Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Scotsnet

Welcome to Scotsnet - discuss all aspects of life in Scotland, including relocating, schools and local areas.

Original poster

The trials and tribulations of Uni Apps for 2018.

660 replies

WaxOnFeckOff · 19/09/2017 13:21

Just thought I'd start a wee thread for those with DC applying for uni for next year (or indeed applying for themselves) in ase anyone was up for sharing knowledge/support/venting etc.

I have DS1 applying for this year. Still doesn't know where to or what for Confused.

Not done any open days yet and lots now clashing so can't do them all. He wont go alone and wont ask anything or tell us anything about it if he did, so looks like it might be family days out for the next month or so. Dragging DS2 with us as he is currently doing Highers and given his poor Nat 5 results, he needs some motivation to pull his finger out if he wants to go to Uni.

How is everyone else getting on?

OP posts:
Original poster
WaxOnFeckOff · 23/02/2018 13:45

Thanks Eve, i'll look into it. It's IT/Engineering that DS1 will be doing. DS2 will be lucky to be doing anything as he is really struggling at the moment, whether that is down to potential dyspraxia or lazyitus we have yet to establish. He is a lot brighter than his results suggest. DS2 might be getting told (by us) not to bother with 6th year next year as he might be better just going and getting a job and seeing how the real world feels.

OP posts:
Superjaggy · 23/02/2018 23:18

DS just informed me that he got an unconditional for Glasgow tonight at 7pm! For Politics and History. I so wish Glasgow was his first choice but he's all set on Aberdeen. Still time to change his mind though 😊

prettybird · 23/02/2018 23:41

Congratulations to your ds Superjaggy Star

At least it means that he has a true choice between two places he wants to go to whatever we want Wink

IndigoApple · 24/02/2018 10:29

Good to hear about all the offers coming in! DD has received all offers now and needs to decide between Dundee and Aberdeen. She did get a conditional offer to go straight into 2nd year at Strathclyde but not keen on the idea. She likes being the oldest in her year group at the moment! Also we both feel a it's a bit close to home. It would certainly save us some money though!

Superjaggy · 24/02/2018 17:42

Thanks pretty, he wasn't quite as dismissive of the Glasgow offer as I expected so I'm still hopeful 😬

Indigo I think your DD is wise re the age thing. And I also agree that choosing to stay away from home is good - I totally understand the financial reasons for staying at home but living away for uni was so character-building for me (and I'm hoping it'll force my DS to grow up a bit Wink)

Sturmundcalm · 01/03/2018 18:34

DD got an offer in from St Andrews this afternoon so obviously March has arrived!

Groovee · 01/03/2018 20:15

Oh that's great news @Sturmundcalm

Dd saw that Stirling was closed so decided not to expect anything from the uni's.

We've been off but she's sat all day and done work and can chill now.

Sturmundcalm · 01/03/2018 20:34

I was surprised - had assumed that they'd all be off with the weather! Although maybe a bit like my work where all the meetings are cancelled so folk are getting on with real work instead ;-)

She's now been brave and emailed Strathclyde cause they were supposed to send her offer through last week (that's what they said at engineering session on Wed) and then didn't. Since it's her top pick it's a bit frustrating that it's the only one she doesn't now have.

Hope your DD get's hers through soon - and glad to hear she's worked. DD did some stuff (on an essay that was due in today) but has mainly sledged and walked in the snow to get chocolate!

prettybird · 01/03/2018 21:18

Brilliant Sturm Smile Hope she gets a positive reply from Strathclyde but if she ends up at St Andrews she'll love it (can recommend which of the friendly and not snobby Wink residences to apply to Grin)

Ds still not heard anything from Edinburgh (or Dundee but it is out of the running now with his Unconditional from Aberdeen).

wigglybeezer · 05/03/2018 11:34

Good week last week: DS2 had another unconditional, from Edinburgh and DS1 got 70% in his Nat5 Applications of Maths prelim, never seen him do a happy dance about an exam result before!

Still waiting...and waiting, increasingly nervously (me, checking email far too frequently) for an offer from St Andrews, the only one DS2 really wants. Hoping the strikes don't hold things up.

