Year 13 -2025/26 - Support, discussion and looking after each other (new thread from y12)

@AuntyBulgaria sounds like my youngest, I’ve potentially got my last parents evening tonight, as they are invite only at the 6th form college and I’ve not been invited to any for dd. I’ve a feeling DS (currently in y11) may be different though.

Good to see the offers coming in for everyone! DS is waiting for two still. Other than Oxbridge I've not heard of any rejections either - though the chances increase now the deadline has passed.

Went to my last ever parents evening last night! I've never liked parents evening they always seem a bit of a waste of time to be honest, so I'm glad to see the back of them.

Each teacher said the same thing - has the potential to do well, but now needs to actually focus and do the work! It's been the same story throughout his schooling. For GCSEs he did minimal work and peaked at the right time. Let's hope he can do that again!

And a few hours later, another! He’s got his offer for Bath, his top choice - and although the main offer is the same as Bristol, AAA, they’ve said they’ll also accept AstarAB if the B is FMaths, which gives him some wriggle room. He’s chuffed!

And just as we were talking - his first offer is in - from Bristol. Good to have one on the table!

Ah I'm sorry your DS didn't the the offer from Oxford @Ventress but as you say, he has excellent offers in hand and such a positive attitude that he will thrive anywhere I think.

@MiniMidiMaxi I think your DS will get a flurry of offers over the next week or two (unless its the usual late straggler universities who like to keep everyone hanging!) it is frustrating waiting though.

@Echobelly DS has an offer from Manchester, he really liked the city when he went but I think it's actually just a bit too far for him after all. He is so reluctant to go more than a certain travelling time distance from home. Can you remind me what your DC wants to study at Uni again?

Thanks @MiniMidiMaxi. I spoke to DS this morning and apparently the school had 11 Oxford offers, which is far lower than usual. They have Cambridge still to come. It does seem to be quite haphazard as you say. No English/history offers at all, some economics and business/finance, maths and physics (though more have applied to Cambridge) and a few classics, RE and MFL.

I’m sure those offers will come through thick and fast for your son now that applications are closed.

That’s a shame @Ventress but glad he’s taken it in his stride. I was just discussing Oxford offers with DS, his school sends quite a lot to Oxbridge (state grammar) and it sounds like today was quite fraught with people finding out whether they had an offer or not, all on the same day. At least with most unis the offers come in dribs and drabs and are not quite so known to everyone else. Hope your DS’s girlfriend can bounce back quickly @JustHereWithMyPopcorn.

No offers yet for DS (a week since application was submitted) but hopefully after the deadline tomorrow things will start to move. You really just have to forget about it and become quite fatalistic, don’t you?!

@GirlsInGreen I’m very sorry to hear about your mum. Difficult time all round. Hope the funeral brought some comfort. And big congratulations to your DD, I hope she’s been able to feel quietly proud despite your sad day.

No Oxford offer for DS. He isn’t surprised. He has muttered about maybe applying with grades in hand if the produces the three A Stars at a level. I don’t think he will though. I think he’s happy with Durham (which arrived very much on time) and , hopefully UCL.

I’m sorry about your son’s girlfriend @JustHereWithMyPopcornso hard when she has put all of her energy into the one route. I hope she is feeling better soon and can help your son celebrate his Bath offer. Hopefully she can enjoy the offers she has now too.

Best of luck for the Manchester visit @Echobelly. It sound like a great university, as does Reading @wonderstuff

DC had mocks last week - he was pretty happy with them, so hopefully they'll be encouraging.

Visiting Manchester Uni some point soon, I think - MIL is desperate for him to go there and not Goldsmiths, DH would much rather he went there, I'd slightly rather he went there, but it's his choice at the end of the day. He'd love Goldsmiths, I'm sire but he'll meet lots of people who are very like him but I think he'll meet a wider variety of people at Manchester and get a picture of life outside London, and he'd love that too.

Aw @GirlsInGreen what a day for you all, I'm sorry about your mum. Hope DD can celebrate eventually when you have got through this sad time.

@wonderstuff congrats on the Liverpool offer, my DD has an interview there for med soon and really liked it at the open day.

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn hope DS's gf puts it behind her as soon as she's ready. Congrats on the Bath offer for DS too.

@Ventress hope your DS is ok either way, he sounds very grounded.

@Ventress no problem, its very hard to follow everybody's choices and offers and I certainly don't expect anyone to remember (I know I can't keep up with it all for sure!). She has two other offers in hand from good RGs but her heart is with Oxford.
Is your DS home now? I'm hoping you're all celebrating but if not then I hope it isn't upsetting him too much.

@Ventress i think Reading, although we’ve not visited the campus yet, it’s not too far from where we live and I think she likes the idea of being able to come home and see the cats. She likes Brighton town, but I worry it won’t be the best fit as a university.

