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

[Valleyofthedollymix]

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...

Still waiting on 3 choices here - and not the usual LSE suspects, etc. I'm going to strongly urge DS to actively chase them up before Easter, as it's all a bit weird now.
Re. Schools publicly celebrating offers ... so misguided! They are CONDITIONAL offers (I presume...) so not in the bag in any way until the conditions are met. Some of those kids will inevitably not meet the conditions. Offers should be privately celebrated at home, and even then in an understated way. Wider friends and family are often not familiar with the offers system anyway, so when they hear that 'little Johnny has an offer from Oxford' they just hear the 'Oxford' part and assume he's off there in the autumn ... so much caution needed.

DS went to offers day at Edinburgh yesterday too. He's totally torn now between there and St As (which we visited on offers day last week). He loved the city. He liked the sound of the course - PPE, the same course he applied to Oxford for - and he really felt he could live there. He's worried St As might be a bit too quiet but he thinks that he'd possibly get better, more focussed teaching at St As. Looking at the student satisfaction scores for Edinburgh is pretty grim for Politics, Philosophy and Economics and is a bit worrying but I know you've to take these things with a pinch of salt

I feel he might not throw himself as much into the course work at Edinburgh just because of all the distractions but that's probably a little unfair as he's really worked hard and been ambitious about his exams and revision.

I think he needs to talk to some current students. He's already planning a visit back to St As. The added complication is that he applied to two courses at St As and hasn't heard about whether he's going to get an offer or rejection for this 2nd course. He doesn't want to contact them about it in case they think he's ungrateful for his existing unconditional and I know where he's coming from.

I can't believe we're at this stage in the process. I want to give a shout out to piggywaspushed who rescued me from a thread I was on last year about writing personal statements and what kind of things you need for Oxbridge applications. I was getting a bit of a drubbing about how my DS didn't sound particularly committed and I was trying to explain that as a state school student, he wasn't particularly getting any support and guidance on these things. Piggy DM-ed me and guided me towards a better thread It was the start of this long haul process and I've been grateful for the support of everyone, too numerous to name-check, who've helped along the way.

I know it's not over yet and some of you are still facing agonising waits and having to buoy up offspring who are reeling from rejections. It's a tough time to be going through all this but I think we can all be so proud of them.

And a final thanks to Puffalicious for being the type of teacher every child deserves

@SayYouDontMind and @Balls2it my experience of Edinburgh was many years ago, but I’d definitely say that even then you had to get on with things independently. Big halls (Pollock), big lectures. Brilliant city and right for lots of kids but for those who would benefit from a closer knit community, I’d say St A or Durham would provide a more a bit more of that experience.

@say fingers crossed you hear soon so at least your DC knows what they are comparing.

Also apparently there is a St A WhatsApp group for new students. Can ask DS to add anyone who’d like to be added (if not already on there).

Lots and lots of IR / politics rejections from Durham in the last few days including someone we know. Hope we find out either way soon.

DD (2nd year Edinburgh not PPE but another SPS degree) would agree with the above about Edinburgh. Lectures just signpost and its up to you how much or little you read further. Can be a bit variable in quality. Tutorials/seminars a hit or miss but you can easily swap if you end up in the can't be arsed group (or a group who prefer to chat in another language).

She loves it. Great choice of outside modules over all faculties in first and second year. Plus genuine flexibility in changing degree. She will have changed 3 times before end of this year. Attracts some big name academics some of whom do lecture to first years. She currently raving about Shannon Vallor (philosophy). Says the philosophy students on her module are the smartest of all. There are other choices in accommodation rather than Pollock Halls (bastion of the Home Counties crew who all seem to know each other).

It's interesting to see all the different experiences of Edinburgh. DD1 is there, and has had an exceptional level of support both from her personal tutor (who was the person she met at offer holders day that made her certain she wanted to go there) and from support services, who have been consistently excellent. However, she has found the sheer size of the university slightly overwhelming socially, and has stuck with the same group of friends since halls more or less (now in 4th year).

Of course that is also slightly down to Covid , and it's far reaching impact - her sports were off, she was at home for so long and some of her friends returned to their homes abroad and did not return at all till this year.

It could also just be something that varies by department or the way the wind is blowing. I really do believe that sometimes it just becomes ok, or even expected to complain about the teaching eg when if you pull the complaint apart it has no substance. On the other hand, DD will be examined in a couple of months on a topic where they have had only 2 out of 6 lectures due to strikes, and no support in the areas that were missed. I would be surprised if this is not the same in other unis too, but of course some will be finishing their degree this year (she has another year to go) and it will be they who complete the student satisfaction survey next.

On the whole though, DD1 has had a very positive experience of Edinburgh.

DS Rejected from Durham. St Andrews it is. Selfishly very very pleased. But sorry he doesn’t get a chance to choose.

sayyoudontmind That's so kind, really it is. I hope to be the kind of teacher that does good. I was in this morning for supported study, the kids are so great: committed, hard-working and so thankful for the opportunities they get (mainly ).

