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

Hello all, hopping onto the new thread and great to catch up. We've had a challenging time with the wider family recently so have only done two open days this year. DD2 will have a year out doing an art foundation so won't apply until then so thankfully we have time in hand. We looked at Bath which was disappointing and Warwick. She liked Warwick but is rejecting it on the grounds that I and BIL and his wife all studied there before her and she'd feel like she was round 2. I can see her point.... So in the autumn we're planning to look at Reading, Cardiff, Nottingham and York. So we need to get back on the websites and book.
We moved DD1 from student house to rental flat this weekend as she is on her industry year. Can't believe quite how much stuff she has accumulated in two years. I've told DD2 I'd prefer it if she was more of a minimalist...

So, Sheffield next weekend. Going from Stockport is it better to drive over the hills and park near the university (frowned upon from the open day page) or get the train and walk/bus in?

There will be 4 of us so a lot cheaper to drive!

We went to Notts yesterday and nearly died in the heat. DS like the sound of the course so it’s definitely on his list.

@GreatGranPamDS was supposed to go to Birmingham on Friday but he’s been with school for a taster day and although he really likes the campus he’s decided it’s too close to home so didn’t go in the end.

We have mock results but no definitive PGs yet. Apparently he will get maths and chemistry in the next couple of weeks but biology aren’t giving theirs till the last day of term as they don’t want any arguments/discussion over grades.

Newcastle is likely to be dd’s insurance choice. We are off to visit in the autumn. Notts is still her top choice, she loved the open day. Doesn’t seem to be very popular here though. She definitely would prefer a proper campus uni so we are also going to look at Birmingham

Dd is really quite worried about her predictions. They seem to be based off the mocks- which were in early feb ! She and i both think that she would have done loads better if they were in may/june like many others. The most likely prediction is A* A B although apparently they can change in the first half term. Apparently loads of her friends are having the same issue. There isnt a mock before the 2nd set of predictions either.

We were also in Newcastle yesterday and DS also impressed. It’s definitely going on the list.

Interesting about KCL @ComingInByAnsible DS has an open day booked there in early September. He is not as enthusiastic about it as LSE and UCL on paper so it will be interesting to see if he feels similar to your son on visiting.

We are at Oxford this Wednesday and Cambridge the following Friday. DS is leaning towards Cambridge at the moment, but we shall see. For colleges he is interested in Brasenose, Bailliol and Jesus at O and Christs, Selwyn and Homerton at C. He has chosen these based on numbers of state school offers for his subject and sports offerings. Obviously that will probably change!

Wonderful feedback about Newcastle. Such a great city in a beautiful part of the world.

My DC is pretty sure she wants to see Regents Park, Mansfield and Harris Manchester. What helped for her was identifying which colleges admit students for her course and then seeing which of those ticked the most boxes on her list of desirable qualities.

Mine went to Newcastle on their own (I've been down with a cold all week) and came back raving about the place. It's one of the few unis where both my Y12 DC have a program that could interest them, and they suddenly both seem very enthuastic about it.

We'll have to make a return visit after the summer.

Nice to read everyone’s updates. Our London trip was very useful in so far as KCL is now ruled out (had been a favourite on paper). We also did manage to get to UCL after all and that was much better and is a possible.

Next is Oxford next week, which is the last of the open days we’ve got lined up. Now trying to get our heads around which colleges we should be trying to see and the various timings. Feels like the first admissions hurdle as it’s all rather complicated!

Newcastle was (very briefly) in clearing for medicine last August. From what I’ve heard it’s a great place to study.

@bluefineliner @curlyshabtree we had lunch in the Dental Bites cafe and it seemed a very nice hospital DD is looking at economics and Newcastle is definitely one of the favourites now. Looking at Sheffield next week...

We were also at Newcastle looking at medicine and loved it. We liked that 30% of places are for contextual offers so we felt it was more inclusive. Everyone was super helpful and friendly. I think it’s between Sheffield and Newcastle now.
I’ve never been to Newcastle before, I will be returning to explore more even if DD doesn’t end up there.

@postitnot We've just got back from Newcastle and DD loved it. It was nowhere near as busy as I feared and she got to go to clinical skills sessions (taking my blood pressure and listening to my heart valves). We went to a talk on studying medicine by the head of the school which was very informative and gave the feeling they look after their students. The accommodation looked better than most we saw at other unis and students were keen and engaged. Even the librarian took us on a tour and spent ages chatting to us.

UCAT depending it will be one of DDs top choices.

DS also laid down the “2 hours away” rule but is now saying he may apply to Durham as lots of his class mates went to the open day last weekend and really enjoyed it.

@AuntyBulgaria DS is sporty and thought the sports offerings at both Exeter and Warwick were very good - both BUCS. Great facilities and a wide range of sports with options for every competition level from social to national.

TBF I have spent the last 30 years in and around Newcastle and I can't imagine living anywhere else. It's a fabulous city to do your YA growing up in

We live near Newcastle @postitnot DS was having none if it but came back v impressed. It appears to be second choice from nowhere!

Gatecrashing! Did anyone go to Newcastle this weekend? I went with DD and she really loved it!

@AuntyBulgaria Yes, Exeter has a great vibe and everyone we know who has been there has had a great experience. DD has been interested in it from early on (we visited in Y11, Feb half term) and wants to go again for an October open day “just because”. As in, it’s already on her form but she loves it there. Perhaps we will coincide in October, though I can guarantee DD will be nowhere near a maths lecture!

@JessyCarr Loughborough has sparked his interest - it's a campus and has good sports facilities. Or perhaps Warwick. When we get his A level result we will know what tier of uni to be targeting.
I'm liking the sounds of the reports coming from everyone who has been to Exeter so at the very least I fancy a visit there!

@AuntyBulgaria DD has refused to consider anything in London for exactly the same reason! She initially wanted to be within about 2 hrs by train from London but then alighted upon Edinburgh and all rules went out of the window.

Your DS is a mathematician, I think, so could go absolutely anywhere! What do you think will be next on the list?

DS went to his first open day today - UCL. He was not overly impressed. Secretly I'm relieved as I don't want him to stay at home and I think he felt being in London and only a bus journey away it didn't feel special enough. I think we'll have to look at a campus one next to see if he likes that vibe better.

Many thanks @Waspie that sounds great. Think we’ll have to see if we can find an opportunity to come and look around the UCL campus at some point!

I think the UCL campus is lovely @ComingInByAnsible. You do not feel as though you are in central London. The whole area feels safe and part of a semi-gated community, if that makes sense? The architecture is gorgeous and there are libraries and cafes, plus gardens and green areas with picnic tables. It felt as though there was plenty of space despite the campus being really quite small.

The course feels different from that of the other universities we visited. It’s still modular but it feels as though the student is being guided and channeled toward finding their particular passion which they will write their third year dissertation on. DS loved the history talk and the taster lecture. He felt that he would be well supported by the department. Having the British museum just up the road is also a big plus point!

We didn’t go to the HPE talk as it clashed for us too, but we did look around the SSEES department which has its own building on Taviton Street.