Continuing Year 13: January 2016

[Needmoresleep]

Only two more terms at school. Let's support each other support our DC in getting through to the end.

[Leeds2]

I can't believe the other thread filled up so quickly! Thanks for starting a new one.

[BethanKate]

Yes thanks Needmoresleep and Happy New Year everyone.

DS came home from first two mocks not very happy - 'impossible' question in Physics & ran out of time in M2. He's probably done ok though (I hope).

Wondering if anyone else's DC with Maths offers from Warwick have had invitations to open day yet - heard nothing here.

Thinking of those of you waiting for Oxbridge letters.

[mygrandchildrenrock]

Oxford results are out today! A very happy young man in our house and very proud parents!

[mygrandchildrenrock]

Thanks Gloria we've just had a midweek take-away, most unheard of for us! Now, it's going to be a homework free night and an episode of Game of Thrones. It's lovely to see him so relaxed after being anxious for quite a while.

[Leeds2]

Well Done to him, mygrandchildren.

[mygrandchildrenrock]

Thank you, I hope others hear with good news soon.

[Needmoresleep]

Congratulations mygrandchildren. A friend's child has a place and it is very exciting. I have managed to persuade her of the need to have a celebration lunch at MY favourite restaurant.

It can be a double celebration as my daughter's phone pinged at 1.00am. An invitation to interview at the University she really wants to go to. Last year I think they had 25 applicants per medical school place, so it was already an achievement to not be rejected before Christmas. The Student Room suggests that the acceptance rate post interview is about 40% so still a bit of a mountain to climb, but still exciting.

And for those who did not get Oxbridge, we were in the same position two years ago. DS is really thriving where he is, and has been able to take full advantage of the extra flexibility his course gives him. Ironically he fluffed the maths interview at Cambridge but has really enjoyed the maths element of his course and so will end up with an economics degree which is about 75% maths, more than would have been possible at Cambridge. He also reports that though most of his peers who went, love Oxbridge at least a couple do not (one is not enjoying the course, the other the tutorial system). There is an element of fate and luck. Who knows where they will meet a strong group of friends, their future partner, the inspiring academic.

[BethanKate]

Well done to your DS mygrandchildren & your DD Needmoresleep brilliant news for both & really hope interview goes well.

[MorvahRising]

Thanks for starting a new thread, Needmoresleep and huge well done to your DD for achieving the next step, and to mygrandchildren's DS for his offer.

[mygrandchildrenrock]

Getting an interview is such a big step, isn't it Needmoresleep. Well done to your duaghter and the very best of luck to her.

[hellsbells99]

Well done for those with offers and good luck to those still having interviews.
DD has mocks this month but did not put in enough work over Christmas. I have told her that she needs to works her socks off for the next 6 months. Her 1st choice offer is A*AA which will only be achievable with a lot of work.

[MyVisionsComeFromSoup]

We're in the middle of mocks too which aren't going well at all (combination of DD not being especially well and the "I've got a Cambridge interview which is more important than revision" bubble she's been in). But a tough love conversation earlier in the week seems to have helped a bit thankfully. Maybe I'll get time to concentrate a bit on dd3 who has to choose her gcse options this month

[LIZS]

Mocks here too, last day today. 4 offers so far ranging from AAA to BBB. Good luck to those waiting on Oxbridge.

[BethanKate]

Tried having the 'perhaps you could do a bit more work & a bit less playing computer games' conversation. Didn't go very well but then I didn't realise DH had had same conversation earlier. Is doing some work but needs to get AAA & 2 in STEP to get where he wants to go. Think might be more focussed if didn't have quite so much study leave - two weeks off seems quite a lot for six exams when he's already been working over Christmas.

[mygrandchildrenrock]

Two weeks study leave might seem a lot but my son's school has none, which means normal lessons and homework as well as mocks! There must be a happy medium.

[raspberryrippleicecream]

Congratulations to those with Oxford offers, other Uni offers and interviews.

Mocks week after next here, with no study leave. I think DS1 is working, but there seems to be slightly more chat about his 18th birthday the week after! I think also having accepted his firm and insurance offers, he needs to refocus and concentrate on exams.

[Leeds2]

What is he, and his friends, doing for his 18th, raspberry?

Am desperate for ideas.....

[MyVisionsComeFromSoup]

here, DDs friendship group are keen on offbeat things - so far we've had a trip to Harry Potter Studios and a London theatre. There is a "traditional" party at home with alcohol coming up, but generally they're not a partying crowd. DD (although she doesn't know it yet) is getting afternoon tea somewhere posh in London. She can't drink alcohol due to a medical condition/medications so quite lucky really that none of her friends are anything more than social drinkers.

[raspberryrippleicecream]

DS is part of a very sedate home partying group. Wii tournaments, pizza, a small amount of alcohol, usually earlier evening finishing about 11.

I suggested sausages and bringing down our boxes of Lego which DS thinks is a great idea.

Last summer they camped for the first 18th in a relative's garden.

[Leeds2]

Sausages and lego is a great idea, raspberry!

Ideally, my DD would like to do posh afternoon tea with her friends in London. But one of her friends has just invited her to afternoon tea at Fortnum & Mason just a couple of weeks before her birthday, so she doesn't want to do the same thing. Which is a pity, as she is the afternoon tea queen!

[Leeds2]

Not sure when DD's mocks are, but certainly not this week. I believe I have heard March mentioned.