Primary Education applicants [with or without QTS]

Ouch! However, on your interview did they say they'll tell you on X date or in April?
It's a bit cheeky BG said they'd tell us by X [21/22 Feb] day and then not tell us.

I had my interview at Nott Trent at the beginning of Jan and you don't need to be nervous at all! Everyone was really friendly and the presentation is nothing to worry about. You only present it to one of the university tutors and mine was more of a chat than a formal presentation. You might have to wait a while to hear back from them after interview though, my interview was on the 12th Jan and I didn't hear back from them until last Thursday! Hope this helps and good luck

Well, I've had my four interviews and I thought they all went pretty well. I have had three replies from the universities, just awaiting Lincoln Bishop now!

Lincoln Bishop Grosseteste - Interview 15/2/2011 - AWAITING REPSONSE
Nottingham Trent - CONDITIONAL OFFER
Sheffield Hallam - CONDITIONAL OFFER
Manchester Metropolitan - UNSUCCESSFUL

well done...some options then. Have you been asked to accept offers within a timeframe at all? I've been asked to respond within 2 weeks to one ( runs out Friday) or risk losing the offer which is really difficult as I haven't heard back from everyone yet and know I wo n't hear from one till April.Not sure what to do about that one!

Is this an offer made via UCAS?

If so, the university can not pressure you into making a decision within two weeks. You have until the 5th of May to decide, by which point you will have had all of your other decisions.

Thanks, yeah that has helped, a lot, what sort of thing do we have to do for our presentation, i was going to talk about different teaching techniques I've seen during my experience and my opinion on which i think will be the most effective, do you think that will be good enough? Sorry for all of these questions, i'm just so nervous about it!

yeah i'm sure that will be fine the most important thing is to be confident and make sure you don't just read your presentation out. when i was doing mine the interviewer was asking me questions throughout aswell so it isn't as if you have to talk non stop x

Thank you, you've been a really great help, and that'll help me if they ask questions, I was dreading what I thought was going to be talking for five minutes non stop! Well thanks for that, and I hope everything goes to plan regarding your own application and any other interviews you have x

First of all I got a letter in the post from the Uni dated 10th Feb saying that they were pleased to make a formal offer and that I needed to accept through UCAS. The offer didn't show up on UCAS until yesterday though. The original letter stated that because of the high level of interest in the programme I had to respond within two weeks of receving their letter to accept. I rang UCAS to see if that was allowed and was told that it was a difficult and tricky situation but that the Uni was within its rights to ask prospective students to confirm earlier when the levels of demand for places was so high...... so I'm feeling pretty frustrated as I don't want to burn any bridges at this point.....not entirely sure what to do next.

Technically, they can withdraw or change the offer at any point until you accept it, but that should really only be in cases of you changing the qualifications you were offering them or say, the course being closed/changing/merging with another one meaning they needed to change the offer they gave to you. Another reason with teaching could be if the course failed to get funding for as many teachers as they had in previous years. It is essentially a case of the university exploiting this loop hole in an attempt to get people to make a rash decision.

Unless this is your firm choice, I would be inclined to not respond to the offer at this stage and see what happened. Obviously, you would have to accept that you may lose it though. I would imagine that it would not be within the universities interest to attract negative attention for bending the rules, because if they go around rejecting hundreds of applicants because they haven't replied within 2 weeks, I imagine there will be some kind of back lash from other institutions who are playing by the rules, from schools, parents and applicants.

You could also write to the university and express your disappointment at this decision, as obviously this has tainted your opinion of them as an institution if they do not want to give you time to ensure you're making the best decision for your future. It also is worth pointing out to them that the fact the letter was sent 2 weeks ago yet the offer did not appear on track until yesterday is also inappropriate, as technically the offer does not stand until it is on track so you should be allowed 2 weeks from the date UCAS send you the confirmation letter. This is the case with all UCAS proceedings, such as changing choices, as it is always 2 weeks as dated on the UCAS letter rather than from correspondence by universities. On GTTR (the graduate teaching application system) applicants have 14 days from the time the offer goes on track to accept it, before its on track, it isn't counted as their time. The way they're handing this is a poor reflection on the university, in my opinion, and its the first time I have heard of it happening with UCAS applications at all. I've spoken to the other UCAS mods about this to be 100% sure of your status/rights for you before replying.

What is happening with your other applications?

Hey I applied to:
Winchester(History specialism): Conditional Offer
Canterbury Christchurch: Conditional Offer
St Marys University College Twickenham: Interview next week
Winchester (RE specialism): Unsuccesful
University of Gloucestershire: Unsuccessful (without an interview)

Anyone applied to any of these and particularly want to go to Winchester?!

I'm not too nervous about St Marys as I have two offers though it would be my second choice but anyone with any tips/advice for their interviews would be very much appreciated!

Well, I've had my four interviews and I thought they all went pretty well. I have had three replies from the universities, just awaiting Lincoln Bishop now!

Lincoln Bishop Grosseteste - Interview 15/2/2011 - AWAITING REPSONSE
Nottingham Trent - CONDITIONAL OFFER
Sheffield Hallam - CONDITIONAL OFFER
Manchester Metropolitan - UNSUCCESSFUL

thanks charlieandlola
Do you think you'll go to St Marys or is your first choice somewhere else?

I think so- it depends, I'm waiting on somewhere else but my interview went so terribly I think I might just firm St. Marys. Wish everyone would get a move on with telling us their decisions!! What about you- have you had a proper look round it? I really need to arrange to go and see again!
xx

If you get an offer for BG which is your first choice?
Kate x

Hey, they are sending BG offers out today!