Year 12 - 2024/25 - Support, Discussion and Looking After Each Other (Thread 2)

The UCAT is proper grind @bluefineliner DD's friends who are taking it have done much the same - there's nothing else for it they've told her but to 'lock in.
Best of luck to her🍀

Bizarrely, just had confirmation of his work experience! Not quite as exciting as I had hoped it might be but still good and useful for his PS.

@GirlsInGreen is the Ancient philosophy part of the EDT Insight thing too but the residential? DS was going to do that for UCL too doing Chem Eng. but changed his mind so I cancelled it. The Greek language school sounds hard but I am useless with Languages! Don't tell your DD but I have a motorbike licence, I took it because I went out with a biker for quite a while and loved it, when we broke up I decided to learn to ride myself! Wouldn't do it now though, far too dangerous and also I'd rather be nice and snug in my car in the when it's raining. 😂

@Waspie my friends DS did History and German at Oxford which I always thought was quite an interesting mix!

Oh my goodness it is a good job my DD doesn't know what yours are getting up to this summer as she will feel very hard done by 😂. I keep telling her to just write off the next 8 weeks in her mind for UCAT! I'm really hoping it will pay off for her. On the plus side she'll have sat it before school restarts in Sept which will be a relief.

And yes @GirlsInGreen shut the door, out of sight out of mind!

Crossed with you @GirlsInGreen - another amazing summer! Ancient philosophy and Greek language - double wow! She will have an amazing time I'm sure.

At Oxford yesterday we were chatting to a student doing physics and philosophy - what a combination.

OMG a motorbike. I share your reaction. I would lock DS in the chaotic linen cupboard before he got a motorcycle!

Wow @JustHereWithMyPopcorn how incredible for your son - what an opportunity. I hope he has a wonderful time! I hope you get to have your own break somewhere in the holidays.

Paris and the south of France sound amazing too @JessyCarr a wonderful experience for your daughter.

I second JustHereWithMyPopcorn @GirlsInGreen - step away from the linen closet

I have no idea where our young people get their energy but it's fantastic to watch them grow and develop.

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn NASA? Oh wowzer - look if he does manage to see prove of ET's DM me 😁
DD is off for a week of Ancient philosophy at UCL next week - she's buzzing & back for a week & off to Bryanston for a Greek language school for a fortnight.
She's PS to work on & Eng lit & History work to plan & execute - still doesn't think she wants to do Ox/Cam but will need to hurry up & make a decision.
She's shown no interest in learning to drive because she wants a MOTORBIKE - yeah thats not happening😒

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn be rude not to when you put it like that😆

DS is going to NASA this summer. I'm in two minds about it with everything that has been happening in the US lately. Also trying to finalise work experience details too. We have no date yet so can't book our own holiday! He is doing the EDT Insight summer course online so that ill take up quite a few hours. He's also looking for a part time job still, no luck on that front yet.

@JessyCarr Paris sounds fab for your DD what a lovely treat especially for a Francophile!

@Waspie blimey that sounds like a lot! Hope you all get some down time in there too.

@GirlsInGreen close the door and step away from the linen closet. A nice cold drink in the garden is waiting for you.... 😉

🥹 @JessyCarr wonderful, following in Grannies footsteps.

@Waspie - I'm shattered just reading about your DS summer😁, where do they get the energy?

<looks at the devastation that is my linen closet - sits back down>

@GirlsInGreen I know, right? My mum (now in her 80s) went to college in Paris at the same age, and seems to have come over all wistful at the memories!

@JessyCarr oh to be 16/17 in Paris!😍 Fab

Some lovely, and very busy, summer breaks ahead.

We don't have a summer holiday planned as we haven't been able to fit it in! DS will be doing his next Tennis coaching course with the LTA. This is 3 full weekends through August plus supplementary practical work and online tests. He will be working two weeks during the summer (tennis coaching) too. Pre-season rugby training for his club starts in two weeks (very early in my opinion). He also has a rugby residential with his school squad at the end of August as he will be the side's captain for 2025/26 season. He really needs to practice driving - he hasn't had a lesson, or gone out with me or his dad, for weeks. Test is in October so the summer will be a good time to get back into this.

Education-wise he will be working on his UCAS application and his two NEA assignments for English Literature and History, plus making sure his year 12 knowledge is retained. He also needs to have two history essays to submit for consideration if he does apply for Oxbridge. There is no HAT admissions test this year.

No time to be bored anyway😀

Looks fab, @JessyCarr, sure she’ll have a great time!

@MiniMidiMaxi She’s doing the “Intensive” course at Accent Français in Montpellier.

What’s her French course? Not relevant for DS1, but DS2 quite likely to take French A level.

Oh, I forgot the intensive advanced French course DD is doing for a week (on top of having won the Y12 French prize). The girl is a Francophile, what can I say?

DD is off to Paris for a week with a small group of girls. Someone’s aunt has lent them a flat on the edge of the Jardin du Luxembourg. They will have a ball, I am sure! She’s saved up quite a bit of money from working so will have a chance to let her hair down.

She will also come away with us to the South of France later in the summer. In the meantime she’ll be volunteering as well as (no doubt) mooching with friends, plenty of tennis and gym, and that pesky economics revision.

I don’t expect her to opt out of family holidays any time soon!

I think the summer holidays will fly too @MiniMidiMaxi .

DD has a pt job which she'll up her hours in, UCAT prep for an early sept exam will take priority though and she has an EPQ to work on too.

We are away for a week in August but think it will be full on for DD and back in Y13 in no time. Oh and extra driving lessons too to get practice in.

On a different topic from uni visits and applications - what are your DC’s plans for the summer holidays? 6 weeks seems quite short compared to the luxury of post GCSEs last year!

DS has got a few trips planned - he’s going to Boardmasters, a camp week and will be coming away with us for our family holiday. I’m not sure how long he’ll want to still come but I’ll make the most of it while I can!

Ah, one of my best friends went to Somerville back in the day, whilst the other went to St Hilda’s (with their EEs offer while I had to grind for my A levels!!). Had happy times visiting them both.

DS not interested in Oxford but going to the Cambridge open day next week. Will try to prompt him to research colleges before then, we won’t be going with him this time.

Thanks. Somerville is on my radar!

We also went to the Pitt Rivers museum (DS favourite) so I am exhausted this evening @Muchtoomuchtodo ! 😂 Have a great day tomorrow- I hope your DS enjoys it.

Ps the porters are lovely to talk to about admin type stuff and Somerville offered a free lunch. They know how to appeal to teenagers!

Wow! You did well @Waspie

We looked at Trinity, Jesus, Bailliol, Magdalen and Somerville @MuchtoomuchtodoMost are quite close together. DS loved Magdalen but they were all very impressive. Speaking with students about their life in college was really helpful too. The student ambassadors will be handing out maps - we got ours at the park and ride!

Which colleges did you look around @Waspie? We have a kind of shortlist but it’s still too long to do in one day, especially as DS wants to go to the maths dept talks.