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Higher education

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

Original poster

St Andrews

218 replies

Innisfree · 04/01/2024 18:05

Happy new year to all 2024 St Andrews hopefuls!

Gearing up for a few months worrying about DS’s UCAS Uni offers. His first choice is St Andrews, then Exeter, Durham, Glasgow and he has had an offer from Newcastle. All for Classical Studies (always small cohorts). He’s at an independent school in Scotland on a scholarship, and predicted 3 As. He’s also contextual as a young carer, helping to look after me (I have MS and, this year, breast cancer). I desperately want him to get some good offers as I am feeling terribly guilty about the level of impact the caring has had on him and his studying both practically and emotionally.

Hoping St Andrews might give us an early ish offer as a home contextual, but nothing yet, though they have been in touch late Dec to say his carer status has been verified. There are so many applying with A star grades though, so not sure how his application will go.

Would love to hear of any St As offers coming through.

OP posts:
Chaotica · 25/03/2024 23:52

What are the second year accomodation issues @Averywavery? I'm largely clueless about St Andrews (although I've visited, and DD hasn't).

GingersOwner26 · 26/03/2024 01:06

Chaotica · 25/03/2024 23:52

What are the second year accomodation issues @Averywavery? I'm largely clueless about St Andrews (although I've visited, and DD hasn't).

I know that when I went there (Class of 04) second years definitely got least priority if they wanted to stay in halls rather than get a flat. Given that I overlapped with him though and there was a lot of demand in my time (stories of bunk beds in single rooms and converting old common rooms were true) maybe my time period isn't the best to compare with.

Averywavery · 26/03/2024 02:42

Chaotica · 25/03/2024 23:52

What are the second year accomodation issues @Averywavery? I'm largely clueless about St Andrews (although I've visited, and DD hasn't).

It is a bit of a battle to find accommodation in St Andrews itself unless you get in with the correct people and some students end up having to live in Dundee and travel to uni every day. There is actually nothing wrong with Dundee and it arguably has a better nightlife than St Andrews and is a lovely place for students but she would have been choosing St Andrews for a reason and didn't want to then risk not being able to live in her uni town

Newgirls · 26/03/2024 07:35

I think the accom issues were mostly due to the bulge years following the teacher assessment a levels. It combined with a hall closing. A new accom block is being built for opening in 2 years I think. Even in the bulge years my dd found accom. I hope it doesn’t put anyone off as I think the situation will improve. It really is a magical place to live for a while.

Chaotica · 26/03/2024 09:40

Thanks, all. That's really useful to know if DD does get an offer. She has ASD so (I suppose) may get priority, but Dundee might be good for her anyway. I'll let her know if it turns out to be relevant.

italianmama75 · 26/03/2024 11:28

Hello everyone - anxious wait here for my DD who is a Home Scottish student waiting for St A international relations. Are they still making positive offers now? Up until what date? I thought she stood a great chance with 6 As at Higher plus what I thought was a pretty good personal statement, but now not so sure. Although we know someone who got offered a place in IR with 4 As and a B at Higher. Any reassuring thoughts??? Thanks so much

AgualusasLover · 26/03/2024 15:59

It’s a no for DS. He is totally committed to Near and Middle Eastern history so a real shame, but he has 4 great offers and said will firm Edinburgh and insure Liverpool

JediKnightingale · 26/03/2024 16:13

Rejection here for DS (Comp Sci) - he’s gutted as it was his first choice. It’s been a very tough year for his subject and we are at least grateful he has a few solid offers.

buggybored · 26/03/2024 16:47

RUK still waiting here (MFL). Not sure if that means DC is on a wash-up list depending on how many decline offers or if they’re just pulling the plaster off v v slowly….Still waiting for Edinburgh too. Think better to expect the worst at this stage whilst keeping everything crossed…

Original poster
Innisfree · 26/03/2024 17:36

buggybored · 26/03/2024 16:47

RUK still waiting here (MFL). Not sure if that means DC is on a wash-up list depending on how many decline offers or if they’re just pulling the plaster off v v slowly….Still waiting for Edinburgh too. Think better to expect the worst at this stage whilst keeping everything crossed…

That’s where we are at too. Good luck to everyone still waiting.

