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

That's so tough monkey.

OK, thanks. Perhaps I'm naive as to why that's an issue. I only ask because if we had a thread for this year, I'd really want to chat about colleges.

It's because it's very identifying @Piggywaspushed . DS1 does Chemistry at Oxford but the number at his college is tiny.

Can I ask a not intended to be bitchy question about the Oxbridge threads (or one in particular). Why don't they say what college their DCs are at? Would the sky fall in, or something? It seems very odd to me when others on other threads gaily say 'my DS is at Leeds' or ' they want to apply to Bangor' whatever.

Virtual York here, too. DS really just does the subject talks.

Yes, we had planned to virtually 'do' York tomorrow but DS is now going on a tour at University of Nottingham tomorrow morning. DH is taking him as only allowed one guest sadly. They plan to get the bus into the city later and have an explore. I am quite jealous that they are going together.

York is another one of our 'to visit' list for the summer, but plan to catch up on the virtual open day as best we can.

Some results back here, DS got one mark off an A in chemistry, A in physics and double maths looks likely to be an A overall although he doesn't have all parts back yet. He's happy and hoping for the A/A predictions, his school do predictions as what they could get on a good day so fingers crossed (for UCAS purposes).

He got put into a Cambridge chemistry challenge today which he found really difficult! (He only saw the email last night saying he had been entered into it!!, perhaps would have helped if he had actually read it last week when it was sent...)

Virtually ‘doing’ York tomorrow

Aw, you're welcome!

@Piggywaspushed - You are an absolute superstar!!! Bath is on our shortlist and we have booked to go and visit the city in the summer anyway to show DS (I went to Bath and loved it so know it well!)

There was availability for the tour, dinner and stay option while we are already in that area which I have managed to book onto! (We live 3-4 hrs away so that was super handy) I am really excited now! (Will just have to break it to DH that he may have a night in our hotel on his own

Yes, I think the number of applicants has increased, partially due to the pandemic. Also the grade inflation of last summer has meant many more achieved the grades than in a standard year. So unis have had to accept much bigger years or defer some students. I wonder what the failure rate will be for the first years?
Interestingly many European Unis. accept large numbers onto their medical courses but have a very high attrition rate along the way.
I know one of the Scottish Unis. are not accepting anyone into their first year for dentistry this year as their current crowd haven't been able to complete all their practical work. My nephew is a fourth year medic and had very little obstetrics experience this year. He didn't see one baby being born. He will be treating members of the public in a years time ...

Thank you for the thoughts re. DS. everyone.
@Fools we had a similar thing with DS too. Now he's decided he loves boarding and the independence it gives him. He's pretty self-contained these days.

I think there are probably more applicants for medicine/nursing etc now. I must confess, when people were losing their jobs/being furloughed, I did say to dd and ds that they should do something in public services/ health where they'll have job security.

Sorry your ds missed out @Fferny1. It must be so hard with twins. Glad your ds has settled @FoolsAssassin, I remember all the worry in the first term.

Are more young people applying to medicine because of covid? Pandemics focus their minds maybe on 'saving the world'/'doing their bit'?

@AnneOfCleavage - I didn't think we had heard anything about Winchester either but I just checked DS's email (he has an account I have access to to help him keep track of all this stuff) and they emailed out on 04 June about new arrangements, did you see that email? Subject sessions virtual on Friday (3.30 - 6) and campus visits on Saturday, slot booking will be nearer the time.

That is so difficult with twins Fferny, I do feel for your DS and for you too as hard to watch 💐 I’m another who grew up in Bristol.

Although the boarding was hideous at the start, I think DS is benefiting now and I hope it will make the transition to university easier for him . When I thought about pulling him out during the bad times I was quite aware that if we did it could turn going away next time much harder so very relieved it has worked out ok.

They are twins @Anne but in different schools, with very different abilities. DS is dyslexic and we've had to fight his corner many times. He's only just coming into his own.

