University visits - class of 2020
 

Hi all,

The previous thread about uni visits and the process has been really informative so I thought I would start a new one for those starting September 2020.

My DD wants to be a vet and so do a vetmed course. Only a few Unis actually do the course so it is hard to get in. The unis that do are:

Cambridge
Nottingham
Liverpool
Bristol
Surrey
Glasgow
Edinburgh
London (RVC)
Harper/Keele (new course starting 2020)

Apparently only 1 and 3 actually get a place on the first attempt and not only are most entry requirements AAA (with a couple accepting AAB) it’s also all about the work experience which DD is on top of so far and is going to have a very busy spring and summer!

Our first uni visit is next Saturday (23rd) at Harper Adams. This new course is set over the 2 campuses and you can visit both on different days, choosing which one you want to live at as there is a shuttle bus apparently.

We are planning to visit Nottingham, Liverpool, Surrey and Bristol too.

Anyone else got anything plannned?

Hi. First time for us, and DS1 is looking at engineering. He has a mile high pile of prospectuses and a long list based on various criteria - specialism, league tables, grades, university air squadron etc.
Not booked any open days yet, as not many have been announced and also he has a full diary to work around.

Suggest worth signing up for the UCAS parents newsletter to receive timely emails on what needs to be done by when and other useful tidbits.

https://www.ucas.com/parents-signup

Edit - the open days website might be helpful too

https://www.opendays.com

My DD will hopefully be off to Univ in 2020 to study Occupational Therapy. We are starting to compile a spreadsheet of courses, entry requirements etc. It’s all exciting and scary at the same time! Planning Open Day visits it going to be tricky as she works every weekend.
I’ve signed up for the UCAS updates, but not received anything yet.
Looking forward to following everyone’s journeys.

Hello fellow Class of 2020 parents! :wavey:

Hoping this thread is going to be helpful to us all :wavey:

We are in Scotland. Our youngest son will be applying for university for 2020 entry.

His current thinking is he wants to do astrophysics or straight physics - but he is not 100% decided he definitely wants to do anything physics related at all yet as he also loves Biology. And chemistry! :omg:
He is keeping all his options open just now by doing all 3 sciences, maths and computing science at Higher, predicted A in every subject so could go on to study many things - just wish he would decide! :grin:
He plans to do all 3 sciences at Advanced Higher.

So, hello to you all - and, any other parents in Scotland? :wavey:

Good luck to all parents and students for next year. I hope this thread is as helpful to you as my thread has been to me and the others for this year.

My main advice would be to go to lots of open days, even to universities that don’t appeal quite as much on the websites. My daughter was adamant when we first researched online that Exeter would be her first choice, we visited it first and she really disliked it. She wasn’t keen on looking at Bristol University and we only went as it was reasonably close to home so we persuaded her it was worth looking at. However she loved it, the Biology course is outstanding, the city beautiful, the current students and staff helpful and interested, just everything suited her and it is now fixed as her first choice for September.

So read lots of prospectuses, look at the websites but definitely go to the open days. Good luck 😀

Thanks Sue! :wave: You're definitely one of the experts on this subject now! :grin:

Haha, we’ve just all muddled through. It has been really nice to share our experiences and chat to others in the same situation though 😀

Went through it all recently as my daughter is in her first year at uni now and will probably be going through it all again with our youngest in the next few years (2023)!
My advice is first think about what they want to study and whether they want to live at home or move out. These two things will be the biggest choices they’ll make initially.
Next based on the above choices, visit open days applicable only to those choices. No point in looking at Unis/courses they have no intention of studying at (unless they aren’t totally decided of course).
Next, once all choices have been made, visit all applicants/taster days. IMO and based on experience, these are far more valuable than the open days. Your child will get a real feel for the Uni and course at these days, much more so than at the open days.

Have done this once with DS but DD is planning to go in 2020. TV and Film Production (not media studies or film studies... ). We’ve been to Westminster. I didn’t like it. Rank halls and Uni split across 4 sites so small student population where her course is held. The course seemed great however. We have York, Middlesex and Royal Holloway planned but she still needs to choose some others.