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Higher education

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

Original poster

Offer days- how are you doing?

109 replies

DinkyDaisy · 11/02/2023 07:06

Well we have booked 3 so far... Surrey, Bath and Essex for Politics /politics and IR.
Ds predicted grades gone up since ucas form so may try and get University place this year but have option of applying with grades if he wants to after results to a different set of universities. (year out).
Bath cancelled next week due to strikes so Surrey University our first one.
Guess a fair few offer days coming up.
How's it all going?

OP posts:
Faffydaffy · 17/02/2023 19:23

My son is waiting to hear from Durham but has pretty much dismissed them now. He’s got two other good offers so is going to focus on those.

Original poster
DinkyDaisy · 18/02/2023 06:16

Sorry to hear how slow Durham being. Also, good luck@NotDonna with Bath. About to get ds up so can get train to offer day today....

OP posts:
NotDonna · 18/02/2023 08:14

Enjoy Bath @DinkyDaisy hope he likes it. DD is of the mindset that no news is good news re Bath.

KittyMcKitty · 18/02/2023 08:39

Did anyone go to the Durham offer holders day this week? Annoyingly as it was half term this was a day dd couldn’t do so we are booked onto the Wednesday one in March. If anyone went how did your dc find it? Is it realistic to see 4 colleges in the morning?

we are going to have to go up the day before as it’s too far to get there for 9am.

Other than Durham the only offer holders day dd is doing is York. She really enjoyed it although it would have been nice to see the campus during the week with students around.

Original poster
DinkyDaisy · 18/02/2023 08:52

Surrey today @NotDonna .
On train now...

OP posts:
NotDonna · 18/02/2023 09:00

Enjoy Guildford then! The town is worth a mooch around if you’ve time.

Racheltheroad · 18/02/2023 09:21

@KittyMcKitty We did. We did the paid tour of Castle the day before, then on the offer holders day just viewed a room there. They were the only college we went to that were showing accommodation, meaning you could only see the communal areas of the others which was easily done in about half an hour. We saw St Chads, St Mary's, and Grey, and we could have squeezed another one or two in, but we were a bit College-d out after those (playing bingo with the Principal's speech - 10 points for "a wealth of leadership opportunities" Grin).
Definitely worth it though, DC has now submitted their college preferences.

Racheltheroad · 18/02/2023 09:23

We're off to Cardiff on Wednesday, the offer holders day has been cancelled but as I'd booked the day off and DC has an inset day we thought we'd go for a mooch around as we didn't get chance to go to any open days.

bestbefore · 18/02/2023 09:32

You're so lucky to have all these visits etc. My dd in 2nd year, all we could do before she went was have a look round the city and look in the windows because of Covid!

KittyMcKitty · 18/02/2023 09:54

@Racheltheroad thank you that’s great. Was Castle showing any accommodation outside of the castle walls (we saw accommodation inside the walls at the September Open Day)?

we probably won’t get there till quite late the night before which is a shame but I work in a school so it’s a challenge getting time off and dd is anxious not to miss too much at school. Dd wants to see Chads, Hatfield, possibly Johns and Josephine Butler (just to see a Hill College). What colleges are your ds’s preferences?

It’s her first choice as it stands and I can’t really see anything changing her mind. York will be her insurance.

Yes it’s strange visiting unis - Ds was COVID so there was no opportunity for any of this!

KittyMcKitty · 18/02/2023 09:56

😂 I can imagine the ‘wealth of leadership opportunities’ becomes both amusing and tiring fairly quickly !

Racheltheroad · 18/02/2023 10:22

@KittyMcKitty yes, the room that they were showing was across the green.

DD has opted for Chads, Castle, Johns, Mary's, and Grey in that order - we didn't see Johns, unfortunately it wasn't on our radar until too late, but she really wants Chads. Durham is her 2nd choice but we know we won't hear from her first until very late.

KittyMcKitty · 18/02/2023 10:35

@Racheltheroad fab we will take a look at the room then.

sorry to make your dd a ds! Is it St Andrews she’s waiting for? Castle and Chads are DD’s current faves (Castle because well it’s a castle). She wants a Bailey College a) because they’re old and close to the centre and b) because they would be closer to her subject (Sociology). What subject is your DD’s offer for?

Racheltheroad · 18/02/2023 10:38

Education Studies, which is apparently now near the library, rather than up the hill near Hild and Bede. YY to Bailey, she likes the grandeur, gowned formals, catering etc and that Chads have got 8 libraries!

KittyMcKitty · 18/02/2023 10:42

Sociology is on Old Elvert.

yes the libraries at Chads appealed to dd! She too wants gowned formals and old buildings (which initially surprised me as I didn’t think it would be her thing - but then I didn’t think Durham would be her thing which shows how little I know 😂)

Original poster
DinkyDaisy · 18/02/2023 12:10

Early to Surrey, ds has a headache and it is drizzly. Bought some paracetamol and will see how the day pans out.
Not all bells and whistles round campus today and ds seems subdued...

OP posts:
Original poster
DinkyDaisy · 18/02/2023 12:37

I'm officially bored now. In big tent waiting for tours to start. Sitting in appropriate subject area as instructed...
Is anyone else at an offer day? We have one next week and the week after as well.

OP posts:
LionsandLambs · 18/02/2023 13:54

DinkyDaisy · 18/02/2023 12:37

I'm officially bored now. In big tent waiting for tours to start. Sitting in appropriate subject area as instructed...
Is anyone else at an offer day? We have one next week and the week after as well.

We have 2 in March, one is to look at firm accommodation and one is to choose an insurance (was the only one we didn’t visit for an open day). They’re really tiring!

Original poster
DinkyDaisy · 18/02/2023 14:26

Surrey talk great. Ds back in the room!

OP posts:
Neversaygoodbye · 18/02/2023 14:31

We're just back from Reading which was good. Bailed a bit early as we felt we'd seen enough having also done an open day previously. We've got Surrey booked in March.

Original poster
DinkyDaisy · 18/02/2023 14:43

If afternoon visit, and check in 12 til 1pm, go for a little walk as otherwise long wait in the marquee!
Ds gone off for student stuff now. Our subject lecture was inspiring.

OP posts:
DrMadelineMaxwell · 18/02/2023 14:52

Manchester on Wed for dd2. We are staying over the night before and dd1 is coming too, making a bit if a trip out of it.

Original poster
DinkyDaisy · 18/02/2023 18:38

Ds hoping next couple of visits will help him make choice. All a bit overwhelming...

OP posts:
Original poster
DinkyDaisy · 18/02/2023 21:53

Ds making a trip with Bath and staying overnight with his Dad. Roman Baths booked.
If he starts application with results and starts process again (gap year to earn money) I think he can do open days on his own!

OP posts:
mrsconradfisher · 18/02/2023 22:17

DinkyDaisy · 18/02/2023 12:37

I'm officially bored now. In big tent waiting for tours to start. Sitting in appropriate subject area as instructed...
Is anyone else at an offer day? We have one next week and the week after as well.

We were also in the big tent at Surrey…it’s a pity there wasn’t a secret Mumsnet wave so we could have said hello!
We got there incredibly early so had a long wait. Having said that I was very impressed with the Uni and in particular the course itself and the lecturers. They seemed the most friendly and approachable out of all the Uni’s we looked at. He has definitely discounted Birmingham now, mainly due to lack of placement year and the abrupt bordering on rude staff so I think Surrey will be his insurance depending on Loughborough.
We also looked around Guildford before coming home, it’s actually quite nice and reminded me of where we live. I can really see DS there, far more than some of the other places we visited. I also think perhaps more than Loughborough but it’s where he has his heart set on.

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