The trials and tribulations of Uni Apps for 2018.

[WaxOnFeckOff]

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 .

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?

yep, I've used a comparison site for insurance quotes and some of the names aren't particularly familiar but we were looking at about £750 up to about £1100 for various different cars which for a 17 year old new driver I didn't think was too bad. That was with a box fitted.

Thank you! We're going window shopping in a couple of weeks so I'll let you know how we get on. It'll be my husband's FIRST ever car (he's 45!!) and my son will just go on the insurance. We also have a large 4x4 (my car) and there's no way my son's learning on that!

Poor DS has now been driving 5 different cars and he's not passed his test yet.

Have a look for Corsas, they're good for tall folk ( my son is 6ft 2 and has no trouble).... they're reliable, cheap( ish) to insure for a young driver if you use insurers who use black box telematics ( try Ingenie Insurance...my dd had this for her first year and if she drove well , the insurance dropped each month)
Corsas also cheap to get repaired
When I was at Aberdeen Uni , I used to walk everywhere or get a bus! (Little parking on campus!)

There is no way on earth I would buy a Vauxhall and definitely not a Corsa for a young boy. Mine is also good as gold but others seeing a lad in a Corsa think it's fair game. Add to that that a local young boy killed himself in one a few weeks back which I know isn't the cars fault, but they have a reputation that I'm not buying into. Apologies if that sounds harsh but I feel really strongly about it and DH is the same.

For those looking at Aberdeen I recommend the Uni accommodation at Hillhead over Unite. We had a bad experience with DS at Unite in that despite being told when we applied that he would be put in with first years he actually had only one other first year in his flat and the others were all in higher years.

wax I only suggested a corsa as they're cheap and reliable , but each to their own- other cars are available, I was only suggesting what had worked for my dcs
sorry to hear about the young lad who died

I'm sorry if I was a bit ranty Really, I know you were trying to help. There is a culture associated with boys and corsas and I am not sure if you are aware of it or not? Vauxhalls have also had a well deserved reputation for being poor quality in the past but to be fair I haven't looked at that recently. I cant really talk though as I've had Renaults which others wont touch with a bargepole :)

Probably my view is also coloured by the fact a group of lads undertook me on a single lane roundabout yesterday (they drove over the roundabout bit and then sped up doing at least 50 in a 30, in the usual car packed full souped up corsa. See it all the time. DH drives for a living and he's not sure what is worse, the boys in the corsas or the girls in the fiat 500s that dice with death with the lorries on the motorway.

Dd has been invited to an offer day on the 7th or the 25th. Am trying to get her to take the 7th as her dad and I can both go. I know I can't get the 25th off as it's a Wednesday and my job share works elsewhere on a Wednesday and wouldn't be able to cover and at the moment I'm covering another staff member in the afternoons as we cannot get cover at all from supply.

Keeping my fingers crossed that Stirling let her know either way soon.

wax I think certain cars do get a bad press for young drivers, but it may also be a geographical thing as well....where we are ( rural n Wales) corsas are driven by little old ladies and the youth all seem to drive orange or lime green Citroen saxos or Subaru young farmers

I'm in central Scotland really. I'd wrongly assumed you were in Scotland since this post is in Scotsnet :) You are welcome to post but a lot of the info might not be as relevant for you so if something seems odd it's probably due to the different school systems we have up here. I know Irish posters (both North and South together I think) have their own section too, Is there one for Wales?

Locally it's all about the white 500s for girls and dark corsas of various vintages for boys :)

I hate Vauxhalls #justsaying

Loved our old Mazda6 but the arse was falling out of it and we wanted to put on a towbar for a bike rack, so we replaced it with a Vectra

looking forward to the day when we can afford to replace it

I'm from Fife originally and went to Uni in Aberdeen in the 80's where I met dh, who is from N Wales, where we now live....however have 3 dcs, 2 of whom are at or have been at Uni in Scotland ( both Dundee and Edinburgh MA and MSc ) hence my presence here!....as obviously still visit Scotland
very little on mn which is specific to Wales

Oops. Shouldn't assume anything Really. I thought you were just lost....:o

On when the time comes and you get something new (er) just think how happy you will be. DH has an Octavia estate that he loves more than me, the boys and the cat put together!

Stirling have rejected Dd for all the 3 courses she applied for. She's actually ok. And thinks Dundee is the best option as it's the new course that will be rolled out soon.

Oh no Groovee :( Did they give any reason? Am I remembering correctly that she interviewed with Dundee? If she didn't with Stirling then I think it's been that opportunity to sell herself that has clearly made a difference. Stirling don't know what a gem they have missed. I'm sure fate has dealt her the best deal.

Are there any other makes or types or car that we should avoid, regarding laddish behaviour?
X

Not that I am aware of Aurea. I'm in no way implying that anyone here's child would be a boy racer pest, but the temptation for others to engage in a bit of harassing behaviour with them is higher when they are in something that looks souped up/modified. My Ds is very conservative and doesn't like to be noticed so we are looking for something quite plain and "normal" (his words not mine!) :o

I think you also have the Audi/BMW type of behaviours but those cars aren't in our budget.

Groovee - good on your dd for her positive attitude. I'm sure she will do brilliantly at Dundee.

Our kids are more resilient than sometimes we give them credit for - seeing the bright side of what UCAS fate deals them.

I'm now able to regale ds with the stories as to why Edinburgh wasn't the best choice (some from here, others from friends who have experience, either directly or indirectly, of Edinburgh Uni). It was just that until up till now, he was so set on Edinburgh as both a good course (especially because of the Quantitative Methods that he wanted to do with IR) and a place where he could progress his rugby. But even he is now finding for himself reasons why it wasn't such a good option.

She's firmed up the Dundee offer. We need to look into accommodation now.

Stirling didn't even offer an interview. Interestingly a number of people have had unconditionals or conditional offers with no interview. She did a pre application with them and their reply was she would get a conditional with a B in Psychology needed.

My niece wanted Dundee and Dd got an offer and Dd wanted Stirling and Niece has an unconditional. Strange how things work out. We'd been hoping that they would maybe end up at the same uni.

Grovee I have/had dcs at Dundee....strangely both ended up at Westpark...it's a bit out of the way from campus along Perth road , but neither of them minded that as the walk is nice and the halls have lovely rooms( bedrooms bigger than some of the other halls , and no briezeblock walls in bedrooms- like Seabraes halls and you don't feel you're in a ghetto which is how the halls on main campus felt - where noise could be a problem
We pay approx £600 a month for Ds flat £5400 ( over 9 months)
There are night buses that run from the campus/ union after nights out so getting back to halls hasn't been a problem
I'd apply ASAP , you get to choose 5 halls I think and get your dc to check their spam folders for communication from the accommodation office as dd didn't and missed her first choice of halls
Thankfully Ds is moving into private halls for second year which work out at £350 / month... but we have to pay quarterly from beginning of July for the whole year ( £4200)
Only another 3 yrs till all dcs have graduated and I'll have a bit of extra money to do up our house!

Thanks @Reallycantbebothered that's helpful.

My friend's Dd is in 3rd year just now, so going to ask her if she can give any advice too x

Groovee - if she’s going for university halls they have some right on campus, all self catering . Belmont flats and Belmont tower are nice.

Dundee will let you ask for same sex or mixed accommodation and quiet or noisy .

Thanks @S0ph1a

We're booked in for the visit now. 2 weeks time. Ds is going to granny's.