i didint get into uni

[nikcola]

i just got a letter from ucas telling me that i didnt get into luton uni to do adult nursing or mental health nursing or social work, FFS why does nothing go right for me ever now im sitting in front of my pc crying like a baby all i have ever want to do was be a nurse and look after people now what am i going to do with my life here isnt even any point in going back to collage is there x

phone them up and ask for feedback. do so as calmly and positively as you can, and then apply someplace else. and dont tie yourself down by your daughters school.

i will ill ring them on monday x

well said stitch, Derby/Notts are activly advertising for trainee nurses/midwifes, huge shortage up here as a lot retiring (and according to friends who are nursing a lot off on maternity = 1 year paid, who are then returning part time not full = more vacancies)
and they have childcare available too (not that you need that as dd going to school)

nikola - sorry you've been knocked back. Please ring up and ask for feedback as the others have said and don't despair just yet, some people who've been offered places will turn them down and they will become available agin through Clearing. Don't give up - it happened just this way for a friend of mine on a Physio course.

Nik, I'm so sorry.

But I think stitch's suggestion is brilliant. Why not move - up sticks and just go? I don't get the impression you've got a huge network around you, and I know there's your bloke but he could come and see you every weekend FFS, and you could have a fabulous new life.

Long ago I didn't get a grant to do a course I really wanted to. It turned out to be the best thing that could happen for me.

i live in a coucil flat though could i move

nikcola, I too am sorry that this has happened. Agree with others ask for feedback. At the same time I also agree that you should look into other options elsewhere. You could put in for a transfer with the council or you could look for something private. Don't give up an ddon't despair (although I understand why you might feel like it). The difference between people who succeed at what they want out of life and people who don't is simple: after a knock the people who succeed, pick themselves up, brush themselves off and just get on with it. Good luck and best wishes Winnie

just want to add my support
get in with the tutor who interviewed you ,listen to the feedback and keep up communication with them...you could get in through clearing or next year[which will fly by!]

was it one interview for all three courses?

Yep and if your transfering north, there's loads of decent council accomodation up here

Ah Nikcola, so sorry to hear that. Don't be too down about it, and don't give up, Let us all know what they say on monday

Agree, agree, agree with stitch, Winnie, MI, scalty and the others, Nik. Yes, this is really upsetting and I'd be gutted too and it must feel like a slap in the face. But one real option is to slap the gits right back and go somewhere else! I do understand that it seems a massive step but the college housing support people would be really pleased to offer help with relocation, I'm sure and I agree with those who've said it could be a fantastic move for you and dd. You still have a good 8 months to plan a move if you wanted to start somewhere in September 2005. Or maybe you could take a year out to work in social care and aim to start college in Sep 2006 if you got feedback that mentioned work experience as an issue? As Misdee says, there are a huge army of unqualified people who keep all the social care sectors going- pretty much as unsung, often underpaid, heroes. You could gain loads of experience that way and occasionally you find that the only major difference between you and a qualified member of staff is that they are getting paid a lot more to do a remarkably similar job.

It's v common not to get into your first choice of uni and to have to look at the clearing system or even reapply next year, btw. Given that your whole class applied as well as, I assume, many others, they had to reject someone and it may well be that they can give you some feedback that will up your chances of getting in somewhere else.

You may even find that one factor was your age or something really nebulous like that. I noticed that the two people who failed to get on an optional sponsorship scheme at my college recently were the youngest applicants by some way. There can be an attitude in social care that younger folks have all the time in the world to gain experience/attain their career goals, IME.

Anyway, enough from me. But please, please, please don't lose heart. All is not lost and there really will be other options.

I'm so so sorry to hear this Nikcola. I've been following your threads and I think it would be a crying shame if someone so committed and compassionate doesn't get into nursing - keep on at them. It's the squeaky wheel that gets the oil. Best of luck.

thank you xxxx

Apply for the diploma through NMAS, you can get in for Sept entry and Jan entry and its not related to UCAS. I applied for both.

I applied for my nursing course 2 years into an English degree. I got called for an interview, only to have my heart broken. The interviewer obviously thought I was not make it, and told me so rather bluntly (was in tears in the interview room). She said that if I got 6mths clinical experience between then (June) and March I could have my place on a diploma for nursing, and I really don't think she expected to see me again. I have done 6mths clinical experience as a carer for old people this month, and in doing that realised I want to be a good nurse, and that I will be a fab nurse. It has also helped me be a lot more aware of healthcare issues, and the challenges I will face as a student nurse.

See this as a challenge, and if you really really want this, and I suspect you do, go out and do something about it. Do that NMAS application, consider moving, go through clearing (which you are now eligble for through UCAS). Do everything. Rejog your personal statement, ring up Luton and ask WHY, talk to your tutors at college and ask what else you can do. Read NT every week. Really really get into it, and I am sure you will get that place. Do some volunteer work, or paid work in a healthcare setting because they really like that.

Good luck x

will try that too xx

Oh Ni, sorry i didn't see this earlier.

It's there loss anyway, WE all know what a great nurse you would make.

I think perhaps moving would be a good idea, you could be moved and settled again by the time dd starts school.

Also, definatly apply for the diploma too.

Hi Nik, did you phone Luton today ????

just a word about housing.when i was at uni there was a couple with a baby who got into university married residences.it was a little flat with two bedrooms.uni's quite often have things like this for students with kids i think.( i say married, but they weren't , just what it was called)

It's not the right place for you. I applied to Derby for 2003 entry to do Radiography and they declined me after my interview because I had a baby who would have been 11 months at the start of the course. I applied again for 2004 entry and got offered a place - conditionally that I would complete a course that I'd already mentioned wouldn't finish until October. I rang them many times trying to explain and they said wait until A level results then ring them and explain, and I would get on. I did that and they said they had to think about it, so I thought stuff them, I can do better than this. I went through Clearing and got a place at UCE (no interviews, nothing).

I've had to leave that course to move to Suffolk for dhs work though, so hoping to get a place this year at Suffolk College!

Don't beat yourself up - at Derby they told me there were 900 applicants, and only 300 shortlisted for interview for 45 places. And nursing is the same so it's tough going. Good luck next time!!

Hi NIcola, I may be confused but i thought you were considering the diploma? I dnt know about luton being up north but im sure that places are stupidly competitive. I didnt get in when i first applied but i did last time. Id definately not have applied for all three courses? just a suggestion? but when courses are very competeive they like to know that you know where you want to be in 5 years time. Theres a big difference between adult and mental health nursing as well as social work to both. id go and get some more experinece, apply through NMAS for diploma and degree for UCAS again and be positive! id also look at clearing but you would have to be able to provide a sound choice of career and why you want to be doing the course? Good luck!