Eightytwenty sorry to hear about Durham, but pleased that you're pleased! He'll get a quick, free (!) bus home anytime he likes.

@Eightytwenty I'm really sorry to hear that .. there never seems to be the right words to offer them when they hear of a rejection. However, knowing how much support you have been able to offer so many of us, it is clearer he will a rock in you to lean on . X

Clear*

@doubleshotcappuccino thank you! It felt a no-brainer to me, and it saves some decision-angst. Tbh just glad it’s done. Waiting as you all know is way worse.

@Puffalicious yes to free busses. I am already planning that I can outsource the other two if DH and I ever want to go away.

Is anyone else still waiting on Bristol?

@sulalu

Did I really just read about a school that reads people’s university offers out in assembly? And another school that only takes the ones with Oxbridge offers out for dinner?

Honestly, you couldn’t make this up I have never heard of such nonsense in schools. Ridiculous on so many levels I don’t know where to even start. How has nobody complained?

I'm equally shocked and aghast at the level of stupidity coming from a Principal.

Thanks Sandy and aclosematch for your offsprings' experiences of Edinburgh - very helpful.

And sorry to hear about the Durham rejection EightyTwenty - am sure your DS is disappointed because no one likes a rejection. But St Andrews will be great I'm sure. Least it means there's no wrestling with a decision (trying to look on the bright side!) They certainly took their time with their decision though

Eightytwenty Oh get those others sent bawdy!

Sent away! Blooming predictive text!

I’m sorry to hear about Durham 80/20, I think St As will be fantastic. But rejection always hurts, even if it wasn’t his first choice. DD is waiting on 2 still, and I am braced for further rejection for DD.

@VikingNorthUtsire yes, my DS is - for engineering. Also Bath for the same. As I said upthread, I've encouraged him to chase them up before Easter as I'm getting twitchy that he's somehow got forgotten

@Eightytwenty Saves on that final decision and St A is a brilliant university, so lots to work towards.

My feeling when DS got the same? "Fuck 'em, they don't know what they're missing" and a big hug. 👍

@threestars this ❤️

[quote kitnkaboodle]@VikingNorthUtsire yes, my DS is - for engineering. Also Bath for the same. As I said upthread, I've encouraged him to chase them up before Easter as I'm getting twitchy that he's somehow got forgotten [/quote]
Sorry to hear your DS is still waiting @kitnakaboodle ☹️ I also can't shake the paranoia that they've just "lost" DS application, although rationally I know that won't have happened.

Annoyingly Bristol was one we didn't visit at all before he applied, saying we'd make the trip if he got an offer and was seriously considering it. It just feels like there won't be much time to visit, research, choose and firm choices if it's all going on while their exams are on.

I don't think DS has these worries,only me!

@VikingNorthUtsire what subject are you waiting on?
Luckily we are local to Bath and Bristol so know the cities well. Depending where you are, I'd defo suggest a trip to Bristol to see the city and campus if you're not already familiar. Hopefully they will bang out decisions before Easter and you can then maybe have a trip in the holidays ... 🤞

@kitnkaboodle Maths and Computer Science. We're close enough to do Bristol for a day trip DH has suggested exactly that although it's frustrating to waste a day if his application gets rejected! I do understand the difficult situation the Unis are in this year with numbers and can understand why they're being cautious but I did hope we'd know by now.

Really hope your DS hears soon.

Yup threestars Fuck 'em. I shall forever utter this in my head every time I hear the words Oxford University

Checking in to say hi to you all from my 3rd Premier Inn in 3 days on our whistle stop tour of the south west! Here in Bath for offers day tomorrow @TangoWhiskyAlphaTango, shall I roll my trouser leg up and wave a Mumsnet chicken around so we can smile across our children's heads at each other?
We've been to Exeter...I was pretty unimpressed with the town but didn't say anything to DD but (apologies to any Exeter inhabitants) it seemed tired, jaded, rundown and plain rough in parts. It's been 25 years since I worked a summer down there but yikes, something bad has happened in the meantime. DD met up with a friend in third year there for a campus tour and loved the campus but was a bit blindsided by her friend who a) hated her first year as she wasn't into the drinking culture b) spent her second year online because Covid c) has enjoyed her third year but can't wait to finish and go home. Hmm.

Anyway, just walking around Bath this evening has been lovely. Even if tomorrow doesn't impress her, she already seems very smitten with the city.

Still waiting on St. Andrews which tbh, would only throw a spanner in the works now as there's no way we can get over again before the summer.

Hope everyone is well- 80/20 boo hiss to Durham but good to hear you're happy with St. A.

Thank you @SandyIrvine and @ACloseMatch for the Edinburgh insights. Much appreciated and so far DS's one and only offer, for which we are duly grateful!
@Eightytwenty I'm so very sorry to hear about Durham - I have been seeing nothing but rejections for Politics/IR on TSR. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to many of this year's decisions, and I guess it might just come down to postcode/fee status. I hope your DS is excited about St Andrews though, great result. We are still waiting to hear from Durham and LSE for IR.