Thread 30 Covid Cohort, Mad March Hareing Towards Exams

Thanks Oblomov.
He has done so well! You must be super proud
Good for him turning down Durham, he has got bigger fish to fry!
Hope everyone firming Nottingham makes their offer, we will need a secret signal for dropping off days. I have my doubts about DS and whether his current level of commitment is enough to get AAB but we'll see. He keeps telling me to "chill, mate" so I am doing my best. Insurance choice Aston would also be great for him, so if he can manage BBB it will all work out ok.

Singing I didn't give you an update on ds's offers.

Nottingham ABB Firm
Reading AAB Insurance
QMUL AAA
Durham ABB
Southampton ABB

He's also still got his BDO Apprenticeship Job - 3 x A*-C.

Bit worried that his insurance is higher than his firm. Still can't quite get over the fact he's rejected Durham.

DD also had a generic email on Friday evening with these links.
www.nottingham.ac.uk/accommodation/contact.aspx?dm_i=5IL5,HMBQ,3MHXL9,25FN5,1
www.nottingham.ac.uk/contact/?dm_i=5IL5,HMBQ,3MHXL9,25FN5,1
the 2nd link has a general phone number on but it won't be open in time to help :-(

I loved the Nottingham campus, I wanted to move into catered halls there myself. Sadly DS decided the course he’d applied for wasn’t the right one so it was ruled out. We had a fantastic meal in the city centre too at Iberico World Tapas if anyone is visiting.

Thanks @singingstones that's brilliant! 7 of us with Nottingham as firm so far....

@Chewbecca it is going to be a pain emptying the room at Christmas and Easter, but we'll only be just over an hour away so don't mind doing the journey and we wouldn't be able to afford the 39 week catered. I know in years 2 onwards students often stay in the holidays, but certainly in our day 1st years didn't. I'm thinking after 12 weeks in a hall of residence they'll probably be ready to come home and recharge! So it does seem a bit of a con having to pay for weeks they won't be there...

Thanks for the Nottingham info, or at least flagging the lack of it! Not sure either of us will be awake at midnight and DS will be on his way to school at 8am on Monday but I could probably do it for him then if necessary. Yes, it does take a little while to sort the login and create an account, hopefully that will put us ahead of the pack!

I thought I'd do an update as there has been so much news lately, I'm sure I've missed some of it:

