Scottish UCAS applicants 2025 entry

[motheronthedancefloor]

i know there's a HE board but that's dominated by English parents/schools/unis.

I thought I'd start our own thread for Scottish parents of kids applying to UCAS this year. What are your kids applying for? Where are they applying?

I'll start!

DD is applying to primary teaching. Considering Glasgow, Strathclyde, and Stirling. We discussed UWS but its too far away to commute and as she'd be a young 17 (february born), I wouldn't feel comfortable with her so far away. She's academically capable, but in some ways still quite young.

She has BBBCC from S5 (bastard SQA and Higher HIstory). Doing 1 AH and 2 more HIghers this year. Qualifies for a contextual offer.

Personal statement draft all done. Teacher seems happy with it. She has work experience, did the Accerlerate Education challenge I think its called and is accepted onto Top Up. So her statement looks quite good.

What annoys me is that Strathclyde asked for something specific to be included in the personal statement but that's specific to Strathclyde and might not necessarily be accepted by other universities or what they want to see. Plus it doesn't seem to be mentioned on their entry requirements so other applicants may not know this for that particular course.

Also annoys me that they don't use UCAS Tariff points. That would make it so much easier as its not clear if DDs C grades are accepted or not.

DDs school will do the submissions in December. Then I'll probably post here like every day as an anxious mum or rather angry mum - why won't they give my DD a place? lol

DD only applied to two places. She’s had to write an essay, make a film and attend interviews for each one. It’s been demanding to fit all that extra work in. Now we’re just waiting. One place has said it will be late March, the other we’re not sure about. Then she’s also had an interview with the BBC for an apprenticeship. I really hope at least one of those works out!

DD is doing top up which Glasgow accept as an alternative to the summer school
Good luck with the top up course - sounds good! And re: holidays yes, thankfully we're always very badly organised when it comes to summer holidays so nothing booked yet!

Her course is English Lit & Classics.

We're outside commuting distance really for the summer school but wondering if we can combine online/in person somehow.

theferry - sounds like loads of work, but very promising? Good luck to her!

@ArrivingSomewhereButNotHere My DD has a conditional for Glasgow where the condition is to complete the online Academic Skills module part of the summer school. Sounds not too difficult and probably actually quite useful in terms of starting to get their head around what will be required as a university student.

Ah yes it does sound good, that's great! Is Glasgow her first choice? My DD has to do the full 4 weeks which includes the Academic Skills module + 2 Academic Subjects.

Yes, it's her first choice - she's wanted to go there for years as the courses are what she wanted plus she loves the city! We're geographically closer to Edinburgh so I'm looking forward to visiting to take her out for lunch and go to gigs.

@gethighlikeplanes Do you know that at Edinburgh Uni the joint law and language degree doesn't meet all the requirements to becone a legal professional. Just incase you didn't know that.

@theferry Thsts amazing they had an interview with BBC - I saw the ones for journalism and production - they'll have been soo many applicants- that's amazing your DC got to interview stage - good luck to them

DD is waiting had unconditionals for psychology at Aberdeen and Stirling but is hoping for Heriot Watt.

anyone had, or heard of, offers for HW going out?

My dd is hoping for psychology (MA) at Aberdeen next year- currently s5. Doing 5 Highers this year (did very well in prelims) and is swithering and what to take in s6.
She's thinking of just one AH, one NPA in criminology and a FA in childcare which count's for 2.
Is she is the right ball park for Psych at Aberdeen? She's hoping for 5xA at Highers.
Would love any help with choosing- school has been a bit vague. I don't want her to short suit herself by just one AH...

That does sound good - maybe my son would either have coped better with Glasgow or realised before he started it wasn’t for him if he’d had to do that. Congrats to your young person x

Not psychology but my eldest son got 5 As in s5 and school point blank refused to let him do level 6 non exam courses in s6.

@KingCatMeowInSpace
Yes, she knows that and has been in touch with them about it. She will have to do extra on top to qualify which she’s fine about. The main issue for her trying to decide between Glasgow and Edinburgh is that Edinburgh is Scots Law and Glasgow is Common Law. I think if she takes Scots Law she can then take a further qualification for Common Law?

I haven’t posted on the Legal Board but I have arranged with her to meet with a lawyer to have a chat and to speak to the daughter of an friend who graduated in Law from Edinburgh a couple of years ago.

DS friend had this last year at Glasgow instead of the academic conditional

@gethighlikeplanes the meetings you've set up sound ideal and can get all her questions answered /perfect

DD has a conditional for Napier to do film. I couldn’t be happier. She struggles greatly with dyslexia so this is a huge victory for her. She just needs 1 x B.

ah well done mini ferry!

Mine did the criminology and really enjoyed it. Not academically taxing but interesting and it was good to be out of school and into college for the classes.

sounds ideal, but she could phone admissions at Aberdeen to check

Mine is still waiting for two from Glasgow and one from HW, albeit for 2026 entry. Its a wee bit frustrating as it would be nice to know what he needs to get out of this year but it can't be too much longer now.

Mine still waiting for Glasgow too (also 2026) and it is a bit frustrating - he has got unconditionals from other choices so is getting a bit cocky about the amount of work that he ought to be putting in this year, and may get a nasty surprise....

Yes exactly the same situation here. Not expecting unconditionals from Glasgow and would be good to know what he needs!!

still waiting on strathclyde and stirling here and this mama is getting pretty pissed off.

I remember being especially annoyed with Glasgow Uni. It was the only Uni to give my DC a Conditional - Edinburgh & St Andrews were unconditional but both took an eternity too. And the whole having to do a Summer school thing at Glasgow seemed OTT. I thought it was just a Covid ‘catch-up’ thing but is it still going? It just seems they put extra hurdles up because they like to see themselves as the ‘elite’ Uni of Scotland.

Part of the ‘taking eternity’ problem is some might not start assessing until all applicants are in to ensure an even playing field. And that was only a month ago even if you submitted your ucas form in September.

DC has to get a ‘pass’ in an Advanced Higher. What is a pass? D? Seems odd not to just specify a grade.

C and above