Compelling Personal Reasons for student finance Wales

ljm628

Hi everyone!

I am in a bit of a panic this afternoon about whether or not I will get my compelling personal reasons granted in order for me to get a tuition fee loan this year. Here is a run down of my previous courses:

1.I started uni in Sept.2006 (BA human resources). I fell pregnant in October and left in May 2007. I have read that pregnancy is not always accepted as a CPR, however, the biological father was attending the same uni and after deciding he would like to see me get a termination he made my life very hard, hence me leaving.
2.Uni take 2 was in Sept.2008 (BA English Literature). I reached March 2009 and caught glandular fever. I was in a pretty bad way with huge glands, constant fatigue and an enlarged spleen. Eventually my doctor wrote me a note, which I passed to the uni.

This year I intend on beginning a BSc in Medical Sciences. I have sent the following evidence to Swansea LEA:

1.For uni take 1 I sent my discharge sheet that I received from the hospital following the birth. I haven't mentioned that I left due to having a hard time with the biological father, as I have zero evidence (other than my word!)
2.For uni take 2 I have provided my medical records which say the following:

'History: 1 week of sorethroat, enlarged cervical glands, tired+++,
Examination: throat mild inflamed, cervical lymph nodes enlarged, spleen mild enlarged, abdo other wise nad.
Diagnosis: Suspected mononucleosis (XE2y7)
Plan: Patient information given, advised on avoid contact sport, blood test in 3-4 weeks if needs to confirm, other wise see prn, note given that patient attended for university'

My questions are:

1.Would glandular fever preventing me from attending be a reasonable CPR?
2.Is a copy of my medical records enough? Or am I likely to need a further letter from my GP? (I was going to contact the tutor that received the note, however he is no longer at the university

Any advice will be welcomed .

LovelyLeeds

ljm628 wrote: »

My questions are:

1.Would glandular fever preventing me from attending be a reasonable CPR?
2.Is a copy of my medical records enough? Or am I likely to need a further letter from my GP? (I was going to contact the tutor that received the note, however he is no longer at the university

1. Why not just wait until the University give you the answer? Anything we say can only be conjecture unless posters here are on the panel/committee which decide Uni policy for Swansea.
2. See 1. above.

ljm628

Hi LovelyLeeds

In answer to your question I would like to get a general idea as to what I may be facing in terms of the evidence that I need to provide. I understand that any answer could be just conjecture, however after looking through the archives of this forum I have seen that there are one or two members that work/have worked for LEA's that give pretty useful (and confident) answers to similar questions. Many LEA's appear to follow the student finance regulations, but as a lay person I am not that confident when it comes to interpreting them correctly, I'd rather ask someone that works with them. I would like to be prepared for any eventuality in which I may have to provide further evidence and I feel that it would be better to have this to hand (just in case) rather than waiting the proposed 3-6 weeks for an answer from my LEA. I have asked these questions of them, however they have refused to answer until it has been put past a relevant case assessor.

LovelyLeeds

Fair enough.
Most Universities (and I work in one) are quite kind and lenient towards their students, so maybe just get student services behind you rather than the tutor who has left.

Taiko

I gave you my opinion on this case when you posted it previously on another forum, from my viewpoint as an ex-assessor for a local authority. At that time, I said I wouldn't have considered it, and that there's no set in stone definition of CPR in the regulations.

You've since added a lot more onto this than your original post though. It would then beg the question why you didn't mention this before? For me, if you're not disclosing everything straight up, I'm going to be asking for a lot of evidence to confirm statements.

I'm still of the mindset that you do not qualify for this. The reasons in my view are not compelling ones, and are situations that could have been controlled to an extent by your actions. The glandular fever might have done, but I'd be asking for a lot more evidence for duration, and effects.

I still fail to grasp how something like this can slip your mind...

Oldernotwiser

I wonder why you didn't post this on the Student Board; I'd think you'd get more knowledgeable advice on there.

ljm628

Taiko thanks for taking the time to reply as I was hoping you would, I've seen your helpful posts on other forums.

However, I feel you're confusing me with someone else. I haven't asked this question online before.

ljm628

I probably should have looked for a student board, but I saw that others had posted similar questions here. I am new to the board and I don't really know my way around it.

UnderPressure

Any particular reason why you (if accepted this time) have changed degree's 3 times? This shows to me a lack of determination to complete something you may well find it a bit more tricky being re-accepted this time. Maybe if you had stuck with your original degree you may have had a better argument.

TBH if I was assessing your claim (Im not luckily for you ) I personally would not entertain it at all, funds are limited as we all know your swapping and changing every couple of years with fresh apps is not great is it???

Either way I hope it all works out for you.

ljm628

Hi UnderPressure,

I can certainly see why you (or anyone) would think that. I did initially want to do medicine, but I didn't obtain the necessary grades after being moved schools a lot (mother is bi-polar, dad is an alcoholic...lots of disruption) and so when my AS/A levels didn't go well I ditched the idea, didn't resit and went with business (degree no.1). I didn't return to that particular course as I didn't want to be around my ex, so I tried at another local uni that only offered humanities and primary education, which lead to me doing english lit. I did intend on continuing after I had glandular fever, but I was off work/education for 18 months and after a lot of research found that there was an alternative route in to medicine which is my intended course for this year and then GEM. GEM could technically be done with a humanities degree, but as I have kids and I am now restricted to Swansea (I was in Lincoln before) I have to meet their guidelines for previous science study.

I do certainly see how that looks bad through the eyes of an assessor, I've got to admit I would be sceptical about the course change too. I've written a covering letter explaining everything above, but I will prepare for them to be dismissive of it.

UnderPressure

ljm628 wrote: »

Hi UnderPressure,

I can certainly see why you (or anyone) would think that. I did initially want to do medicine, but I didn't obtain the necessary grades after being moved schools a lot (mother is bi-polar, dad is an alcoholic...lots of disruption) and so when my AS/A levels didn't go well I ditched the idea, didn't resit and went with business (degree no.1). I didn't return to that particular course as I didn't want to be around my ex, so I tried at another local uni that only offered humanities and primary education, which lead to me doing english lit. I did intend on continuing after I had glandular fever, but I was off work/education for 18 months and after a lot of research found that there was an alternative route in to medicine which is my intended course for this year and then GEM. GEM could technically be done with a humanities degree, but as I have kids and I am now restricted to Swansea (I was in Lincoln before) I have to meet their guidelines for previous science study.

I do certainly see how that looks bad through the eyes of an assessor, I've got to admit I would be sceptical about the course change too. I've written a covering letter explaining everything above, but I will prepare for them to be dismissive of it.

I think the best thing you could do would be to look at the Open University http://www.open.ac.uk funding is a LOT easier to get and because you live in Wales (like me ) you also get extra monies from the good old Welsh Assembly

This I think would be a perfect option for you if you can find a degree you want to do with them of course, your time is your own you study when you want you have full back up from your tutor's I really cannot speak highly enough about The Open University

Have a wander around their site maybe give them a call for a chat they have fantastic advisors who will point you in the right direction.

Dont be fooled into thinking employers frown on OU dehree's, in fact the OU did some research (will see if I can find a clicky) that proved the opposite, many big companies value an OU degree more over one from a red brick UNI, mature students are wanted by emploers.

Have a look you may be surprised..............

*PS*
If you are quick you could be starting this Ooctober and the funding application is straight forward, they have a central Wales office in Cardiff as well.

*PSS*

You can also bring previous study UCAS points to the OU as well, generally 360 points with them for a degree so you may not even have to start from scratch dependant on what you have already done.