Uni applicants 2022

[NCTDN]

Can we stay a new thread? I'm on a few higher education threads but these seem to have people starting this term and I'd really appreciate support and advice specific to applications for starting next September.

One r in Heriot - Watt...

Just on various threads eighty! It's one of those things people can't spell and it gets stuck!

Yeah, I knew what you meant!!

@OrangeBlossom28 great news that you had such a positive day! Always a worry when you make the effort to go to an open day - so lovely when the DCs love it and the course looks great - Reading has some great research going on currently.

@Stillgoings Great your DS has his PS completed and 4 unis picked out - We loved York and Leeds but haven't seen the others where is his fifth choice?

We went to Hull yesterday.

DS loved it.

It was a horrific journey up. God awful weather and so much standing water on the motorway. Then a nasty accident that had it closed both ways so we had an hour delay to an already very long journey. It’s a good job it was worth it!!

Everyone was SO friendly. We ended up talking to two members of staff from the politics dept and two students for an hour and a half. They were so helpful. They genuinely seemed enthusiastic and that they were enjoying their course. They were easy and relaxed with their lecturer and obviously liked him (as did we!). DS is now REALLY struggling with whether to go for BPLS or PIR. I’m fairly certain that really he wants to do the PIR course, but the year in Westminster which is only available as part of the BPLS course. (The PIR offers a term in Westminster in the 3rd year).

The accommodation was lovely. A million miles from what we had seen at UEA last week, particularly the new block, ‘the courtyard’. The staff in charge of accompanying were lovely too as we went and asked them a question an they were really helpful and went out of their way to get the answer.

He said it had really good vibe for him and it’s currently where he wants to go.

Think my husband feels he should aim for an ABB course (the PIR is BBC and had initially been on his list as a possible insurance), as on the whole most people try and get onto ‘the best’ course their grades will allow…. But if he’s keen and he feels this is where he wants to be then I think that’s really important, probably the most important…?

He did an epq but not in a related subject and got a C so we have decided not to mention it

@Stillgoings, your DS might want to revisit that decision (and I'm surprised that the school allowed the application to go through with a qualification missing)? He will have had to declare that his application was true and complete when submitting it.

www.ucas.com/undergraduate/applying-university/filling-your-ucas-undergraduate-application
You must enter all your qualifications from secondary education onwards– whether you have the result (even any that were ungraded) or you’re still awaiting exams and results.

BPLS ask for ABB

PIR asks for BBC

Altho looking at some of the uni statistics info websites it looks like they’re willing to sometimes drop a bit too.

He’s predicted AAB. Most of the other PIR courses he’s looking at elsewhere are ABB-BBB.

It’s hard to know how best to advise him. On the one hand you want them to be the happiest with their choice they can be- they have to live it for 3 years and it costs a fortune!! But at the same time I keep thinking about the words of another poster on this board about how students should keep in mind that employers value different universities differently and a degree from an RG with higher entry requirements will be worth more to them…

Gah! I think I’m probably getting ahead of myself. We’re a long way from offers and having to decide first and second choices!

The BPLS course is renowned. Cf : 'the Hull Mafia' in the HoC.

I taught a boy who has just completed his degree and made it through civil service fast track recruitment.

I agree that Hull accommodation is really swanky for the price and the department are massively close knit and enthusiastic. Three colleagues of mine went to Hull, and couldn't wait to get out of the city itself once they graduated, mind.but they are soft southerners

A million miles from what we had seen at UEA last week

Presumably the Ziggurats (as the rest of the accommodation at UEA is really much the same as its equivalent anywhere else - Pablo Fanque House looks relatively 'swanky', but it's in the city and I don't think you get to visit on open days)? Possibly with the added feature of a young man with long blonde hair, in the kitchen, with an air of having forgotten that a flatmate had signed them up for this and wondering whether he'll ever manage to get his lunch made

All ten of them love their flat, the Ziggs - especially the convenience of their location on the campus - and the university, btw, but the world would be a very boring place if we all liked all the same things in life.

@DrunkenUnicorn Sounds like you got such positive day from Hull visit! It's a dilemma about places with higher grades versus somewhere someone gets a good feel about the place. I know what PIR stands for but BPLS where and what course is this?