@22Newnames / DS / Engineering / Lincoln (U/C), Nottingham (AAB), Warwick (AstarAA-AAA) Bath
@Alsoplayspiccolo / DD / English Lit + Film, Liberal Arts / Reading (BCC), Birmingham (AAB), RHUL (ABB), Southampton (ABB)
@AnneofCleavage / DD / gap year + Primary Education / FIRM: Chichester, INSURANCE: Oxford Brookes (104 pts)
@Appuskidu / DD / Psychology / Nottingham, Birmingham
@BlueMarigold / DD / Biology / FIRM: Birmingham (AAA-AAB), INSURANCE: Lincoln (U/C)
@CaliforniaDrumming / DS / Economics / FIRM: UCL, INSURANCE: Nottingham
@Cantonet / DS / Sports Science / Oxford Brookes, Bangor, Surrey (DMB), Aberystwyth
@cariadambyth / DD / History / FIRM: RHUL (BBB), INSURANCE: Bath Spa (U/C)?
@Chewbecca / DS / Economics / FIRM: Loughborough, INSURANCE: Strathclyde
@ChristopherTracy / DS / Mech Eng / FIRM: Nottingham (ABB), INSURANCE: QMUL (ABB)
@collywobble / DS / PPE, Economics / Lancaster (ABB), Loughborough (AAB), Leeds (AAA-AAB)
@crazycrofter / DD / Psychology / FIRM: Nottingham (ABB), INSURANCE: Southampton (ABB)
@Decorhate / DS / Economics + Politics / FIRM: Leeds (AAA), INSURANCE: Sheffield (AAB)
@Delphigirl / DS / Oceanography / gap year + ACCEPTED: Dalhousie (CC), Southampton (ABB), Cardiff (BBB-BBC), Plymouth (112 pts)
@DoggerelBank / DS / Biotechnology / Bristol (ABB), Leeds, Glasgow (AAB), Edinburgh, Manchester
@ealingwestmum / DD / Middle Eastern & European Studies / Bristol (ABBM2), Manchester (ABBM2), Leeds (ABM2), Durham, McGill, TCD
@esterfrewen / DS / History / FIRM: Cambridge, INSURANCE: Lancaster (BBC)
@EwwSprouts / DS / Biology / FIRM: Durham (AAA), INSURANCE: Sheffield (AAB)
@EventuallyDelighted / Environmental Management / FIRM: RAU (56 pts), INSURANCE: Winchester (104 pts)
@Fiddlersgreen / DS / Journalism / Bournemouth (104pts), Brighton (BCC), Cardiff (ABB), Sheffield (ABB)
@Fonty / DS / History / Birmingham (AAB), Exeter (AAA), Edinburgh
@Fruitygal / DD / Biology / FIRM: Durham (AAA), INSURANCE: Sheffield (AAB-ABB)
@GoldenRuby / DD / Social Anthropology + Geography / Sussex (ABB-BBB), Durham (AAB), St Andrews, Edinburgh, Exeter
@HarrietDVane / DD / MFL / Warwick (ABB), Bristol (BBC)
@Hattifatteners / DD / Vet Med / Nottingham (AAB), Bristol
@Heifer / DD / Biology / FIRM: Nottingham (AAB), INSURANCE: York (BBB)
@HibiscusIsland / DD / Biology / Nottingham, Southampton, Surrey, Bristol, Warwick
@Horace123 / DS / Classics / Oxford (39/666), Edinburgh (34/665), Exeter (36), UCL (36), Durham (37/666)
@icanbewhatiwant / DS / History + Philosophy / FIRM: Sussex (DBC), INSURANCE: Gloucestershire (112 pts)
@Isthisjustnormal / DS / Comp Sci / York (AAA), Exeter (AAA), Warwick, Bath
@JustHereWithMyPopcorn / DS / Law / FIRM: Nottingham (AAA), INSURANCE: Birmingham (AAA)
@KingscoteStaff / DD / Medicine / Bristol, Newcastle, Birmingham, Barts, Nottingham (biochem/med sci)
@kiwiandcherries / DD / Primary Education / FIRM: Winchester, INSURANCE: Gloucestershire
@Knickerthief1 / DD / Child Nursing / York
@Monkey2001 / DS / Medicine / Newcastle
@mummabear74 / DD / Environmental Science / York (AAB), Southampton (ABB), Cardiff (BBB-BBC), Nottingham (ABB)
@mummyinbeds / DS / Law + French Law / FIRM: Nottingham (AAA), INSURANCE: Warwick (AAB)
@Nard75 / DS / Maths / Aston (BBC), Birmingham (AAA), Nottingham (AAB), Manchester, Warwick (AstarAstarA)
@NCTDN / DD / Liberal Arts / Bristol (ABB), Warwick (AAA), Loughborough (ABB), Manchester (AstarAA), Durham
@Oblomov21 / DS / Accountancy / FIRM: PwC Nottingham, INSURANCE: PwC Reading
@OrangeCinnamonCroissant / DD / Music / FIRM: Southampton (BBB), INSURANCE: Cardiff (ABB-BBB)
@PaddingtonPaddington / DD / Music / FIRM: RWCMD (EE)
@Piggywaspushed / DS / Social Sciences / FIRM: Birmingham (AAB-ABB), INSURANCE: York (AAB-ABB)
@ProggyMat / DD / Classics / FIRM: Oxford (AAA), INSURANCE: UCL (AAB)
@SandyBayley / DD / Medicine / Oxford (39/766), Newcastle, Leeds, Bristol
@sazzy5 / DS / Sport + Exercise Med Sci / FIRM: Exeter (AAA)
@scabby1 / DS / Economics + Politics / York (AAB), Nottingham (AAA), Leeds (AAA), Bristol (AAA)
@Seeline / DD / Liberal Arts / FIRM: UEA (AAB), INSURANCE: Kent (BBB)
@Shadedog / DS / History / UCL, LSE, Edinburgh, Newcastle
@Shimy / DS / Management, Business + Management / Birmingham (AAB-ABB), Loughborough, Warwick (AstarAA), Bath
@singingstones / DS / Neuroscience / FIRM: Nottingham (AAB), INSURANCE: Aston (BBB)
@sofakingcool / DS / Business, Economics / FIRM: Reading, INSURANCE: Bournemouth
@TangoWhiskyAlphaTango / DD / Politics + IR / FIRM: Bath (AAB), INSURANCE: Nottingham (ABB)
@Volterra / DS / Maths / Exeter (AstarAA), Bath (AstarAA), Southampton, Cardiff
@whatsnext2 / DD / English joint hons / FIRM: Reading (BBB), INSURANCE: Swansea
@Wheresthebeach / DD / gap year + Marine Biology / Swansea, Portsmouth (U/C), Southampton, Plymouth, Liverpool
@whoamitojudge / DD / Cabin crew training completed and flying high!
@Zebracat / DD / Liberal Arts, History+ / Warwick (ABB), Birmingham (ABB-BBB), RHUL with foundation (CCC), Cambridge Arts Foundation, Exeter
@ZittiEBuoni / DD / applying 2023 tbc

When we were at the Nottingham OHD, we met a student in a 31 week hall (can’t remember which) and whilst she was happy with the price, she did complain that totally emptying the room was a pain in the butt and it actually made me keen on halls where they get to move in for the whole academic year.

