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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:
Original poster
WaxOnFeckOff · 20/03/2018 15:35

Yes he absolutely should be proud. A great choice still to make either way.

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Sturmundcalm · 20/03/2018 15:45

glad he's managing to adjust PB - and definitely lots of reasons to be proud. he may yet be able to get other choices through clearing if he ends up hankering after one of the rejections?

prettybird · 20/03/2018 17:02

He's rung Edinburgh to ask why he was rejected.....they said to send an email, so he has Smile

He acknowledges that the guttedness that he felt immediately after finding out has passed (he'd apparently literally just said that it was a perfect day: sunny, his AH Maths test had been in his opinion "easy" for him and that the only thing that could spoil it would be 2 rejections from Edinburgh) - but he is still really keen on the combination with Quantitative Methods, which neither of the other Unis obviously offers. (it may of course be hidden within options/modules)

wigglybeezer · 20/03/2018 18:12

Oh Prettybird what a shame for your DS, glad he is coping with the disappointment, the resilience of youth...I find myself thinking of something oft repeated by my wee granny "What's for ye will no go bye ye", I know it's a bit simplistic but it's helping me prepare for less favoured outcomes at the moment.
Still haven't heard from St Andrews, I was actually there today for a birthday outing with DH, felt like chaining myself to the railings outside the admissions office until they told me one way or another.
There are numerous threads on The Student Room about people being rejected with stellar grades, the EU students in particular are aghast as it's very different to how things work generally on the continent. Any course with IR or Economics in the titile seems particularly tough to get onto. I must admit to not thinking to check offer rates, I just told DS2 to try and get 5 A's to make sure he got in, I realise I was a bit naive, his first choice has an offer rate of only 17%, but not as bad as ECA, which I also checked becuase it's where DH and I went and DS3 fancies it, it's offer rate is single figures!
It's difficult to be dispassionate about...

prettybird · 20/03/2018 18:17

I think the offer rate for IR at Edinburgh for Scottish/EU candidates is 7% Shock

I'm biting my tongue to stop saying that actually university experience wise, Edinburgh probably isn't the best Wink .....he's not ready to hear that as he wanted it so badly Confused

prettybird · 20/03/2018 18:27

....it's not helped by the fact that ds changed his mind about what he wanted to do last summer to a higher tariff course and although he argued his interest in it well (viz. his two Unconditionals), it wasn't enough for Edinburgh.

The fact that his stellar friend (who will no doubt be Dux, has a gold DoE and other significant achievements) was rejected by St Andrews probably helps Grin (even if it only reinforces his view as to what a lottery the system is Wink)

Original poster
WaxOnFeckOff · 20/03/2018 18:35

DS1 also has a rejection from Edinburgh, he hadn't prioritised them above any other application so it really just makes his decision easier. We just had a chat and he's been feeling overwhelmed and anxious about it all. He's decided he doesn't want to live away at the moment so now it's just a decision about whether he'll go to Glasgow or Strathclyde. We are going to try to get to the offer days next week and then make a final decision. No rush as he isn't looking to get accommodation. As far as I could see the letter from Edinburgh just said "many other qualified candidates etc etc etc"

Good luck to those still waiting.

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Original poster
WaxOnFeckOff · 20/03/2018 18:37

Any one got any views on Software Engineering at Strathclyde v's Electronic and Software Engineering at Glasgow?

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prettybird · 20/03/2018 18:41

Don't have any view/knowledge, except that traditionally Strathclyde was the technical poly Uni - and as such has a good reputation for most engineering courses.

Original poster
WaxOnFeckOff · 20/03/2018 18:43

I didn't visit Strathclyde so my only input is that it's closer to the train station :)

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Aurea · 20/03/2018 19:16

How are Law applicants faring please?

My son wants to apply for Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen etc next year.

Any nasty surprises or encouragement?

All the best to everyone.

SwiftAnchor · 20/03/2018 19:41

Sorry to hear about the rejections prettybird Sad

Wax - unistats m.unistats.ac.uk/ is quite good for course comparisons. I work in a uni and it's considered quite a good indicator. You can directly compare 2 courses. Generally Glasgow always comes out better than Strathclyde.

