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

Bath uni going to be asking AstarAstarAstar for comp sci

63 replies

itsmyp4rty · 05/09/2023 07:46

After hearing from a lot of people following this years A-level results that they didn't get what they were hoping, especially in maths, I've just had an email letting me know that for comp sci Bath will be upping the required grades from AAA to AAA (not sure if the A stars work - basically they now want 3 A stars rather than 1). So that's one of DS's top choices out as he 'only' got 2 A stars. I guess it makes deciding where to go easier but a bit depressing that they're raising the bar so much after what seems to have been a bit of a disappointing results year for many.

OP posts:
Original poster
itsmyp4rty · 06/09/2023 08:51

catscoffeecrystals · 06/09/2023 08:19

Two years ago, CS at Bath was definitely in clearing. I know someone who got in at the last minute in this way with either AAA or A star AA.

Interesting, could be down to lots of 'aspirational' predicted grades.

OP posts:
HardcoreLadyType · 06/09/2023 08:55

A*

No, it definitely works for me.

jlpth · 06/09/2023 09:01

HardcoreLadyType · 06/09/2023 08:55

A*

No, it definitely works for me.

It works if you just type one A star: A*

However if you try to type two A stars, it thinks you're bolding text and doesn't work: AA doesn't come up as two A stars.

HardcoreLadyType · 06/09/2023 10:06

I see. That makes sense. A A A*

It also works if you put spaces, but that’s probably no more or less of a faff than typing “A star”, by the time you select the right keyboard.

HardcoreLadyType · 06/09/2023 10:06

Oh, no, actually it doesn’t!

catscoffeecrystals · 06/09/2023 10:34

Also, I know someone else's DC who missed your grades this year but still got into Bath for CS. No EPQ. I wouldn't worry too much OP.

harridan50 · 06/09/2023 10:42

Apply to Bath it is a very supportive university
He will get a year in industry they are very proactive in this area
Beautiful place to live
No stress about student housing and lovely people

Original poster
itsmyp4rty · 06/09/2023 11:57

I've suggested that he apply to Bath anyway. Plus Southampton, Exeter, Surrey and maybe one other in case of complete disaster grades wise. Will definitely suggest he lets them know he is autistic.

Oh that reminds me of another plus for Surrey, they have a whole list of ways that they support autistic students that really impressed me. Including that they can start two days earlier when it's quiet and (if I remember rightly) they can stay in halls for all three years. It was definitely the best that we looked at for stating specifically what they had in place for ASD students.

OP posts:
Morty12 · 06/09/2023 13:40

How about Reading? I know you mentioned you thought it wouldn't suit him as too big a city but its about the same size as Southampton and is a really nice campus away from the town centre.
Or Warwick?

Original poster
itsmyp4rty · 06/09/2023 13:57

Warwick looks amazing but I just checked their website and for comp sci they want 3 A stars too. Just did their test to see if he'd qualify for widening participation and it only wanted to know where you lived so it was a no.
I went to Reading and I'm just not in a big rush to go back 😂.

OP posts:
Morty12 · 06/09/2023 14:03

Warwick's standard offer was 2 x Astar A last year so that has gone up as well.

Original poster
itsmyp4rty · 06/09/2023 19:30

Just checked and Surrey are only asking ABB for comp sci which is fantastic for such a great uni.

Another thing I forgot @Morty12 that I loved about Surrey was that the older students can get paid work as mentors to the younger comp sci students, they just hang out in the computer room and help explain things to anyone who needs help. Apparently the uni get great feedback from the students being helped saying they love have the mentors there for them.

OP posts:
mylittleprince · 06/09/2023 19:43

With regards to the industry placement have a look at the 'what I wish I knew about university' Facebook group. There has been numerous threads on there about how much help different universities actually offer on getting these.

Original poster
itsmyp4rty · 06/09/2023 20:35

mylittleprince · 06/09/2023 19:43

With regards to the industry placement have a look at the 'what I wish I knew about university' Facebook group. There has been numerous threads on there about how much help different universities actually offer on getting these.

