New Batch of Year 13 parents this way!

Bristol is the furthest for us. A 5 hour train journey and an overnight stay. The return train fare for both of us is £158.00 and that includes using DD's railcard.

DS has Leicester on his list as a back up grades wise. We are yet to visit.

Bristol is on DD's list, she likes the town (we have family there) but has decided not to visit unless she gets an offer.
We went to an open day at Leicester last year and loved it, but DD won't consider it as it's too close to home. Same goes for Nottingham unfortunately. I think they are both wonderful places and have heard good things about both universities.

Have just booked a raft of open days for September: Bristol, Leicester, Nottingham and Manchester.

Glad all the festivallers are home safely

While the rest of us have been out enjoying the sunshine DD has spent today finally writing her personal statement!
It still needs a bit of pruning (too many words!) but I'm very impressed with what she's written - far better than I expected for a first draft.

I think it's taken a bit of a weight off her mind to finally get it down on paper (and mine!) x

We had a day trip to Bath & Bristol yesterday to try to help DD find a fifth option, should she not get the predicted grades for Oxford. It went well, and she loved the Bath campus, and the area round the uni in Bristol. We sat down today to make a new list, with grades required and so on, and have ended up with a list of 12.

She can't easily take part in her favourite sport in Bath though, so that might discount it when she has a think, plus Bristol has relatively poor graduate prospects, though we can't figure out why.

She has also decided she definitely prefers compact sites though, which discounts any of the London options.

DD had a fabulous time at a concert in London yesterday. Very excited that "Drake" had flown in by helicopter from Leeds festival to take part in the concert. Loads of other artists in the same concert - absolutely none that I had heard of.

Feel so, so old lol.

DS is back from his band tour. The washing has not been too bad - I strongly suggested that it would be a good idea for him to take the smaller suitcase as he would also be taking an instrument and an instrument stand (it was originally going to be two instruments and I think he would have needed a pack mule). Small case = less laundry. I have always suspected that a lot of the clothes he brings home are clean and unworn but now I'm sure of it.

Two weeks here until we get back to some sort of a routine.

DS1 is safely back from Reading. He was already asleep when we got back from a lunch out, and he hasn't emerged yet.

It took me 3 bloody hours to get to Leeds to pick DD up. M62 shut as someone had jumped from a bridge. Then a trillion others cars trying to get to the pick up point. She can drive herself next year.

Signing in join a thread with just over a week until dd officially starts Y13.
I have heard that too starfleet and agree with your comments.

Just waiting for DS to get back from Leeds. He will get the biggest hug.

There was something on the news about the body of 17 year old boy found in a tent at Reading. It's every parents worst nightmare and I can't imagine what his family will be going through.

To all who have had DC's away at festivals over the past few days - I hope they all arrive home safely.

No, she definitely doesn't want to do the BMAT test. You need to revise for that, and she has spent most of the summer holidays practising for the UKCAT test, which she took yesterday. Loads of universities want the UKCAT test so she isn't going to bother with the BMAT as well.

Icouldbe I don't blame her with the camper van. DH and DS2 have gone in our folding camper, which has toilet, gas fridge and hot water!

Oh I see. She might as well look at doing the BMAT and maybe putting one of those down on the UCAS form.

She didn't know she wanted to do medicine until June this year.

She didn't get 6 As in one sitting. She got 2 As in year 10, an A in the January of year 11 and 4A an A plus 2 Bs at the end of year 11.

Signing in, can't believe we've only got a year to go!!

DS1 has been busy this summer, UKCat, work experience, DofE expedition, and a week away with friends. He's also been working on that dammed EPQ, as the first draft has to be in first day of term.

No matter what anyone says, I think they are all far more committed than we were all those years ago (or maybe that's just me!!).

Although I don't want to wish the year away, I will be glad when it's over.

She only needs at least 6 As in one sitting though How many did she take early?

I'm not sure that is the case because both mine day exams early but that was school policy, all classes did. If that was the case unis won't penalise them. But if she doesn't want to go there anyway fair enough.

I think it is just for medicine. DD hasn't looked at the other courses. She isn't bothered about Sheffield anyway as it is on our doorstep.

That's ridiculous! Is that just for medicine or all courses?

I took my O levels in 1975 (and 1976 and 1977)

lonicera that's bonkers! I did one of my O levels (yes, I am that old) early. It was the first time the school had put any students in for an early O level, there were only 3 of of, and it was considered as a positive thing all round.