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

@estherfrewen DS is just finishing year 1 at Durham and the sport (even this year!) has been brilliant and so friendly. It’s a high standard too - the 4th teams for cricket and rugby a full of boys who have been in their county age group squads all the way up.

Also, anyone with cricketing daughters - Durham women’s cricket is excellent.

Great predictions btw!

If there’s one thing the travel industry is master at, is bouncing back; very best of luck to her whoamI, such a fabulous sector. Across all functions. Does she have a preference for short or long haul? I guess it’s still early to decide...

Hi. My DD is at college just finishing a L2 BTEC in Travel with predicted grades of double distinction, she is going back to do L3 next year.
It's very interesting to read about the uni application processes as she doesn't want to go to uni so its not something that we have had to research.
DD is extremely focused on ( hopefully) getting a cabin crew job at the end of L3 which is a 2 year course so we will wait and see how the travel industry picks up.
Congratulations to you all that have posted your good news on here I've just caught up from the last thread!

@Orangecinnamon21 thank you - that sounds interesting. If you know any more about it that would be great.

As DS only said about this last night I’m not sure how much he’s thought about it but I am wondering whether it would be better to apply and defer, or wait until next year to apply at all, as he’d have his A level results then anyway…

In non-academic news DD got her sax result today, distinction for G4, which was great as she got the sax for her 16th with most learning being taught remotely since. God knows how the maintenance of it works though!

@estherfrewen thanks for your comments, it's sort of reassuring that your DS found it hard but still got a B in his mock. I know he was disappointed but I think they great results and he should not beat himself up. I'm not sure where they are with the NEA stuff, DS said that the poetry was going to be coursework only but that doesn't sound right? Good luck for the Russian History, that is what DS is covering in History, I find it quite fascinating a someone who didn't take History as an option.

@shimy well done to your DS on that great test result!

Well done for @Shimys D's. Especially triumphing with Sen issues makes it all the sweeter.

    Loughborough & Cardiff are In the top few for Architecture apparently. With Loughborough having 100% in employment, post course. But I know absolutely nothing about it. Other than it's very good for sports. Same with Cardiff, other than it's cheap to live there.
    How do I convince DD that it's worth looking at these places when she's so fixated on London?

Am i the only mnetter where Oxbridge holds no appeal? Dd1 doing vet. Medicine has said Cambridge vets. Have a certain reputation in practices of being not very practical and hands on. I can see the appeal if doing a non-vocational degree though and for future job applications.

www.bucs.org.uk/fixtures-and-results.html

We’re in Yorkshire so some are too far south for him. A lot of his swimming friends are looking at Loughborough but he’s not so keen on the history course there. Cardiff also an option - somewhere we spent a lot of time when he still competed as DH from there. Doesn’t fancy Durham for some reason best known only to him!

Durham?

Exeter?

Great result @Shimy! DS still thinking of applying for Cambridge but I’m not sure on so many levels. Up to him though. He did Warwick Open Day various elements last weekend and really likes the look of their ancient history/archaeology and also still fancies Lancaster. He wants somewhere with lots of sport

I am assuming Oxford and Cambridge are wonderful places to study for many when they get there. The college system has a lot going for it.

It's the intensity beforehand and the savage competition. Plus the idea that there is a complacency there : by far the most dull sounding online prospectuses, course descriptions and modules come from those unis.

Congrats to @Piggywaspushed and @KingscoteStaff @Shimy juniors! Great results! Both ds and I have been put off oxbridge and the mn thread is certainly terrifying - I lurked for a bit and it cemented the idea that maybe it’s not the place for ds ( he likes to feel safe; unlike ds who really enjoys being challenged and thrives on competition). Off to have a look at Southampton based on all the love here ;-) Not sure when we’ll get results and predictions - chomping at the bit although exams only finished on thurs for ds!

@MirandaWest I know someone that did an extra college course in music production in their gap year. I think it was free!

DS was doing some Geography in the living room when he suddenly said that once he’s done these exams he’s going to put some time in on recording some music (music is really his big thing but doesn’t do A Level as they don’t do it at his school).

Then he said if he had a gap year after A Levels he could give recording and performing a proper go and then go to university after that. And he had more enthusiasm for that than thinking about Geography degrees.

Was a sudden thing but I think it could well make sense. I did say he’d need to get a part time job as well (although maybe he could make it big….)

Got a DC in 6th form then you belong here whatever the results.

That fighting spirit is clearly going to serve him well!

Thanks Eww, I feeling a bit like an imposter because DS1 had quite the opposite results when he did his. Didn’t study, games the whole way through, and so on the thread for his Yr when lots were posting fab results it was a complete head in hands throughout. I remember discussing alternatives, BTecs etc and we dared not even look at the Unis ds2 is considering. But not just that, DS2 has SEN and has always struggled but he is a fighter! so I can hardly believe the results he’s getting.

Shimy Fabulous result there!

This thread is moving fast! Congratulations to those with good results. DS came top of his class in Economics with 80% . Predictions out on Friday.

That's great @PaddingtonPaddington. It seems to be a city with so many accessible opportunities. We really liked Bute Park etc and Dd absolutely fell in love with the Bay area.