I'm repeating myself from another thread here, but I feel this needs to be pointed out to some.
There are those of us about who haven't been with NATS as long as others, and can remember what it was like to go through the interview process. These "sacrifices" one or two here are bestowing on themselves as if they were the only one's ever to experience it. Guys of my less experienced "vintage" (Gonzo and I were on the same course) as Cally points out, were on different conditions to those in the college now...........so your argument Kirstey doesn't hold much there. We're not being patronising, just stating facts. Until you have that signed piece of paper in your hand, sorry. And if you're serious about being an ATCO for NATS (your lovely little comment about "rejecting the kind offer" kind of proves this), then you wouldn't be bitching and moaning about it on an internet forum, would you.
Yeah the whole process can be a little frustrating, but if it's what you want, all the best!!!