OP posts:
captureitrememberit · 26/03/2024 18:25

DD was rejected today for MFL (3 x A* predicted, all 9s, RUK non contextual, state school). Lots and lots of tears as it was her absolute dream (after Oxford- but, well...). Moving forward though, she's off to either Bath or Warwick.

Chaotica · 27/03/2024 09:07

Still waiting here @buggybored and @Innisfree.

Sorry to hear about your DD @captureitrememberit. Bath and Warwick are great though.

I need to woman up and think about St A's rejections like Oxbridge ones (where I used to be involved in admissions): lots and lots of very smart, interesting young people get rejected and they can do really well elsewhere. Getting rejected is not really a reflection of anything significant at all.

Original poster
Innisfree · 27/03/2024 15:37

Everyone at DS school who applied to St Andrews has now been rejected, he’s the last man standing! 😬

OP posts:
SeaofTranquility · 27/03/2024 15:45

Innisfree · 27/03/2024 15:37

Everyone at DS school who applied to St Andrews has now been rejected, he’s the last man standing! 😬

Good luck to your DS and anyone else waiting. Seems like there's a bloodbath this week. Have one who had an offer in Jan, the other one is still waiting. On paper their applications are almost identical other than applying for similar but different subjects. I guess like Oxbridge, it sometimes can feel a bit of a lottery. I should think it's hard for admissions to fulfil all requirements and decide between many candidates who are very similar.

sunandwaterfalls · 27/03/2024 18:21

My DS2 wasn't successful either. He is predicted top grades, all 9s for GCSEs like @captureitrememberit. He has won the subject prize every year, has won competition essays from other unis and done loads of relevant outside work. He is abroad on a school trip - found out after landing that on the same day he was turned down for St As and Durham.

He's absolutely devastated far from home and we are at a complete loss. Particularly because his brother is at St As. Same subject, same secondary school, same predicted grades and to be honest, DS2 is the more academic and dedicated of the two. His personal statement got him an Oxbridge interview and I thought was really good. He's refusing (by text) to go to the only two left and we are due to move abroad in Sept for work!!

Averywavery · 27/03/2024 18:32

sunandwaterfalls · 27/03/2024 18:21

My DS2 wasn't successful either. He is predicted top grades, all 9s for GCSEs like @captureitrememberit. He has won the subject prize every year, has won competition essays from other unis and done loads of relevant outside work. He is abroad on a school trip - found out after landing that on the same day he was turned down for St As and Durham.

He's absolutely devastated far from home and we are at a complete loss. Particularly because his brother is at St As. Same subject, same secondary school, same predicted grades and to be honest, DS2 is the more academic and dedicated of the two. His personal statement got him an Oxbridge interview and I thought was really good. He's refusing (by text) to go to the only two left and we are due to move abroad in Sept for work!!

I am so sorry to hear of your son's rejections, that seems so incredibly tough especially given his grades. What subject is he applying for? Does he have offers for the last 2 universities? Maybe someone on here can offer some guidance on them that might make him change his mind? Are there offer holder days he can attend for them?
It seems incredibly brutal, please remember St Andrews is a tiny university so there are very few places to go around. We are still waiting to hear but my daughter no longer wants to attend. She is also still waiting to hear from her top choice but I have been doing a lot of work on getting her to like her 2nd choice of uni!
Also sorry to hear of the other rejections.

Eightytwenty · 27/03/2024 18:32

sunandwaterfalls · 27/03/2024 18:21

My DS2 wasn't successful either. He is predicted top grades, all 9s for GCSEs like @captureitrememberit. He has won the subject prize every year, has won competition essays from other unis and done loads of relevant outside work. He is abroad on a school trip - found out after landing that on the same day he was turned down for St As and Durham.

