New Batch of Year 13 parents this way!

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Hopefully this thread will appear on TIO! No need to use it til our old thread is done, but at least we have it for when we are ready.

Double I'm so sorry to hear about your DD's predicted grade change shock - this is exactly why my DD needs to know hers now - it could have a real impact to her top choice Uni/whether she even puts it on her UCAS form & whether we should be looking at other options. Would be interested to hear what advice you get & wish you luck

Ursula can you sit and inspect the facilities of the library/coffee shop whilst DD goes off and explores?

Newcastle have done a lot of outreach work in college although they are not what you'd call local. They were here the other week looking at managing the student budget and did a presentation to parents last year on UCAS and their contextual offer.

DD's school won't give out predicted grades yet. DD has had to strong arm them out of her teachers. Like Double she has had a disappointing response on one of her subjects.

I think getting the application in is one thing, but then there is the wait afterwards. Clearly course and uni dependent. Some are going to get quick response, hopefully positive ones, which do give a sense of confidence going forward. I think this does need to be balanced by a bit of emotional intelligence as every DC is going to be a bit different - and clearly many do not go / apply to uni in the first place.

For some, I'm thinking med and vet med applicants, their is an early deadline and it is then a long drawn out wait with, presumably, an interview process thrown in for good measure. For most uncertainty will be hanging over them until well into the New Year, and then not necessarily good news.

Oxbridge - they'll get to hear a bit quicker, and if they get to interview by early Jan at the latest, and if not well before Xmas. 75%+ are not going to be successful, and it is how they react to - given the undoubtedly fine margins "rejection^ does not really seem the right world - this. For the majority it will be taken pragmatically and with the likely recognition they have / will in all probability be getting offers from the other excellent unis they will have put on their form. For some despite the latter it will be a crushing blow which they may well struggle with and will need the support from school friends, teachers, family, to help them recognise that it is really not the end of the world.

I think all that threads like this can (and have, and do) do is be supportive to all the DCs whatever path they go down and however smooth or bumpy it may be, or indeed how often it may get changed.

Here endeth the sermon :)

Hope all those at Leicester, Newcastle, Huddersfield and indeed an any other open day today find it enjoyable and informative. I have to admit on the very few I have been to I've had more of an interest in the accommodation, and taken great pleasure in tutting "how much extra for an ensuite which seems designed for no one bigger that a toddler", or being aghast at the lack of communal space in a few of the halls, and other such middle-aged mutterings.

We aren't even looking at accommodation yet. As DD is applying for medicine she will just be pleased to get a place at anywhere that will have her.

I quite liked the statement of the obvious at one uni accommodation talk. It's more expensive the closer it is to the uni and more expensive the better facilities it has. I suppose it needed to be said. They were the only place that gave the annual cost rather than per week, leaving you to then hunt for how many weeks the contract was for. DS worked out early on that when you've been on two accommodation tours you've a fair understanding of the set up so I was spared any more tours. Course first (tick), location second (working on that), accommodation last.

I pointed out to DS that the bathroom fairy would not be going with him and if he had his own bathroom he would be responsible for cleaning it. I suggested that he get some idea of what this involves by starting now and you can guess how that went.

knitting the bathroom cleaning suggestion just made me LOL. DD is similarly afflicted. No surprise she's happy to share a bathroom if someone else will take care of cleaning it.

Am really relieved to hear that dd isn't the only one who isn't applying to university at the moment - thanks chocolate and Boys3.

dd was going to input her university choices into UCAS only its down until midnight. oh well.

For double this may be helpful university.which.co.uk/search/course?utf8=✓&c%5Bq%5D=Law&button=&c%5Bgrade_ALEVEL_0%5D=3&c%5Bgrade_ALEVEL_1%5D=2&c%5Bgrade_ALEVEL_2%5D=2&c%5Blower_points_bound%5D=120&c%5Bupper_points_bound%5D=144&c%5Bacademic_years__and__some%5D=2018&c%5Bsort_fact%5D=relevance
Also still apply to favourite as an aspirational

Hi there cats
Life would be very dull if everyone wanted the same thing!