Original poster
WaxOnFeckOff · 20/03/2018 19:47

thanks swift I have looked at that before but completely forgot about it. We've had a bit of a stressful evening all in! DS2 just about in tears as his Higher Geography assignment due to be sat on Friday and he hasn't done anything for it.

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Groovee · 20/03/2018 20:45

@Aurea my niece was rejected from Strathclyde and Dundee for Law. She got an unconditional for Stirling and a conditional for Aberdeen. Edinburgh I don't think she's heard!

Aurea · 20/03/2018 20:55

Thanks @groovee

Congrats on the two offers. May I ask her grades and which one is her first choice?

So hard with so much competition.

Hope your niece is happy....

Groovee · 21/03/2018 05:56

Has had all A's and a couple of B's from memory. Not sure what the conditions were but she's doing 3 advanced highers.

Groovee · 21/03/2018 05:56

Although her first choice was Dundee.

IndigoApple · 21/03/2018 07:32

Sorry to hear that prettybird, specially after the long wait.

wigglybeezer · 21/03/2018 18:12

Feel slightly sheepish telling you this after others' disappointments but DS2 got an unconditional for St Andrews today, really chuffed for him and relieved that I won't have to help him work out what to do with a gap year. Aghast at the cost of the halls though!

Original poster
WaxOnFeckOff · 21/03/2018 20:05

Oh well done to your DS wiggly , no need to be sheepish!! You should all be proud and able to shout about it!

In our house DH is clearly not particularly happy that DS1 has decided to travel and choose Glasgow or Strathclyde. He thinks he should move out. Clearly DS doesn't feel he is ready and whilst I agree, in theory, it should be good for him, but it could easily go completely the other way and overwhelm him. I think he does need to branch out a bit and so I think we should concentrate on getting him a part time job that he can do from when the exams are finished and encourage him to socialise/join a club or two or something and then maybe see if he might want to move out in the latter years.

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Groovee · 21/03/2018 20:58

Great news for your DS Wriggly!

prettybird · 21/03/2018 22:16

Brilliant news wiggly Star I loved my years in St Andrews, and as long as he already had a feel for the place and liked it, he'll have a fabulous time Smile

We're just back from the Offer Holders Day at Aberdeen. Ds says it was the best possible remedy to the rejections yesterday. He really enjoyed it - and the mini PIR lecture we were given - and had to participate in (both the young people and the parents Shock) - was really stimulating (and thought provoking - I'd love to do the course myself Wink) Coming across a Uni rugby game also helped Grin (I went and asked the touch judge who was playing: Aberdeen 2nds v Heriot Watt 1st), and he liked the impression he got that it was a committed team.

At the PIR talk, when the young people were separated to do a wee bit of work and to find out more about each other, he said he ended up sitting next to a boy who is at the (private) school next to his own school (he walks past it every day). They'll probably end up bumping into each other now on their way to their respective schools.

He's now decided that Aberdeen is a "hidden gem". Not sure if we're going to be able to persuade him to even go to the Strathclyde day Hmm

Aurea · 21/03/2018 22:54

Fantastic. I live just outside Aberdeen and hear lots of positive things about the university. Hope your son is very happy there.

Original poster
WaxOnFeckOff · 21/03/2018 23:15

That's good that you've had a good day pb. I'm just counting up the money we'll save on accommodation though it will cost us around £300 a month on travel plus getting an extra car on top of that and all that entails!

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Reallycantbebothered · 22/03/2018 09:48

prettbird I ended up going to Aberdeen 35 yrs ago I was a baby when I went after mucking up my Chemistry higher and missing out on my place at St Andrews
Had the time of my life in the granite city, made some brilliant friends, whom I'm still in contact with, and my dh of 30 yrs. Unfortunately the halls we met and fell in love in , have sadly been demolished
Turns out I hated Geology, which was what I was going to study at St Andrews , and swapped to Geography instead Grin
Hope your Ds decides to go there, sometimes things turn out better than expected