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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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IndigoApple · 17/11/2017 00:15

That's DD's form submitted and she got an email from UCAS today to say reference added! Just need to wait now. Feels like it's taken forever to reach this stage!

SwiftAnchor · 18/11/2017 14:02

Good luck to those who have just submitted, hope your DCs hear soon.

I wasn't sure what the psychology course had specified, DD's friend had obviously not looked at it properly. They have had no guidance at school, but I suppose ultimately it's up to them to be checking.

DD had another unconditional yesterday from Strathclyde, so she now only has one more she is waiting on and that was her fallback. So delighted she has the choice and everything has come in quickly.

Another of her friends heard yesterday from Stirling. So it looks like most universities have been getting back quite quickly (friend only submitted on Thursday!) But I imagine this is due to it being well before the deadline as mentioned.

Fingers crossed for everyone Smile

prettybird · 04/12/2017 08:39

Waxon - has your ds made a decision about what he wants to do and where he wants to go?

Ds submitted his UCAS application last night (school just has to add its reference). Politics/International Relations to Edinburgh (his preferred choice), Aberdeen, Strathclyde and Dundee, with an extra one to Edinburgh of IR & Quantitative Methods. He doesn't have the Higher results that they say that they want, but his predicted Advanced Higher Results should more than exceed their normal offer.

His pastoral care teacher says she's going to use his Personal Statement as an example of the progress that can be made from first draft to (very good) final version. I'm hoping that is a good sign! Wink

He took St Andrews off his list as although he liked the course, he didn't like the feel of the Uni and quite reasonably justified that if he were to get an offer from St Andrews rather than Edinburgh, he'd almost definitely get an offer from Aberdeen as well (which he preferred over St Andrews) so that a St Andrews application was a waste of a choice. So he added Dundee, which he's not visited.

He knows that Edinburgh is notoriously late in sending out offers, so we'll not be holding our breath.

In the meantime, he's working hard for his prelims.

He completed his UKCC2 coaching qualification for rugby yesterday - but there isn't a drop down on the UCAS forms to add it Wink. But he has mentioned it in his PS.

Original poster
WaxOnFeckOff · 04/12/2017 19:14

Hi pb

Thank you for asking. That all sounds great and it must be good to get that hurdle out of the way.

We narrowed it down to 20 a couple of weeks ago and got it down to 9 last week but it needs to be submitted this week for school. His Personal Statement is done.

He reluctantly took all the mechanical engineering off as whilst he still would be happy doing it, his PS was very heavy on the computing. To be honest I think he would be happier doing computing anyway in terms of employment. He's kept in courses that would keep his options more open in terms of Software engineering/computer science/electrical engineering.

He says he doesn't mind whether he lives at home or away but would like to be close enough to travel home at weekends. To that end he took off Aberdeen and St Andrews, they weren't offering him anything that wasn't available in the other choices and he'd visited neither.

So, he now has various courses on the list at Edinburgh, Strathclyde, Glasgow, Dundee (which he hasn't visited) and Heriot Watt. He already has the requirements for everything except Edinburgh and one of the options at Strathclyde. If he'd had that pesky extra mark in his Maths then he would be fine for everywhere. According to his Maths teacher, he could get anything from an A to a C at AH. Doesn't help really as he would need a B to meet the requirements since he missed the A @Higher. He obviously doesn't want to waste slots so I think only wants to put down one where he needs the B @AH.

No-one here has started studying for prelims yet (they are after New Year) but DS2 has his Music practical this week and DS1 also has his driving test coming up - he passed the theory a couple of weeks ago.

His sessions with the Ed Phsyc appear to have fallen by the wayside and the promised Work Experience seems to be now parked until after the prelims. He received his certificate for his Silver DofE today. Just the 6 months late. DS2 seems to have hypermobility in his joints which is another pointer to Dyspraxia but he is reluctant to see the GP about it so far.

That's pretty much the update from my end. :)

OP posts:
Groovee · 05/12/2017 11:05

And so the waiting begins 🙈

The trials and tribulations of Uni Apps for 2018.
prettybird · 05/12/2017 13:07

Good luck to your dd Groovee

Where did she decide on in the end?

Groovee · 05/12/2017 14:12

3 of Stirling's choices, the masters at Dundee and she's applied to Strathclyde but fully expects a no.

Original poster
WaxOnFeckOff · 05/12/2017 14:37

She'll like it in Stirling if that's where she ends up

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Groovee · 05/12/2017 22:04

She LOVES Stirling so really hoping she gets in x

Original poster
WaxOnFeckOff · 05/12/2017 22:05

Fingers crossed Groovee

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prettybird · 06/12/2017 18:30

Ds' application now has the school's reference added and fully submitted to UCAS.

