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]

It’s great seeing the chatter but I’m quite suprised how involved as parents you are?

Horses for courses I suppose. My DS struggled with his MH and was under the local crisis team at the end of yr 12 so he found the whole idea of uni application overwhelming at that point. I offered to do a spreadsheet to get all the info in one place for him, and he found it helpful. DD has no interest in a spreadsheet so I haven’t done one for/with her.

DS had Northumbria as his insurance for chemistry last year, looked really good there.

We love living in Newcastle! Two excellent universities.

My parents gave me no help at all with the uni process, so I am inclined to help my DC a lot, especially my DD who had some MH problems in Y13. My DW had parents who micromanaged her application, so she is inclined to be hands-off! I think it cancels out.

He came out with his classic quote about how he hadn’t realised how weird his Dad and I were till he worked there. Thanks son.

😂

@crazycrofter , dc really liked Portsmouth and I guess the feeling is mutual as they got an unconditional offer! Having it as a back up that you can’t fail at getting into is massive, especially as they have health concerns.

That’s great @woolleybear !

Great idea for a thread. Definite MN snobbery on most Uni threads.

DD is at MMU and having a great experience. Lecturers are fantastic, campus is central, modern and really dynamic and she had cause to access pastoral care and they were really good - really responsive and went above and beyond. She is doing quite a traditional subject (not a typical MMU art/fashion course) and she was worried that she would be a bit of an afterthought but the teaeching has been really robust so far (she is now in her second year)

Man Met was not her original plan - clearing option when she didn't get the grades she needed - but actually it has really suited her and she did end up turning down much higher ranked `universities in favour. She was also offered UEA which I have heard fabulous things about,

DS is doing his A Levels this year and is expecting Bs and Cs. He is looking at Notts Trent at the end of November and a has also looked at quite a few other non RGs. I will be following this thread for sure.

Oh i so need to join u all. Dd still doing her ps and awaiting last lot of mocks to try and up her maths grade. Looked at alot of RG but to be honest I'm gently suggesting she looks at others as she probably won't hit the grades. Lancaster is favourite and I think NTU but we can't visit on open day so will do offers if needed . Doing LJMU this weekend but I don't think it's for her . Its great by the way my son went there and graduated this year and is doing well in a graduate job. We did think about Aber but it looked a bit remote. We may need to revisit the idea. Currently the plan is to submit 2 to 3 courses and then take a hard on line look at other options as we've run out of open days and apparently a gap year is a no!

We did think about Aber but it looked a bit remote.

We've visited Bangor and Aber Unis within the last month and technically they're roughly the same distance from us (Shropshire) but OMG driving to Aber was a (beautiful and scenic) nightmare compared to Bangor. At least Bangor has the A55 for most of the way whereas if you get stuck behind something slow going to Aber you're basically screwed. Even the train takes hours from us. The campus was lovely though.

@Sweetpeasaremadeforbees thanks that confirms my thoughts. May encourage keele instead. We live in central.lancashire so most unis city based which she isn't too keen on.

DD loved Keele (as did I), an absolutely beautiful campus, plus it's only about half an hour from us. But DD's favourite is Lancaster, probably only half an hour from you!

Can I join??? Ds24 went to Nottingham Trent and loved it. DS17 has oxford brookes, leeds, Reading, Newcastle and Nottingham on his list. He has just taken Harbury off. He is struggling with Chemistry so unsure what offers he will get. He did love Leeds.

I think I remember your thread @MarmiteMakesMeHappy Wonderful news that your DD is happy at MMU.

@Sweetpeasaremadeforbees we were very impressed with Bangor and Aberystwyth when we visited last year. Everyone we met seemed very helpful and so friendly. DD ended up at Bangor and loves it!

Seems to be mocks season, hope everyone is doing ok. DD did well in the subject she wants to do at uni, bombed in the others. I’m sure her predicted grades will be interesting, I just hope the unis see how well she’s doing in the degree subject. Would this make them more likely to interview?

Mocks here are January for DD, they do test every six weeks though so those go on the tracking system, plus they used their AS level / end of year 1 results. It’s frustrating for DD as she was averaging A-B all the way through year 1 assessments but bombed two of the formal AS level exams. She just struggles under that pressure this is one of the main reasons for waiting to apply grades in hand instead of now to hopefully improve her offers.

First interview for DD1 - unfortunately right in the middle of mocks! Lasted 11 minutes on Zoom after which she received a BCC offer for Adult Nursing at Manchester two hours later. It's bottom of her list (she wants Swansea) but she's impressed with the admin.

We have the weird thing that the grades for RG unis are the same or lower than the others she's looking at- because of the course - but she got a better vibe from Swansea and Sheffield than from Manchester. I guess coming from London she might want a change from the big city.

Good luck to all.

Congratulations to your DD @minisnowballs
They must have really liked her.

DD didn't get a good vibe from Manchester either. They cane across as arrogant because they claimed to be the UK's biggest university. She didn't think much of Manchester as a city either.

Do all non-RG universities interview? I assumed they just looked at grades and personal statement. I never went to Uni so am desperately trying to get myself up to speed.
It won't help that our wi-fi isn't strong enough to sustain a video call either 😬.

I think it depends on the course. Healthcare ones like nursing do plus all the medicine/vet med ones, RG or not. I doubt the average STEM or humanities ones do outside of Oxbridge. A lot apparently don't even pay much attention to the PS, it's all about the grades.

I agree with @Sweetpeasaremadeforbees
Healthcare and teaching always do.

DD wasn't interviewed for biomed, but she was interviewed for radiography.

this is just because it’s nursing @Stretchedresources - she will have to have an interview for wherever she goes.

Great thread. Thank you!
Ds is working out where to apply to. He wants to do law but isn't do the LCAT....

Same story here - no interview for biomed undergrad, but crucial to post-grad on infectious diseases. That was at an institution which doesnt appear in league tables but whose post-grad courses are on a par with Oxbridge.

Thank you all. DS isn't aiming for teaching or medical.