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UCAS 2012 - Discuss your decisions **here**

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Just firmed York

put UCL as my insurance :smile:

Not sure if that's a good thing, my parents thought it was a really stupid idea :/
Reply 1001
Original post by GiveMeAChallenge
Hi!
I know your post is from a while ago but......
im thinking of applying for geography next year and was just wondering what kind of geography related stuff did you put in your personal statement?
thanks :smile:


Hi :smile:
There are some personal statement examples here : http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Category:Geography_Personal_Statements

I'm more of a physical geographer so I mentioned certain physical aspects I enjoy, but I also talked about the interplay of human and physical aspects. I also talked about a little bit of work experience I had done, books I have read, places I have visited. Ask your teachers about Villiers Park; I went on a five day geography course there, something you may want to put on your PS.
Just send me a message if you need more help.
Where are you going to apply?
Reply 1002
Original post by Sweetcorn_1
I'm in a really tough spot here :frown: I've applied for Computer Science and I've got offers from Edinburgh, Warwick, UCL(AAA), St. Andrews(AAB) and Durham(AAB).

I'm pretty sure I don't want to go to Edinburgh/Warwick but it's really hard choosing between those last three.

I loved Durham, liked UCL and didn't really feel anything for St. Andrews.

The thing is, UCL is such fantastic university and if I firm it I think it will do good for life after university. I loved Durham however, as I do Computer Science a lot of my colleagues aren't the most sociable types (most are great people but I've met a couple of nutjobs at open days) so the collegiate system would help me break out from that sort of circle. I could happily firm Durham but UCL is a really good uni and St. Andrews is ranked #2 for CompSci (iirc).

"argh" is all I can say, I've had 2 months to think about this but it's really going nowhere.

:angry:

edit: I don't really care about geographical location, and if it changes anything I've applied for deferred entry so I guess I have an extra year to reconsider but I'd have to pull out of this year's cycle.
Enough said. Durham is equally as good a uni as UCL - indeed some would say better, in terms of the all-round experience. If you make the most of your time at uni you'll be equally employable whether coming out of Durham or UCL. I would also agree that the college environment Durham offers might suit you a lot better than UCL - London is a big old place and can be pretty impersonal. Life is also very expensive there, relatively speaking, and you might want to give that some thought.
Hey everyone.
I was wondering if anyone could help me with choosing between these two universities; Birmingham and Sheffield.
In my opinion, they are both on par in terms of looks, students and facilities. But which has better teaching/lecturers?

Any help would be much appreciated :smile:

Thank you!
Original post by Minerva
Enough said. Durham is equally as good a uni as UCL - indeed some would say better, in terms of the all-round experience. If you make the most of your time at uni you'll be equally employable whether coming out of Durham or UCL. I would also agree that the college environment Durham offers might suit you a lot better than UCL - London is a big old place and can be pretty impersonal. Life is also very expensive there, relatively speaking, and you might want to give that some thought.


I already firmed UCL and insuranced Durham. I still honestly don't know if I've done the right thing, hopefully by August I will know then I can hopefully either pull out (or not). All assuming I meet the grade requirements.
Reply 1005
Original post by Sweetcorn_1
I already firmed UCL and insuranced Durham. I still honestly don't know if I've done the right thing, hopefully by August I will know then I can hopefully either pull out (or not). All assuming I meet the grade requirements.
Fair enough.

If you do have second thoughts after the 'cooling off' period has expired, and if both unis agree, you can swap your firm and insurance around as long as you do it before Results Day.
Original post by Minerva
Fair enough.

If you do have second thoughts after the 'cooling off' period has expired, and if both unis agree, you can swap your firm and insurance around as long as you do it before Results Day.


Ah, that's very useful, thanks.
Original post by Gumpert
Hi :smile:
There are some personal statement examples here : http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Category:Geography_Personal_Statements

I'm more of a physical geographer so I mentioned certain physical aspects I enjoy, but I also talked about the interplay of human and physical aspects. I also talked about a little bit of work experience I had done, books I have read, places I have visited. Ask your teachers about Villiers Park; I went on a five day geography course there, something you may want to put on your PS.
Just send me a message if you need more help.
Where are you going to apply?


