2015 university open days

[hellsbells99]

So, following on from the year 12 thread, here is our open day visits thread!

We did a few open days last year at the end of year 11 and beginning of year 12 with DD2 (was also taking round DD1 who was a year older). I am very glad we did as we learned a lot - & also have not been able to make all the open days this year due to clashes and other commitments.

Eve nothing wrong in that at all. It's a chance to check that his A level choices are the right ones.

Also if he decides that this uni isn't for him then it's one less to fit in at a later date

We were in Cambridge on Thurs. I drove into the centre and parked, and that part was easy - coming out seemed bad at the time - took nearly an hour to get back to the M11, but seems like it was worse on the P&R as we drove past the R&R but at no time did a P&R bus overtake us.
Would have gone by train but on previous days trains were delayed because of rails buckling in the heat etc, so decided that at least if we were in the car with water could be no worse.

UCL today. DD liked it.

She will have tough choice to choose between unis she already saw.

Did anyone go to the Kent open day at Canterbury? It's another potential one for DS but he couldn't make it to the first open day. It's quite far from us so I'd be interested to see what others thought so DS can cross it off or decide on the long trek for the next open day.

What did UCL have to say about accommodation, antimatter? As in, are all first years guaranteed a place in Halls, or do those who live within commutable distance have to commute? Sorry if that is too specific a question!!

DD is going there on Wednesday for a lecture in her chosen subject, but don't know if they will have people to answer the "nitty gritty" questions!

Re:accomodation in UCL

There was a slide about who is guaranteed accomodation xurinv presentation Ibattended. I wish I took a photo but will ask for it. Guy who gave presentation is going to email me with the answer. I asked in MN style about timing of rent. I rread somewhere here parents being forced to take loan as they didn't know (neither did I up to that point) that rents are paid termly up front! So up to 3K for some.

No prejudice against those living commutable distance being mentioned. We are very commutable living in zone 5.

The most important points were:

• dates when you have to apply and confirm by (31/05 I think)
• UCL being your first choice And few of non importance to our situation.

I'll try to get those details from the horses mouth and post it on this thread next week.

Sorry about typos!

Thanks, anti. Will try and prime DD to ask appropriate questions on Wednesday. She could commute, and it would be cheaper, I think, but not the student experience I want for her.

Same here - easily commutable. In fact I commuted for my Masters ~I did in Birkbeck college. I started it when she was 1 and finished heavily pregnant with her brother

I know my university experience would have been different if I researched and visited unis for my undergraduate course. I might have ended up with different career altogether.

I think going as a parent with her I am adding to the perspective and I think those who frown upon the likes of me are missing the point. I am more than not being the Devil's advocate but ultimately we know it is her decision.

She thinks that for her would be the choice between Durham and UCL. Hard to make decision as they are as different as unis can be .

We visited both places within a week so all is fresh in her head.
Now fingers cross for the AS results next month so they all can have comfort of the choice!

Anyone else at Southampton today? DS was impressed by course and accommodation (glen Eyre- didn't venture to further out halls). I thought it was all a bit scruffy and the student ambassadors a bit gormless

Oh and I can personally vouch for Peterhouse

homebythesea were at Southampton yesterday and it's gone straight to the top of DS's list due to the amazing electronic engineering course which could have been invented for him - plus the state of the art labs including incredible new block opening next year!

We thought it was extremely well organised. I agree that the accommodation was a bit tired though but perfectly adequate - we saw Glen Eyre and Wessex. I preferred the Bath campus which I loved.

Having now seen four, I'd like to put Peterhouse on the Bath campus and in the Bath countryside with the Southampton course and laboratories!

loved UEA yesterday but didnt see any bunnies.
the course does seem good and facilities very good. They even use cadavers which hasnt been mentioned else where.

Griffin - I am sure Sheffield do.

Liverpool didnt actually say much about the course. Their presentation was from an end users point of you. Oxford brookes gave a goodcexplanstion of course but didnt mention cadavers. UAE put a lot more emphasis on biology.
Thankfully dd seems okay with it. Only really planning to look at Southampton now and will visit others for interviews

Has anyone looked at Nottingham and Birmingham for Engineering? If so, please could you give me your impressions? Thanks

Ds looked at Birmingham this year, he liked the course but wasnt keen on the city.

That was mech engineering

Booking for Exeter and Bristol's September open days opened this morning. I was astonished to see that Exeter have closed their bookings already - if you hadn't preregistered (ages ago) then you couldn't book, as they had had so many preregistrations that they "are full". Ds had preregistered luckily, but for those still spending the summer thinking about it all, or waiting for AS results, then it seems very harsh.

DD2 managed to get onto the two talks she and her friend wanted at Exeter, but she said the spaces were filling up quickly as she was doing it. Can't understand why there is seemingly so much more demand for Exeter open days than other places?

Lancaster had pulled out all the stops on Saturday - loads of hi-viz jacketed parking attendants, hundreds of student ambassadors, freebies by the bagful (and some very nice Blackpool rock).

Anyone interested in Psychology - they're to be introducing a MPsych 4 year course starting in 2016, still to finalise details about it, but it'll be an accredited course (same as the BA/Bsc psychology) but will be a loan-funded compressed masters. Nothing on their website as of yet about it though.

Hellsbells, my not-very-scientific research would lead me to prefer Nottingham (ie I know 2 people who have gone to Nottingham & none to Birmingham for engineering!)

But I liked the Birmingham campus when we visited last year for dd & it was one of the places she applied to (but not for engineering)

I second Nottingham for Engineering. Exeter open days are a total scrum. Full of parents in all the talks. Do a private visit if you are really interested. All accommodation is up front payments, halls or private. That is how rents normally work.