I don't think DD could handle the stress of needing to get certain grades in order to proceed with the next step. If I was to bet money, I'd bet that she won't go at all, but I will be over the moon if she gets her predicted grades that would keep her options open for the future.

DD may not go to university next year either. She is adamant that she wants to do medicine. If she gets the grades, but doesn't get to the interview stage she will redo the UKCAT and apply again next year.

She will then try and get some work experience in the meantime.

May I join in? Just left DD1 at uni for the 1st time & DD2 has just started year 13. Not applying to uni this year as she wouldn't make a successful application, & couldn't bear the stress of holding a conditional offer. Had weeks off sick in year 12 & is struggling. I have no idea how this year is going to go...

DS1 liked Leicester and enjoyed chatting with some of the History faculty.

Sadly he's unlikely to get an offer from them with the predictions the school have given him, so he's going to approach two of his teachers about the possibility of reviewing the predicted grades.

He wants to ask if his History predicted grade can be changed from C to B (based on the fact that he got a high B (2 marks off an A) in one of the two end of Y12 History papers (internal equivalent of AS).

He also wants to ask if his Politics predicted grade can be changed from C to B (based on the fact that he got an A in one of the two AS papers).

If they say no, then he'll have to accept that.

Blogwoman welcome.
DS1 had a chronic illness from Y8 to Y12 and had to drop three of his GCSEs. I haven't quite got used to him being well again, and am not certain that he is ready to apply to UCAS in this cycle.

Blogwoman the pressure schools and colleges put on them is awful isn't it. It's just to make them look good.

I hope your daughter has a successful year 13.

TheSecond have you looked at De Montfort as well? We looked at Leicester uni today (for medicine), but one of DD's friend is looking at De Montfort for history.

Lonerica he didn't like the course at DMU so it got eliminated in the first round.

The deal-breaker was that (unlike Leicester) DMU offers no choice of modules in the first year.

Thank you Lonicera & TheSecond - hope your DS1 has a good year now he's well. DD was given the option to retake year 12 & one of the teachers has emailed me today to suggest it, but she's adamant she doesn't want to. Don't think she's got the motivation & it's difficult socially when they stay back.

That must be tough double
Welcome blog everyone's supportive and offers excellent advice

Dd enjoyed Essex and loves it she said its exciting and huge
She's considering a degree in philosophy any help? Any advice? Anyone done one or have experience/knowledge of someone doing a philosophy degree

Blogwoman that is difficult for your dd. My ds had a lot of time off with illness in yr12 and was in hospital for the AS exams. He decided in the April that he was going to repeat yr 12 and it was frankly a really good decision. However he has ASD and was not in the least bothered about the social side.
He is now about to start his second yr at university and the extra year at school really helped his maturity though that may not be an issue for your dd. Whatever she decides I hope it goes well for her.

We are just back from Nottingham. Ds1 has gone from not sure, maybe to either his first or second choice. I'm pleased because he now has a couple of potential offers he would be really happy to have.

We talked about him getting a car if he goes there but when I pointed out he could afford to run it if he shared a bathroom he said he could get the bus.

We've had a lot of conversations about grades and what happens if he isn't predicated what he needs.
Applying to an aspirational with a back up he's happy with (and meets criteria for).
Working really hard to get the grades and take a gap year applying with grades in hand.
Look for an alternative route into the degree.
It's the start of a tough year I think.

Welcome blogwoman

DD had a lot of time off in years 10 and 11 due to anxiety and self-harm, so didn't do as well as should could have done with her GCSEs. She's doing BTECs which makes it easier to manage her workload and reduce stress.

Dd loved Newcastle but there is no equestrian club.

Definitely decided she prefers a city location to a self contained campus.

Thank you NoHaud & chocolate - for many of our DCs it's not straightforward is it?