Thank you for the reply :smile:
Our college offers similar things to Villiers Park but as of yet, nothing geography related has come up! I think I prefer human to physical but id still want to pick a couple of physical modules. I was thinking of applying to some of the russell groups, and then maybe one with lower entry requirements if i dont get the grades. Do you mind me asking what type of work experience you did?
:smile:
Also, do you think if I applied for Geoagraphy, and Geography and Transport Planning or Geography and Social Policy at the same uni, it would hinder my chances?
(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by king0vdarkness
Hey everyone.
I was wondering if anyone could help me with choosing between these two universities; Birmingham and Sheffield.
In my opinion, they are both on par in terms of looks, students and facilities. But which has better teaching/lecturers?

Any help would be much appreciated :smile:

Thank you!


Can't comment on teaching but i know sheffield has one of the best student unions! Id go for sheffield, its a very friendly place with tonnes of countryside and good social facilities and nightclubs. Do you have offers from them both?
Reply 1009
Original post by GiveMeAChallenge
Thank you for the reply :smile:
Our college offers similar things to Villiers Park but as of yet, nothing geography related has come up! I think I prefer human to physical but id still want to pick a couple of physical modules. I was thinking of applying to some of the russell groups, and then maybe one with lower entry requirements if i dont get the grades. Do you mind me asking what type of work experience you did?
:smile:
Also, do you think if I applied for Geoagraphy, and Geography and Transport Planning or Geography and Social Policy at the same uni, it would hinder my chances?

I worked with Sefton Coast and Countryside, only for a few weeks. Basically it was maintaining tourist signs etc. but they also showed me things about conservation of coastal habitats, longshore drift etc. I'm not sure how much difference it made to my application, if any.

I thought about lots of different unis before settling for my five. It's worth looking at Durham which has just been added to the Russell Group,although it might be a bit far from home for me. There are plenty of places that seem good for Geography :smile: Lancaster looks great to me, even though it's not in the Russell Group.

I don't know much about Geog + Transport etc. but I would expect applying to the same uni for different courses wouldn't do any harm. I think they handle them as different applications. The only problem would be if it's for a really competitive uni and you risk missing out on several options. Sure you'd be fine anyway :wink:
Original post by Gumpert
I worked with Sefton Coast and Countryside, only for a few weeks. Basically it was maintaining tourist signs etc. but they also showed me things about conservation of coastal habitats, longshore drift etc. I'm not sure how much difference it made to my application, if any.

I thought about lots of different unis before settling for my five. It's worth looking at Durham which has just been added to the Russell Group,although it might be a bit far from home for me. There are plenty of places that seem good for Geography :smile: Lancaster looks great to me, even though it's not in the Russell Group.

I don't know much about Geog + Transport etc. but I would expect applying to the same uni for different courses wouldn't do any harm. I think they handle them as different applications. The only problem would be if it's for a really competitive uni and you risk missing out on several options. Sure you'd be fine anyway :wink:


Thanks!! :biggrin:
yeah ive looked at durham, it seems really good, although the entry requirements are A*AA :eek: which might be a bit risky!
Im looking at leeds and sheffield at the moment, they both seem good for what i'd want :smile:

I hope theyre not too bothered about work experience! it's hard to find something directly related to geography.
Reply 1011
Hi Everyone, I received two conditional offers from Leeds and Newcastle for MSc in Earth Sciences. What does it mean conditional offer? I have not received the official hardcopy
Reply 1012
Original post by Billy's
Hi Everyone, I received two conditional offers from Leeds and Newcastle for MSc in Earth Sciences. What does it mean conditional offer? I have not received the official hardcopy
It means that you have to achieve whatever conditions they have set you in order to get your place. If this is for undergraduate study the conditions will be shown on your Track. If this is for postgraduate study (in which case you have posted in the wrong forum) your conditions will be set out in a letter from the university.
Reply 1013
Original post by GiveMeAChallenge
Thanks!! :biggrin:
yeah ive looked at durham, it seems really good, although the entry requirements are A*AA :eek: which might be a bit risky!
Im looking at leeds and sheffield at the moment, they both seem good for what i'd want :smile:

I hope theyre not too bothered about work experience! it's hard to find something directly related to geography.


