Starting year 13 2016

Oh dear - really not good timing for that experiment ... has he got plenty of plasters etc to cushion his poor abused tit? God, I'm wincing at the thought of it. Hope it all goes well despite this.

Teta, I would see that as a done deal and state that it is still ongoing. Most prospective vet med students will carry on doing voluntary work at the kennels or surgery or whatever until forced to give up by parents so they can revise. My friend whose DD is Y4 at RVC said the work experience was vital for interview because it gave her information to draw on when asked questions.

Well I will give you all a laugh - DS had his nipple pierced yesterday. He has slight gynaecomastia (he's had tests - nothing wrong medically) that he is very hung up about and thought this might make it better. It didn't! It did however make it much more visible as it caught the eye. When he finally confessed at about 11.30pm, he then decided he wanted to take it out (having also made what I would have thought would have been a fairly obvious connection between piercings, heavy rucksacks and chafing!). We proceeded to struggle to remove this blasted thing as he doesn't suffer pain well. All the while I was really trying not to laugh as he recounted the tale of how painful it had been and what an idiot he felt. We finally removed it at about 12.30am whereupon it bled profusely for half an hour. And then he was up at 5am for the journey to Wales - at least he can sleep on the coach unlike me who is mainlining coffee while trying to work. He has sworn never again so we can tick piercings off the bucket list now!

Teta - there must be some way to word it that she's done 9 weeks to date and is continuing until dd.mm ?

Was it a good party Hsmm?
Can somebody settle an argument for me?
Dd has 9 weeks work experience so far and is doing 1 day a week voluntary work over the winter term.Given that the interviews are in December ( if she's called up!) and she will have done at least 10 weeks by then ( Important because many places will not interview you unless you've done at least 10 weeks!) Does she include this on her P.S as a done deal?.I say yes,but she says no.

'Even vaguely likely' I meant to say.

And would-be medics, vets and conservatoires (there are randomly two or three in DDs year). Her school 'processes' anyone who is even likely to apply to oxbridge at this stage, but they've all got their predicted grades.

DD has just said to me that they are only doing Oxbridge applicants ATM. Which is fair enough.

Yes - they did an AS exam in every subject whether it was the old style or new style.

I know they are turning everyone way unless they are the one or two students who are applying for Oxbridge. She is working on the assumption that she will be predicted the same grade as she got at AS or perhaps one above, but who knows? Guessing at the moment.

Little - it sounds more like the school is behind with the expected grades rather than that shes particularly ahead with those tasks - except obv shouldnt put the application in ahead of getting them. Did everyone do AS even in the new format subjects? Maybe assessing without as grades might take the school more time.

I'm a bit perplexed as to why dd is doing her application, PS and getting references before she has her predicted grades.

I was told that each of the subject teachers gives info on how they are doing, but it's the form tutor who writes the reference.

Juggling - I think that for each subject, one of the teachers provides some input, and I think the form teacher adds a bit too. All of DD's subjects are relevant and more than one is required.

I think the relevant one for DD or maybe her form tutor - has to be someone who knows them and DD has only been there a year. Mind you that would be true for anyone who has moved to a Sixth Form elsewhere!

Do they get references from all their subject teachers Errol, or just the most relevant one for their intended course?

Juggling - I'm not getting any advice, but DD is - theres one member of staff specifically tasked with reviewing PS, talking to them re choices, putting together the references from subject teacher, all that sort of thing. But she also seems to have been discussing it all with her form tutor.

DS is doing one more Open Day (B'ham next month)

He hadn't started his PS last time I asked (fortnight ago).

Still hasn't decided which subject...

I am starting to go a bit stir crazy!!!

My dd feels similarly Ono.But I think she secretly rather enjoyed the practice expedition .I think its mentioned briefly in her P.S as a link to teamwork along with playing in an orchestra and Cello ensemble.I was briefly shown her latest update at 11pm,read it and then we had a minor disagreement over how much work experience she's put,then she got furious with me and stomped off to bed crossly.
PS writing is a load of old twaddle,isn't it?

We are going to one more - actually a "student led tour" not a full open day - in half-term. It's to Reading Uni which dd seems quite keen on.
Then one of ours will be a "looks promising" from website etc. as it's a bit of a trek for a visit - but they do applicant visits too, so we're planning to go to one of those a bit later on.
Am hoping what we're going for will result in some nice offers to think about - and that generally we're pitching it about right?
Anyone getting much advice from schools? I feel I'd like more opportunity to talk it through with someone, but guess I'll have to be content with dd having a discussion with someone before UCAS application is submitted?

Errol - I thought it was! It certainly is lauded by DD's school as something to put on the PS!

DD just has Manchester this weekend - it's an easy daytrip though.

Ono - I'm not sure the point of DofE is supposed to be so that you can mention it in your PS! Hope the weather isn't too vile (TBH I think my DD would have felt a bit cheated if it hadn't pissed down almightily on her in scotland on hers, part of the experience )

DD is planning on going to one more open day in October. I think I have opendayitis . I was relieved to find out she will be going with friends and I don't need to get involved.

She has a plan for her PS - another draft, then showing it to a teacher, then re-drafting. She definitely doesn't want me involved, did the face when I asked how it was going.