where to post this but my dd has lost Oxford offer by 1 grae due to A level fiasco & way school did grades (heavily based on work over year old). She is upset & annoyed as would easily got grades in real exams. She has offer from Durham as Insurance but its slightly diff course, been moved college & its hundreds of miles from where we live so not really sure whats to now go. I'm also concerned as she has had a few health issues in past. However not sure what else to do as cant really travel if have a gap year & shes worried about reapplying elsewhere next year as prob fewer places & everyone will have stellar grades. Her school (state) have been useless & didnt care remotelty that she missed offer. Advice please? Thanks

Longtimenewsee · 28/08/2021 08:28

Hi there @ilcailca . So sorry to hear about your DD’s disappointment and also her schools refusal of help. Was no appeal lodged? She must have felt so disappointed and stressed on results day .. I feel for her (and you!) Sad

I guess with regards to her insurance, it boils down to how she feels about going there. There must have been something she liked about Durham to have put it as her insurance? Is she able to focus on that? Would a visit help?
I don’t know if there is much left in clearing but you could look to see if there is something nearby to home if travelling is the biggest issue?
Good luck to your Dd .

AvocadoPlant · 28/08/2021 11:20

Hi @icailca, I don’t have experience of the Oxbridge process, but all of us here are supporting our DC in their back up choice.
And it’s important to remember that it is a choice, and taking a year out can be a really positive choice. A gap year doesn’t have to be spent travelling, or taking part in virtuous projects. A local job in hospitality or retail is a chance to earn some money and learn some great work skills.

Your DD could defer her Durham place until next year.

Assuming she has strong A level grades then she can choose to make a fresh application for 2022 perhaps review where she would like to go. And with grades in hand would be a strong candidate.

Would she be open to re-taking her A level next summer snd making a fresh Oxbridge application this autumn?

She does have lots of choices, and if she genuinely feels Durham isn’t right for her this autumn, rather than freshers wobbles, then it’s worth reviewing other choices.

SeasonFinale · 28/08/2021 11:30

@longtimenewsee. There would be no grounds for appeal if the school has correctly followed their procedure which will have already been approved by the exam board.

There certainly is scope for travel during a gap year too as some of the kids on this thread have already proven.

Next year is likely to be even more competitive with the high oversubscription for places this year so I would be inclined to take the bird in the hand offer at Durham.

Braveheart35 · 28/08/2021 11:32

If your DD does want to defer - I think she is v time limited now, you might want to check, I know Durham extended their deadline but I think it’s only until 2/9 - but check the date as I’m not completely sure of it.

Peaseblossum22 · 28/08/2021 11:35

My as completely missed the time deadline for deferral last year , but they were fine with deferral at the last minute. One of his friends went for about a month and then asked to start again the following year and they were fine with that too

Original poster
chopc · 28/08/2021 11:59

@ilcailca I am sorry to hear of your situation. As Avocado said all of us are here as our DC didn't get their chosen path. My DS is healthy but I am also apprehensive about the distance.

However once the disappointment wears off I would also think why she chose Durham as her insurance and also which universities she would pick for next year if reapplying.

She can defer her Durham offer, she can reapply and she can indeed travel as there are gap year travel options available as we have two on this thread whose DC's are doing gap years abroad

OP posts:
ilcailca · 28/08/2021 12:15

Thanks for all comments, really helpful as it has all been a bit of a nightmare - needs to have a think whats best to do.
She didn't appeal as wasn't sure there were really any grounds & she didn't want additional stress. I think thats also why she is worried about reapplying next year incase doesn't get a place nearer to home & would also need to get (unhelpful) school to write reference etc. Although think she feels backed into corner
I tend to agree that a place this year is worth having rather than risking next year but obviously do not want to tell her she has to go as it needs to be her choice.
Out of interest if you re-take in Autumn do you get results in time to repply reasonably early & do you need to show both grades on UCAS?

Thanks very much!

MarchingFrogs · 28/08/2021 12:29

If it is the same system as last year, grades from the autumn series can replace the teacher assessed grade if higher and be ignored if lower (that is, the sole certificated grade could be the better one). However, the summer series would definitely be a resit, in the same way as an A level retaken in 2019 and before would have been.

Autumn series 2020 results were available before the normal UCAS deadline, but not the October one.