Yeah to be honest I don't think work experience is that important, whereas it is for things such as medicine. I got an offer from Leeds, but I don't think I'll bother as they seem to specialise more in human topics. Not a problem for you though :smile:
Course: Psychology
Firm: York (AAB)
Insurance: Bristol (AAA)

I went with my heart in the end, choosing York as my firm choice - I think getting the right accommodation matters more to me than the prestige of the university. Considered the living costs of Bristol city too and the general appeal of York and the campus university.
Original post by SLlewellyn
Course: Psychology
Firm: York (AAB)
Insurance: Bristol (AAA)

I went with my heart in the end, choosing York as my firm choice - I think getting the right accommodation matters more to me than the prestige of the university. Considered the living costs of Bristol city too and the general appeal of York and the campus university.


How can you have your insurance that is higher than your firm?
Reply 1016
Original post by stac4321
Just firmed York

put UCL as my insurance :smile:

Not sure if that's a good thing, my parents thought it was a really stupid idea :/


Although I am slightly biased in being a York firmer myself, don't worry about your parents saying it was a "stupid idea" because really... if it's the university that you want to go to, for whatever reason, then it's the uni that you should firm, and did. :smile:

Of course it's a good thing; you're going there, after all... not your parents!
Original post by pellejema
How can you have your insurance that is higher than your firm?


Quite easily?

Bristol is clearly their 2nd choice.

It could be that the York offer of AAB is actually "harder" to meet than the Bristol one if it contains specific subject conditions. For example, the offer for York could be AAB including A in Biology whereas the Bristol one is AAA generally. If the person came out with AAB but a B in Biology, then they will have missed both offers. However, Bristol might have a space for them whereas York doesn't have a space for them. Similarly, if the OP is studying four A levels they could end up in a position where they get AAAB which meets the Bristol offer but as the B is in biology (which York wanted an A) they have then been rejected from York.

Grades are simply a marketing tool used by universities. Bristol would have given an AAA offer to try and prevent themselves from becoming an insurance choice whereas York left themselves wide open to being an insurance choice by giving an AAB offer. Universities do not want to be an insurance choice at all meaning they give as high offers as they can to tempt people into firming it rather than insuring it as like you have done, a lot of people naively assume that it isn't possible to have an insurance choice with higher grades than your firm. As a result, in a lot of cases, applicants would put Bristol as their firm and York as their insurance as they assume Bristol is "better" simply because they've given a higher offer so they'd fall into the exact trap that Bristol wanted them to fall into when they made the offer. As it is SLlewellyn has clearly done their research, understands UCAS and has made their decision on the basis of where they want to go rather than what the universities were hoping for and that's a really good thing.
Original post by oxymoronic
x


I see. That didn't occur to me... my school's been plugging the whole 'make sure your insurance is lower than your firm' thing (which seemed pretty obvious to me). But yeah cool.
Original post by pellejema
I see. That didn't occur to me... my school's been plugging the whole 'make sure your insurance is lower than your firm' thing (which seemed pretty obvious to me). But yeah cool.


Fortunately for you, you are a TSR member and we know a lot more about the bigger picture than your teachers do so can advise you appropriately...

There's so many situations where its perfectly normal to have your insurance with higher or equal grades to your firm and its worrying that some schools and advisers fail to see beyond the basics.... which is why there is a need for UCAS "experts" in school rather than leaving it to teachers who already have more than enough work to do and often receive little training so have to rely on their personal experience.

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