shout out to @sandyirving & @poetryandwine

[54isanopendoor]

@sandyirving
@poetryandwine

Hoping you'll see this & remember Ds sitution & be willing to comment again?
As you may remember, Ds had a place at Abertay (which they were willing to defer given he is ASD & not very confident at times) He decided, last minute, to change to one of the Universities in Edinburgh. This was a disaster as they didn't register him properly, put him in y2 (no accom left so commuting) & no support.

They had told us in Nov that they would offer Ds a fresh place before end Jan. They have but on the same course at y2 which he doesnt want (& I agree that his awful director of studies plus the lack of comms & support was all quite bad)

But they haven't just 'offered' it UCAS tell us that it has been firm accepted & for him to apply anywhere else now they would have to release him from the place.

If he applied from scratch he would include his previous 1st choice of Abertay.
He would choose a more general computer course than his previous application.
He could then choose up to 4 more courses or Uni's we understand.

the Qu is should he stick with the Ed Uni when both he & I were so disappointed with both course & support or ask to be released from that, gamble on a fresh application elsewhere? We've never done a UCAS application before (as he applied via Clearing last time) Would we refer to what happened last year or just say he took a gap year (he is working locally at present) ? Any advice please as you were so helpful last term?

Hi, OP—

I remember the basic situation but I need to refresh the details. How do you think UCAS came to show the Y2 offer at the Edinburgh uni is accepted?

I was thinking about you and your son. Great that he has found some local work.

If he were mine I would not accept the Edinburgh uni place. I would ask to be released and get a quick UCAS application to Abertay (before the Jan deadline).

About last year, I would say that he originally planned to work for a year before uni but changed his mind at the last minute to take up a clearing place but quickly realised it was not correct course. He can then talk about why he likes the Abertay course and what skills he's learned from working.

I suspect the Edinburgh uni will be in clearing anyway this year so if by chance he doesn't get Abertay (unlikely as they offered before) or changes his mind he could reconsider (1st year entry).

If DS has not accepted this course he needs to find out how that happened as his first step.

Is he even qualified to begin Y2?

If he prefers to stay at the Ed uni that is fine but it sounds like he should restart Y1, to do the first term right and then finish the year.

Yes, if he applies through UCAS he has five choices. He is not obliged to use them all. But he should use at least two, with one being extremely safe.

DS should consider only what is best for him!! Best wishes

I was thinking that about the acceptance too. I thought the student was the only who firmed but maybe they are treating this like deferred entry. Regardless I'd ask to be released.

Great advice from @SandyIrving

@SandyIrving
@poetryandwine

Thank you both for replying - & so quickly too. Really appreciate it.
Ds is very stressed about it, some of my ceiling came in overnight (to add to the flooding in the basement last month) so it's all a bit much atm so THANK YOU.

I think he should ask to be released from the Ed Uni too.
He went into Y2 as it was supposed to articulate from his College course (hollow laugh...) & this is what they've re-offered so he'd have to speak to them anyway & he was actually really upset by his Course Leader who was very dismissive.

But that Uni is incredibly slow & disorganised (you cant phone Admissions, they take 5 days to respond to email etc) so slightly worried he will run out of time to do a UCAS application by the 31st (our fault entirely for not being quicker!)

I think he will put Abertay on his application (2 or 3 courses or will that look dithery?) also a wildcard & then prob the Ed Uni again for safety's sake?

He'd need to open a UCAS account & how does the Reference system work?

I think you can self reject. Get your DS to check his UCAS hub. If Edi uni asks why just say he is applying for a different course with them to buy some time.

Ref is academic so ideally someone from his college but could be school or tutor if he's doing any new courses whilst working. I don't know if they can see the rest of his application so make sure they are up to date with his plans. Also they need to be reasonably quick.

Not sure about Abertay and multiple courses. Unis have different approaches. DDs ask you to contact them and rank courses by preference. Others give more than one offer. Imagine gaming computing more competitive at Abertay. Perhaps ask them.

Hi, again - I agree that DS should ask Abertay what their policy is on applying for more than one degree programme. My own view is that applying for two is fine but applying for three looks a bit unfocussed.

@SandyIrving @poetryandwine

Update: have spoken to Abertay & they say: apply for as many as you wish - 3+ is fine apparantly. His confidence is rock bottom atm but having looked there are 2/3 he'd like so I'm trying to persuade him to complete his UCAS form now.

