A level results day ( part 2)

DD was 1 mark off the higher grade but she's decided that she too is pissed off with the college making it complicated to apply for a review and charging to access scripts so she's not going to bother.

Oops, fell foul of the *s turning stuff bold 🙈

DS2s school gave me forms when I asked about review of marking. But DS2 has decided against it. He wasn't that close in FM (9 from a B) which was his biggest grade drop (A predicted) but he'd had a nightmare on one paper and didn't get to start the last question worth 12 marks. He was closer in Biology (5) but his very clever friend was predicted A got a B, so he feels his C is about right.

The forms say they have to be sent from the student's school email account. I don't think they offer to look over first, but maybe they discuss that directly with the student.

I was a bit broad-sided that we had to pay the first term payment for accommodation so quickly, too. I had a saga with the guarantor forms, as I managed to lose the witness signature page. My witness kindly signed again. Obviously I found the original afterwards, on DH's bedside table(!)

His halls aren't actually that close, hence the bike. I'm not sure he'll manage well with presumably a big bag. The accommodation start date is the 6th and term starts 22nd for him I think, so we'll probably get him moved in around the 13th. So he'll have some time to work out the best way to get to his site.

Just thought the very thing yesterday as I threw a chunk of money to secure halls. How would someone do who couldn’t do that and no maintenance money in. It seems a ridiculous way to operate. Hope you get sorted.

Really not happy with the lack of support from them.

Ditto here. And I'm pissed off that DD's college charge a £10 'admin' fee per paper just to access her scripts. After the new term starts I'm considering asking them how they have the nerve to ask for this on their FB page.

We have also gone for a (meaningless) remark. It's too late to change anything but DS was 3 marks off the boundary and teacher recommended it. He emailed DS yesterday (Sat) to reassure him that he'd put it in for priority marking and we should have it back mid-week.

I know there is usually a fee associated (that is refunded if they find it's been marked wrong) but we haven't been asked yet. I will of course pay, but school are not holding us up with forms or payment - just cracking on with the re-mark.

I contacted school at 8:10 on Thursday. They emailed back to say it had been actioned and then I filled a form in to say I would pay the fees. We are still waiting to see if physics will go up.

@halloween67- and anyone else who’s put in for a remark - can I ask what the process was for you? I’ve had an acknowledgment for the payment from her college (you requested it via an online form) but nothing about the actual remark.

Really not happy with the lack of support from them.

@PennywisePoundFoolish I had to update SFE yesterday with new Uni. We are in a similar catch 22 that Uni want DS to enroll but he can't complete full enrollment until they see evidence of his loan approval. Between us we are going to call both uni and sfe tomorrow.

@halloween67 I completely get your DD's frustration but things have settled a bit after the flurry of Thursday and Friday and I think it's definitely worth calling some Unis that are officially asking for BBC. The rush for places is over and they will now be more keen than ever to fill places. Belfast does sound like a good option though.

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!

@halloween67 No problem. Hope all works out for her.

DS2 will need a new bike. DH seriously suggested his old bike, currently stored at FILs. It's 7 years older than DS2 is!

Dh used to come out with such things. I could never work out if he was joking or really thought he had a good idea.
Yes, dh, dd2 borrowing your bike to ride to orchestra carrying a trumpet, music stand and music, none of which will strap onto the bike, when she only has one hand and the only bike she's ridden in the last 10 years is adapted and yours isn't, is an absolutely genius idea. Not.
And he'd repeat it every time lift to orchestra came up.

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?"

Thanks for new thread.

DS2 seems to be moving past the disappointment of not getting his firm. It sounds like only 3 in his year got into their aspirational universities, and a few are going to Exeter like him We've got accommodation sorted and paid the first of 3 installments, but I'm reading about updating SF. Ds2 said he has to enrol first, but this wasn't possible yet? I will pester ask him again if he's quite sure.

DS2 will need a new bike. DH seriously suggested his old bike, currently stored at FILs. It's 7 years older than DS2 is! Then his next idea was we hire a care when we drive DS2 down, in case mine breaks down. There's absolutely no reason to think this whatsoever.

Thanks so much, I really appreciate it. I will give you a shout tomorrow if she’s accepted. Thank you

@halloween67 I’m a former Queens student (many years ago), live about 12 miles away and have dd as a masters student there at minute. Also did her undergrad albeit as a languages student. So if she is considering Belfast and you have any questions just shout.

Thank you so much

Their England/Wales/Scotland clearning pages says they'll take BBD for Biochem and Biosciences. Non NI and ROI applicants pay the full £9k fees and not the NI reduced fee, so they seem little more flexible to lure people in!

Thank you so much, yes they are on her list to call tomorrow. It just depends if they take the D grade in physics. Thanks

How about Queens in Belfast @halloween67 ? Its a city campus, cheaper living costs and has a solid biochem and immunology research arm. It RG but always less popular due to Belfast legacy. Its a beautiful campus and a lovely city though.

Mental health wise a gap year would not suit her at all. Called places today and it’s the D that is the issue now. I am trying and she knows she won’t get what she wants do has to compromise.

Honestly, the vibe I'm getting here is that she's not really liking the options open to her and the understandable disappointment is maybe not helping there.

Gap year seems like a good idea. She won't have a problem getting somewhere decent with the existing grades - and it will feel better for being a positive choice rather than a scramble - and if a resit/s does give her better grades -all to the good.

Just a big city if possible, doesnt want a campus.just is really into immunology so that why she chose Glasgow. We live hours away from Scotland, so doesnt want Scotland now.Wants biomedicine ideally, it’s just hard.

Sorry meant to say biomedical.

She firmed Glasgow to study Immunology.

Her friend dropped 2 grades and still got into Oxford, I suppose all depends on the course and demand at the time.