Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Higher education

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

Original poster

OR 22 - Edinburgh, Warwick, St A, UCL, Durham, Nottingham, Bath and more

995 replies

Valleyofthedollymix · 28/03/2022 09:16

Following on from the Oxbridge rejects thread but I've got rid of those two words. I for one am interested to know where they all end up and when Durham might finally deign to reject/offer DS...

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Puffalicious · 18/04/2022 19:28

@Piggywaspushed

We had an old Mini too! It probably was actually not an old Mini at the time. My sister parked it on one of those vertical hills and the handbrake failed. We came out of whatever nightclub we had been in and found it ten minutes later at the bottom of the hill... my dad was furious.
Hysterical!🤣🤣🤣

My sister crashed hers into a parked car on her way to work putting her lipstick on 🙈.

And I'd let a DC do that walk- do them good. My DC cycle through the tunnel (I'm South Side) all the time to the West End. They're now having those great times we all had.

readsalotgirl63 · 18/04/2022 21:43

I was a Southsider but went to Glasgow Uni and DD has just finished there. She did walk from Clydebank back to the West End a couple of years ago ( with a pal and in daylight).

Puffalicious · 18/04/2022 21:58

Ha, readsalot I grew up in Clydebank and walked (aherm...staggered) that route a few times back in the student dayGrin

Eightytwenty · 18/04/2022 22:26

Lol at crashing mini! Slightly scared by the talks of dodgy walks home.

Piggywaspushed · 18/04/2022 22:31

My walk wasn't dodgy- just very long!! The Dumbarton Road bit was a bit 'salt of the earth' but students would never be there, or Clydebank tbh.

readsalotgirl63 · 18/04/2022 22:43

I had a couple of walks from the university back to the Southside via Sauchihall St and Jamaica St but Clydebank is a looking way so respect @Piggywaspushed

readsalotgirl63 · 18/04/2022 22:44

That should be long not looking

Original poster
Valleyofthedollymix · 19/04/2022 10:29

Ha, I'm loving all these trips down memory lane (is that an actual street in Glasgow?) though I've not actually been to the city. Will have to remedy that.

Congrats for all the LSE offers. DS similarly had a Durham one, standard grades end of last week.

Big caveat with what I'm about to say - it's going to sound churlish and I'm very conscious of those without the offers that they want, obviously these are the kids who are being treated shoddily. If your child is in this boat, please ignore the next bit of this as I'm completely aware that I sound like a spoilt brat.

That said:
FFS, why are these offers so late? Yes I know it's great to have a Durham offer, but it feels completely useless at this stage as we've missed the offers day and are hurtling into A levels. They clearly think he's worthy of a place, for whatever reason, but it's a chocolate teapot of an offer.

DS isn't allowing his head to be turned. He's pleased for his ego (and as a nah-nah-nah to the UCAS person at school who told him to aim lower), but will stick to St Andrews as that was always the course that most appealed. His only slight concern is he thinks Durham is more 'prestigious'? I don't think that but I'm not in graduate recruitment. Prestige is pretty nebulous, but I've always thought it's Oxbridge/LSE for economics/Imperial for science then a larger cohort of great universities/courses on a par.

OP posts:
Eightytwenty · 19/04/2022 13:49

@Valleyofthedollymix I am selfishly delighted to have some of the gang with whom I can continue to discuss the next stage of our DC’s journey.

But couldn’t agree more - poor organisation and timing. But also know of others waiting for LSE/ St A. Poor experience at a stressful time.

Puffalicious · 19/04/2022 14:24

Absolutely agree. We're still waiting on St As. DS has decided against it anyway, but it must be horrendous for DC still waiting for an offer if they really want to be there/ Durham/ LSE or wherever. It really is not on at all.

Original poster
Valleyofthedollymix · 19/04/2022 15:35

I was frustrated as it had a knock-on effect on others too - he was pretty certain he was going to go for St A as a firm with no insurance but was in abeyance until he'd heard from Durham. Which means that there were four admissions departments in stasis which might have affected fellow appliers. I know it's not as personal as that but it all contributes to a bit of a s**t show overall with A levels looming.

OP posts:
nativityplayreject · 19/04/2022 17:34

@Valleyofthedollymix

I was frustrated as it had a knock-on effect on others too - he was pretty certain he was going to go for St A as a firm with no insurance but was in abeyance until he'd heard from Durham. Which means that there were four admissions departments in stasis which might have affected fellow appliers. I know it's not as personal as that but it all contributes to a bit of a s**t show overall with A levels looming.
Totally agree. Holding 4 offers here but waiting on Warwick.

As soon as Warwick let dc know one way or the other, that'll be 3 or 4 admissions departments with 1 less firmed/acceptance on their books.

I really hope that there is some good reason/logic behind the delayed offer/rejection process at certain Unis.

Stockpot · 19/04/2022 21:09

It feels like all the schools are in a game of chicken to see who will go first.

They dare not under offer, or they will not have enough revenue. They dare not over offer because they will have no where to put the DC.

Why is clearing so little used?

Stupid government cancelling exams, creating wild grade inflation has created this log jam.

