New Batch of Year 13 parents this way!

Lonicera - I agree. Many universities say "it's good practice for university type work but as not all schools offer them, offers are not varied". Having said that some unis do eg. Southampton. So instead of say AAB as an offer, it would be ABB plus A in EPQ. It was a huge commitment and took a lot of time and if DS had his time again I'm not sure he would do it. It has at least given him something to write about in his personal statement!

Interestingly, a lot of unis don't look at EPQs because not all schools do them. This is what we were told at Leicester on Saturday.

DD's school doesn't do EPQs.

Hi everyone - can I join? I have a DS going through A levels this year (and a DS2 going through GCSEs). He's hoping to study history and/or politics (something along those lines).

We've visited Exeter and Birmingham so far and are going to Warwick. Has anyone been to Loughborough or Southampton (or Sussex or Kent....?!!)?

He liked Exeter but he wasn't sure about the course and definitely doesn't want to go to Penryn (where they do History and Politics) - too far away and too isolated for him - I thought it looked idyllic! He doesn't want to look at London or Scotland (too far). We're just waiting on predictions and he's finished his EPQ. Good luck to all DC and to their families

My sister lived in Leamington when she was at Warwick, I think a lot still do. But graduation was from Coventry Cathedral. It was too isolated for DD

Newcastle would have been right up her street, but it's too close to home for her (though still quite a distance).

I visited York with DS1, made me want to go to uni.

Antibiotics nearly finished and she's back to school tomorrow, though I've emailed to excuse from band practices this week.

We went in the summer before DD changed her mind about what she wanted to do. The campus is nice, but it is off the list now.

I have a spreadsheet

I think OYBBK has been.

Has anyone been to a Warwick open day? It rates well for DDs course, but we haven't been able to have a look. If it comes to it (i.e. if she hates Edinburgh next weekend) then we may have to visit it after offers (should she get one of course).

I have heard the campus is nice, but don't know Coventry at all.

York also a hit with DD. Despite it being campus based. She liked th history students she spoke to.

I'm shattered. Three Unis, the Metrocentre and a catch up with a friend I haven't seen for 4 years.

It sounds like it's been a busy week for lots of you...we didn't go to Leicester as planned yesterday (lots of stuff got in the way), however we have booked a place for the last open day during DS's October half term. We've visited 6 uni's so far and he has a firm idea of which ones he wants to put down as his choices - Leicester will be a back up if he likes it there - the course looks good on paper.

We have had the achieving grades chat - there are always options if he doesn't get what he is hoping for. His predicted are the ones he needs to apply to his chosen uni's but things could change if he takes his foot of the pedal.....

I'm finding the constant pressure on them exhausting. DS meets up with the 6th Form academic mentor every week to make sure he is on track - I get nice emailed updates from her
and all free periods are (or so I'm led to believe) spent working......

This thread is good in that our children are taking a variety of pathways through further education and I've found it to be inclusive and supportive to everyone.

Thank you NoHaud & chocolate - for many of our DCs it's not straightforward is it?

Dd loved Newcastle but there is no equestrian club.

Definitely decided she prefers a city location to a self contained campus.

Welcome blogwoman

DD had a lot of time off in years 10 and 11 due to anxiety and self-harm, so didn't do as well as should could have done with her GCSEs. She's doing BTECs which makes it easier to manage her workload and reduce stress.

We are just back from Nottingham. Ds1 has gone from not sure, maybe to either his first or second choice. I'm pleased because he now has a couple of potential offers he would be really happy to have.

We talked about him getting a car if he goes there but when I pointed out he could afford to run it if he shared a bathroom he said he could get the bus.

We've had a lot of conversations about grades and what happens if he isn't predicated what he needs.
Applying to an aspirational with a back up he's happy with (and meets criteria for).
Working really hard to get the grades and take a gap year applying with grades in hand.
Look for an alternative route into the degree.
It's the start of a tough year I think.

Blogwoman that is difficult for your dd. My ds had a lot of time off with illness in yr12 and was in hospital for the AS exams. He decided in the April that he was going to repeat yr 12 and it was frankly a really good decision. However he has ASD and was not in the least bothered about the social side.
He is now about to start his second yr at university and the extra year at school really helped his maturity though that may not be an issue for your dd. Whatever she decides I hope it goes well for her.

That must be tough double
Welcome blog everyone's supportive and offers excellent advice

Dd enjoyed Essex and loves it she said its exciting and huge
She's considering a degree in philosophy any help? Any advice? Anyone done one or have experience/knowledge of someone doing a philosophy degree

Thank you Lonicera & TheSecond - hope your DS1 has a good year now he's well. DD was given the option to retake year 12 & one of the teachers has emailed me today to suggest it, but she's adamant she doesn't want to. Don't think she's got the motivation & it's difficult socially when they stay back.

The deal-breaker was that (unlike Leicester) DMU offers no choice of modules in the first year.

Lonerica he didn't like the course at DMU so it got eliminated in the first round.

Blogwoman the pressure schools and colleges put on them is awful isn't it. It's just to make them look good.

I hope your daughter has a successful year 13.

TheSecond have you looked at De Montfort as well? We looked at Leicester uni today (for medicine), but one of DD's friend is looking at De Montfort for history.

Blogwoman welcome.
DS1 had a chronic illness from Y8 to Y12 and had to drop three of his GCSEs. I haven't quite got used to him being well again, and am not certain that he is ready to apply to UCAS in this cycle.

DS1 liked Leicester and enjoyed chatting with some of the History faculty.

Sadly he's unlikely to get an offer from them with the predictions the school have given him, so he's going to approach two of his teachers about the possibility of reviewing the predicted grades.

He wants to ask if his History predicted grade can be changed from C to B (based on the fact that he got a high B (2 marks off an A) in one of the two end of Y12 History papers (internal equivalent of AS).

He also wants to ask if his Politics predicted grade can be changed from C to B (based on the fact that he got an A in one of the two AS papers).

If they say no, then he'll have to accept that.