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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?

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Original poster
WaxOnFeckOff · 20/09/2017 18:52

Everyone welcome :) You may find the chat a bit parochial though. I think I know half the DC on here better than my own!

As far as I know, the system for applying for Uni is the same across the country so should be useful regardless. I think I just posted in Scotsnet since it feels like a small community now.

We aren't checking passports :o

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Original poster
WaxOnFeckOff · 20/09/2017 18:55

Decisions decisions still for us about whether to do Dundee or Edinburgh this weekend, then I think it will be Heriot Watt next weekend. Then a toss up between Edinburgh and Strathclyde the following weekend.

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prettybird · 20/09/2017 19:55

Ds has an issue with Saturday Open Days because he has rugby games. Fortunately they are "off" for the September weekend this weekend Grin

His revised 1st draft of his personal statement is now off to his pastoral care teacher. The school wants to ensure that they're all done and submitted by early December - plus the Oxbridge candidates have to get theirs done by end October.

He could do the Top-up programme to enhance the offer he gets - but he doesn't want to do it as he says he has enough on his plate with his rugby training and rugby coaching along with his exam subjects. I think the fact that in the school's experience Edinburgh doesn't usually adjust its offer probably influenced his decision - plus he has confidence he will get the "raw" results he needs I suppose I should be impressed I am just a little concerned that he is now wanting to do a course which is much more difficult to get into - and less obvious from his Higher choices - than the Maths/Physics he was planning on last year, so he should take every opprtunity to enhance his application.

Superjaggy - ds was impressed with the Politics on offer at Glasgow (having initially SMSed his Dad in a panic because they didn't "do" Internaitonal Relations, which dh quickly establish Google is a wonderful thing that it was within the Honours options; SMSed this info back to ds; who later in the afternoon SMSed back saying "it's ok, they do it as part of the later specialism" Confused). However, he prefers the idea of Edinburgh not just because of the rugby because they explicitly mention the UN in their course profile.

Superjaggy · 21/09/2017 07:18

Prettybird I'm fairly sure my DS will be impressed with Glasgow too, he likes the way the course is set out. He'd have been keen on Edinburgh but he hasn't got any maths qualification (I think they specify nat 5 maths or a science for the courses he was interested in) so has discounted it. Same for Strathclyde, which I'm a bit gutted about as I did my first degree there.

Groovee it sounds like your DD is a perfect candidate for primary teaching - I really hope she gets in to the course of her choice!

flatmouse · 21/09/2017 09:50

Thanks for the feedback re Abertay. It is still definitely on DS' list (in fact i think it's heading to the top of the list). Not concerned about the location (although long trip to drop him/pick him up), and we have relatives and friends fairly near. I did get some other feedback that it's great for IT but not much else.
Bit of an issue with open days though - we can't make 21st October, and a Wednesday one would mean at least 2 days off college.

Groovee · 21/09/2017 10:05

So a Stirling open day on 28th Oct.... do we go with them or do we hide away?

Original poster
WaxOnFeckOff · 21/09/2017 10:10

No point me hiding away as DS will just stand or walk round and not actually speak to anyone or find anything out. tbh I'd be better going on my own!

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Original poster
WaxOnFeckOff · 21/09/2017 10:11

So, I think it depends on your child. Couple of options for cafes on campus you could wait in and be on call if they wanted you?

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Groovee · 21/09/2017 14:29

I was thinking I could go round the thistle centre 😂

flatmouse · 21/09/2017 16:30

I went to Stirling open day some 27+ years ago! I really wanted to go there, but didn't get the grades in the end :( (Whistle stop tour including Heriott Watt and Stirling).

Groovee · 21/09/2017 18:57

Herriot Watt had them up in June as it's a local university to us. Literally 9 minutes drive. Dd said the only thing she found helpful was their SAAS talk. They don't do teaching so it wasn't useful otherwise for her. She felt it wasted a day!

Superjaggy · 21/09/2017 22:24

I went to Aberdeen open day with DS (and DD14 because there's no show without Punch) and I'd say the majority of kids had a parent or two with them (and siblings too).

Sturmundcalm · 21/09/2017 22:45

DD has done Strathclyde and Glasgow open days without us but was then talking about me going with her to Edinburgh this Saturday. Think she may end up missing it though as she has so much on (had a bit of a meltdown at the start of the week). Since she is still talking about possibly going abroad for uni I'm refusing to engage too much cause I can't cope with the sheer volume of choices!!

At one point she added law into the physics/maths/economics mix but that now seems to have been dropped. She's feeling a bit cocky based on last year's results but I thought very few of them now gave conditionals?