I’m sorry for your loss @GirlsInGreen. In time I’m sure your DD can appreciate her Oxford offer. It doesn’t have to be now or soon though. 💐

I hope your DS’s gf gets over her disappointment soon @JustHereWithMyPopcorn. It’s a great offer for your son though. I stupidly already thought he had the Bath offer. Apologies. I hope he can share it with his gf soon and she is happy for him. Where else is she looking?

We have heard nothing from DS so I’m assuming it’s a “no”.

Thats a great offer @wonderstuff. If she firms Liverpool what will she insure? An apprenticeship would be amazing but I know that they are very hard to get. As you say, if you don’t try, you don’t get.

That's great news @wonderstuff I think it's hard when it all becomes a bit real and they have to make the final choice. My friends son is at Liverpool Uni and is absolutely loving his time there. Good luck to your DD if she does choose to go the apprenticeship route.

if you find out about any short Spanish courses here can you let me know please? DS is kind of regretting not continuing with his Spanish too but has no opportunity to travel there at the moment.

Sorry to hear that @GirlsInGreen really tough.

Just asked DD if she had heard from Liverpool (only one outstanding) she has and they’ve offered AAB. Asked if she was going to make that her first choice, I’m told she doesn’t have to decide for ages. I think the thought is stressing her out. She’s enjoying macro economics more than micro, so I’m thinking that’s more policy than business really. Did ask her again if she might apply for the government economist apprenticeship, she was not as negative about the idea as she has previously been. It’s super competitive, but if you don’t get anything you don’t try for right?

She’s also expressed interest in improving her Spanish, she decided against it at A-level. I’m not sure what options there are? I presume there are still short language courses in Spain? Obviously not quite as easy as before Brexit but maybe options like au pair? She’s deferring uni for a year but hasn’t any plans on what to do yet.

Congratulations to your DS on his offer from Bath. Sorry about the timing and hope his girlfriend is ok.

Sorry missed that. Congratulations to your very empathetic DS

@JessyCarr yes, Bath is the one he's been waiting for and is his first choice. He is a sweet boy and very empathetic (when not being a moody teen!).

Sorry to hear that @JustHereWithMyPopcorn. Your DS sounds very kind and thoughtful. That’s a great offer from Bath - is it a favourite of his?

@GirlsInGreen what a day for you all - bittersweet indeed. Congratulations to your DD and I hope she feels able to celebrate when the time is right

Oh girlsingreen so sorry for your loss, your DD should think how proud her grandmother would have been. It's hard when good news comes on top of something so sad 😞

Unfortunately DS's girlfriend did not get an offer and is very down about it. DS has just received an offer from Bath (AAB) and he is super happy about that but also very sad for his gf so isn't sharing his update for a couple of days.

Congratulations to your DD on her offer @GirlsInGreen and I'm so sorry to hear about your mum, I hope that 2026 is a better year for you all.

Bittersweet here today - DD has an Oxford offer, but we are getting ready for my mums funeral.
She died at the end of December - 2025 was a utterly rotten year.
DD has barely raised a smile today & we're both tired. Maybe tomorrow we can celebrate.
Many congratulations to all your DD/DS's on all their plans.

@Ventress UoB - Birmingham. Sorry we live close by and are used to referring to it in its short form!

We are going to call admissions maybe tomorrow afternoon to see if it’s an admin error. We are contextual because me and DH have never attended uni, we live in a polar quintile crappy area and he was entitled for FSM for a short while a few years ago.

I think DS has written off Oxford. He hasn’t mentioned it since the disastrous interview anyway. Good luck to those who stand a better chance!

It is so hard @JustHereWithMyPopcorn I have suggested year 1 in halls and then year 2 in rental then year 3 at home to DS. This would even out the cost somewhat. Certainly to somewhere nearly as expensive such as Bath or Exeter. Fingers crossed for your DS’s girlfriend today 🤞

Great that your son has those offers @KellySeverideIs UoB Bristol or Birmingham? Odd that the others are contextual and not this. DS has not had any contextual offers - I’m not surprised but he is 🙄

I don’t know about primary ed I’m afraid @EdnaMolebut DS has not had an offer day invite for Durham yet. I’ve asked him to watch out for it and book it quickly as we didn’t get to the open day. He originally had a 2.5 hour travel limit on university open days but Durham (at 7hours) has knocked this firmly out of the water!

That physics paper sounds horrible @JustHereWithMyPopcorn, although all physics papers sound terrible to me! I guess as all of them found it hard the grade boundaries will be low and your DS will still get a very good grade.

Definitely no let up @ArchitectureMum. Good to have a lower tariff university which doesn’t require a portfolio in the mix. Accommodation is a difficult one isn’t it? For insurance choices it seems to be particularly difficult.