That's sounds really interesting, I'll check it out thanks.

OP posts:
Morty12 · 06/09/2023 20:41

@itsmyp4rty
Thanks for this, it was a bit of a rush decision going through clearing but everything he has learnt about Surrey seems good. It has all been very well organised so far and he got his first choice of halls, which is very modern and reasonably priced.

Original poster
itsmyp4rty · 06/09/2023 21:17

Morty12 · 06/09/2023 20:41

@itsmyp4rty
Thanks for this, it was a bit of a rush decision going through clearing but everything he has learnt about Surrey seems good. It has all been very well organised so far and he got his first choice of halls, which is very modern and reasonably priced.

Wow that sounds great, if ds doesn't decide on it being his first choice then I think it would be the perfect insurance place. The idea that it could be really hard to get accommodation if you end up at your insurance place is something that is really worrying I think.

OP posts:
Morty12 · 06/09/2023 22:10

Accommodation isn't guaranteed for insurance students unfortunately. DS has two friends going who had it as insurance and they did get halls rooms but I have seen others on social media who didn't get accommodation. I agree it is an important factor in insurance choice.

Original poster
itsmyp4rty · 07/09/2023 07:03

Morty12 · 06/09/2023 22:10

Accommodation isn't guaranteed for insurance students unfortunately. DS has two friends going who had it as insurance and they did get halls rooms but I have seen others on social media who didn't get accommodation. I agree it is an important factor in insurance choice.

Thanks for the update, I'm glad your ds got good accommodation. I hope he has a great time!

OP posts:
Woollyguru · 07/09/2023 07:06

.

blametheparents · 07/09/2023 09:04

On both Bath’s and Warwick’s website it is quoting Astar, Astar, A as a typical offer for CS for 2024 entry.
Still very high, and with a requirement for Warwick at least that one of the AStars is in Maths, and in reality I imagine many will be predicted 3 or 4 A Stars and still might not get an offer.

Morty12 · 07/09/2023 09:15

The standard offers do seem to be creeping up for CS.
Sheffield is now A star AA. Last year it was AAA/AAB depending on A Levels

Blodwen9 · 07/09/2023 09:54

harridan50 · 06/09/2023 10:42

Apply to Bath it is a very supportive university
He will get a year in industry they are very proactive in this area
Beautiful place to live
No stress about student housing and lovely people

erm.. have you seen the Bath accommodation thread? Lots of stresses! Even meeting all the criteria and deadlines doesn't guarantee on campus accommodation, and if you miss the deadline or an insurance/clearing candidate? You get nothing at all this year......

Original poster
itsmyp4rty · 07/09/2023 10:11

blametheparents · 07/09/2023 09:04

On both Bath’s and Warwick’s website it is quoting Astar, Astar, A as a typical offer for CS for 2024 entry.
Still very high, and with a requirement for Warwick at least that one of the AStars is in Maths, and in reality I imagine many will be predicted 3 or 4 A Stars and still might not get an offer.

OMG you're right - both Bath and Warwick are only 2 A stars, I was literally looking at it wrong (including the email they sent) - I am so stupid!

OP posts:
Original poster
itsmyp4rty · 07/09/2023 10:13

Blodwen9 · 07/09/2023 09:54

erm.. have you seen the Bath accommodation thread? Lots of stresses! Even meeting all the criteria and deadlines doesn't guarantee on campus accommodation, and if you miss the deadline or an insurance/clearing candidate? You get nothing at all this year......

Show quote history

Accommodation is what worries me as DS is autistic and REALLY needs to be on campus.

OP posts:
blametheparents · 07/09/2023 10:31

@itsmyp4rty - It’s still a really high requirement, but in reality I think that for most students it’s going to be at least as a hard to even get an offer from one of Bath and Warwick for CS as getting the grades required.

DD didn’t get an offer from Warwick for PPE for an A* A A course. She had predictions above that and achieved above that. I’m sure she’s not the only one in the same position.