New Batch of Year 13 parents this way!

Haha chocolate I've had this explained to me several times by my DDs but I still don't get it!
I think it goes:
Talking - you both know you're interested and spend several hours a day snapchatting. Close friends know but it's not public yet. Can last anything from a week to 2+ years apparently, and can be sporadic.
Seeing - it's public knowledge that you're a "thing" and you're likely to attend the same social events but not "together" however there might be some snogging. Usually seems to last a few weeks before either fizzling out, ending in a dramatic bust up about him snapchatting another girl, or moving on to:
Going out - this is where you suddenly become inseparable and spend all your time draped all over each other either in each other's houses (glares at dd2!) or at local Costa/McDonalds/park (delete as applicable) every day after school and all weekend! This is when it becomes acceptable to use the terms boyfriend/girlfriend.

There's also an "On it" stage but I haven't figured out yet where that fits in. Possibly between talking and seeing?

All of this I've learnt from 15 year old dd2 because dd1 has had no interest in the whole thing!

Sorry to derail again, but does anyone understand teenage relationships? DD announced on Sunday that she is "seeing someone" but when I referred to him as her "boyfriend" today, I was told he's not her boyfriend yet, they're just seeing each other. I asked how that works - does one of them say "would you like to see me" rather than "will you go out with me." She said they had been "talking" which then progressed to going on a date and now they are "seeing each other" but that's not the same as being boyfriend and girlfriend.

I was saying that the other day. My dsis has a baby who has just started to crawl, her ds1 starts school next September and has just started preschools.
We are at the other end with lasts-ds1 has finished with the school bus, Will have his last remembrance day with cadets this year, etc. I get a lump and have to think about something else quickly!

Today he came home and said that his teachers will have his reference ready in the next couple of days, in the same breath he announced that he has locked himself out of UCAS by entering the password incorrectly too many times.
It's ok though apparently as it's not 15th October and he's getting it sorted. I took the opportunity to let him know it will be in before 15th just in case of problems.

Had a family party for Dds 18th on Sunday and I cried when doing the toast. I am a renowned blubber though.

That's it. Thanks Lobster

Kitten I was saying just that at the weekend - now begins a year of "lasts".
DD was in her favourite dance competition at the weekend and we got a bit emotional when we realised it's the last time she'll ever compete there...

Is it this one Ursula?

www.studential.com/university/applying/UCAS-application-guide/personal-statement-examples/subjects

Has a few examples for each subject. I definitely remember seeing it on here but not sure if it's the one you mean?

You had disappeared from TIO again.

Someone posted a fabulous link to a guide to Personal Statements. I've just trawled back through every page and cannot find it. Was it on a previous thread can anyone remember?

Still fine honing the PS here luckily DS has got lots to say! No predicted grades from college though so hope he is applying for the right Unis and we have guessed predicted grades correctly!
However just found out that my 2nd DS has to do a PS for the 6th form school he wants to go to so have to start all over again for him. It's a protracted admissions process for a specialist college.

Well DS thinks he's decided on course and targets to aim for. School are completely focused on Oxbridge and medics (although I don't think there are any this year?), so nothing has happened. I just want it done, before he changes his mind again....

Good luck to those putting in applications...

knitting I can so relate to your 'own production...steering own canoe' metaphor! Accept I feel we're capsizing in our one right now! Can't even say the school are doing any bit of it! I was awake until 06.00am the other morning worrying about it all & I normally sleep like a log! Partly compounded by only now receiving DD's predicted grades!! As someone said upthread, if only you were competing on a level playing field too I cannot wait to hit that submit button & exhale again!

LDR that must be really frustrating but if he has other good choices then it will be their loss. It's one thing asking to see some commitment and another to specify something that's not possible in all locations.

DS is chilled, I'm having nightmares at least once a week. Last week I dreamed that I woke up and started pottering about, glanced at the kitchen calendar and had a stomach churning moment where I realised that I'd lost a week and it was the week after the submission deadline. It felt so very, very real. I don't need professional help to interpret that dream or all the other variants on "DS relied on me and I screwed up and let him down". I've got a timeline on the kitchen door, have emailed DS and DH with details of what should happen just in case I fall under a bus, I don't know what else I can do to reassure my subconscious that DS and I have got this process nailed down.

Ds1 needs one week of work experience in a specific area booked in to add to his ucas form before he can send it. This is for one university, the rest are happy with what he has.
Unfortunately it is proving difficult as he keeps being told its for older/current university students only.
If he can't get it then that uni will be off the list! He will put a reserve choice instead.
Only a couple of weeks then the wait for interviews/offers begins.

anyone?

Kitten/knitting, it's nearly an anagram.

I'm not feeling that relaxed because although his form has gone off it doesn't include references. They need to be in by the end of the month and of course we're missing a week for half term. The saving grace is that there isn't a huge Oxbridge cohort so there shouldn't be a big workload of references at the moment. His tutor has known DS for three weeks so I suspect that this will be a joint production and possibly pass across the top bod's desk. DS has given the party pack to one referee and will take the other into college tomorrow. He then has to scan all his certificates and upload them and after that I think I'll relax.

What I'm finding stressful is that this is my production, for university admissions college issue a timetable and herd them along to the finish. With this we are paddling our own canoe, he's paddling and I'm steering.

I feel your pain Kitten, DD pressed submit nearly 2 weeks ago, and school still haven't finished their bit and sent it.
I suppose we just have to trust them but I'll feel much better once it's actually gone, as will DD.
Like you said, they still might come back with suggestions of changes so can't relax that it's 'done' yet.
Hope your dd feels better soon. I had a phonecall from school to pick dd2 up at lunchtime - she's got a rotten cold too. I think we're all ready for half term now! 6 weeks done, 3 to go - it's such a long term.

I see what you mean kitten my post did mean knitting. Guess that now the forms are submitted she is able to relax a bit.
dd has had her careers interview and it has been suggested that she does some volunteering to boost her CV. She is having a trial in a local charity shop next weekend.

I'd be frustrated by that too kitten.

Dd isn't anywhere near ready to press go on her form as her ps Is still in "note form" and not proper sentences and paragraphs. That's a half term job apparently.

We have a college calendar and a "Parents & Carers" section on the website too. There is no exams information section though!
Not hearing anything from the college is definitely good news. I had a shock the other week when college left a message on my mobile that dd hadn't turned up for one of her classes. She had definitely left the house of time (by bike) so their call made me quite worried! Turned out there was a mistake on the timetable which listed the wrong room so all the students were in one room and the tutor in another! The students went to report that the tutor hadn't shown up to management so sorted it out themselves.
Sounds as if it's a good thing you were on the ball kitten about your ds "niche" application. I wouldn't mind betting that if he's awarded a place (which I hope he is) the sixth form will be making it one of their headline achievements despite their own lack of knowledge about this specialised area.