School's approach to UCAS - is this typical?

[GrumpyOldBag]

DS is in his last term at a well regarded independent school. We have generally been very happy with it, and he is happy there too.

However, the whole University Application process has been a bit of a mess and I am interested to know if this is typical.

Last year we were given no info by the school about Uni Open Days until the start of the Autumn term, so missed most of them last summer and had to catch up over half-term in October. I only became aware of the process through friends with kids at other schools talking about the visit they'd booked. (I've noticed they've now become more proactive about this though, so that's good)

The school was very slow to "sign-off" DS's UCAS form (review & check personal statement, that his choices were appropriate , etc) which culminated in my having to phone the teacher responsible on the last day of the deadline to chase it up - this after having sent several chaser emails in the preceding days/weeks. It was submitted it on the very last day of the deadline, although DS had done his personal statement & made his choices weeks before.

Going through the same process now to get DS to submit his offer acceptance & the deadline is next week! He made his decisions ages ago, but hasn't done it yet, and the school does not seem to be putting any pressure on him. Again, I am the one who is having to do all the chasing.

Now I accept that DS is 18 and an adult and needs to take responsibility himself. However, I also expect the school to have a process for ensuring these important things get done in a timely manner too. And DS has some special needs which mean he is not good at organising and managing himself like this - so I would expect some extra support from the school. Especially as we're paying a lot of money.

But maybe I have unrealistic expectations about this, and am prepared to be told I am?

I thought the OP just hadn't realised that applications for student loans happen now, rather than after results when they actually know what course if any they're on.

Re profs teaching - back in the dark ages when I did my chemistry degree, all the profs as well as all the other lectures without exception taught - most did a yr 1 or 2 core course, as well as 3rd year options. Another uni I worked at, all the academic staff inc profs also taught. Maybe it varies with discipline... some have far more lectures than others so more load to share?

Of course it's not a windup Bojo - Errol is right. It was the timing I didn't know about - in my mind you sorted out the loan after A-level results, because until that point you don't even know for sure if you're going to Uni at all.

I always knew the basics, it was the timing ...

My original post was provoked by my mounting panic that DS had not yet accepted his offers just days before the deadline, the last thing in a long line of issues we've had. I've since learned that:

• DS was not passing on info from the school (as he has SN I should have been more proactive at digging the info out of him, but his mantra is 'stop worrying')
• Some schools are proactive about telling parents what to expect and when to expect it, others aren't.

The most important thing I've learned on this thread is that the finance needs to be sorted ASAP. That's underway now.

And also that DS isn't the only child to prevaricate on pressing the button on his final choices!

We're also sorting the accommodation this weekend, but would have looked into that anyway once he'd accepted his offers.

I'm not sure why people are giving you such a hard time on this thread Grumpy. It's just a minor grumble about the school, not a child protection issue

Your DS is fine and working hard for his exams. You seem to have stopped panicking. So in some ways the thread has been a success.

The thread's been really helpful to me thanks aginghippy. And I've been on Mumsnet long enough to develop a thick skin...

Good luck to your DS I hope he gets the grades he needs and anyone else on here in the same positio. Having gone through the whole results day trauma a few years ago with DS1 I'm feeling a bit smug this year with DS2 who's applied with his grades. Accommodation sorted, fees etc sorted just have to buy saucepans!

Thanks Gardening. I'm sure I'll be much more efficient when DS2 has to go through this in a few years' time.

And now I think I need to get out and be productive in my garden myself

And people wonder why university admissions are so opaque. People don't know what they don't know. the school should help. Any school. But particularly a fee paying school.

Apply for DSA as well - it's not just for statemented kids.

People don't know what they don't know. This, exactly!

titchy I've now looked into DSA (and posted on the SN board about it) but as far as I can see from the government website he'd probably just get money towards a computer (which we could fund ourselves). And would need another full ed psych assessment to get this as the last one he had was when he was 15. Not sure it's worth the additional pressure on DS at this time?

He is generally OK in social situations with his peers - a bit shy & awkward, but can manage. And is good at relating to adults so should be fine with his lecturers, tutors etc.

Apart from some NHS-provided SALT when he was at primary school, we've never had anything from the state for his SN.

Really interested to know if I'm missing something though (& have emailed the school's SENCO, but not had a reply yet).

The ££ may not be that useful then - but do flag it with the university - or get him to when he formally enrols, and make them aware he might have some organisational difficulties.

Even if he's fine, when he has multiple assignments all due at the same time a bit of leeway can be applied if he's flagged any issues beforehand.

Thanks titchy I will. To be honest he is so good at coping with his difficulties that I have tended to put it at the back of my mind so it's really helpful to have that as a reminder.

My dd has been given software, training sessions on using the software, and study skills sessions. There's a LOT of help available at university. So even if he doesn't get round to it beforehand, if he is having any trouble when he gets there, he should definitely go to the support services.

You may have to teach undergrads at Oxford, as a Professor, but my DD was taught be one - in three years

But this is just not the norm, even at top research universities in the UK. You cannot extrapolate from a single experience.

I am at an RG university. All the professors in my department teach UG core courses, and supervise UG projects. Our main introductory 1st year course is lectured almost entirely by professors.

Grumpy I've dm you about DSA