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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:
Groovee · 14/03/2018 21:19

Dd had an interview for college today for her back up, still no word from Stirling. Dundee did say March. But it's still a waiting game.

ttlshiwwya · 14/03/2018 21:45

My DN is waiting for Stirling too. It's her first choice.

prettybird · 14/03/2018 23:13

Ds has just got a rejection from Dundee: it's thrown him a bit a lot as he more than meets their "usual" offer requirements. I've suggested it might be because there might have been an aspect of his personal statement that didn't "fit" (eg his emphasis on the UN) - and anyway, he preferred Aberdeen, for which he has an unconditional Confused

He's saying that he'd have liked Dundee as an option as it is in the Central Belt and only 1.5 hours from Glasgow (think he's thinking of coming back to Glasgow for rugby games Hmm)

I think the real reason it has thrown him so much is that he's now worried about Edinburgh. Sad

The waiting continues......Hmm

Groovee · 15/03/2018 06:05

@prettybird my niece has been rejected from Dundee this week too. She's gutted x

Original poster
WaxOnFeckOff · 15/03/2018 09:21

Oh sorry to hear that pb and groovee Sad

We are still waiting and DS still not made any committment and not decided about any offer day attendance, that will be academic shortly as they will all be over. I had a bit of a rant on saturday at everyone, not just him, over everyone leaving me to be thinking and worrying about all this stuff. Not seen much improvement although DS1 did open some of his emails and has said he is interested in applying for graduate apprenticeships even though some of them close this week and I've no idea if he has actually applied or not...

DS2 is putting in his options for 6th year today but I don't think he is doing the right thing, but it's his choice. Not a lot of study happening although timetables were created on Sunday under threat of no steak for dinner. DS2 is in a bit of a flurry of submissions for English and Music and DS1s report card which I got last week tells me that he has stuff to complete by end Feb, yes, end Feb and report received in march, so what they thought I could do to facilitate that is beyond me. Confused.

OP posts:
prettybird · 15/03/2018 09:31

Ds has just come down to acknowledge (he's studying at home this morning as he has two free periods) that the reason Dundee's rejection upset him so much is that he is no longer so confident about Edinburgh. He's hoping that his maths (which he is really enjoying) will make him attractive to his joint-with-Quantitative Methods application.

Wax - must be so frustrating for you

ttlshiwwya · 15/03/2018 14:03

prettybird my niece is having similar worries. She's starting to doubt her first choice wants her. My sister has been trying to emphasise that she has an offer from her second choice - Aberdeen - which she is really happy with. She's even got a StA offer. It's really difficult to predict who you will get an offer for some subjects once you've met the minimum. My son's GF has had a good strategy - she withdrew from all her lower choices once she got an unconditional from her 2nd choice as she wanted to "bin them before they binned Her"

Groovee · 16/03/2018 14:22

Dd has been offered a place at college subject to a PVG check. At least the back up plan is sorted.

prettybird · 16/03/2018 19:23

That's great news Groovee - she must be pleased to have a backup choice.

I've had a look at relevant forum on The Student Room and it doesn't look like any offers for IR have been issued for Scottish and EU applicants yet. Overseas (eg USA) and English applicants yes.

One girl got an offer two days ago - but when she was asked if she was a Scottish or EU applicant, answered that she was a UK applicant Confused That makes me assume that she was an English applicant as she didn't understand the reason for the question and the need for a more specific response.

Lots of people for all sort of different subjects still waiting on Edinburgh offers - but it does seem that they are starting to trickle through, subject by subject.

Groovee · 16/03/2018 20:29

I'm glad she has a back up plan. Just wish the others would get in touch x

Original poster
WaxOnFeckOff · 16/03/2018 20:54

I'm getting hacked off at Edinburgh to be honest. I find it really rude that they think they can just muck about and keep people on the hook when everyone else can make the effort to reply in a decent time-frame. It's like they do it just because they can and to make them out to be special.

OP posts:
Glendee · 16/03/2018 22:36

I’m sure there are many different experiences with applying to Edinburgh University but my DD experience has been positive and they have been quite proactive; it was one of the first to give her an offer in October and they were the only uni she applied to that visited our local city to give a Q&A evening to offer holders.

Lidlfix · 16/03/2018 22:51

Wax - they are rated very low on student experience. They're prestigious and know it and rely on that.

Original poster
WaxOnFeckOff · 16/03/2018 23:06

To be fair DS isn't particularly invested in any of his choices over the others but he will not make a decision until he has heard from them all. We are from Edinburgh (but don't live there now) so I suppose it just feels more familiar to us all and most of my family still live there. Glasgow would be travel-able daily but I just can't take to the place if I'm honest.

