Starting year 13 2016

Dds school had 14 oxbridge offers which I thought was quite a lot. They normally get about 4 in.

DD has to be out of the house 7:35 every morning to get to the school bus so she reckons getting to a 9am lecture should be a doddle!

teta - best wishes to your DD at interview. No news must be good news from the others.

DD's school has (as far as she knows) got less oxbridge offers than previous years had places (ie offers that also made the grade), I've read on another thread that some of the public schools such as Eton (though not all) are way down this year. Maybe it's the change in the exams plus the introduction of tests in cambridge shaking things up, or maybe it's related to trying to widen access (or a combination) - may be interesting to see how it pans out this year. (or these observations may be random anecdata )

Aginghippy, DD's bf didn't get his Bristol offer till March I think last year.

Teta, glad your DD is thinking a bit more positively. I don't think many of DD's year did very well in their mocks either and are having to retake them - DD said it was too close to Christmas for proper revision. Perhaps the same in your DD's place?

Aginghippy DD has only just heard from Bristol regarding an interview so there's still hope.
Mocks done and dusted here.Epq result .No one got into Oxford/Cambridge this year .Half the school are being forced into the silent study rooms during frees because of poor mock results.Dd says it's like going to Colditz and is not impressed.Seems to have regained some positivity back even though we haven't heard from Surrey/Nottingham ( interviews back in Nov. And 1st of December ).

I am wondering if DS will ever make it to any morning lectures, he is NOT a morning person!

DD's mocks are finished now. She definitely has the feeling that she needs more revision of last year's topics.

She has 4 offers, but still hasn't heard from Bristol. She is thinking more and more that it will be a no from them.

She has an offer holders day at Birmingham on Tuesday. She has to get the train at 6.45 in the morning, which will mean getting up before 6. It will be a real struggle for her poor teenage brain

Ono, no, but the friend she went with is - he is putting it down as his firm (think he has an unconditional too)
Sorry to hear your DS is still suffering. Is he still soldiering on at school?

BTM - is she doing History as well?

Horse, History coursework still ongoing here, nicely timed to coincide with mocks, half term and 18th birthday celebrations. After half term I think the teachers will start running revision lessons as most of the courses seem to have been covered (except politics - just their luck to be studying USA which means it is like trying to nail jelly). It's all getting very close.

Meanwhile DS' mystery illness continues but the private GP we have seen has said possibly glandular fever caused by cytomegalovirus which can be recurrent or something called PFAPA which is a periodic fever syndrome. At last, some possible answers.

Ono, DD went on that too! It is now a possible firm - she needs to do an offer holders day at Bristol first to decide.

I think DD's mocks aren't till the week after next, she seems to be plugging away quite steadily. Definitely less stressful than gcses at the moment, apart from maturity it helps having far fewer subject and all of their own choosing, I think.

All offers received now, History course work handed in and mocks in 3 wks.

Had his final school report yesterday, it's all gathering momentum, isn't it?!

Hi ono40, mocks done and dusted here. They went well and ds seems to be on course for his predicted grades at the mo.
Applicants day coming up in Sheffield on 7th February then he will be able to finalise his choices. I don't know if it is just us but ds seems a lot calmer and better prepared for A levels than he was for GCSEs, I suppose it is probably down to maturity.
Good luck with the mocks. 🍀

How is everyone? Just about to start mocks here so things are tense. it is surprising how little DS can remember from last year's courses (damn you Michael Gove!). He went on an offer holder day in Birmingham on Wednesday and still likes it so I think her will firm them.

HSM, you are a for staying so calm at least on the surface!

Shame for those with 18th's during the mocks - suddenly DD's late July birthday looks good - all exams will be firmly over by then!

Mirabelle, Asia trip? Your DD is a gadabout! And yes, Bristol p/t job sounds a great idea. Cash and experience

I though the way ucas works is that the student submits, then it automatically notifies the school to add references so even if the school has them ready theres a bit of a delay. And I imagine that they'd want to check the student has applied for more or less what they were expecting in case the reference was somehow incongruous with it. I read on another thread that as apart from ucas extra, some unis dont take too much notice of the 'deadline', don't know if that's correct or not.

DD's birthday is early Feb, but she doesn't seem particularly bothered about doing anything special - maybe something or other with her mates in the halfterm. She doesn't seem bothered about any sort of special gift either (she said, pragmatically, that she'll probably want lots of stuff before uni but won't know what till after results). I feel I should get her something but cant think what, she doesn't wear jewellery at all, which would be the obvious thing.

HSM though Rescue Remedy better for the liver !

Carl how is DD?

DD decided she wanted us all to to a musical for her 18th, which was very good and a lovely day for us all. She did pretty well on the money front and hoping to be able to pull off a 2 month trip to Asia this summer.

Foundation Art application in, acknowledged and she'll be having an interview before half term apparently. I'm really hoping this works out. Meanwhile she's about to start on p/t job applications plus is waiting for language exam results. I'm just wondering if I should be encouraging for her to look at some work experience in Bristol and whether my Dad could cope putting her up for a bit. Only just thought of that so will mull it over before suggesting it.

DS had another offer of AAA last week from Leeds.

He has booked on to the applicant days also.

What are you thinking for birthday celebrations Ono? DS's is during his mocks, so we are going for a family meal that evening.

Hsmm why had the school not prepared the references earlier?I believe you can send the application in a little late and still have offers?You must have nerves of steel to be so chilled.I would not be, in that situation.
Mocks bar one Maths exam two weeks hence are over here.Dd is in full fight mode here so I've passed her over to Dh who will not ask or find anything out about anything!Are grades expected to go up from Mock to A level?

HSM there is something called UCAS Extra, is that any good? You are very chilled!

Mocks here in two weeks, no revision done as it is "pointless" apparently when there is History coursework to be done which counts for 20% of the mark (I can see his logic).

Meanwhile I am trying to plan his 18th birthday but fresh out of ideas. I think we will go away for a few days at half term but everywhere in Europe is so cold. I don't fancy walking about in -12 temps!

That all sounds good, Tilly.

Mirabelle - yes, DD seems to be coming round to that way of thinking.

So sorry to hear about the rejections - must be a big shock if it is your first experience of not achieving something despite trying hard.

In a turn of events, DD is going to go and visit her 5th choice uni for an Offer Holders day with a friend. He also has an unconditional if he puts them first, but he really wants to go there - glad DD is going to look because she might be pleasantly surprised.

And in mocks news, she got a very good mark for one of her English essays which then spurred her on to go to "English Club" at lunchtime yesterday (to do coursework)