DD has many friends in London at the moment, before they go back overseas. Plus dd1 is now 22 ( and I think dd2 thinks she can do the same things as her). But she did get scammed the other day by a woman with a baby saying she had no food. I don't know how much money she gave them. Then her friends told her off!

Wow Fferny1 how v independent of your DD. I'd love DD to do something like that even if just locally. Her first taste will be in a couple of weeks time as DH and I are away and leaving her behind for 1st time alone. She's hoping to ask a friend to stay over for company so that will be her taste of independence.

How gutting for your DS to have missed out but your DD got a position. Assuming twins. Are they in the same school? Congrats to her.

I do think @Monkey that there's going to be a permanent reduction in Business travel.I think so many meetings have been held over Zoom and it's generally worked well. DH hasn't traveled since January 2020 due to the quarantine regulations in Asia/India. He now says it's going to be a permanent change.
I'm still wary of booking a holiday because of several cancelled flights/lost money last year. I think if cases carry on going up holidays may well be rescinded.

I'm going to check with DD if she wants me to accompany her to Bath. Given that she's been in London in an air b&b for the last two weeks with her friend she may decide she's independent enough to go by herself. I grew up in Bristol and I know Bath quite well, but not the university campus.

I do hope there not going to be another year of exam/no exam turmoil. Dd's school have 12 kids without Medical offers this year, which never happens.
There seems to be a major over-supply of students in the melting pot. If students are school assessed again this will affect the next couple of years applications. But I really don't know what the alternative is.

Sorry about your Ds @Shimy that sounds really tough and such bad timing. Also sympathies to the students who felt their exam results could have been better.
We just found out that DS wasn't made a prefect but DD was, so it's pretty bittersweet. And is the story of his life ☹️ ( very quiet and non-assuming).

Tell me about it Monkey2001. The 6th form is new to her school so it's in its early days of recruiting. The next year coming in is tripled in number as they've had their taster session this week and DD has been on hand to show them round etc.
I like the link you shared and I guess it would most likely be in a restaurant situation rather than hotel hired room. I actually love the idea of bottomless bubbly and afternoon tea idea for me

Thanks for the Bath info @Piggywaspushed. I LOVE Bath and DD is interested although not as much as me :-)

I like the way they have split up the weeks so that if U18 all the accompanied will be together and another week the unaccompanied so it won't look naff if a parent is tagging along (definitely me) as they will all be in the same boat (if U18).

Tell me about it crazycrofter so many essay plans and themes to memorise and plan for in History. DD is getting in a bit of a tizz about it too panicking that it'll be based on a question she won't know how to answer. I can so empathise.

Sorry for your DS too Shimy as a double whammy missing his guitar exam and missing out on his award ceremony. Congrats to him though for his award.

L6th had been told to fundraiser for U6th's prom which DD was appalled at as their year had totally missed out on one last year (were promised one in Autumn term to make up but never came to fruition) but nothing more has been said so it may not be going ahead or on a smaller scale. Wonder if our year will even get one as there's now only c15 students left in L6th after the group of trouble makers have left so can there be a prom with only that amount of students?

Still not heard if the Winchester open day is going ahead. Was meant to get an email giving us time slot options so SD can happen but nothing come through.

@FoolsAssassin Thanks to you to, missed you out above.

@Alsoplayspiccolo & @Monkey2001 Thanks.

Totally agree with you on exam front Monkey and am really pissed off they didn’t start a review of the system after our lot had their GCSE’s cancelled.

Those of us with older DC will remember the above days and the absolutely shocking mess they made of changing things things each year so no comparisons could be made across the years so it’s not a surprise this is a clusterfuck.

I don’t think course home done at home is the way forward but feel there is a role for classroom based assessments again and indeed s good time to reintroduce it as a proportion of the courses on the back of TAGs, makes sense- so no doubt won’t happen. I can’t put into words how angry I am about education over the last decade and somreleoved we are nearly through,