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.

I feel sick The secondofhername! Sorry to hear you’re in the same boat! Apparently it’s going to be finished and submitted by the end of the week (hah!)

try not to worry, those dc who have applications sent are very much in the minority, it just seems a lot because early entry concentrated a few dc into a short space of time. As long as they are conscious of their college internal deadlines to make sure that college get their reference done, then it’s fine.

My DS is also still very much at the draft stage of the PS. College have set a deadline of 2 Nov so he needs to pull his finger out! He also needs to get motivated and book some more open days so he's got some alternatives to his first choices. He's approaching it all in his usual also back style If has made me feel rather anxious reading on here that some people already have offers so I'm glad others are in the same position as him.

The Personal Statement can feel like the most overwhelming part too. It felt like DD struggled with it for ages, but in reality there were a few weeks of “thinking about it” and “jotting odd ideas down”, first draft was then written in one day, followed by about a week of editing and reducing a little bit at a time, and then boom! It was suddenly done. I think once they get in The Zone it starts to flow.

Also remember they don’t have to have all their choices on when they submit. So if they have 3 universities they know they want to apply to, but want to look around more before deciding on the other 2, they can submit their application ASAP (to get the process started and maybe even some early offers in) and add the other 2 choices any time before the January deadline.

No sign of a PS here. Very unlike DD as she normally has things done in good time. I'm actually wondering if she's putting it off as she doesn't want to go next year. Time will tell.

Congratulations on all the offers rolling in.

Ms AD no, your DD can't be 18! I'm glad you had a good time in London. DD was there at the same time, following on from the previous shows discussion, she doesn't recommend Kinky Boots!

Didn’t know about being able to add choices later! Well we have just spent the past 2 hours writing more stuff down (hard for me when I know little about the subject) so let’s see if we can bring it all tougher over the next few days.

I was under the impression that you have to list your options in order of choice,is that correct?

I am also worrying that we have only been to one open day and missed one for a university that is now apparently appealing! Good to hear from others in similar positions!

Interesting that they can submit without all five.

I understand that there is no order of preference anymore hmm

No order of preference - the UCAS form lists them alphabetically on the confirmation page.
I tried to persuade ds1 to keep a choice for later but he said it's vet med or a gap year. He is calm, I'm a wreck but I'm hopeful sure it will all work out in the end.

Littledrummergirl how has your DS found the process for vet med? My youngest DS is hoping to do it, but has another three years before we start the whole process with him.

I've sent DS off to school with a flea in his ear this morning.

I have told him to double check with his subject teachers re predicted grades for UCAS - they are on target for the uni's he wants to apply to according to his end of term report but we need to be sure and he is to chase up his supervisor about his personal statement.

I'm another one that didn't know that you could submit with 3 choices and then add on... school didn't tell us this at any of the meetings....

DoI, it's been a rollercoaster at times. Getting the right work experience within the time frames has caused massive highs and lows, every time he's had a bad test result his stress levels would go up.
The application process is slightly different for each university so his administration has had to be good so that he hits deadlines (reading tsr not all dc have been quite as organised and have been submitting very close to deadlines-as in minutes ).
He is navigating his way through it all very well though- his determination and desire to work as a vet has kept him focussed.

My advice for your dc is start looking for work experience early, it will give something to talk about even if outside the date requirements but also leaving the placement with a good impression means they can go back later- this will help.

I'm actually wondering if she's putting it off as she doesn't want to go next year.

I wonder this with DS. If he's certain about applying this year, then surely he'd be a bit more proactive.

Personal Statement Draft One is still at 600 characters. I feel like we need netmums-style tickers.

Actually my son told me that you don’t list your choices in order of preference anymore but I didn’t believe him 😂 anyone else out there who had barely attended any open days yet??

DD is not an early applicant but submitted her application last Tuesday and was thrilled to get her first offer on Thursday - it did take her until Friday to read it properly and find out that it was an unconditional though. At the moment it's from her second choice but they have invited her for a full day visit so she will do that before making a final decision (and of course depends if she gets other offers).

Thanks littledrummergirl...I knew he'd need to get various work experience and suspected that each uni would have different requirements, but what are the timescales? He's only 14 at the moment, and has three years before applying, so if he went by current requirements is it likely they'd change before he applies?

I think the cut off for one of the universities was two years before the application, at least one had no time limit and one took into account placements booked but not completed.

I can't remember more than that as ds1 was fully aware of what he needed to do so I nagged from a distance took a back seat. I know that he has been able to talk about all of the placements in his ps as well so definitely beneficial.

Xmas, that's great news.

DS hasn't submitted yet...hopefully anytime in the next couple of weeks.

One of his cohort has had a rejection from one of their choices. The whole process is making me slightly anxious...

Yikes Starfleet, a rejection this early must feel brutal.
Although better than waiting until March and then getting the rejection I suppose? Which is what DD is expecting from at least one of her choices.

Good Luck with finalising your DS’s application.

Part of me does wish we had a different system where DC just all applied after A level results.

I would be so much fairer if they applied after getting the results.

Agreed OYBK- after results would make it so much easier! Am reading back through the thread - which universities are offering unconditionals??? Or is this for those with results already?

It works really well in Scotland where offers are based on Higher results (broadly AS but not). There, you only really get a conditional if (like me!) your Higher results are a bit poor, and you could do better. It is much more normal for able DC to have a stack of unconditional offers to compare. So much simpler and less stressful for at least some DC. At least that is how it was in the olden days, and I think still is in most cases.

Thread is getting pretty full :)

I understand that they have the "apply after results" system in France. But most students go to their local university rather than moving away from home and the French bacc exams are earlier (May) with results in July. If my understanding of the local papers is correct (rather rusty O level) there was a problem this year as too many student passed the Bacc meaning there was a shortage of places!
We managed to get away for the second half of half term, if that makes sense and car problem sorted. The RAC were more helpful and supportive than the garage though!
dd is busy working on her Art portfolio for A level coursework.