Original poster
Valleyofthedollymix · 20/04/2022 09:49

Yes you're right Stockpot, I don't really blame Durham or wherever, it's a flawed system made more so by Covid and the exams fiasco. I mentioned an alternative proposed by a thinktank on the Oxbridge thread and it was greated with HORROR by those with children at those esteemed institutions, but it's also been suggested by Helen Thompson (Talking Politics, HSPS prof). This thinktank guy says students should rank ten universities in order, then come results day anyone who has the requisite grades for their top choice gets in or gets put in a lottery if there are too many successful applicants. Helen Thompson argues that once you're the right academic level for Cambridge, any way of distinguishing candidates is inherently unfair.

I think they do this ranking system in Ireland successfully.

My best friend is in the States and however awful UCAS is, the American system is a whole other level of shitshow because you're adding different fees/scholarships into the mix. Plus unlimited number of applications.

OP posts:
doubleshotcappuccino · 20/04/2022 10:46

Feels though the ink is yet to dry on DD’s offer and can fully empathise with those still waiting. It’s been a long haul for them and now begins the ramp up to the summer. Exhausting for all ..

Stockpot · 20/04/2022 13:36

@Valleyofthedollymix I remember that thread. It’s understandable that, if your DC has a place at their preferred university, you would support the system and believe that it executes fair and accurate decisions.

You will only get change when enough stakeholders feel the system isn’t working for them.

Original poster
Valleyofthedollymix · 20/04/2022 14:32

Yes and I wasn't actually suggesting the alternative system was the right system, just positing it as an idea in circulation. People hate lotteries though - there must be a psychological reason why we feel we have to believe in meritocracies and talent rising to the top, when there is so much chance in life.

I'm not complaining either - I've been lucky and my children are really starting on third base. But I do think a pre A level application system is evidently daft.

Anyway, I'm derailing. Feels like inching towards decisions all round now aren't we? And then there will be bloody results day...

OP posts:
ACloseMatch · 20/04/2022 14:54

On a much lighter note, DD's dress for the leaver's ball has arrived and is gorgeous. It will need shortening, and we will need to find just the right underwear, but she looks stunning in it. It's a black-tie event that parents have to attend, and DH does not possess an appropriate suit. DF will be coming too and wearing his kilt, so we are wondering if now might be the time for DH to finally get a kilt too - he has always rented, but having his own would be so much nicer if there's time. I can't recall how long they take to make though. It might be considerably less stressful just to get him a decent black suit.

Eightytwenty · 20/04/2022 15:15

@ACloseMatch let me see if I can PM you with kilt info. We looked into getting one made with a short time zone.

foodledoff · 20/04/2022 15:58

DS got rejection from Durham (physics) yesterday. Apparently this was due to his previous grades achieved - so GCSEs. Yes, his 8s (rather than 9s) in English Language, English Lit and RS have caused him to miss out on a Durham place for physics...

He's gutted and furious in equal measure, the latter due mainly to this being an effect of the teacher assessed grades debacle. He's also pretty dejected and might just quit for this year (seems to be viewing his Bristol offer as something 'lesser' - though I don't think it is...). Just UCL to go now and not holding out much hope for that one either. Bad timing with A levels just about to start too.

Hope other rejectees are feeling ok and best of luck to those still waiting.

Puffalicious · 20/04/2022 16:23

Oh foddledoff I'm so sorry to hear your news. It seems like absolute madness that Eng Lit and Language have such a detrimental effect on a Physics application! If that were a good measure of ability I'd never have got in to do my English degree or graduated as I'm absolutely pants at any kind of science (as proved by Biology and Chemistry results at GCSE level). It's just ridiculous.

The universities here used to require a Higher English for any degree, especially since we do 5 subjects. I've had so many kids who could run rings round me with quadratic equations or quantum Physics freaking out over a lit essay threatening their university career! Most places these days accept a decent Nat 5 (GCSE) in English for unrelated degrees, thank God.

I hope he feels better after a few days. He's so talented, as are all tye DC here, and shouldn't beat himself up because of the bloody system. I hear Bristol is fantastic.

Closematch I do like a man in a kilt! DH looks fabulous in a kilt! DS is going to wear a kilt- he has excellent rugby player legs

Puffalicious · 20/04/2022 16:29

Meant to add a laughing emoji there, but he does have sporty legs (DS2 has legs like 2 twigs, so kilts just look a bit silly, bless him).

DS doesn't want to hire, just wear his dad's since they're exactly the same size in every way - even shoes . Handy! Especially when I hearvtye price of ball dresses/ shoes/ make-up/ hair!

Piggywaspushed · 20/04/2022 16:55

That's ridiculous about those grades! 9s are statistically harder to achieve in English. What has education come to that you are not considered brilliant without all 9s ? It's what the government promised wouldn't happen ....

Original poster
Valleyofthedollymix · 20/04/2022 17:01

Foddledoff that's completely absurd. DS more 8s than 9s (and a 6!). A) aren't universities supposed to treat 8s and 9s the same and b) they were stupid TAG ones anyway and schools were so different in the way that they awarded them.

I feel like we've really sold these children a lie - work hard and get good grades and you'll get your reward. It was always a lie, in a way, and is part of why girls tend to do less well once they're out of the exam system and in a world which relies on self-worth rather than extrinsic accolades.

On the other hand, I've loved the kilt discussion! And so pleased that ACloseMatch girl has lovely prom dress.

OP posts:
Stockpot · 20/04/2022 17:21

@foodledoff , it just sounds like any excuse to rule a student out. I think they have a much worse ratio of applicants to places than years past, and they need excuses to turn students away.

i wonder if this year group has been hit the worst or if last year was just as bad.