Warwick offer of Joint Maths & Physics v Maths. Anyone else in same boat?

[maturemummy]

DS applied for MMaths at Warwick (originally his favourite Uni) but has been offered a place on the Joint Maths/Physics course. He’s also had MMaths offers from Durham, Manchester & Birmingham. Until yesterday he’d resigned himself to a rejection from Warwick & was planning to firm Durham & insure Manchester but now he’s in a pickle,
He seriously considered applying for joint honours last year but eventually opted for straight maths so it isn’t a definite no from him.
The offer from Warwick requires the same grades as Manchester & Birmingham but one A star less than Durham so that’s a bit of a temptation.
Warwick is several hours closer to home than Durham so that would make life easier but isn’t a major factor. He liked both Unis.
DS has until June to accept/decline.

Has anyone else been in the same position or had experience of Warwick maths/physics?
Thanks.

We are not in the same position- but my DD is a bit stuck about where to firm and she said her friend gave some helpful advice- which was to write a pros and cons list for her favourite choices but to score how important each of the pros/cons were to her so eg course content might get a higher score than distance from home. This way she has a more useful list than eg just 5 pros and 4 cons and can give each a total score based on her preferences. It also helped her think a bit more clearly about the different options.

Congratulations to your DS, OP.

That could be a tough choice as both the Durham and Warwick programmes are strong. It will come down to personal preference, as both are very strong.

I suggest DS attend Offer Holder Days at both universities, if possible. They can be quite a different experience to other types of event days. Also, he might want to join the online forum The Student Room. There, he can ask students in Maths and Physics at Warwick directly of any concerns he has. (Of course he can also ask students at both universities anything at all). Responses are usually thoughtful.

The hope is that one place or the other will feel more ‘right’ to DS with the knowledge gained.

Also, OP -

If DS is a Home student will all his offers I believe the reply deadline is 6 May rather than June? I am not currently involved in admissions or paying a lot of attention, so perhaps I am wrong. And there are other situations, of course.

Something non academic to bear in mind, Warwick is a campus university whereas Durham has university buildings more mingled across the city - when I was looking back in the dark ages at both options as an offer holder I had a distinct preference for the type of city I was in.

I think if offers are received after 31st March then the reply deadline is June

True, thanks for pointing it out.

Has he been to the offer holders days? DS applied for Mphys and it was a choice between St Andrews, Edinburgh and Manchester. He had unconditionals for the Scottish two and an offer from Manchester. He was pretty sure it was Manchester he wanted. Then he went to the offer holder days and he completely changed his mind and has firmed up Edinburgh. He said the open days didn't give him the same info or feel for the departments. He loved St Andrews dept but realised after another visit a small town wasn't for him. I wasn't sure the second visits would be of that much use- but I was wrong.

Just one thing to add is that accommodation costs in Durham are horrendous.

Slightly later for DS as final offer received in April 🙂

He’s been to OHD at all but Warwick, hoping for an invite later this month.

Totally agree! 😫