He's absolutely devastated far from home and we are at a complete loss. Particularly because his brother is at St As. Same subject, same secondary school, same predicted grades and to be honest, DS2 is the more academic and dedicated of the two. His personal statement got him an Oxbridge interview and I thought was really good. He's refusing (by text) to go to the only two left and we are due to move abroad in Sept for work!!

That is so tough. Commiserations. It’s a brutal process for sure. My eldest got rejected from Cambridge and Durham but got a St A place. He would have turned down his alternative offers too.

I have another going through it this year. He’s still pending but not feeling hopeful at this point. Lots of offers have gone to other home students including those in his school. Ironically given he is the top student in the subject.

Newgirls · 27/03/2024 19:19

Apparently it can be harder to get into St Andrews than Cambridge - it’s smaller and more people apply. So anyone not getting a place here is certainly not alone

sunandwaterfalls · 28/03/2024 10:17

@Eightytwenty good luck to your DS, I hope he gets the unis he wants
.

legobrickseverywhere · 28/03/2024 11:10

My DS was rejected too. He was leaning more towards Durham anyway. And think was slightly put off by the four years at St A and the extra loan, savings etc that would go with it, for essentially the same degree. I think he will be really happy at Durham and it is closer to home. He is really excited about going now, subject to achieving the grades!
Good luck to those waiting. Really hope you get an offer. And to those who are disappointed, it will pass. A hard lesson in resilience for our children. But it is no reflection on them. St A is tiny and the numbers who apply with an outstanding application far outweigh the places available. So a big congratulations to those who have received an offer. And the best to others waiting to hear from elsewhere! It has been a hard few months!

Original poster
Innisfree · 28/03/2024 13:39

legobrickseverywhere · 28/03/2024 11:10

My DS was rejected too. He was leaning more towards Durham anyway. And think was slightly put off by the four years at St A and the extra loan, savings etc that would go with it, for essentially the same degree. I think he will be really happy at Durham and it is closer to home. He is really excited about going now, subject to achieving the grades!
Good luck to those waiting. Really hope you get an offer. And to those who are disappointed, it will pass. A hard lesson in resilience for our children. But it is no reflection on them. St A is tiny and the numbers who apply with an outstanding application far outweigh the places available. So a big congratulations to those who have received an offer. And the best to others waiting to hear from elsewhere! It has been a hard few months!

Sorry to hear that but Durham is a fantastic uni. All the best to him on this next exciting stage.

It does feel like a bit of a lottery waiting for a St Andrews offer, and things have gone very quiet today. 😬

OP posts:
Original poster
Innisfree · 31/03/2024 11:25

I wrote to admissions to ask if it would be possible to attend the Classics subject talk at offer holder day if we were still waiting for a decision. It was a flat no. Which doesn’t feel very hopeful but perhaps I shouldn’t read too much into it, they have to prioritise offer holders I suppose.

How many of us are still waiting now? Still waiting here for Classical Studies, home, contextual and private school (with A level predicted grades).

OP posts:
poetryandwine · 31/03/2024 11:42

I wouldn’t read anything, positive or negative, into that OP

I know it is very frustrating being kept on the hook but it does mean that DC has a stronger application than those who have already been rejected by their degree programme

Averywavery · 31/03/2024 16:46

Innisfree · 31/03/2024 11:25

I wrote to admissions to ask if it would be possible to attend the Classics subject talk at offer holder day if we were still waiting for a decision. It was a flat no. Which doesn’t feel very hopeful but perhaps I shouldn’t read too much into it, they have to prioritise offer holders I suppose.

How many of us are still waiting now? Still waiting here for Classical Studies, home, contextual and private school (with A level predicted grades).

Still waiting here:
Home, non- contextual, state school, higher grades in hand of 5 x A plus predicated AH all A.
Applied for maths and economics

Original poster
Innisfree · 31/03/2024 18:01

Averywavery · 31/03/2024 16:46

Still waiting here:
Home, non- contextual, state school, higher grades in hand of 5 x A plus predicated AH all A.
Applied for maths and economics

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Good luck! Only (up to) six more weeks or so to go…😬

OP posts:
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