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Higher education

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

Original poster

University choice mathematics degree

15 replies

lotti37 · 07/06/2023 13:14

My son has to decide today which to put as his first choice . He is thinking York. He had an interview there and received a lower grade offer than the other university He also have offers from Bath and Exeter. We live in the midlands . He is not sure whether to defer and take a gap year . Any advice come people that have already done this . Thank you very much

OP posts:
NoNotHimTheOtherOne · 07/06/2023 13:48

If he was made an offer for 2023 there is no guarantee the universities will allow him to defer to 2024, and they are under no obligation to do so. He'll need to ask them.

If he wants to go to York he should make them his firm choice, even if it's a lower offer than Exeter or Bath. If he meets the offer conditions of his firm choice he can't choose to go to his insurance choice instead: if you decline a confirmed place at your firm choice you automatically decline your insurance place as well and go into Clearing. While there is a chance his insurance would take him if they have places available, this will involve phoning them up and asking if they'll pick him up through Clearing if he declines his firm choice. It won't just happen by itself.

handmademitlove · 07/06/2023 13:55

My DD is doing maths at York and is enjoying it and the city. If he is struggling to decide, I suggest he look at the research interests of each department and see if there is something he was particularly interested in? Also York offer a placement year - perhaps this is something she may be interested in if he can't decide on a gap year?

lovefizzycolabottles · 07/06/2023 16:40

I think Bath is very highly regarded for maths and just below COWI. Ds has a friend there studying maths and very happy. Seems to be high in this latest league table - out just now. Suppose it depends how confident they are in making the Bath offer. Not sure what clearing is like for maths if he doesn’t make it. Maybe someone else knows?
https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings/mathematics

Mathematics Subject League Table 2024

Mathematics is the science of numbers, shapes, and space, providing skills that will be applicable across many different industries and open you up to a wealth of postgraduate study options

https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings/mathematics

Original poster
lotti37 · 07/06/2023 20:10

Thank you for your comments . Also wanted to add that my son is quite shy and lacks a bit of self confidence so wasn’t sure whether Bath would be right for him . He is not particularly sporty either . Wasn’t sure whether Bath would be for more sporty children. Thank you

OP posts:
Mumoftwoinprimary · 07/06/2023 20:13

Deferring is generally discouraged for maths. Maths ability goes down fast if you don’t do it for a year and (unlike most subjects) there is not that much that can be gained from “real world experience” in maths.

Xenia · 07/06/2023 20:14

All 3 are good. As you live in the Midlands of the 3 York is probably the obvious choice.

ejbaxa · 07/06/2023 20:23

All those universities are lovely and very respected for maths. If he favours York, put that. You can't really go wrong between the three of them.

Neolara · 07/06/2023 20:27

My DD is at Bath doing.maths. York was her insurance. She is absolutely loving Bath and she is not remotely sporty. A number of her friends have dropped out of the maths course though. I think some people find it quite hard.

LIZS · 07/06/2023 20:27

Some unis prefer their Maths students to come straight from school. There is no guarantee they will allow a deferral or offer if he reapplied, even if he meets their current offers.

TizerorFizz · 07/06/2023 22:00

@lotti37 I would try and avoid deferring. Maths gets rusty.

Of those I would put Bath top. At no university is everyone sporty so don’t worry about that. Bath has a great reputation for business type degrees so he really should look at options. Are the Bath ones better for work? Are there dufferbvez in the courses? Which does he prefer?

Having said that, maths grads find work! I also think he cannot go wrong with any of them so go where he is likely to be happy!

Yarnysaura · 07/06/2023 23:42

Exeter are fine with a year out for maths, they do a first term module for all maths students which acts as an intense speedy recap and to ensure the basics are all secure. Ds had a year out and had no problems at all with maths.

thing47 · 08/06/2023 11:14

Agree with @TizerorFizz on this one – DD's best friend did physics at Bath and loved it. Now works for the well-known international company where she did her placement year. Not remotely sporty.

eggsbenedict23 · 08/06/2023 11:17

@lotti37 did your DC try for any of the big ones COWI etc?

TizerorFizz · 08/06/2023 12:21

@eggsbenedict23 Not everyone wants that experience. I don’t think these three ask for further tests. Could be wrong.

BorgQueen · 08/06/2023 12:30

My DD did her Maths degree at Derby, she loved her time there, much more than Nottingham where she did her PGCE.

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