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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

New Batch of Year 13 parents this way!

988 replies

OhYouBadBadKitten · 19/08/2017 07:40

Hopefully this thread will appear on TIO! Grin No need to use it til our old thread is done, but at least we have it for when we are ready.

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UrsulaPandress · 18/09/2017 21:39

DD is sacking Lincoln and going to Liverpool on Saturday. On the train. With friends. Yeah. Day off for me.

She spoke to a careers person at school and agreed to go with history and that Hull could be her insurance

Icouldbeknitting · 18/09/2017 20:49

I am done with open days. I managed to palm the last one off on my husband and I didn't feel the slightest bit guilty about it.

starfleet · 18/09/2017 20:43

I know what you both mean! Open day fatigue!

LoniceraJaponica · 18/09/2017 20:30

So am I Ursula. We still have one more to do, and then, hopefully, we are done.

UrsulaPandress · 18/09/2017 20:23

DD was told the same somewhere (I'm over open dayed).

starfleet · 18/09/2017 19:56

Just on the subject of EPQ's....

One of DS's possibles has an ABB requirement for grades but could alternatively offer BBB + EPQ at grade B. On speaking to admissions tutors at both Liverpool and Newcastle we were told that they may consider the EPQ/Personal Statement if you're on the cusp with A level grades for the course he is interested in.

LoniceraJaponica · 18/09/2017 19:19

I often wonder how much the schools and colleges really know what universities want.

We had a UCAS parents evening in June and the advice the school gave about applying to university was completely different to what we had been told at uni open days.

Some of DD's friends did World Challenge last year. Unis aren't interested. It just indicates that the student comes from a family who can afford to pay for it. I know the student is supposed to do their own fund raising, but in reality the parents subsidise the trips.

Blogwoman · 18/09/2017 18:10

Puppy DD1 has just started at Sussex & it seems a brilliant place. It was very much her top choice after the open days last year. So worth going to several.
EPQ - urgh! DCs school made it mandatory for the past 2 years. None of the unis we visited were interested; DD1 did it, with a struggle. Relieved DD2 (yr 13) has been allowed to drop it. It's a tall order & supervision very variable.

LoniceraJaponica · 18/09/2017 16:46

DH and I can't wait to be able to go away and not be tied to school holidays. We are thinking of lots of mini breaks in the UK though.

chocolateworshipper · 18/09/2017 15:36

ursula according to this website www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/getting-started/ucas-undergraduate-when-apply it's £13 for single choice or £24 for multiple

UrsulaPandress · 18/09/2017 15:29

There's a UCAS fee?

ShanghaiDiva · 18/09/2017 15:12

He's applied to Bath, Warwick, Lancaster, Leeds and Loughborough for accounting and finance. Top two are Leeds and Warwick.

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 18/09/2017 14:36

Good luck to your ds Shanghai :)

Looks like I'd best get planning our hols then Grin Good idea to have an emergency contact for her here just in case. Our first one in umpty-ump years where we don't have to factor in the cost of extra flights and an extra room. Hoorah!

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puppypower1 · 18/09/2017 13:59

kitten - definitely go ! Thanks for the view on Southampton

Shineyshoes - thank you for the info on Loughborough. I like the look of the placement year that they offer. DS is more focused on Student Union, nightlife and societies!

Shanghai - good luck to your DS. Where has he applied?

ShanghaiDiva · 18/09/2017 13:14

I have paid the UCAS fee and application is in!
we are in China so working on an earlier timetable than UK as Ds has already been back at school for about 6 weeks.

Kitten - definitely go, as pp mentioned good to have an emergency contact in UK too.

Icouldbeknitting · 18/09/2017 13:06

OYBBK get off with you. I am thinking along the same lines with a cruise.

Shineyshoes10 · 18/09/2017 12:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HesMyLobster · 18/09/2017 12:38

EPQ was the bane of DD's life last year, it took up more time than any of her other subjects.
She's glad she did it though (not sure if she would be had she not got an A* for it! Wink) and while universities won't necessarily use them for offers, I think having it on the PS is a good way to demonstrate ability to study independently etc.

chocolateworshipper · 18/09/2017 12:36

kitten
Definitely go, but why don't you nominate someone (family or a close friend) who is going to keep an eye on her? Someone you trust - so you'll know that if you haven't heard from them, everything is definitely fine with DD

HesMyLobster · 18/09/2017 12:33

I think that sounds like a brilliant plan Kitten, definitely do it!
I might suggest something similar to DH - or perhaps DD2 as I think she's the one who will miss dd1 the most.
Love the idea of having something to look forward to.
A lot of DD's friends/dc of friends in the year above went off to uni yesterday. My FB was filled with smiling students in their new rooms, sitting on new ikea duvets!

I started off feeling exited for them all but by the end of the day that had turned to a feeling of dread - it's officially less than a year now until ours go! Shock

UrsulaPandress · 18/09/2017 12:28

Visit her the weekend before you go. Then you can communicate every day via snapchat or whatever.

Just had an interesting chat with my orthodontist. He has/had three at Uni and was telling me how different each child is. I suppose that's why it's so important to choose the right place and course.

The next decision DD makes will be her first. Typical Libran 😀

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 18/09/2017 12:21

but will I be worrying about her too much to enjoy it? The idea was that instead of getting all empty-nester and sobbing into my cornflakes when she leaves, I'd have something mega to look forward to.

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Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 18/09/2017 12:20

thats what I needed to hear Grin afterall, lots of students go abroad for uni. There's always messenger for emergency conversations.

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UrsulaPandress · 18/09/2017 10:43

Get yourselves away. She'll be fine.

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 18/09/2017 10:21

Welcome Puppy :) We've looked at Southampton. It seemed really nice. Has a nice feel to the place.

I wish dd would drop her epq, she has far too much going on and she doesn't need it.

A question for you all. dh and I are thinking about going on a long haul holiday next oct/nov (if we can afford it). Not sure where yet. dd will have only been at uni for a few weeks. Do you reckon this would be ok, or do you think we need to be around in case of crisis?

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