IndigoApple · 22/09/2017 20:00

Thanks for starting this thread! It's been helpful reading everyone's comments.

DD has been to Dundee and Strathclyde open days without me, liked both but I'm struggling to get her to engage with the application process. It's frustrating! I'd like her to go to the Aberdeen one next month but the more I push the less likely she is to go 😕. She wants to study Biomedical sciences. I'd like her to do more research into which course.

The school has issued a timetable for UCAS applications. But she says no one is sticking to it. I may need to contact the school next week...

prettybird · 23/09/2017 13:06

Ds is off to the Edinburgh Open Day today with a friend. This is the one he really wants: it'll be interesting to find out if he still has the same view when he gets home.

LordPercy · 23/09/2017 15:26

We’re just on the way home from Dundee Uni open day...DD has gone through about every emotion there is during the day 😂. She won’t be applying until 2019 as she’s only in S5 and being a September Birthday would only be turning 17 at the start of semester next year. She was pretty impressed but we’ve Stirling and Glasgow next month to compare it to.

prettybird · 23/09/2017 15:44

It's good that she's looking this year: I tried to encourage ds to go to a few Open Days last year but I know nothing Wink. What did you think of Dundee?

He also has a September birthday so even having done a 6th year, depending on which Uni he goes to, he might still be 17 when term starts Shock

Not heard from him at all: am assuming that that is a good thing Grin. He might decide to stay on in Edinburgh and go to the Varsity Game this evening (Edinburgh v St Andrews: oldest one in the world apparently ). He said to me last night that he hopes to be playing in this game, if not next year as he'd only just have started but the year after. Grin

Original poster
WaxOnFeckOff · 23/09/2017 17:26

We are just back from Edinburgh - it was hoaching. DS woke up with a sore hip so we were conscious of trying not to walk too far....and of course the Computing is in the center nut Engineering was way out at Kings Buildings. He only decided last night so the tickets were booked at 1am - needless to say we weren't the best prepared! If we'd known we would have driven to kings buildings and caught the shuttle bust to the central area after. Anyway we managed some things but not as much as we would have liked, DS1 feels more informed but no closer to a decision...Confused DS2 didn't come but he's now saying he doesn't want to go to uni and the way it's looking, he wouldn't have the grades for Edinburgh anyway.

Hope everyone had a good day :)

pb was/is the game at Murrayfield? Loads of folk got off the tram at Murrayfield on the way home.

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ttlshiwwya · 23/09/2017 17:32

Just back from Edinburgh.DD impressed but a bit meh about the chance of an offer (

prettybird · 23/09/2017 17:41

Yes Wax - it is at Murrayfield. I'm presuming, because we haven't heard from ds, that he decided not to go (his friend wouldn't have been that interested).

Original poster
WaxOnFeckOff · 23/09/2017 17:54

ttl doh! we didn't think to ask about that! I did establish that since a lot of what DS is interested in requires an A at Higher Maths and he missed that by one point, he will need a B at AH Maths to meet that criteria.

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LordPercy · 23/09/2017 18:10

DD loved Dundee - campus and course. We went two years ago with DS1 and whilst he loved Stirling campus he really liked the course at Dundee. DH and I are reeling at the price of halls.....😫😱🙈, but DD has her heart set on staying in halls and not travelling from wherever she decides upon. I think she’s right enough but it looks like a remortgage is on the cards, especially if DS1 decides to head to 3rd in Dundee —also in September 2019–

Original poster
WaxOnFeckOff · 23/09/2017 18:32

I was just thinking about the money side of things. DH and I both came from a deprived background and didn't do Uni though DH did so as an adult and I've done some professional qualifications. But we earn too much now for DS to get any support - we sort of feel cheated! We've saved and should have enough to cover accommodation for the first couple of years for both boys. If Ds2 doesn't go then he will have his to put towards a deposit on a house or something that isn't just wasting it. We've done without things to put this money aside and there will no inheritance or anything for boys to look forward to either. So, then I realised that he'll need actual money too for food and stuff...

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Superjaggy · 23/09/2017 18:47

Just back from Dundee (we live up north)... DS really liked the campus but the talk was very focussed on politics in the Middle East whereas he's more interested in UK / European politics, so he didn't enjoy it as much as Aberdeen.
Definitely pinning his hopes on Glasgow now.

Original poster
WaxOnFeckOff · 23/09/2017 19:00

DS looked at some halls on-line and horrified that he'll have to manage with a single bed for the most part! - he currently sleeps diagonally in a double :o

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