I'm glad you've had a positive experience Glendee, it probably does depend on which subject it is. I wouldn't expect anything more than a conditional offer for DS as he missed his A in Maths that they want by one mark. Heriot Watt and Strathclyde have both given him an offer for 2nd year although he didn't ask for that.

All this is additionally complicated by the fact that I may be redundant before he starts Uni but I won't know until after he has to confirm. It may mean that we have to relocate and my preference would be to go back to Edinburgh or environs. So, DS could accept Glasgow and travelling as he wouldn't be entitled to accommodation and then we could move somewhere that would make the commute awkward and that's without thinking of DS2 being mid S6 at the same time.

I guess I just hate not having control and clarity on what is happening.

OP posts:
1nutcracker · 16/03/2018 23:57

A friend's daughter (Scottish) got an unconditional for IR on Tuesday

Groovee · 17/03/2018 04:24

Stirling hasn't replied to my Dd at all. She's only got a back up plan in place as Dundee haven't been in touch since the interview either.

SwiftAnchor · 17/03/2018 10:44

Hope those still waiting hear soon!!

Dd had no had all her offers in, got her last one yesterday. She is going with her unconditional for Glasgow to do History. She got that offer in November so she has been spared the stress of a lot of her friends. Some of them are still waiting and some have had to rethink their plans Sad

Downside is DD hasn't been attending school much as she's known quite early on this year doesn't matter Hmm That's been quite frustrating, tho as she managed to still get all As in her prelims the school are pretty much letting it go. (Or have stopped texting/phoning!) Grin

1nutcracker · 17/03/2018 12:45

My DS the same, but Glasgow did say, although unconditional, that they are to inform GU if dropping any subjects or leaving school. An empty threat, but want to encourage them to stay on in education. Although he has 2 uncons from GU, DS still waiting on St A.

Original poster
WaxOnFeckOff · 17/03/2018 21:23

That's a shame groovee I hope they let her know soon.

I can see DS1 has an email from UCAS asking him to log in for an update. I've dropped a hint that I've heard that Edinburgh have been sending out a lot of responses but it's fallen on deaf ears. I'll just have to wait until he gets round to looking at his email :(

OP posts:
BurningTheToast · 19/03/2018 07:19

I'm so glad to have found this thread - uni applications are driving me quietly insane.

DS waiting to hear from Glasgow - his top choice - and Dundee. The latter is out of the running as he's got an unconditional from Stirling. Aberdeen require an A from any one of his Advanced Highers which he's more than capable of if he puts the work in. Edinburgh rejected him last week.

Offer day in sunny Aberdeen on Wednesday!

Groovee · 19/03/2018 07:47

A family member keeps trying to push Dd into STEM. They also think she needs to do secondary! She wants to specialise in additional needs in primary 😬

prettybird · 19/03/2018 08:15

We're up to Aberdeen on Wednesday too BurntTheToast Smile Much to ds' disgruntlement as he doesn't see the need to go to the introductory talk We'll be leaving at c6am Shock

What is your ds applying for? Ds still hasn't heard from Edinburgh Hmm

BurningTheToast · 19/03/2018 09:21

prettybird - He's applied for Politics/IR. I wasn't looking to the trip because Aberdeen is soooo cold but as it happens our car died yesterday and I think it's terminal. I don't fancy all that way in my little 900cc Fiat so he's getting the train on his own. We don't go round with him anyway - DH is ex university lecturer and said he's best on his own.

What about your DS?

Incidentally, DH taught at Edinburgh and was equivocal about whether it was a good place for DS but he wanted to stay in Scotland so it was there or St Andrews and he knew the latter wouldn't take him.

prettybird · 19/03/2018 09:55

That's also what ds is applying for Smile - but he was rejected by Dundee last week (which he took badly even though it was below Aberdeen in his choices - and he has an Unconditional for Aberdeen Confused). Maybe that means that your ds will get an offer from Dundee, if they've already sent rejections out?

....trying to clutch at straws as ds hasn't heard anything from his two applications to Edinburgh yet: one joint with Quantitative Methods Wink

prettybird · 19/03/2018 12:30

Meant to say that Superjaggy 's ds also has an Unconditional from Aberdeen for PIR - although iirc, he was also still waiting on Glasgow.

Ds applied for Strathclyde (and got an unexpected Unconditional) rather than Glasgow as he decided its course fitted his specific areas of interest better.