Exeter Offer Holder Day Yesterday

bguthb90 · 2023-04-02T07:30:30+00:00

DS received his offer from Exeter on Friday - too late to attend their final OHD on Saturday. For those who attended yesterday, do you have any feedback? Good points ? Bad points ? DC more/less encouraged to accept ? We're going to visit in 2 weeks time and have booked a campus tour, but just thought I'd look for additional input from others.

redrobin75 · 02/04/2023 09:02

What subject? We went to the OHD 2 weeks ago, the uni is is very good for sport if your ds has an interest.

Original poster

bguthb90 · 02/04/2023 09:49

Accounting and Finance

He plays Rugby to a decent standard, albeit not BUCS Super League standard where most of them are tied to Exeter Chiefs, so would probably be pitching for 3/4/5s teams.

Anything about the accommodation you didn't like ?

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redrobin75 · 02/04/2023 10:02

the catered hall we saw had a stunning view toward Dartmoor, it's £9k per year. (If your hall is rented out for a conference at Christmas and Easter you have to pack all your stuff up and move out each term). We were glad we visited because my dd decided the course wasn't quite right and the whole place has a private school vibe (my dd is at a private school). We are going to York on Wednesday and still waiting for an offer from Bath. Cardiff is her front runner at the moment. It's definitely worth visiting and the campus tour will give you an insight.

Original poster

bguthb90 · 02/04/2023 10:12

Thanks @redrobin75

That's a good insight into moving out of halls at Christmas and Easter. Will make sure to find out more details about that and investigate local storage firms if it's all halls.

We're in Belfast so driving to/from every term to unload/load a room into a car isn't that appealing.

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massivenamechnage · 02/04/2023 10:19

bguthb90 · 02/04/2023 10:12

Thanks @redrobin75

That's a good insight into moving out of halls at Christmas and Easter. Will make sure to find out more details about that and investigate local storage firms if it's all halls.

We're in Belfast so driving to/from every term to unload/load a room into a car isn't that appealing.

Most Unis have storage rooms that you can leave stuff in

TheLostArt · 02/04/2023 11:55

We were there yesterday, and definitely thought it had a much less private school clique vibe than the open day. DD went thinking she needed to rule it out, now back in top place (possibly). We are not private school and nor are the people she knows there - who all love it.
Why the positive review? Amazing campus, fascinating lecture, great sports facilities, beach and moors accessible and accommodation can be a lot less than £9k (otherwise we couldn't consider it). A lot of thinking this weekend as she decides between here and Manchester. But we both loved it. There seems a lot of negativity on MN towards Exeter which surprises me. It really had a lovely positive feel for us.

TizerorFizz · 02/04/2023 12:22

@TheLostArt Negative towards Bristol too. It’s anti private school pupils! Exeter, Bristol and Durham take quite a lot. Plus favourites of grammar school pupils. Silly
really and very immature. University is for everyone and the majority are not privately educated. Nor are all halls expensive.

Original poster

bguthb90 · 02/04/2023 13:31

TizerorFizz · 02/04/2023 12:22

@TheLostArt Negative towards Bristol too. It’s anti private school pupils! Exeter, Bristol and Durham take quite a lot. Plus favourites of grammar school pupils. Silly
really and very immature. University is for everyone and the majority are not privately educated. Nor are all halls expensive.

Let's not make this thread another battle ground for private vs grammar vs state school.

I'm purely interested in people's views on the offer holder day.

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TizerorFizz · 02/04/2023 13:41

I didn’t mention it first. But I agree. However accurate info might be more useful!

Selok · 02/04/2023 22:54

We were at the offer day yesterday. We managed to register on time for the subject talk, wasn't greatly impressed with St Luke's campus where the subject talk took place. After a mini lecture and the subject talk my DD decided she didn't want to study this subject anyway so our visit was worth it that she made her mind up about her firm choice now. Good luck

blametheparents · 03/04/2023 08:41

We missed the offer holder day on Saturday too, but did visit the uni on Sunday.
DD really liked it. We did our own campus tour, and made sure that we looked at the buildings that DD’s subject would be taught in. Walked into the city, and up (and up!) to the sports facilities.
DD really liked it.
Since she didn’t make the offer holder day, she also looked at all the online info and videos from the department and sent an email to the admissions tutor for her department to ask some supplementary questions - all of which have been answered.

Really interested to hear of anybody else’s views on Exeter - leaving aside the ‘private/ grammar / whatever’ vibe of the university. Not really interested in that argument!

ForTheSakeOfThePenguin · 03/04/2023 08:44

massivenamechnage · 02/04/2023 10:19

Most Unis have storage rooms that you can leave stuff in

Show quote history

Really??? Which university provides out of term storage? I don’t know of any (Honest question, not trying to be flippant).

