how many universities did your dc go and see?

[brimfull]

dd has come back from HE fair with a mountain of prospectuses
she likes the look of quite a few

how many did your dc actually go and see?

DD visited 4 before applying, chose 3 of those + 2 others (based on reputation, ranking in her subject) on her UCAS form, and if you get offerred you are invited to offer holders days.

She has just returned from a 2-day trip to her No1 choice and come back determined to make the grades

DS also determined to make the grades Milliways-it is wonderful to see the motivation-he has realised that he can't coast!

"Decision re oxbridge -does it need a visit? Are you academically up to it, is the course just what you want - then go for it."

Don't know about that, tbh - didn't particularly like either city when I visited, and that is an important part of the decision, if you're going to spend 3 years somewhere.

I think you SHOULD visit Oxbridge, as they are so very different from non-collegiate universities. Some of the colleges are very small and that sort of atmosphere does not suit everyone. You then have the tougher decision of which college to apply to.

I visited 4, but that was years ago {early 80's ).

I think DD visited 4 on official days, only 2 of which she eventually applied for, but she had friends at 2 others & had been to see them there. DS went to 5 or 6 I think. Most of the visits were in the summer term after they'd finished the AS exams,but before starting the A2 course, so they didn't miss much school. We didn't take them to any of them, they went on their own or with friends.

btw, it is only 5 you can apply for now, and it was 5 when I went, but it was 6 the year DS applied (he started 2006)

It was 6 when I applied in 1997 for entry in 98/99 (and only one Oxbridge application).

At least we didn't have to list them in order of preference though as some of my friends had to years before.

I visited none. I then interviewed at Cambridge, decided I hated it and turned down the offer. I shouldn't have wasted the space on my UCAS form. I also interviewed at York and decided it was okay but a long way away from where I lived and a pain to get to. So I would definitely advise visiting before application, especially Oxbridge. It REALLY doesn't do you any favours at school if you apply and then reject them having decided that you don't like the place.

I didn't actually visit Birmingham, which is where I ended up going, although I knew the city beforehand and I ended up loving it!

I am just back from a UCAS evening at DS1's school.

It was given by a representative of Birmingham university, whose job was to go around schools giving advice about the whole process.

He was very clear that you absolutely have to visit each university that you list on your application.

It was a lot different from when I did my UCCA form in 1981!