Starting Y13 (y12 support thread contd)

[AtiaoftheJulii]

Well, I filled up the other one, so here's a nice new one to get us through dropping subjects, Uni open days, personal statement writing, and UCAS applications

Plenty of and and (nicely-intentioned) s available!

We aren't looking in London either. We are 30 miles away and DH commutes in but friends of DD1 and DD2 who have gone to London universities haven't stayed at home. It is just so expensive some of the rents are unbelievable.

I'll ask for tea webwiz!! DH will be gutted as he's the coffee drinker!

circular, that was due to distance; traffic was fine until we were 9 miles from Soton when they'd closed 2 motorway lanes for maintenance. Even at 9pm it was busy!

Horsemad - Southampton traffic is always bad.. the M27 is a nightmare most of the time.

DS is looking at Warwick, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Bath and Durham.

Had a visit to Cambridge and he came away disappointed, he isn't keen on the course at Oxford so has discounted both , I'd have liked him to apply (but thats just parental pride).

Think of all the hassle you will avoid Waitingaround. What subject is he doing?

I think DS is going to hand his ucas form in at school on Monday, to get shot of it, apart from anything else. I feel we should probably be doing open days but it's easier not to and perhaps avoids him deciding he loves a place which then doesn't accept him. Or I am just doing a head in the sand routine..........

Computer Science littleham

We have gone to a lot less second time round. I think it is a massive learning process with your first child (we went a bit overboard) but this time, we have our list of universities, saw three last term and will go to see the other two if she gets offers.

We don't need to go to all the UCAS presentations or finance talks this time round - so all much more relaxing.

Waitingaround - snap to CS! Has he a favourite? DS seemed keen on M'cr but wasn't keen on the accommodation.
We're at Soton now and he's not averse to coming here, he said. Hallelujah, we've found 2 out of 6!

horsemad he seems to like Bristol and Durham the best- will see Birmingham next saturday- but it looks good on paper. Unfortunately Southampton is our local and he wants to move away- otherwise the course looks good.

he is also going to visit m'cr. Sheffield is his insurance i think.

Hellsbells, busy few days! sorry for the delay!
DS2 is thinking of applying to Newcastle or Durham (they run a combined course), Sheffield, Leicester and is unsure of a fourth choice. He loved the look of the chemistry course at Sheffield, so thinks that will probably be his fifth choice.

I loved B'ham Waiting, gorgeous campus. My friend's DS is doing CS there. My DS hated it though sadly.

We're now en route home. I liked Soton, not the prettiest campus, but I liked the feel of the CS course.

Durham was also lovely and a great course but again, DS not keen.

Birmingham offer Unconditionals if you have three A's at AS sometimes.

Durham is not so lovely if you miss a grade.

Very true Littlehampton.

Oops sorry, meant Littleham!

Unconditional is when the uni makes an offer without conditions (what grades they want you to achieve). Useful for the student as it alleviates pressure to reach particular grades.

There are a select few universities who try to woo the very high achieving students (often three A's at AS) by offering them a guaranteed place at university.

Birmingham is one of them. So if a dc gets an unconditional offer and chooses that university as their firm choice, then they have the place ahead of time (no matter what their A2 grades turn out to be).

Rather nice to have a place waiting for you. No stress at exam time.

Wow my Ds would love that littleham fingers crossed then.
horsemad soton in general is not the prettiest. But the university does have a good reputation.

Here it is.... doesn't say how many they give out.

www.birmingham.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/unconditional-offer-scheme-2014.aspx

Pity Computer Science doesn't seem to be part of the unconditional offer scheme.