Anyone heard back from St Andrews?

[VorpalSword]

DD has 4 offers in but hasn’t heard back from St Andrews yet apart from the ‘we have received your application’ way back.

Any other English applicants (I know it might be different for Scottish students) got an offer or rejection yet?

Oh that's much better, thank you. I thought the conditionals just got the leftover dregs.

Still waiting to hear back from St As but had a quick look at flights for the offer holders day, just in case….prices are through the roof and availability is looking pretty scant. Do you think going to take a look on another day would give just as good a sense of what it would be like to go there? I think it’s probably quite a marmite type of location so definitely needs to be visited beforehand?

@Igglepigglesblankie We visited in the summer and DS felt he did get a good feel for it. We didn't go in anywhere but looked at the quad old colleges for his friend, walked by the marine facility, the new 'science park' which is on the edge of the town for DS, sports facilities etc. Had lunch & a walk on the beach. He loved it but I can appreciate it would feel very small town for some. The eye opener as a parent is the rubbish roads from Edinburgh.

@EwwSprouts where are you based? Roads are indeed rubbish and of course no direct trains either. We are thinking train and bus for the open day (from Edinburgh).

@Igglespiggleblankie - We looked around SA in the summer on our own (on a boiling hot day with the dog and moody DD in tow). DS and we loved SA town (but only visited during the day) but think you would appreciate going on an offer day if at all poss as didn’t get a feel for the Uni compared to organised offer days at other Uni’s. DS is waiting for an offer but I did look and hotel accommodation is extremely expensive and their is hardly anything left but no point booking without an offer. But fortunately for us we don’t have to factor in a flight. I thought about maybe booking a hotel in another town but will wait and see if he gets an offer first really wish the admin team at SA would get a wiggle on way or another!!!

@Eightytwenty We drove up from E Yorks. I'm quite familiar with Scottish roads as we've holidayed up there and used to visit relatives but I expected better as it's close to Edinburgh. So while I said I would support DS if he got an offer there, there is a lot to be said for a little nearer.

@EwwSprouts small world. I came to Edinburgh university from E Yorks. Bad roads either side if you have to navigate the 1079.

@Eightytwenty Lol true. Spent so many hours on those roads ferrying DS to cricket matches in the pretty villages. Still think our ground has the most fabulous location.
<a class="break-all" href="https://www.lpcc.org.uk/gallery/galleryid_13158/TheClubandFacilities.aspx#(undefined|popup)=images.secure-club.com/clubs/3987/images/gallery_13158/288878_image.jpg;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">beautiful wold in case you need a refresher!

Don’t know that village. Though have a friend in the area who lives very close to a pub with the same name.

DD sending me panicky texts about accommodation at StAs opening tomorrow.

I really hope it’s true that there is no benefit to applying early. 🤞

@Igglepigglesblankie - we went to St A in October half term last year just to get a feel for the town and we looked around the maths building and other Uni buildings around the town. We loved it there, my DD (14) came too and it was a nice couple of days away (2nd night we stayed in Edinburgh and did an outside tour there). So he never set foot in any of the Uni buildings like he did at Warwick but he definitely got a good idea of what living as a student is like there. I felt he should definitely get a feel for the place as we live on the outskirts of London / Surrey and of course St A is a very different place but he really liked it

Thanks guys - if DS is lucky enough to get an offer we may just do an independent trip up there and not stress about the official offer holder day. Although by the look of TSR spreadsheet the RUK applicants just seem to be getting rejected, despite their grades. There are a few offers in there but I think they might be contextual as they are below the usual AAA. I really do think that it might be a bad year for standard applicants for RUK….

A couple of boys I know (RUK) got offers well before Christmas,they would not have been contextual but they would both have been very strong candidates,ie perfect GCSE and clean sweep of A* predictions..

@Igglepigglesblankie it does seem harsh doesn’t it. I can only think it’s linked to personal statements as otherwise how do you differentiate? Though have seen some candidates with lower grades be rejected too. Disappointing for all. But still worse for those still holding for news.

Hi if it helps you can look in quite a few places even not on an offer day eg the union, the St. Andrews museum, the amazing music dept etc

St A might seem small but a lot goes on socially - there is a nightclub in the union and the halls often have parties and summer marquee events. They also bus out to balls at various halls/barns. BBQs on the beach is a thing and there are often fireworks for various events. Lots of societies etc too. So although it isn’t big, and you might not see this when you go, when you are a student there you will find all this.

They also have lots of live music inc a summer music festival.

Also getting there. At the start and end of each term students get free shuttle buses from Edin and Leuchars train station and Edin airport. One parent each for drop off. Rest of the time there is a paid shuttle or a bus/taxi to leuchars which is about 5 min.

My dd heard back from St Andrews last week and she was offered an unconditional. She’s now heard back from all the universities she applied to so just has to decide where she wants to go.

She likes the idea of St Andrews but is worried it might be too quiet, and a bit too far away from everything but at the same time it’s the best. She’s also worried about after her first year trying to get accommodation outside of halls, it’s not going to be cheap in St Andrews!

Lots of decisions to be made.

Lots of 2nd-4th Year stay in uni halls and uni owned houses. More accom is being built which should be ready in about 2 years I believe. If they stay in uni accom it can be very good value and much cheaper than many cities. Dundee is 20 min away and cheaper.

My son finally heard today - offer for maths / stats 2nd year entry - conditional offer as per what he expected. Delighted! It will no doubt be his firm

Well done to your son @Darbs76.
My dd (Scottish student) is studying maths there currently and was a direct entry student. Not going to lie that first term was a bit rabbit in the head lights but she rose to the challenge and is thriving now in 3rd year and loves her modules.

@Alittlewornout - that’s great. We visited in October and he really liked it. It’s a long way from home! Needed that offer as Sunday evening he got a really difficult offer from imperial (Step and 3 A*) so now I think he won’t bother trying for that

DD received a rejection today - she's predicted 3 A * and course is usually 3A's. She's gutted as it was her first choice by a long way.

Sorry to hear that Bellie99. Is she waiting on any other offers? It's tough to see their disappointment especially when they're trying to psyche themselves up for a ton of revision

Thanks @SayYouDontMind. It is so hard as you say with all the revision etc.
luckily she is sitting in offers from Warwick, Exeter and Cardiff, waiting on Durham (isn't everyone!). But her heart was already in St Andrews 😢