Waiting for uni offers: how to keep your head
'I am now officially crazy from waiting!'... 'I'm getting obsessed with checking my email!' Sound familiar? Our sister site The Student Room explains how to keep your head when waiting for university offers.
It's that time of year when The Student Room (TSR) heaves with posts such as these. With the university application process in full swing, this autumn's would-be freshers are currently spending a quite indecent amount of time updating their email and clicking on Ucas Track – hoping to catch an offer just as it pops into their inbox.
If you're one of them, you're probably climbing the walls waiting for some news. ANY news... But don't panic! The trouble is, as TSR Community Engagement Manager Grace explains, not everyone gets their offers at the same time:
'Offers can come in at different times for different people - some within 24 hours, some months after your application has been submitted! You may or may not receive an acknowledgement of your application from a university as well - it all depends on how they like to do things, which is different at every institution. Try not to worry too much if it's taking a long time, as this year in particular things are taking a little longer than usual due to Covid.'
Another member has some level headed advice:
Given that unis have got until May to reply to you (yes, May), you may have a long wait to hear anything.
The deadline for decisions to applications submitted before 29 January is 20 May. Ucas will automatically enter an 'unsuccessful' decision on Track if the uni has not posted its own decision by then.
That much is clear from a quick look at TSR's thread for all those waiting to hear back from uni...
How have your own applications to university gone? Are you still waiting to hear from your number one choice? Head over to The Student Room and let us know on the message boards.
If you're one of them, you're probably climbing the walls waiting for some news. ANY news... But don't panic! The trouble is, as TSR Community Engagement Manager Grace explains, not everyone gets their offers at the same time:
'Offers can come in at different times for different people - some within 24 hours, some months after your application has been submitted! You may or may not receive an acknowledgement of your application from a university as well - it all depends on how they like to do things, which is different at every institution. Try not to worry too much if it's taking a long time, as this year in particular things are taking a little longer than usual due to Covid.'
Keeping your cool
Still, the time between watching your application float off into the ether through to reaching a state of sheer ‘oh-my-days-I'm-not-going-to-get-in-anywhere’ mania can be remarkably short, as shown by this post from a worried student:Was just wondering if anyone had received any uni offers yet? Put my application in on Friday, applied for Bristol, Southampton, York, Sussex, and Keele, to study Psychology in Education, anyone heard anything yet?
Another member has some level headed advice:
At this time of year unis are wading through all the last minute applications - it takes ages. They will still be making offers in April/May, so you are going to have to wait longer than 2 weeks.
Given that unis have got until May to reply to you (yes, May), you may have a long wait to hear anything.
When you can expect to hear back
The plain fact is that, although you might be willing to nibble off your own arm in return for a speedy decision, universities have plenty of time to play with. And it's time they will use.The deadline for decisions to applications submitted before 29 January is 20 May. Ucas will automatically enter an 'unsuccessful' decision on Track if the uni has not posted its own decision by then.
Plenty of time left
So the message is – if you've not yet heard back then don't worry. There's plenty of time still to go. And if the waiting game really is getting to you, take some comfort from the fact that – no matter how slowly (or quickly) your uni offers have come in – other people are having a similar experienceThat much is clear from a quick look at TSR's thread for all those waiting to hear back from uni...
The wait is so annoying and COVID is making everything worse. There are so many more applications this year.
I applied to Bath, Southampton, Loughborough and UEA for NatSci on the 17th of November and still haven’t heard from Bath. The rest have all given offers and Loughborough and Southampton even interviewed me. Bath are blaming it on COVID and BREXIT but all the other unis have managed to get back. I’m getting close to just making my decisions about who to firm without waiting for them.
I mean they have valid reasons but that doesn’t mean that they can leave us students in the dark for all time! Many of us could have utilised this time to sort out other important things like finance and accommodation.
Don't be worried. A lot of people are still waiting. They have until May to get back to you.
I have literally refreshed track 10 times an hour even though I know it’ll take so long for them to get back to me. I just want to know though!! I’ve applied to a few places in Glasgow and Edinburgh to do media.
How have your own applications to university gone? Are you still waiting to hear from your number one choice? Head over to The Student Room and let us know on the message boards.
Next:
- Find out the smart way of choosing which offers to take
- Discover our tips on preparing an interview
