Corona Cohort Y12 into Y13, braving the storm of the third wave

I should add it really isn't that far not as far as it could be ... Probably a good 2 1/2 hours drive .

Thanks @shimy that's really helpful. She admits Cardiff is the best fit for her...the good thing about Music is that they all get to know each other so well, she loves the city and as well as the music ensembles has even identified a few societies she wishes to join. She is desperate to go there. The distance worries her a bit though and I'd hate to see her pass it over just based on that .

I'll try and seek out that thread!

I do start worrying a bit when I see so many people's kids on here going to open days, working on personal statements, seeking advice from people... and we have none of that going on

BUT a little breakthrough today - DD2 suddenly announced she's booked for the Leeds open day. Progress!

@Orangecinnamon21 So sorry about your DD’s worry about MH issues. It does weight heavily on the mind but just reassure her, that’s all you can do. I don’t know her MH history and whether this is just anxiousness or an established issue but there was a thread some months ago where quite a few were discussing what to do for their dc with MH issues in preparation for uni and it was quite insightful. I can’t for the life of me remember the title, I don’t think it was something obvious. There was advice about applying for disability ??? When applying to uni, questions to ask the universiy etc so if anyone remembers please.

For what it’s worth, DS1 is at Cardiff and it’s been perfect for him. It has a very good reputation although I know some on MN like to point out it’s ranked low on the RG table , and not top 10 or whatever. one wonders how far up the table one needs to go really.

Anyway, of the party reputation it has, ds1 who is the most introverted person, has continued keeping his head down, has a quiet pint at the pub with 1 or 2 others occasionally. He has had no problems with anyone and doing brilliantly on his course, so it’s a very good option. He has had more face to face than some I’ve heard of here.

@crazycrofter thanks. He’s really pleased it’s turned out better than expected. I think I’ve missed a few posts, shall I guess he’s just passed his driving test and awaiting his licence? If so, I’m sure it will appear soon.
@Seeline amazing results, more so in this time of online learning.

@estherfrewen
That’s good to know. It’s ds’s top choice at the moment, DH is also just completing a DBA there so will chuffed to bits if DS got in.

*Decorate It’s got a fab rep for ds’s subject too (Business). I think this is where in person visits really come into their. They really do need to see the university so it feels more real and they can imagine themselves there, otherwise there’s the risk of crossing it off on the assumption it is ‘far away’ therefore, not my taste.
I’m having this same issue with ‘York’ DS not really into simply because it’s ‘up there!’ and Loughborough is closer.

@AndwhenyougetthereFoffsomemore Thanks for the recommendation again. Lucky you’ve got more insight into the place. Maybe we’ll all meet in the summer when they doing their face to face visit.

Wow, just spotted your dd's results @Seeline: fantastic and huge congratulations! How's your dd doing @crazycrofter: how did her other exams go?

Dd is feeling a bit overwhelmed thinking about Uni? Anyone else's? She is worried about being lonely and 'spiralling' mental health. Her BF was supposed to be following her to wherever she applied but may not go back to college after the summer...and is now looking at apprenticeships.
I've tried to say there is no use worrying about it now. She keeps looking so sad.

On the list so far Cardiff, Notts, Southampton, Surrey and Lincoln.

Southampton is near and a great, well respected music course but Cardiff is fave ...she is very wobbly about it all.

@Shimy: ds was impressed with the Warwick open day for his subject (comp sci) - my dad taught at Warwick uni so I used to know the campus well from days when I was sent to work with him in the hols!

Thanks sandy.

@Piggywaspushed - I'm in transit at the moment in a work trip so didn't answer you properly earlier.

I'm very conscious that when I talk about my 3 DC here a lot if the stuff I reveal is personal to them. They know I post on MN and think it's hilarious. But I try not to post anything which leads an immediate trail back to them. If I talked about DS1's Oxford college anyone who attends that college would know exactly who I was talking about - hence the need for a slight guardedness.

I think it's Cambridge college insight you want? I'd just post on the Oxbridge 2022 thread and ask. Someone will come along and they may just DM you with insight. I'll pop on and bump for you if needed.

Very good news @Seeline - nice to end the year on a high.

Seeline wow!

Yep very happy to answer Monkey2001. Accommodation was looked at in great detail by Dd and we looked round most of it. Park View was where she was for the first year, Jesmond for the second. The thing to remember with accommodation is that there’s loads of movement within the first few months. This is particularly good if you are in Newcastle University owned accommodation (rather than the private ones they can direct you to) as they have thousands of rooms so you can fairly easily change to different accommodation if you can’t stand your flatmates in the first few months when most people who drop out, drop out. So basically not a disaster if you hate the accommodation they have given you. Not sure how easy this is at other universities.

@Shimy I’m trying to encourage Ds to look at Warwick as it’s got a good reputation for the type of courses he is interested in. I think he is a bit put off by the location so am hoping a trip to visit the campus will be possible this summer so he can see for himself.

Well done @Seeline - fantastic results. @shimy - DS looking at Warwick for ancient history

Great results Seeline.

Thanks for the heads up about York. DS originally said it was too close to home then announced yesterday it was in his top five! Don't think he'll have got as far as checking for an open day though.

Still no driving licence here either @PaddingtonPaddington!

That’s amazing @Seeline, well done to her! Good news about the guitar exam @shimy!

DD has her exam grades - A, A and A, and UCAS predictions of 3As! She is really chuffed, although still quite unsure of what to do next. Really hope we can get to see some unis over the summer and then concentrate on a reduced number of full open days in September.

@PaddingtonPaddington. Complete cross post. My opening line sounds like it’s in response to yours . It’s not, just incase. Great minds!

This thread has gathered up speed for obvious reasons. Anyway, DS is back home doing online lessons. @Fferny1 thanks. After a night in isolation I think he’s accepted it now and cracking on with other things. His guitar teacher has now said he will enter him for grade 8 as he would have passed grade 7 so there’s no point resuming that in the new term. I think DS is really pleased with that and it’s perked him up a bit.

It’s very odd on this thread that so many of are shortlisting the same universities. Birmingham..check! Bath...check! anyone looking at Warwick?

This thread moves so fast at times, it’s difficult to keep up.

DD has done 2 subjects exams this week, one more next week. She found both really hard but said she did the best she could do that’s all that matters.
@crazycrofter sorry to hear your DD cried in hers. Hope she’s bounced back ok.

Well done to all on the amazing results so far.

Sorry to hear of those having to self isolate and miss out on stuff.

Still no driving licence yet.

Is your Ds applying for Medicine @Monkey? ( Sorry I've lost track of who's doing what on here!)
I didn't know about the Autumn retakes being offered a place the following year.
My other nephew has just finished his first year and is doing well. He didn't get in on the day of the results due to his moderated grades, then that was overturned and the Uni subsequently had to give him a place. I think they didn't have enough accommodation for all of them and it's a very large year. O line learning must have been a blessing for them 😄

Dd1 is doing a very niche university course at Newcastle. Happy to talk about Newcastle Uni to anyone (accommodation, city, Uni) but not her specific course as less than a handful do it. I could probably find out information on most courses as Dd has friends from a range of them.