Reallycantbebothered · 05/03/2018 12:09

My ds is in first year at Dundee ( Geography and Environmental Science) if any one needs any inside info, he's in Westpark halls
...his older sister also went to Dundee and graduated couple of years ago in Philosophy and Film, then did postgrad teaching at Edinburgh and is now teaching English in China)
We live in Wales but I'm originally from Fife , Met my dh at Aberdeen Uni many moons ago

prettybird · 05/03/2018 12:54

Fantastic wiggly Smile - we're still waiting on hearing from Edinburgh. I'm more impatient than ds Hmm

I hope your ds hears soon from St Andrews. I loved it there, so was a weeeee bit disappointed when ds said he didn't like the feel of the place as in my humble opinion he is missing out on a great experience as well as a great course but I couldn't fault his reasoning, as what he disliked about the place was what I'd loved.

Really - ds also applied to Dundee and hasn't heard yet, but as he now had an Unconditional from Aberdeen, it's out of the running.

wigglybeezer · 09/03/2018 08:25

Still waiting for St Andrews...getting worried now...

prettybird · 09/03/2018 09:10

Still no news from Edinburgh here either Sad

I was sooooo convinced he would hear this week wishful thinking on my part Wink

1nutcracker · 09/03/2018 10:10

My son got a conditional for one subject at St Andrews first week in Feb. Still waiting to hear about 2nd app, for which he exceeds the conditions.

wigglybeezer · 09/03/2018 10:38

nutcracker was that in a science or humanities subject? I've done some -over involved mother snooping- research on The Student Room and last year there was a flurry of offers/rejections, particularly arts subjects, from about the 10-16 so I'm expecting next week to be crunch time. History does have one of the worst success rates for Scottish applicants though.
I'm a bit worried about his personal statement TBH, he refused to mention anything about his disabilities, even though they explain his lack of extracurricular activities and he could have spun a good triumph over adversity narrative about the results he achieved. He doesn't like talking about himself if he can avoid it!

prettybird · 09/03/2018 10:41

Wigglybeezer - any chance the school would have mentioned his disabilities and how he's overcome them in their reference? clutching at straws Wink

wigglybeezer · 09/03/2018 12:29

I don't know what they put in the references, I assumed it was academic ability/potential, not sure how much they put about character, he always gets very good reports so should be fine.
I was just on UCAS looking up something for DS1 and spotted that Track will be down for maintenance from 6pm until sometime on Saturday so at least we'll have an evening off from checking!

Glendee · 09/03/2018 12:35

At last! My dd got her last offer in (Dundee).
Think she’s going to put down edinburgh uni with Newcastle uni as her 2nd choice, but has a few offer holder days to go to.

Reallycantbebothered · 09/03/2018 12:41

pretty I had a fabulous time in Aberdeen...what is Ds wanting to study?...
I did Geography and dh Medicine
Sadly the halls we met in have now been demolished Sad

1nutcracker · 09/03/2018 13:08

Offer for physics. Waiting for Maths. Scottish student.

prettybird · 09/03/2018 15:55

Really - he's going to study Politics & International Relations (with the emphasis on International Relations).

He only went up to the Aberdeen Open Day under duress from me Hmm(the only Open Day I accompanied him on; I was just "the lift" to St Andrews which suited me as I could revisit old haunts Wink) and loved the vibe of the place as well as the course. A good cross between St Andrews (too isolated, traditional and cliquy for him) and Strathclyde (City Uni but too close to home).

So if he doesn't get Edinburgh, he'll be happy with Aberdeen. His cousin is currently in her 3rd year there doing Marine Biology and has loved it.

Disadvantage is that it doesn't have the quality of rugby that he wants Confused

wigglybeezer · 14/03/2018 10:22

Still waiting for St Andrews, feeling the strain (me, not DS2 who is cool as a cucumber).

prettybird · 14/03/2018 11:09

Ditto in our household re Edinburgh. Although ds seems to be increasingly confident that he will get a conditional hope he is not cruising towards disappointment Hmm

We've booked to go up to the Offer Holders Day at Aberdeen next Wednesday (21st). Need to decide whether we need to be there in time for the Welcome Talk at 9.15 or the Accommodation talk at 11.30. Ds thinks no he doesn't want to have to leave before 6 whereas dh and I think Yes.

We're driving so we have the final say Grin

An alternative would be to go up the night before which give us a chance to see his cousin who is studying there.

user1487194234 · 14/03/2018 16:44

Surely can't be long now
Is there an exam thread for this year