Meantime, have discoverd the Ed Uni course leader that we really didn't like has left. They've invited us in to meet the new 1. Ds could have a 2nd yr place on 3 diff courses (to include a general computing degree which is now his preference)
OR a 1st year place on any computing course as his grades in hand are good. So, worth a shot possibly. They say if he asks for his current place to be released then they'll consider him equally with all others on a fresh UCAS form.

So he has decisions to make tonight ...

Thanks for the update.

Is he still all over the place choice wise of degree ? Or has he managed to narrow it down over the last few months?

I'd say if in doubt do general computing science as he can either switch or specialise by taking specific modules or do a dissertation in that are.

Is he settled on 1st year entry? If he is then that will narrow his options.

DS may as well use his 5 options.

Based on what Abertay have said, if he is enthusiastic about 3 choices there he should use them, leaving 2.

So he is feeling better about the Edinburgh uni, with the old course leader gone? That would be great. I am glad that general CS is of greatest appeal to him, because as a general rule that will give the most options for employability. I think DS has nothing to lose by applying for CS.

The question is, Y1 or Y2? I am concerned that although his previous course has theoretically prepared him for Y2, he may discover that the reality is different. Even though it may involve some repetition and boredom, the soundest option is to apply to Y1.

He still has one more choice, at his old uni or elsewhere. Again, the soundest option is a Y1 start everywhere. I really would not want to see him thrown by any gaps in the way his old course slots in with Y2 again.

This all sounds very promising!

Hi again @SandyIrving @poetryandwine ...

I think he needs to apply for Computing &/or Computing Science (neither of us very clear which is 'better' - only caveat our end is his Maths is GCSE not A level)

Yr 1 at both old & new (to him) Universities.

I am also telling him to put CS+Cyber down as Abertay offer this & he is clearly good at Cyber (got an A at HNC) He was offered a place on their Ethical Hacking course last year but he is scared that it is too aggressive & he'll 'get into trouble' (a feature of his ASD is a fear of authority). That particular Course Lead/ Tutor is known to be absolutely exceptional & I've reassured Ds he'd be fine - but no go.
But AB do offer a CS+Cyber course that would be 'next best' I think (& his HN was Cyber & he got an A easily). They are also offering a brand new Computing degree this year but see above & would that cohort be guinea pigs?

So, his list would be: AB CS+Cyber, AB CS 7/ or poss AB Computing?
then Ed Uni Computing &/or Ed Uni CS.
Only 'wild card' one could be the new course at London Interdisciplinary School.
This looks amazing & maybe good for a student who is techhy but also hugely interested in politics, film etc. But he isn't v confident so I suspect he'd struggle ?

(Thank you both so much for staying with me through this btw x )

Hi, OP -

The Abertay CS and Cyber sounds excellent. On the face of it, a better professional qualification than Ethical Hacking in that it sounds like it prepares for a broader scope of employment.

Courses are mostly, though not entirely, about who is running them IMO. So the Abertay Computing cohort will be guinea pigs as the first cohort in any new programme are, but if the course leaders are good it should not repeat the experience DS had last year. (I realise that is easy for me to say. But I doubt it is a coincidence the old course leader is gone).

Then Abertay CS?

That sounds good to me, assuming DS has the Maths for all three. I don’t think he should attempt a programme for which he lacks any qualifications. This year is about getting everything right - not that he himself did anything wrong earlier.

Again assuming he has the Maths qualifications, I agree with you about either or both choices at the Ed Uni.

Now, to me the new course at the London Interdisciplinary School sounds potentially fascinating, but also raises some yellow flags for your DS. Interdisciplinary degree programmes ate more liable to timetabling conflicts - sometimes of actual lectures and labs, more frequently of assignments and exams.

But my bigger concern is, what type of employment is envisaged for graduates? It sounds somewhat freewheeling, perhaps as if they are training to create their own pathways via the contacts they (independently?) forge, etc. Nothing wrong with that; for the right student it can be a great opportunity. But is your DS the right student? From what you have described it sounds like he might benefit from a more structured approach.

Again, very best wishes to you both!

Great choices. I suspect there will be much overlap particularly in 1st year between the Abertay courses so perhaps there is still option to switch degrees after 1st year. Always easier to go from joint to single subject than the other way do your advice about adding Cyber is sound plus as he's good at it will allow him to concentrate on new subjects in 1st year.