I would look at the uni feedback from NSS and dig down into both courses and graduate destinations etc. DS could go on Unibuddy or you could post a separate question on MN to see if there are opinions from people who's kids have studied PIR at these places.

The in person offer days are normally really good for seeing the uni in a more in depth way to. Hoping they are going ahead this year.

Quick shout out for anyone who is considering UEA - they are doing EPQ related scholarship for those completing EPQs on certain topics - see link below

www.uea.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/scholarships-finder/scholarships-a-z/bright-spark-undergraduate-scholarship

www.which.co.uk/money/university-and-student-finance/student-finance/extra-funding-bursaries-and-scholarships-for-university-amrvt3j7t958

Thought this might be helpful

[quote Fruitygal]@DrunkenUnicorn Sounds like you got such positive day from Hull visit! It's a dilemma about places with higher grades versus somewhere someone gets a good feel about the place. I know what PIR stands for but BPLS where and what course is this?

I would look at the uni feedback from NSS and dig down into both courses and graduate destinations etc. DS could go on Unibuddy or you could post a separate question on MN to see if there are opinions from people who's kids have studied PIR at these places.

The in person offer days are normally really good for seeing the uni in a more in depth way to. Hoping they are going ahead this year.[/quote]
Do NOT post about Hull (sorry fruity!) I did this once and the usual suspects descended with their derisory comments based on no knowledge of PIR/BPLS /Hull whatsoever. Ditto Aberystwyth!

Its this fruity

www.hull.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/british-politics-and-legislative-studies-ba-hons

It's v popular. Entrance grades have gone up since DS1's day.

@Piggywaspushed thanks for the heads up on the MN mafia trigger unis 😂😂 and for the course info! Much appreciated

@DrunkenUnicorn Time for me to share this again
www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/hull-east-yorkshire-news/gareth-southgate-reveals-takes-secret-5636814

Talking politics, went to an evening with Alan Johnson (London born & most of his life) and despite retiring from politics he continues to live near his old seat of West Hull.

unicorn , there's a good taster video on politics on Hull Uni webpage. Really engaging recent graduate at the end.

DH went to Hull and loved it! Very cheap accommodation, great teaching and a good student community. Everyone is very friendly. DH joined a local orchestra and even had Maureen Lipman give the talk at his graduation.

I also went to an evening with Alan Johnson. We tells some great stories about the trawler men of Hull.

@DrunkenUnicorn those politics courses look amazing - Westminster placement is an amazing opportunity! Would be difficult to choose between them

Can he apply for both? My niece applied for two slightly different courses at the same university. She received offers for both and put one as her firm and the other as her insurance.

Sorry for slow reply. Been a crazy few days with work and my youngest kids on inset day.

Marching frogs- yes. It reminded me a bit of rootes accommodation at Warwick when I was there- the best place to be in terms of partying but not particularly pretty! Tbf DS didn’t really mind about flash looking or not in theory (more interested in saving money for partying!) but would struggle there as the beds were 2.5ft x 6ft… he’s 6’5.5 (which is a PITA in many daily circumstances as life isn’t designed for people to be that tall!) The student ambassadors were lovely showing us round!

He’s had time to mull it over and I think is leaning to PIR. When we were chatting to the students on the day they were super helpful and enthusiastic about their particular courses. The BPLS student was explaining its all about the intricacies and nuances in the legal processes which she finds fascinating…. Whereas the PIR student said he found that sort of thing boring and his thing was interactions between states and trust and that’s what he was focusing on for his dissertation. They were both really enthusiastic in discussing their course and clearly enjoyed them.

The PIR course gives you the opportunity to go to Westminster for a term. I think DS is leaning that way. However he said he’s going to discuss it with his politics teacher. Justin also took his email address and said he was going to get in touch with all the attendees who were interested in the politics dept to check in and see if they had any questions. If he’s feeling brave he might try and discuss it with him.

My aunt went (obviously quite a long time ago now!) and said she had an amazing time. Funnily enough she said she actually did better in her A levels than anticipated and my grandmother tried to persuade her to swap to a ‘better’ university and she refused as she was really happy with her choice. She said she’s never regretted sticking with hull- she had a blast.

Good shout on applying to both- I’ll ask him this evening and see if he can ask the school/or hull about how that’s viewed (I’m sure I read on here that some universities don’t like it?)

I think it is only St Andrews and Oxbridge that don't like dual applications.