Any interest in a non-Oxbridge/ non-RG parents chat?

[SockFluffInTheBath]

There are lots of threads about applying to Oxbridge and other ‘top’ unis, anyone interested in a thread for those of us with DC looking elsewhere? Not trying to be divisive, but there’s no ‘drop in centre’ thread for other unis, and I thought it might be good to have a space to chat sometimes.

[Title edited by MNHQ at OP's request]

After learning lots about art schools and finding nothing much about the process on MN, I put together a thread which might interest you; please ask anything either there (which is a bit quiet) or here!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/higher_education/4795276-art-and-design-at-university-for-past-present-and-future-students-and-parents

Oh! I think I saw that last year and then forgot it. Thanks so much; I'm off for a read!

@boys3 just wondering if you often find yourself not knowing what everyone else is saying, not understanding the joke? Which might be hard if you are feeling nervous and that nobody likes you. They are keen to learn some of the language I should say.

Most of us in Wales don’t speak Welsh, so don’t worry about that. Different parts of Wales are more Welsh speaking than others. At Aber there are Welsh speaking halls and you would be far more likely to hear welsh there rather than Swansea.

I visit UWTSD’s Carmarthen campus regularly and hear a lot of Welsh there. When I’m at the Cardiff or Swansea campuses it’s very rare. Obviously all the signs and emails are bilingual so you pick up various written words that way. Every campus will have a majority of non-welsh speakers.

@Sweetpeasaremadeforbees we have and he loved the place but I don’t think he really gets what it will be like to be so far away. I would love to hear from someone who is actually there or has a child there but it’s one that never seems to come up!

I don't think many MN kids do agricultural or horticultural courses unfortunately. Although obviously HA is so much more than an agricultural college these days.

Harper Adam’s had a really rep when I was at its rival 30yrs ago when I did my first degree in land management. So they have lasted years in that field. Someone asked about Reading for surveying again I’ve heard good things and surveyors are definitely in demand we can’t hire them at the moment or they move on quick after qualifying so definitely an in demand career with some interesting pathways.

@Sweetpeasaremadeforbees and @Autumn00Storms I’m just going to go along with whatever he decides. I think he’d probably regret not at least giving it a go but he may well not be happy there so I’m keeping out and leaving it up to him!

@SockFluffInTheBath @Midwintermayhem @RitzyMcFee @sandytoeswales @llareggub @Inezz

I hope I've tagged in everyone who was looking at Aberystwyth!

We arrived at lunchtime to visit DD - it is a long drive from Oxfordshire but oddly it doesn't really feel like it. Probably because it's so pretty and unlike four hours on the motorway you're not just ticking off the miles with nothing to see.

DD is doing French and International Relations and says the Uni is "really nice" - in DD speak this probably translates as "brilliant". The days are busy - tomorrow she'll have two lectures and a French class so she's well occupied. She seems to have made lots of friends - has been to the one nightclub, a Halloween party, the Interpol Society and is going to the gym. She's thinking of joining the running club in January - says she wants to get a bit fitter on the treadmill first! But is now finding walking up the hill a lot easier.

I asked if she thought the work level was too hard, too easy or about right - she said it was about right. She did say the students on her course talk about politics A LOT even in their leisure time!

The students in her French beginners class who are doing Modern Languages seem to be mainly doing French and Spanish.

The town just doesn't feel like a small town at all - it's so busy and of course has a really young vibe. The staff in our lunchtime cafe were really friendly despite it being absolutely packed.

Was really surprised to see her choosing a smoked salmon and cheese sandwich for lunch - for DD this is the equivalent of one of us venturing to eat locusts!

We're staying here until Tuesday so if anyone has questions then just reply to this and I'll see if she has an answer! Hasn't really looked at accommodation options for second and third year so probably won't know much about this.

My son is planning on Politics & International Relations. He does indeed talk about politics ALL the time so it sounds like he will be in good company.

When we visited one of the students told us it’s possible to live on campus for three years. My son has his heart set on the swanky new accommodation, only to be torn when he saw the halls right on the sea front.

It’s a lovely drive, I agree. We used to live in the midlands so found it a very easy drive over to Aber. We used to visit a caravan sight further down the coast. Absolutely stunning area to visit. We are in Swansea now and it’s at least 2 hours for us. Trains are tricky!

Aber sounds lovely! I hope your DD continues to be very happy there, thanks for taking the time to feed back!

No actual experience, I'm afraid (a young relative was there a few years ago, but we're not in enough contact for me to have heard about his experience of the university itself), but has your DS had a look on TSR? There is a Harper Adams section, although tbh, not a lo of current discussion, so he might have to scroll back a bit to see if there's anything helpful.

https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=1295

Thanks @MarchingFrogs I think he’s on there but I never thought to look myself. I’m the one that needs my mind putting at rest! I think he’s at the point where he’s just going to go for it and hope for the best.