Now the wait begins.....Hmm

Groovee · 06/12/2017 21:15

Fingers crossed for those waiting!

prettybird · 07/12/2017 09:54

One of ds' friends has already had a rejection from Strathclyde to do Primary School teaching. Sad I hope she gets better success elsewhere - she's got her heart set on it and has been doing work experience at their old primary school.

He's had confirmation (x2) from Edinburgh of receipt of his application and that he can track it on their system too and Strathclyde have acknowledged but said he won't hear anything until at least the 15th.

Original poster
WaxOnFeckOff · 07/12/2017 10:12

I'm obviously being completely daft here, but surely they shouldn't be offering or rejecting applications until the closing date?

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ttlshiwwya · 07/12/2017 10:52

Good luck everyone. My DD is not applying this year but I'm lurking for next year. Info on how people are choosing which unis has been great - particularly PBs son's reasoning about StA - I passed this info on to my niece who is struggling to cut down and is applying to a very competitive course - she's going to do similar i.e. drop Edinburgh as she prefers StA and Aberdeen.

Lots of the unis have a good idea of the minimum cut-off even before the closing date so will send out early rejections. Similarly at the other end they will send early offers. Some even publish what they do (UofG) e.g. under XYZ then rejection, above ABC then unconditional offer and in between go for further consideration with offers in batches.

prettybird · 07/12/2017 10:55

No - apparently they work to defined "criteria" in the application process. So, if you meet the criteria you get an offer. If you don't, you get a rejection. So it's not a case of "the places running out". They know from experience how many applications they are likely to get over the period. Remember too that people will be getting multiple acceptance but can only, in the end, choose one Uni to go to (Wink), so they're not actually offering against the number of places they have available.

That was how it was explained to us at the school's UCAS meeting.

Groovee · 07/12/2017 11:00

Strathclyde is notoriously hard when it comes to primary teaching. I did say further up Dd expects to be rejected. Stirling on a pre application query said Dd needs another B and they would accept her. Stirling accept higher dance. Dd is doing work experience at her old primary for the 3rd year but is also doing one afternoon at a special school for additional experience with additional needs.

IndigoApple · 07/12/2017 12:46

DD has received an unconditional for Dundee which was her first choice ☺. Aberdeen and Strathclyde have been in touch to say they won't make decisions until after the January closing date, I think it's unlikely she will change her mind about Dundee but we'll see. So pleased for her!

Now need to motivate her to stick with it at school. Have reluctantly agreed to her dropping 1 AH (which is not relevant to her course) as long as she works hard on the other two. Hope that was right decision. I'm just glad she is not suggesting leaving school altogether and upping her working hours! (although maybe could charge her rent then?).

Good luck to everyone waiting.

Groovee · 07/12/2017 14:21

Great news @IndigoApple

Original poster
WaxOnFeckOff · 07/12/2017 14:29

Ahh, that makes sense re the offers. Guess I'm just panicing that there will be no spaces left becasue DS is still dithering. :o

Well done to all those with offers and comisserations where they are needed.

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SwiftAnchor · 07/12/2017 20:20

Well done on your DDs unconditional- good news.

Since DD revived her unconditionals she has become more and more lax, going in late and leaving early. I think it will be hard to keep her motivated.

Hope everyone starts to hear back soon Smile

Superjaggy · 09/12/2017 13:35

Well done to those who have received their offers :)

My DS says that his reference has now been added by school, but it doesn't say it has been fully submitted as yet... does anyone know how long this bit takes? Is it just a case of it automatically updating next time the system is live (his reference was added at 4pm yesterday which may have been after close of play)?

prettybird · 09/12/2017 13:53

Ds said he was told it can sometimes take a day while UCAS confirm everything is correct before it is "fully live". Given it's the weekend, that might mean Monday in your ds' case. Don't know if they count the weekend - I would suspect not.

Superjaggy · 09/12/2017 15:10

Thanks, that was I was thinking too. At least we know it's in progress, I'm glad it will go in before the holidays.

Original poster
WaxOnFeckOff · 10/12/2017 17:32

Decision made. 1 course applied for in each of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Edinburgh , Heriot Watt and Dundee. Mixture of Computing Science, Software Engineering, and either of those joint with Electronics. 2 live at home and 3 away from home options and we think some of those offer a lot of flexibility in terms of adjusting study in slightly different direction. Edinburgh is the only choice where he should have an A instead of a B in Maths so is relying on getting a B at AH instead. He is going to speak to his teacher tomorrow to check if anything else needs done.

Quick question, for the Advanced Highers under the education section of the UCAS form, there was a drop down to fill in the modules being studied, does that need completed or doesn't it matter?

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