University Applications 2026 - Support Thread

[Ventress]

DS is applying to start university in Autumn 2026. He's done several open days and has a reasonable idea of where and what he wants to wants to study - History or History & Politics.

He loved UCL and Exeter, liked Warwick, didn't like Bristol. He's also talking about early application but can't decide whether to apply to Oxford or Cambridge. He's also muttering about Durham, which he didn't visit but others in his History class did and loved it.

Anyone join me for a thread to support our DC as they navigate this process? DS is my only child so this is all new to me!

DS off to Warwick open day today to look at the MORSE course and accountancy and finance. MORSE looks like a great course but I think it may be a bit of an aspirational one, in fact both have really high grade requirements.

He will have to aim for an A* in further Maths plus TMUA. He got an A in Maths last year and so has to get the high grade to FM to meet the offer. (He is doing TMUA in Jan but won't sit it if the Unis that require it don't make his short list)

Anyone else travelling there today?

Not Warwick, but Reading for us today… need coffee!

We considered going to Warwick today but with the TMUA only days away DS decided against it.

Bath for us today.
Have sent my son off with his Dad to go to the engineering talks and I'm having a cuppa, and am designated driver.

I think generally people are starting to realise that unis outside the Russell Group can offer a really good experience.

I can't see anything in the rankings that now distinguishes the likes of Reading and Leicester from unis like Southampton and Newcastle, which isn't to say an individual course at these unis might not be the right one for a particular student.

And outside the rarefied world of City law firms I really doubt the average employer is au fait with the ins and outs of uni rankings anyway.

@AuntyBulgaria
We visited Warwick in June to look specifically at MORSE.

The entry requirements are high at Astar Astar A (with the A stars in Maths and Further Maths)

The TMUA isn’t compulsory but according to their entry requirements a score of 5.0 can bring it down to Astar A A (with the A star in either maths or further maths)

My DS will be taking the TMUA in January (Bookings go live for this sitting 27th October I think) and is hoping that he can get a decent enough score to take the pressure off having to get an A star in Further Maths.

Apparently Warwick are able to give out a high number of offers due to the tough grades so I am guessing there wouldn’t be any wiggle room on results day.

They also stated they were not interested in Personal Statements which was another draw for my DS as this is the only maths related course he is applying for so his PS isn’t relevant.

If you have any queries the admissions team were very quick and replied the same day to an email DS sent on the drive back from the open day

Hope you have a great day looking around 😃

@Aboutmeabouttime ooh I would like to hear what you think of Reading.

Well Warwick has shot to the top of the pile! Every Uni he visits goes to the top. Just Loughborough to go which I think he will like as well and then some decisions need to be made!

@AuntyBulgaria just got home 🥱 BUT campus is really lovely, so green and mix of architecture. DD went to look at Fine Art (it’s off the list, just doesn’t compare for her with Arts Unis - she’s taken with Norwich and Bournemouth) and Primary Education with Art which she is now very enthusiastic about!

Generally good vibes… pretty easy to get to for us, 70 miles, you could come home for the weekend territory…

I agree with this. There are certainly excellent universities outside of the RG hegemony. Reading is our local university (and for this reason DS won’t consider it) but I know many young people who have attended and loved their time there. Ditto Surrey. Reading campus is lovely and it’s in a great location just outside town.

Sounds like some really positive open day experiences this weekend!

We went to the Sussex open day last weekend and, as expected, DS loved the location. Although it's a campus, it's super close to Brighton and it's also on the South Downs and obviously near the sea so there's loads going on off campus. He loved the sound of the law course too - it's structured with lots of choice right from the first year and there's lots of opportunity for students to do clinics and competitions.
So although it's not RG, I think it'd be a great fit for DS and more achievable than Bristol which is still his first choice but he's going to apply for Philosophy there and Law elsewhere.

We've also discounted Reading as it's too close to home for us but the campus is indeed lovely!

We are the opposite to a pp, every visit we do now isn’t as good as dd’s favourite so gets crossed off the list! It’s a good incentive though and is pushing her to get what she needs for her fave

DD went to Bath yesterday, after ESAT on Thu, finally. Bath and Bristol was on same day in July, so we couldn’t do both. This time bunch to Yr13 went together. She loved it, that’s all I heard. Off to some other training today! Reading is our local too. Town is not very nice, but campus is on the other side. Not sure about the expense though
DDs PS is still not ready, she was ready with after few edits and all that, now another teacher told her, she should rewrite the first question, apparently “he had seen enough PS to know this”. I don’t know why he didn’t say this two weeks before, and two different teachers giving contradictory opinions. Or many be the other one, didn’t say much about this.
I am not sure what she is planning to do, whatever it is tmrw is last day.
Warwick sounds nice, and the course. I would think it would be very maths heavy/need good mathematical ability to continue. DD sometimes is worried she wouldn’t love Maths and Phy like she does now, if it gets difficult.

@Newlease How did your DD feel the ESAT went? DS2 did his on Friday and was quite happy with how it went, which we were both relieved about, having read horror stories about the overwhelming time pressure!

Is there any where to so a computer based practice test for ESAT? All the prep materials seem to be paper based? Or am I missing an obvious link (very likely, I know).

@Shodanthats really good to hear!! I think it went well for DD, she was expecting it to be better I guess. So I wouldn’t say she is happy. I kept telling her this would be one of the difficult exam she would face, so this doesn’t have to “feel” easy.
I haven’t heard from anyone else, or checked any other platforms so not sure how the impression is in general.

Ignore this - found the online practice tests in the PearsonVUE website. 🤦🏽‍♀️

DD’s form is in and she’s had two acknowledgements out of the three universities she has applied to so far. It’s all happening.

TMUA done; with the appropriate arrangements; phew.

Form being given last tweaks by college.

Fingers crossed.

Hope all of yours is going well!

application submitted, just the pesky TMUA to go.

DS has his meeting with the school’s UCAS person at lunchtime to click “send” on his application. Hopefully some acknowledgments to follow.

Best of luck for those taking TMUA and MAT and others.

DS doesn’t have an entrance exam this year as Oxford aren’t running the HAT this year but he has got a lot of past papers to work on as it’s expected that unseen criticism previously in the HAT will be part of the interview, if he gets one of course.

Hi joining in, my dd is on her second year out but has decided she wants to go to uni sept 2026.

She has started the UCAS form, I think just the personal statement to go.

She’s looking at UWE or Bournemouth, she’s slightly short on points so I’m not sure if she’ll get in or be asked to do the foundation year, really hoping she can avoid that if possible.

DD has the CAT for Oxford next week. At least autumn is going quickly so this aspect of y13 will be over soon!

Welcome @Girliefriendlikespuppies. Good luck to your daughter. What is she looking to study?

Good luck to your daughter for the CAT @Countrylife2002

must be a relief to have the TMUA out of the way @WhisperingAngelisnotbadand @Lilabella

TMUA done! Part 1 was ‘pretty ok’ but part 2 was harder. The lack of paper was tricky apparently, especially with his cast still on!

School should be sending his UCAS application off today - bit close for my liking but what do I know?!

MAT is next week, then it’ll be the start of revision for mocks (after Christmas) and a driving test thrown in along the way!

Keep going everyone!