A level results day ( part 2)

Evening all. Looking for some laptop advice please.

Looking for one for DC, not really a gamer but is doing Economics so apparently will need to download some programmes. Does anyone's DC have one you could recommend. Budget around £500 if possible.

Thanks

DD has her leaving cert results now and met her firm offer! Ucas confirmation is expected later today as they've only just got the Irish grades today as well.
Such a relief!

DS2 got an email about some sessions they're putting on before the course starts. I think as he's autistic hes been offered these, at least one is specific to his diagnosis. One is 3rd September which is a logistical nightmare but I'll have to make it work. I've booked a hotel, and i will make use of a rare day to myself somewhere nice. The others are 9th and 10th, so as his accommodation is available from the 6th, we'll be moving him in then. Course starts 22nd so he'll have some time to get settled and find his feet.

My work has let me bring my holiday forward which is a relief, as they're really funny about it normally. Probably because I wrote an essay on my difficult children and sounded deranged(!) But it got the result I needed so worth it 😅

Hope everyone is doing OK and plans are falling into place

@Mogandbrew I know it might not seem ideal to be off campus, as so much of Notts accom is on campus, but there are some incredible (and cheaper) private halls in Notts that still have good availability - some in the city but some serving various campus's.

DS has just decided to go with a private option as he was getting so much more for his money and only 4 mins walk to campus. Don't let the pressure of accomodation dictate everything.

Thanks @somethingischasingme If I could pinpoint the core issue I could focus on helping her. But I don’t know if it’s the uni, the accommodation or her grade. We’re away - just me and DCs - and this is really hanging over us.

Signing up for the accommodation is mentally a big step. I had to push DD to do the admin on hers and she was at her firm, somewhere she was desperate to go. I wonder if it's even harder at Nottingham as IIRC so much of their on campus accommodation is bigger flats & catered, compared with other unis.

The “deadline” is usually two weeks after moving day. SF is triggered at matriculation though and accommodation may still be payable.

Mines going to Nottingham and it’s easy getting through to a human- done it today- and they get back to you quickly if you fill in the enquiry form. That’s where mine is going through clearing! Dm me if you like- I know it’s stressful.

She has to decide today whether or not to take the accommodation place. Poor kid doesn’t know what to do.

Also be aware that if you reject a clearing offer after accepting you can't re-apply in Clearing the same year.

So it will definitely be gap year after that.

Mine didn’t get firm and decided to change course so went through clearing. She’s now got exactly what she wanted where she wanted which is amazing for her! She couldn’t be happier and I’m so relieved for her- her results were so good but just not what the firm wanted.

Thanks @Twiglets1The whole process is made harder by DD having periods of being really down, then stressed about the admin - eg she hasn’t filled in the accommodation portal details to see what she’s actually been given (and we can’t see the dates).

Nottingham also uses a chatbot - can’t seem to get through to a human.

Does anyone know what the ‘actual’ acceptance deadlines are?

DD accepted a place through clearing but is now leaning towards retaking. (Even though it’s a risk I think it might be the better choice - just not sure she’s in the right headspace to go this time).

What I can’t work out is how long she has to decide…

We think the student finance deadline is 4 weeks before the course starts. But we can’t work out what the course/accommodation deadline is.

(Her place is at Nottingham - so perfectly good uni, but not the one she picked. And less choice with the accommodation, which isn’t helping).

Just thought I'd come back on the new thread to say thank you for the advice on the last one regards deferring. DC now all sorted, so feel like we can celebrate the success now rather than stress.

Hope that all the children get things sorted, the husbands get back on planet earth with their ideas and you lot saying goodbye don't suffer too much

Hope everything went well today.

Modern languages is insanely less competitive than other subjects (that's not to say that those studying them aren't just as worthy as anybody else at Oxbridge). A tutor told me that if a state school boy applies for French or German, he'll get offered a place and will go so long as he gets the grades.

Was the offer something like 3 a stars and the result something like an a star in French, an a star in Spanish, a b in politics (or whatever) meaning that the language aptitude was demonstrated?

in any event, Oxford does weight the interview quite a lot so that can give wriggle room if it was stellar.

A language

This year? Oxford dropped 2 grades? What was the subject?

The other one I got when we were getting stuff for dd1's student flat. "You shouldn't buy new; I had my grandmother's old stuff from when she died."
Answer: "Yes, and I had my gran's who'd also just died. So which of our parents are you planning on killing off, so we don't have to buy a new pan and a mug?"

*My DP told DD "of course you can take the bike to Aberystwyth, Mum can buy a rack for the car".

I had to not very gently explain that no, I was not going to take a bike on a four hour drive on country roads in the already packed to the brim Ford Fiesta that I own!

Quite what either of them thought she'd use the bike for in a town where the uni tops a half mile long (steep) hill I have no idea!*

😭😂😂😂

Glad I'm not alone with a husband who has a compulsion towards ridiculous ideas.

DH originally wanted to take DS2 in his van, which keeps developing expensive faults. Why he thinks my mum-bus isn't up to the journey, I really can't fathom. He's also an insurance nightmare, and if I'm doing all the driving I'd rather have my own car.

@Evisam yikes at 2 bikes stolen. FIL has customised the bike with a rather fetching basket that DH was going to remove. Maybe we should take it and leave it as it is 🤔😂

@SlightlyJaded I hope you get the SFE stuff sorted too. I also need to make sure DSA is updated for DS2 as well But I sense he's not keen to take up the offered support. I'm hoping he comes around to it, as he's never been one to speak up when he's struggling

DS had 2 bikes stolen whilst at university. Maybe the one that is 7 years older than your son isn't such a bad idea if he just wants to get from A to B.

Years ago, a MN mum said her dd had covered her bike in Peppa Pig stickers to make it less desirable to bike thieves!