Continuing Year 13: January 2016

mygrandchildren I cant speak for Uhtred but my DS didn't go for an insurance because the UCAS system clearly says that if you are not accepted by the firm choice you are COMMITTED and when it came down to it he decided he didn't actually want to be committed to any of the others. He'd rather take his chances and if he has to go in clearing he can reassess.

Of course if you get an unconditional offer that would also mean there's no point in choosing an insurance.

It's a real dilemma when the range of offers isn't actually much of a range at all. Typical offer for my DS subject at good RG Unis is AAA - AAB so not much wriggle room there! Then offers drop down to the BBB - BBC sort of mark at the next level which would represent an underselling IYSWIM and mean going to a less well thought of establishment for his subject.

Can I ask why there is no point? My son's offers have almost all been the same 3 As. However, some have let him know they will not accept him with less and 2 others have said they probably will.
Hopefully he will get what he needs but isn't it still sensible to have an insurance choice (that on paper still says 3As) and negotiate if necessary.

Student finance is open. We did the application today.

DD1 has no insurance. No point.

dunlurking my DS has firmed with no insurance. After discounting the option with the highest offer, his firm and 2 others offered the same and the last one with a lower offer wasn't so where he actually wanted to go. So he decided he didn't want to commit to anything other than the firm and rake his chances.

Gloria I'm fairly sure student finance is "open" now. We haven't quite got round to it but 2 P60s are sitting around in anticipation.

Ds thinks he's going to firm Warwick but says he's not going to do it until the last minute incase he changes his mind. Exeter is preferred insurance, but can't be his insurance as their offer is AAA and Warwick AAB, IYSWIM. Has an ABB from Royal Holloway but didn't fall for them at the offer holder day.

Is anyone else just choosing a firm with no insurance?

Needmore if you saw someone going round Bristol in a wheelchair with her leg sticking out that was me (recovering from broken kneecap). Not very easy for DH with all the hills.

5-6 weeks seems a very long time to wait, hope it's good news when it arrives.

Hope everything works out with everyone's DC's summer jobs. DS says he's going to try & get some more maths tutoring work, doesn't pay a huge amount - only charges half the going rate as still at school - but he enjoys it.

DS has finally decided on Exeter over Southampton. I think my coming down in favour of cheaper to live in Southampton has backfired and he is even more in favour of Exeter because of it. Damn it, should have used reverse psychology!

I love Bristol. It's where I grew up and the city is lovely if a bit tatty here and there. Clifton is beautiful. It was too close to home for DS as was Bath as we have lots of family in both places.

DS is now thinking about getting a job in the summer to help fund him and has applied to a couple of software places and a government department that runs a summer school type thing. Fingers crossed otherwise he'll be trawling the shops and supermarkets.

The good news here was that DS1 got a job lined up for the summer, so will hopefully have some savings tucked away by the time he goes off.

Distraction is a Grade 8 music Exam at the end of the month.....

Good time at Bristol post-offer day yesterday. Very well organised & he feels he would be happy there if Warwick doesn't work out. So that's all sorted then.

DH & I had good time wandering round - really interesting city, glad I was well wrapped up though as bitterly cold.

Feels strange with all these uni visits - getting to know several different cities but don't know if we'll ever go back to them or not.

DS has got Cambridge for his maths (firm) but is wavering between Warwick and Durham for insurance.He knows Warwick is better mathswise but thinks he would like the university and city of Durham better.
There is a post-offer overnight visit at Durham in three weeks , so maybe that will crystallise his feelings.

Whew, final offer in (which is the second to include the EPQ - AAA with, A*AA without), so thankfully we can now start sorting out disability stuff and student finance . And maybe that will focus DDs mind on school work and revision...

I think you mean Spring is on its way! I was just saying that I didn't think we'd had a winter this year, I hope it is not on the way!

That's interesting Atia and good on him for being so forward!
We were at Sheffield yesterday for the last post offer day. Now he has to decide on an insurance choice and then he can get on and make firm choices.

I haven't posted here for ages, but have been reading! Dd2 has now firmed hers, and it changed to the promised unconditional confirmed place within 36 hours, so now she's just waiting for accommodation applications to open.

Anyway, she told me something interesting today - someone at her school was rejected by Loughborough, asked for feedback and was told that they didn't think he'd get his predicted grades/the standard offer grades. After his mocks, he emailed Loughborough to say he'd done well, and he really thought he would get the necessary grades - the other kids at school thought he was being naive/cheeky, but instead Loughborough asked him for his UCAS number and the contact details of a teacher who could confirm the exam results and provide an up-to-date reference, which he did, and this week Loughborough offered him a place!

They are almost the same. Exeter is a straight AAA, and Southampton AAA or AAB if he gets a grade 2 in STEP.

The decision thing is from a trick I learnt when you can't decide on a 50:50. Toss a coin and if the answer is disappointing, swap!

Like it Ellen! Hope he makes right decision.

Good way to deal with it, Ellen! Are his offers from both the same?

Well, DS1 liked Exeter today. He prefers the course over Southampton, but preferred the campus at Southampton. So now I've told him to do a pros and cons list, and decide from that. Then if he feels disappointed by the result, I'll let him change his mind!

It was optional at DS's school and those doing 'only' 3 A2s (like DS) were 'encouraged' to do one, but as others up thread, it hasn't translated into university offers. I believe some arts and social science courses like them but maths and science don't seem bothered. They just want good grades in maths and science. Which seems a bit narrow minded, but I guess they know what's needed to do well in maths and science degrees.

I still think the independence and discipline required will hold DS in good stead, (and actually having to write something) but it's not that valuable, especially if it causes stress and takes too much time from the A2s. DS enjoyed it, finished it before Christmas and wasn't stressed, though, so all good.