NCTDN · 03/04/2023 10:20

I've heard amazing things about Exeter but it didn't do the course dd wanted. I really wanted to visit it though!
Don't most unis have lockable storage in the rooms (such as under bed) so if you need to empty it you don't have to take everything?

Changeau · 03/04/2023 10:24

Dd is in her first year. It's lovely university, the campus is so nice, she's in the cheapest accommodation. She went to private school but none of her close uni friends did I don't think - mainly grammar school kids. Certainly noone in her flat went to private school. Loads of clubs and societies. Dd2 now wants to apply having seen how nice it is.

Changeau · 03/04/2023 10:24

(She doesn't have to move out of her accommodation at all)

Changeau · 03/04/2023 10:27

Also, fwiw, dd has had some issues this year - she's struggled a bit with her MH - and the university has been brilliant, as soon as she contacted them they've put lots of support in place plus organising dyslexia assessment. I've been impressed

IheartNiles · 03/04/2023 13:06

DD did the offer day a few weeks back and loved it. Was well organised, lots of student reps. Seemed very bustling.

It was the most beautiful campus we’d seen. Well maintained. Lovely views, high up. Sports centre was huge and fab. Outdoor pool! Great facilities, cafes etc.

We visited the catered accommodation which was lovely and the food looked great. Walked to the non catered side and majority of the buildings looked very new.

Was an easy stroll into town also regular buses. Nice busy little town with plenty of shops, restaurants pubs etc. A lovely quayside.

Noticed lots of houses in the town with to let, student accommodation boards up. Which is reassuring. All no more than 5-10 min walk from main campus.

DDs course isn’t as big at Exeter, otherwise she would have firmed it immediately. It will probably be her insurance, which is a little sad as it’s easily the nicest we visited.

Original poster

bguthb90 · 03/04/2023 14:06

Thanks everyone for the replies.

Have arranged a flying visit next week for the day to suss it out.

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Fifthtimelucky · 03/04/2023 14:27

Hope you enjoy the visit. One of my daughters was at Exeter until a couple of years ago and loved it - at least her first year (Covid ruined the second two years).

She loved the green-ness of the campus and the easy proximity to the city centre. She also loved Exeter itself - especially the Quayside - and liked being a short train ride from places like Exmouth, Dawlish and Teignmouth.

I can imagine that if you are from a big city, Exeter might feel quite small. That wasn't the case for my daughter. It felt a good size to her.

Finally, my daughter didn't have to move out of her accommodation during the Christmas and Easter holidays. I think it's a minority of halls where that happens. As an aside, my other daughter did have to do that (not at Exeter) and while it was a pain, it did help to keep costs down.

BlueHeelers · 04/04/2023 08:17

I’ve been to academic conferences at Exeterand I think they put us up at either Holland Hall or Marion Hall because those are catered. I remember the spectacular views across to the (other) hills at breakfast from the Holland Hall dining room!

BlueHeelers · 04/04/2023 08:18

Sorry pressed post too soon

So I assume that it’s be Holland Hall where students might have to vacate rooms over Easter etc. But at my university they get a discount for doing that.

Changeau · 04/04/2023 08:21

Yes it's Holland Hall. The nicest and most ££ accommodation.

Dobbyismyabsolutefav · 09/04/2023 15:42

My DD is at Exeter and is very happy there. It is a fantastic small city, very green, safe and everywhere is very walkable. Streatham campus has a good standard of accommodation and DD was in Lafrowda (new). Contract was 40 weeks, so they dont have to move out at the end of each term, and is a 12min walk into town. Lots of students catch the train to go to the beach at the weekend.

Course wise DD is happy with the standard of teaching, everything is in person with lectures recorded and only in 2nd year has she had a handful of tutor groups cancelled due to strikes. Other universities haven't fared as well.

Negatives are that DD has had the odd dull lecturer, she has avoided their modules in year 2. Cost of 2nd/3rd year accommodation in Exeter is not cheap if you are on a budget. You can get accommodation for £140-£150 p/w exc bills but lots are at the £160+ range.

Dobbyismyabsolutefav · 09/04/2023 15:43

Also apparently the nightlife is surprisingly decent!

AvocadoPlant · 10/04/2023 14:05

DD also in her 2nd year has had v similar experience to @Dobbyismyabsolutefav though different subject.
2nd year accom has been expensive but 3rd year is cheaper and still very central. DD has taken her car this year, absolutely not essential but has been useful for eg driving from campus drop off point to home after competitions at 4am.
DDs take is that Exeter suits those who enjoy sports, and there are plenty of clubs and socs for all levels. Dyslexia support has been amazing and staff are very supportive.
And without getting into a whole schools debate, her 3 best friends there are state comp, grammar and private.