So...where do we start? Uni 2022

[KnobJockey]

Hi! DD is hoping to start uni in September.
She has applied for 5, but only wanted 3. Her top one has said no, but she has been accepted into Newcastle (2 hours from home) and is waiting on Leeds (1 hour from home).
We haven't been to look anywhere because of covid, and because we have a toddler to come to. But it's time to pull our socks up!

Where do we start? What do we do?

If she has offers from unis, they usually have offer days which can be really useful as students get the chance to meet tutors, attend a sample lecture and see the department. DD really enjoyed offer days and they were very helpful.

IIRC they were happening around this time so do see if she has been asked to confirm attendance. They may be virtual tho (they were last year for DS2 but I don't know about this year, I imagine they will be in person but maybe with limited numbers). If you have a small child too it may be better for her to be dropped off by you or go on her own?

If no offer days, there is nothing stopping you going to the cities and looking round them and the uni campuses. We did that exact thing with DS2 in summer 2020 as all open days were cancelled. Funnily enough we went to Newcastle and Leeds! Obv you can't see into accommodation and there are no talks etc, but you get an idea of location and city vibe.

Look at virtual open days for each uni, Ds did a few online ones, we even "attended" a parents one for Manchester uni. I think it was the only on who offered it for parents from Ds's list. If you can visit the cities and have a walk around you get a realistic feel for the place in terms of student accommodation and the university buildings. Your DD has plenty of time to decide.

There are loads of videos on YouTube of students giving room tours or walking to lectures in the "day in the life" videos they upload which both us and Ds found helpful. He started uni September 2021 so had only managed 1 open day before lockdown happened.

DD has her offers in she only applied for 4 - she already has an idea who she wants as firm and insurance, but has not seen her possible insurance and York other than when we walked round it ourselves.

Lancaster and York have applicant/offer days that she is booked on in Feb & March. They are both in person, though there is the option of virtual I think. DD has been on an in person day at Lancaster and Sheffield before, but York was only offering virtual Open Days last year , so she is keen to see it properly.

Sheffield and Man Met mention the days on their info but have nothing available to book yet.

In similar position. Feb Half term I plan to take DS for some campus visits

Nice to see some others in the same boat ☺️
Newcastle mention offer days on their page, but she's not been sent any information yet
Leeds- we know the city well enough, but the accommodation seems to be spread far and wide! A YouTube day of video is a good idea, thank you .

Your DD could go on her own or with a friend. You don't need to attend or you could ask someone to have your toddler for the day.

@SeasonFinalei think she would like it if I came, it's just been arranging things during the pandemic. I'll get the little one looked after, might just mean booking a day off work- they seem to be on a Friday, which is a college/ work day, a bit strange when the applicants areall still in full time education?

Schools usually allow students time off to attend. Dd did one on a Saturday and one on a Friday iirc

I'm reading that offer day invites often get missed by candidates, esp. those that don't log into UCAS enough. Time to talk to DS! This thread has helped me a lot, thanks.