Thanks eventually, he did upload at the time but on checking the documents have vanished! He’s uploaded again now. Thanks again.

Ds wants to be near Jubilee, so his 3 choices are s/c:
Riverside Point 153.00
Raleigh Park 111.50
St Peters Court 134.00

Riverside is his fave.
But he has taken on board / has not dismissed, what I told him about Heifers amazing suggestion of Rutland at 31 weeks.

PS my ds was actually in one of my attached photos.

Monkey, did you say ages ago that you know of someone who offers private tuition for A level geography?
It might be too late, but DD has mentioned extra tuition might help.

Who is your email from Heifer please? Crazy do you have a phone number? I just think I should be prepared, incase there are problems, and my investigations so far have found no email address, only the contact enquiry form, or
0115 951 3697

@singingstones & @crazycrofter - it doesn't seem to be advertised anywhere but when I email back in early March and asked I was told..
"Applications will open in the morning, normally around 8am".

I can see others asking on sm, and they seem to assume it will be midnight as it has been in the past! I really hope not as I am travelling back from Swindon and may not be back by then...

I have asked the question again but received a link to FAQ page (none of which asked re time). The latest email does say they will contact us again when the accommodation portal opens on Monday. So I am guessing it will be from 8.00am - but don't blame me if it opens at midnight ;-) I can see a lot of people being surprised that they have to create the accommotion account first as it doesn't actually tell you that until you go into it. Not very well explain tbh - but I'm hoping it will work to our benefit whilst other try to work it out ;-)

@singingstones nobody knows! @heifer has been doing a sterling job keeping on top of the information but I don’t think they’ve revealed when it opens yet!

Sorry if this has already been answered, just catching up - anyone know what time Nottingham accommodation opens on Monday? Have managed to register ok but not sure which of us will be best placed to do the application

Did he fill in the DSA application and submit the evidence documents @Chewbecca? You can check the status by logging into SFE. We did it together, then a few days later I thought I'd check and the documents had vanished so I uploaded them again and it was approved very quickly after that.

DS applied for student finance over a month ago now, ticked the DSA application box but hasn't heard anything yet. Can anyone who has heard give us an idea of timing and how they communicate please? Just want to ensure nothing has gone wrong!
(DS has firmed Loughborough, insured Strathclyde for Economics).

Great news @Oblomov22 on pressing the button, especially as he had some lovely but difficult options!

Well done for all the other button pushing. Exciting times.

Good luck @Monkey2001 with the move this weekend. I’ve had to do this twice for my own DP’s & I know how challenging it is. In my DM’s house, although looked neat & immaculate at first glance, contained enough bed linen (including a single brown & orange duvet coverI had in the late 70’s & towels to run a large B&B. That was the tip of the iceberg!! But, after a million charity shop/car boot sales/ebaying etc we did get there! I’ve vowed to keep my own house pretty minimalist so my kids don’t have to go through such a nightmare! I’m sure your MIL will be much more settled closer to you & feel less overwhelmed once she’s in. Maybe you can have a belated 18th celebration in the hols?

We’re still waiting for Durham & Edinburgh….. but DS was pretty smitten with Exeter last weekend. Fingers crossed for everyone still waiting for answers, so we can all move on!

@Monkey2001 sorry to hear it's not going to be the ideal 18th for your DS. Agree with @PaddingtonPaddington, can you get his favourite takeaway for Sunday night if he doesn't want to go out. Really hope the offers come in soonest. How many is he waiting on still?

@Isthisjustnormal I felt the same about the DSA assessment, should I have prepared more but didn't need to. We had sent the assessor all the supporting docs from the original application, she sent a couple of forms for us to fill in and send back beforehand (a reading questionnaire and a form about any specific needs) which took an hour or so between them. Other than that didn't need anything. It still took 2.5 hours which was quite draining. All good though.

@Monkey2001 everything crossed for your DS for an offer. Can you still do a cake and leave some nice food for him?

DD got the DSA report back and all as expected and very thorough. So now waiting for SFE to approve and then should get a letter in the post (DSA2 entitlement letter). @Isthisjustnormal no prep needed but perhaps think of things that might help and can then ask if not covered.

Congratulations on all the button pressing.

Obviously we can't press any buttons without any offers (☹️) and poor DS has not got the weekend he would choose first his 18th birthday (tomorrow) as we are moving DH"s stepmother's stuff. We have got her a flat near us and her house sale completes on Friday. She doesn't want to move, but is not coping in her big Georgian house due to poor mental health, so the move is altogether difficult. DS has 2 exams on Monday and wants to spend Sunday revising, so didn't even want to go out for a birthday meal and not seeing his GF as he doesn't want to be distracted. So today he and GF are shifting furniture and tomorrow (his 18th) he will be home alone with dog whilst we carry on during for the move!

DH agreed the completion date without asking me - I would never have agreed to the 8th, which is the last day of term as well as the Friday after DS's 18th!