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.

This thread is good in that our children are taking a variety of pathways through further education and I've found it to be inclusive and supportive to everyone.

It sounds like it's been a busy week for lots of you...we didn't go to Leicester as planned yesterday (lots of stuff got in the way), however we have booked a place for the last open day during DS's October half term. We've visited 6 uni's so far and he has a firm idea of which ones he wants to put down as his choices - Leicester will be a back up if he likes it there - the course looks good on paper.

We have had the achieving grades chat - there are always options if he doesn't get what he is hoping for. His predicted are the ones he needs to apply to his chosen uni's but things could change if he takes his foot of the pedal.....

I'm finding the constant pressure on them exhausting. DS meets up with the 6th Form academic mentor every week to make sure he is on track - I get nice emailed updates from her
and all free periods are (or so I'm led to believe) spent working......

York also a hit with DD. Despite it being campus based. She liked th history students she spoke to.

I'm shattered. Three Unis, the Metrocentre and a catch up with a friend I haven't seen for 4 years.

Has anyone been to a Warwick open day? It rates well for DDs course, but we haven't been able to have a look. If it comes to it (i.e. if she hates Edinburgh next weekend) then we may have to visit it after offers (should she get one of course).

I have heard the campus is nice, but don't know Coventry at all.

I think OYBBK has been.

dd has been. She likes the campus a lot. Didn't see Coventry really. It's her joint favourite university.

You have a good memory Ursula!

I have a spreadsheet

We went in the summer before DD changed her mind about what she wanted to do. The campus is nice, but it is off the list now.

My sister lived in Leamington when she was at Warwick, I think a lot still do. But graduation was from Coventry Cathedral. It was too isolated for DD

Newcastle would have been right up her street, but it's too close to home for her (though still quite a distance).

I visited York with DS1, made me want to go to uni.

Antibiotics nearly finished and she's back to school tomorrow, though I've emailed to excuse from band practices this week.

Hi everyone - can I join? I have a DS going through A levels this year (and a DS2 going through GCSEs). He's hoping to study history and/or politics (something along those lines).

We've visited Exeter and Birmingham so far and are going to Warwick. Has anyone been to Loughborough or Southampton (or Sussex or Kent....?!!)?

He liked Exeter but he wasn't sure about the course and definitely doesn't want to go to Penryn (where they do History and Politics) - too far away and too isolated for him - I thought it looked idyllic! He doesn't want to look at London or Scotland (too far). We're just waiting on predictions and he's finished his EPQ. Good luck to all DC and to their families

Interestingly, a lot of unis don't look at EPQs because not all schools do them. This is what we were told at Leicester on Saturday.

DD's school doesn't do EPQs.

Lonicera - I agree. Many universities say "it's good practice for university type work but as not all schools offer them, offers are not varied". Having said that some unis do eg. Southampton. So instead of say AAB as an offer, it would be ABB plus A in EPQ. It was a huge commitment and took a lot of time and if DS had his time again I'm not sure he would do it. It has at least given him something to write about in his personal statement!

Welcome Puppy :) We've looked at Southampton. It seemed really nice. Has a nice feel to the place.

I wish dd would drop her epq, she has far too much going on and she doesn't need it.

A question for you all. dh and I are thinking about going on a long haul holiday next oct/nov (if we can afford it). Not sure where yet. dd will have only been at uni for a few weeks. Do you reckon this would be ok, or do you think we need to be around in case of crisis?

Get yourselves away. She'll be fine.

thats what I needed to hear afterall, lots of students go abroad for uni. There's always messenger for emergency conversations.

but will I be worrying about her too much to enjoy it? The idea was that instead of getting all empty-nester and sobbing into my cornflakes when she leaves, I'd have something mega to look forward to.

Visit her the weekend before you go. Then you can communicate every day via snapchat or whatever.

Just had an interesting chat with my orthodontist. He has/had three at Uni and was telling me how different each child is. I suppose that's why it's so important to choose the right place and course.

The next decision DD makes will be her first. Typical Libran 😀

I think that sounds like a brilliant plan Kitten, definitely do it!
I might suggest something similar to DH - or perhaps DD2 as I think she's the one who will miss dd1 the most.
Love the idea of having something to look forward to.
A lot of DD's friends/dc of friends in the year above went off to uni yesterday. My FB was filled with smiling students in their new rooms, sitting on new ikea duvets!

I started off feeling exited for them all but by the end of the day that had turned to a feeling of dread - it's officially less than a year now until ours go!

kitten
Definitely go, but why don't you nominate someone (family or a close friend) who is going to keep an eye on her? Someone you trust - so you'll know that if you haven't heard from them, everything is definitely fine with DD

EPQ was the bane of DD's life last year, it took up more time than any of her other subjects.
She's glad she did it though (not sure if she would be had she not got an A* for it! ) and while universities won't necessarily use them for offers, I think having it on the PS is a good way to demonstrate ability to study independently etc.

OYBBK get off with you. I am thinking along the same lines with a cruise.

I have paid the UCAS fee and application is in!
we are in China so working on an earlier timetable than UK as Ds has already been back at school for about 6 weeks.

Kitten - definitely go, as pp mentioned good to have an emergency contact in UK too.

kitten - definitely go ! Thanks for the view on Southampton

Shineyshoes - thank you for the info on Loughborough. I like the look of the placement year that they offer. DS is more focused on Student Union, nightlife and societies!

Shanghai - good luck to your DS. Where has he applied?