My DD did one of Edinburgh unis interdisciplinary modules a couple of years back (Data Ethics) and her friend did another (Students as Change Agents). They were trialling courses in advance of their interdisplinary undergraduate degree starting the next year. Both loved the courses. Lots of groupwork. Good mix of academics and practical solutions. DD would agree with @poetryandwine that full interdisciplinary degree might not suit someone who needs more structure/ direction or who hates collaboration.

The Ed Uni Admissions *now tell us he doesn't have good enough Maths for CS with them (apparantly requirements can differ when applying through Clearing). So his options would be Computing Y1 or Cyber (Y1or Y2 due to the HNC)
I think Y1 sounds FAR safter tbh... much better slightly 'bored' but good grades & more confident for Y2 imo. Plus he'll need headspace+ for independent living

Abertay will accept an application for CS, Computing or CS+Cyber with his current Maths (which I hope would prove sufficient - they say so fingers crossed)

LIS place a great emphasis on Interview & accept direct applications after 31st.

I thought he was sorted (though we are not cancelling current place until his Reference comes back re fresh UCAS application & this was a real prob last year) but he is now wiffling on about Edin being a great city & the 'cool Uni tech clubs' (that he wouldn't go to last term). Give me strength ...

worst case scenario, if reference fails & Ds fails to submit form is that we ask for Ed Uni to change his course to 1st Yr Cyber or Computing (though ALL 1st yr & most 2nd yr course content seems to be identical & he struggled last time)
But hopefully he'd have a much better time, in halls on time, with student support set up ready to hit the ground running.

I still think he should apply to Abertay tho' .. We shall see what Monday brings.

OP, if the Ed uni say DS lacks the qualifications for CS I wouldn’t try to argue it. It sounds like you are saying they are willing to drop the Maths qualification during Clearing. Speaking ad a former Admissions tutor, I find this appalling. The curriculum will have been designed for students who have the qualification. How are the others to cope?

If Abertay says that DS has sufficient Maths qualifications, it means they have designed their curriculum differently, to accommodate a different group of students. If I were you I would look up the Abertay admissions requirements or request an email confirmation so as to have something in writing. However, inherently I see no problem.

Yes yes yes to Y1 entry!! If DS is super enthusiastic about LIS I would let him try. He will have several months to consider his options

There is maybe something in your DSes reluctance about Abertay. We've a couple of neighbours at Abertay. Both love course but don't love Dundee. I don't know if that's just a Glaswegian thing. I haven't heard friends of my DC say anything bad about Edinburgh as a city to live/study in (other than the cost).

@SandyIrving thank you for your post. I'd be interested to hear more.
Ds has said he wonders if Abertay is 'a bit small' but then he also feels Edinburgh is 'a family city, not really mine' (we live 35m away so visit quite lot)

I think the main thing would for him to be secure enough in his course & for the support to be good enough for him to be able to access it. At the Ed Uni we have now had a decent chat with both Disablity support & the Dept that supports students coming directly from College. Both have expressed surprise that he struggled & might be apprehensive about returning to the same place.
Whereas I have a friend whose ASD Ds is at Abertay. She's v demanding about sufficient levels of support & praises it to the skies so I thought that encouraging

Ds is not a pub/club person at all but would like rock climbing, the computer soc (which I gather has decent funding from the Uni itself for proper trips etc) & I understand there is a medieval sword club or somesuch which he'd love!

Just an update for @SandyIrving @poetryandwine :
Ds now has offers for 2 of the 3 places he applied for at Abertay.
An offer for (a different course) from previous Uni (but disability support clearly annoyed at how we went about this & he's no longer invited to 'prep' sessions)
His 'wildcard' choice wants to interview him. He is not sure if he wants to do this.

Re acceptance - does he have to wait until he has heard from all his choices?
(wondering what to do about the 2/3 course offer at same place one?)

Excellent news.

You don't need to wait for all offers before firming (some unis open accomodation booking early or allocate in date firmed order so it can be advantageous to firm quickly).

However he might want to go offer days to help choose between courses (usually March/April) and get a feel for City/uni area (as important for my DC). You can check out disability support too.

If he is still keen on his original uni I would challenge them about the pre session prep. Surely if he is eligible they would want his transition to be optimal.

The wildcard might be interesting for a bit of interview practise but if he struggles in choosing I would bin it.

My youngest pored over module catalogues to choose between courses. No everything is guaranteed to run each year but it gave her good idea of differences and how easy it would be to switch at end of 1st or 2nd year.

Great news, OP, and good advice from @SandyIrving .

I am very happy things are working out for your DS.