University - class of 2021

[windsor_hills]

So following previous threads for past university years, I thought I would start one for those of us who have family members hoping to go to university next year.

My DD is hoping to go to uni next year and we have just spent the afternoon trying to narrow down to her 5 choices for her UCAS application. It’s been really difficult trying to do this online via virtual open days we’ve found. Not what we had envisaged at all. She hasn’t had much in the way of advice from her sixth form college either and they want applications soon. (Not sure why?).

So to all in the same position, I’m hoping we can share experiences and support each other.

Those of you who have already been through this, your top tips and advice would be appreciated.

[kathrynmc]

My DD is hoping to go next year, her application is almost finished although she needs to tweak her personal statement as she is now looking at two different degrees. She loves both subjects and has decided that she wants to go down the academia route for either subject.

She has chosen
Lancaster (chosen two different degrees)
York
Chester
Edge Hill

She doesn’t want to go too far away from home, and is 100% certain she doesn’t want to go to either Manchester or Liverpool which she can commute to. Chester and Edge Hill have lower grade requirements so are the two backup options

[Kat11]

Originally Posted by kathrynmc

My DD is hoping to go next year, her application is almost finished although she needs to tweak her personal statement as she is now looking at two different degrees. She loves both subjects and has decided that she wants to go down the academia route for either subject.

She has chosen
Lancaster (chosen two different degrees)
York
Chester
Edge Hill

She doesn’t want to go too far away from home, and is 100% certain she doesn’t want to go to either Manchester or Liverpool which she can commute to. Chester and Edge Hill have lower grade requirements so are the two backup options

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I’m not sure what your dd is thinking of doing but mine is looking to do criminology. (I think I remember you said something similar?)

Unlike your Dd mine really fancies Manchester. She’s also looking at Leeds, Northumbria and Liverpool (which is just a bit too far for my liking) with the others being between 1-2hours away from us in the north east.

She really needs to get cracking on her finishing her personal statement but she has a teacher/subject interview set up for next month to help with the application process.

I can’t believe how quickly time us moving on! It’ll be Christmas before we know it and then the applications all have to be in! 😬

Kat

[kathrynmc]

Originally Posted by Kat11

I’m not sure what your dd is thinking of doing but mine is looking to do criminology. (I think I remember you said something similar?)

Unlike your Dd mine really fancies Manchester. She’s also looking at Leeds, Northumbria and Liverpool (which is just a bit too far for my liking) with the others being between 1-2hours away from us in the north east.

She really needs to get cracking on her finishing her personal statement but she has a teacher/subject interview set up for next month to help with the application process.

I can’t believe how quickly time us moving on! It’ll be Christmas before we know it and then the applications all have to be in! 😬

Kat

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Yeah my daughter was looking at doing Law with Criminology which I think is still an option for York, although at the minute she has chosen straight Law. Her other option is History.

Chester have a History degree combined with Law which she liked the sound of, but I am not sure what Chester is like statistics wise

[Minicooper]

Originally Posted by kathrynmc

My DD is hoping to go next year, her application is almost finished although she needs to tweak her personal statement as she is now looking at two different degrees. She loves both subjects and has decided that she wants to go down the academia route for either subject.

She has chosen
Lancaster (chosen two different degrees)
York
Chester
Edge Hill

She doesn’t want to go too far away from home, and is 100% certain she doesn’t want to go to either Manchester or Liverpool which she can commute to. Chester and Edge Hill have lower grade requirements so are the two backup options

See more...

I loved the campus and accomodation at Edgehill when we looked round with DD a few years ago.

[Floridatilly]

My daughter is wanting a university rather close so that if she doesn’t like living away she can come back home and commute. So if that is the case she will go to Manchester or Liverpool. But she also really likes York but would not be able to commute. She is looking at a Russell group university but really likes Lancaster.
She is torn between English, History, criminology or history and American studies.

I would rather her stay at home to be honest because she is a messy little thing and I would be worried about the state of her living accommodation 🙈

I could do with some advice on how you work out how much halls of residence is and how much student loan/maintenance she can get?

[Col&Ali]

Originally Posted by Floridatilly

My daughter is wanting a university rather close so that if she doesn’t like living away she can come back home and commute. So if that is the case she will go to Manchester or Liverpool. But she also really likes York but would not be able to commute. She is looking at a Russell group university but really likes Lancaster.
She is torn between English, History, criminology or history and American studies.

I would rather her stay at home to be honest because she is a messy little thing and I would be worried about the state of her living accommodation 🙈

I could do with some advice on how you work out how much halls of residence is and how much student loan/maintenance she can get?

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You could do a dummy search on both living at home and living at university

gov.uk/student-finance-calculator

[Col&Ali]

Originally Posted by Col&Ali

You could do a dummy search on both living at home and living at university

gov.uk/student-finance-calculator

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Re: cost of halls, you are looking at anything from £120 per week upwards for room with en-suite and this is calculated over 48 weeks

[Floridatilly]

Originally Posted by Col&Ali

Re: cost of halls, you are looking at anything from £120 per week upwards for room with en-suite and this is calculated over 48 weeks

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I am not sure if I am doing something completely wrong but I am looking at Liverpool prices and it £170 plus!
My daughter has to have a en-suite so they are more expensive 😫

[BevS97]

Originally Posted by Floridatilly

I am not sure if I am doing something completely wrong but I am looking at Liverpool prices and it £170 plus!
My daughter has to have a en-suite so they are more expensive 😫

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She doesn’t ‘have’ to have an en-suite although I’m sure she thinks she does . Chances are in her second year she’ll opt for a grotty house with only one bathroom anyway.


Re halls. Don’t just look at the uni owned halls. My dd went into a Liberty living hall in her third year and it was no different to the uni hall in first year. Same atmosphere, plenty of student life. The room itself was nicer. And cheaper. I think they have rebranded as UniteLiving.

unitestudents/liverp...ton-Park-House

This one is in Liverpool. Starts from £99/week.

The one feature Katie would suggest is a shared living space not just a shared kitchen. Her first year flat had a shared kitchen with nowhere to sit. So they spent more time in their own bedrooms. She preferred her third year flat which had a sofa / tv in the communal space and was more social.

For my dd living away from home was really beneficial although I know these are strange times to be making these decisions.