@HPFA thank you got the update, glad your DD is settling well. We’re just back from visiting DS at UEA (also settling well) and DD told him Aber was the only one she was interested in. Let’s hope she gets an offer!

I'm sure she will!

I honestly think that any student who thinks they would be happy here probably will be! It's very much "does what it says on the tin" - it is remote, it is a small town and people who wouldn't enjoy that experience probably don't come here in the first place.

The town really intrigues me because it's a combination that maybe we don't see a lot nowadays - it has that slightly shabby feel of an old fashioned seaside town but unlike (sadly) so many now, it also feels very busy. There were one or two boarded up hotels but very few boarded up shops.

Interesting thread, thanks OP. DS is in Y12 and his GCSEs were all in the 5-7 range. He's now in the very first A Level cohort at a brand-new 6th form centre. He'd love to go to Edinburgh or St Andrews and he's working really hard, but I'm encouraging him to consider other options e.g. Heriot-Watt or Aston or Lancaster. I got a 2:1 from Bristol but got very little out of it - I was too young and underconfident, and I struggled, but I try not to let my experience come into things.

It is difficult, and I think there's a lot of creative writing on MN, tbh. Everyone's DC are projected 3 A*s, everyone is in a senior role and is a high earner, etc.

@OnlyHereForTheChristmasBoard He might struggle to get the grades for the Scottish unis you mention with his GCSEs. I would scale back a bit to the more realistic ones you mention. Lancaster is the best of those in many ways but grades of A levels will matter so be realistic this time next year.

My DD1 went to Bristol and enjoyed it. However she was a mature 18-22 year old and grabbed her opportunities. Personality gets you quite a long way in life!

everyone is in a senior role and is a high earner, etc.

Yes, and they are unable to get their heads around that not everyone wants to be a lawyer/banker/work in a magic circle firm/work for a big 4 firm/prioritise greed over job satisfaction

DC2 is applying now for 2025 entry (DC1 is currently at a 'top performer' so DC2's experience is VERY different). He's got an ASD diagnosis and a SpLD, and is not at all academic, but hoping to go to a Uni for film production (or similar). He doesn't want to go too far from home - the furthest considered is about 3 hours' drive, the nearest 15 minutes! I helped him (hopefully) finish his personal statement last night - he needs to submit it back to school and see what they think, but I'd like him to get his form submitted in the hope he starts getting an offer or 2...

DD1 has now got three out of five of her interviews through - it is nursing so everyone must interview. Her school is very good at preparing oxbridge people for interview but clearly had no idea you must interview for adult nursing, so she's feeling very unsupported. We are doing our best to help!

Good luck to her @minisnowballs ! I was lurking in the background last week as ds (on a gap year) joined a group of other gap year students on Zoom to talk to the head of sixth form about UCAS. One of the girls who has all As is going for nursing. The head of sixth form told her of course she'll get all her offers with those grades! I felt like chipping in and saying it's not all about academics for nursing and she'll have to have interviews! They can be really clueless can't they. She promised she'd look at ds' personal statement last week and he's still waiting for a call....

@crazycrofter - yes, I've actually just emailed the head of sixth about it - we can find help elsewhere but others at the school won't be as lucky. DD has all 7-9s at GCSE and her predications are AAA - but you can have all of that and not get a nursing place if you don't come across as suitable - it really isn't about the grades. They need to get their heads round it really.

Yes, schools can be so academically focused and just generally clueless. The head of sixth form didn't even ask this girl if she had any relevant work experience etc. She'd only put down three choices as she didn't fancy more than 3 interviews and I really wanted to tell her she needed to put 5, as you never know whether you'll get an offer - but I kept quiet as I wasn't supposed to be there!

Ds is now thinking mainly about Northumbria and Aberdeen for Real Estate. The courses seem very different - Northumbria's has no optional modules and seems very vocational/work focused. Lots of report writing and giving presentations. Aberdeen's is four years of course and you can choose modules from other schools for half of your years 1-3 credits and 25% of the fourth year. It seems much more academic with lots of essays and exams. I can see the benefit of both. Northumbria encourage a placement too. I'm just wondering if having no choice of modules will be a mistake. Dd at Nottingham doing Pscyhology has had no choice until her third year and found some of the compulsory modules really hard.

Totally agree with this. I have a dd studying Marine Biology at Plymouth who loves it. She got the grades for Exeter which had been her first choice but didn’t like the vibe when she visited. She just took to Plymouth, the course, the lecturers, the links to industry, sea sports etc. It just suits her.

Really delighted to hear it @HippoMaman ! Go Plymouth!