PAC Postgrad offers - timescale?

Solair

I was just wondering if anyone here knows when UCC typically makes offers for postgrad courses applied for through the PAC?

AwayWithFaries

I think it varies depending on department or even course. I'm doing a masters this year in UCC and I was only accepted in August but I know people doing other masters that were accepted in early July.

Cavehill Red

If my experience with PAC is anything to go by, expect them to take at least two weeks longer than they claim, prove impossible to get on the phone, and fail to forward documentation on to the college in a timely fashion.

I can't speak for UCC or any of the other colleges using PAC, but I don't know why they think a postgrad clearing house is needed for such a myriad of courses with variegated entry levels across a number of diverse universities.

It's not like undergrad, where most everyone is applying for a primary degree with approximately similar qualifications. I don't see how PAC streamlines anything. Plus applying via them costs more than applying to similar courses at non-PAC universities, such as UCD.

You may find a gentle call to the relevant department at UCC asking when they make their offers to be more forthcoming than any amount of dealings with PAC.

Solair

Thanks, I'll give UCC a shout tomorrow.

I agree, I don't really understand what the point of the PAC is! Maybe it makes some sense for the PGDE, which tends to have huge volumes of applicants, but for most postgrad courses, it should be handled in-house.

I mean, all they seem to be doing is forwarding on documentation!

loliberry

I was offered a place yesterday for Comparative Literature in UCC. I presumed that offers would be made middle of July or August but thankfully I was wrong! I think each department has their own time-scale and some departments don't consider applications until after the closing date.

Solair

Does the offer come through the PAC website or, do you get something out in the post?

loliberry

I got the offer on the website. If you go into application status and click into UCC, the courses you've applied for should be there with the status beside it.:)

funki_munkee

I know I've already received a conditional offer so it must be different times for different subjects. I know the deadline isnt up and I havent got my marks from the summer exams yet so I dont know why they released it already! But ye def check the status of your application because I just checked it by chance one day and it happened to be changed, there was no notification!

Solair

Thanks, I'll check obsessively for the next few days

Fingers X'd

Jamey

I got an offer this morning through PAC

captainspeckle

"Your application for this programme has been held pending confirmation on your 2011 final exam results."


is this a conditional offer??

Solair

I would assume so. I gave my dept a ring and they said they'll be putting them into the system late this week or after the bank holiday.

whoya11

Hi there,
I'm considering a change of career and thinking of doing a postgrad. I work in the construction industry and my job is going to be gone in a few weeks. I've been accepted into 3 postgrad courses, Higher Diploma in Computer Science in UCC, Postgrad Dilpoma in Accounting in GMIT and Environmental Systems in GMIT. I don't have long to accept these offers and would be greatful of any advice with regards job prospects with thes courses. Any info from students who have done these course would be great. Cheers.

Solair

They are three very different courses.
If I were you I would go for the one that you have most interest in / passion for, that is what you will most likely excel at.

Go through the modules carefully before you sign up and see what strikes you as most fun to do and most useful to your career.

The main thing is that the course is suited to your aptitudes and what you want to do in the future.

The other thing to bear in mind is that the teaching style can differ substantially between an IT and a traditional university like UCC.

UCC will pretty much provide the material, the resources, the library and the labs, access to tutors etc and support but you have to really be quite self-directed and quite self-disciplined.
Academic staff are usually there because they're excellent at their subjects and very good researchers, not because they can teach students.

Sometimes the ITs can be more focused on students and teaching and a little more methodical in their approach, more modularised etc.

Some people hate or love either of those approaches but it's very much a matter of personal learning style choice and what you're used to too.

whoya11

Cheers Solair for reply and information. My ultimate decision is going to come down the employment opportunities which will result from these courses. I'm kinda thinking environmental systems is more geared at EU countries as we simply do not have the money to give grants for this kind of stuff. Its a hard choice and trying to talk to students who have done these courses is pretty hard.

Solair

Still no word from the PAC ... beginning to get a bit nervous

Bloody Nipples

When's the closing date for applications for your MSc of choice?

Mine don't close until the end of the month so I couldn't conceive getting an offer until after that, so I won't be sweating until then. Has your closing date been and gone?

Solair

It closed at the end of May.

I assume the PAC notifies you when you don't get a place too and you're not just left hanging for ever

Bloody Nipples

You could always email the masters coordinator to assuage any fears

Solair

I did that

Bloody Nipples

Any response? :pac:

Solair

Nope, nada. Ill just have to keep on hoping!

Bloody Nipples

Well I just got offered the MSc in Applied Science in Biotechnology so I'm a happy camper

Solair

Bloody Nipples wrote: »

Well I just got offered the MSc in Applied Science in Biotechnology so I'm a happy camper

Congrats!

I'm guessing I'll hear something next week... I don't think college administrators tend to work over weekends

Solair

Woohoo! Got and accepted an offer!

messinkiapina

I applied for 3 courses. I got offered a place on 2 (have to accept by July 7th) but still haven't heard back from the other course which is my 1st choice

I'd like to get my 1st choice but don't want to be left with nothing if I have to wait beyond July 7th to hear back. Who should I phone or email to ask about that?

Solair

I'd say you'd need to ring the actual department in the university that you are applying to.

Usually, they have a Graduate Studies office, or similar in each university but they only process the applications. The individual departments and programme directors organise the schedules.

Then ring the PAC and ask them what they think you should do.

Censorsh!t

I'm waiting on my status of acceptance now. I wish they'd hurry up and tell me!

messinkiapina

Solair wrote: »

I'd say you'd need to ring the actual department in the university that you are applying to.

Usually, they have a Graduate Studies office, or similar in each university but they only process the applications. The individual departments and programme directors organise the schedules.

Then ring the PAC and ask them what they think you should do.

Thanks solair. I'll give that a shot tomorrow.

DonnieScribbles

You can accept one and then cancel your acceptance if/when you get an offer for the one you want. If you have to pay a deposit upon accepting I'm pretty sure said deposit can be transferred from one course to another, as long as both are in UCC of course. If there's no deposit, no problems

messinkiapina

DonnieScribbles wrote: »

You can accept one and then cancel your acceptance if/when you get an offer for the one you want. If you have to pay a deposit upon accepting I'm pretty sure said deposit can be transferred from one course to another, as long as both are in UCC of course. If there's no deposit, no problems

Ah, that sounds perfect. Thanks Donnie

Solair

Just looking at mine, there's no deposit on the acceptance so you can just cancel it until registration day, I assume.

In general though the PAC and the Graduate Studies office have absolutely no information about when the various departments make their decisions. So, give them a buzz and see what the story is

daisyscience

I was accepted for the Masters in Ecological Assessment (yay!) and theres no email address to contact the office. I have a couple of questions and am sure the course leader has an email address. Do you think it would be ok for me to get the email address from somewhere else and email on my questions? It says to phone but its the general office and I dont imagine that the course leader is just sitting there all day every day waiting to answer questions. Oh and if anyone has done the course id love to hear from you.

Bloody Nipples

Yeah email away. I emailed the coordinators of two courses and they both got back to me promptly and answered all my questions, invaluable in making a final decision.

Rin12

captainspeckle wrote: »

"Your application for this programme has been held pending confirmation on your 2011 final exam results."


is this a conditional offer??

Anyone know?