Half way through Year 13 and the last school year.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

eep.

Give Anglesey a wave for me

Dd is in London at uni of Westminster, she’s sat in like the reception area and isn’t keen on it, I’ve told her you can’t be put off by a reception waiting area
Teens can be fussy buggers

Oh I don't know Fantasy the oddest things do it for them- DS said the "feel" of Sheffield put him off 🙄. Apologies to those who live there!

star
Funny you should say feel, dd has texted to say it is the feel of the university she doesn’t like but can’t pinpoint what it is

plate glass and high buildings instantly put me off. Anything shiny gives me a headache. whereas a nice brick building...even with fluorescent strip lighting in the actual classrooms...makes me happy, and possibly ds too. (although he did seem to warm to Surrey, but i think that was the lakes)

Harrow film school is meant to be great (have friend who son has graduated) that is uni of westminster isn't it Fantasy? My nephew has started there too, MA, he said very high proportionn of foreign students, it being London. Lecturers very good in his subject which is not film incidentally (but so small I won't give you tmi)

Ds has gone off to his English tutor and not returned. I gave him a tenner to buy lunch/roam around - imagine I have to pay him to roam around, what is the world coming to

Such a beautiful sunny day here, as long as you wear ski-clothes underneath your coat, dd and I just went to get her ears pierced in a very clean tattoo parlour. Gave her several pep talks or hint drops about how very ugly tattoos were, how anti-feminist was the idea that body piercing was beautiful, how many people needed skin grafts to remove unwanted tattoos that they had foolishly done in their late teens, generally being very heavy handed on the WHY WOULD YOU EVER CONSIDER A TATTOO when you get to 18. The tattooed owner of the shop was extremely nice though

dd is only 15 btw! (nearly 16 though)

Nettle
Dd has noticed high population of international students and wonders if it it will be hard to make friends? Told her not to stress as it won’t be like the international students at boarding school

That's one of the things that put DD off a London University. So many overseas and mature students.

Most of my international students only want Oxford/Cambridge or UCL.

well I suppose it is a self perpetuating thing isn't it, if you return to your country of origin and no-one has heard of any other university in UK. Personally I have only heard of one portuguese uni, 5 american unis, one french uni, one Italian one dutch and one spanish (Salamanca for some reason) - I wouldn't have a clue as to the reputation of any others if I was choosing to study there, I would definitely choose the ones I had heard of. And to distinguish between one kind of uni and another in the same city..well a marketing opportunity made in heaven..

I understand the idea of sitting in reception and not getting a good feeling about a uni. I only went in to find out about times to collect and ended up being enticed in by the old soft stone and beautiful main hall. It was so nice to actually go, despite all my protestations that it was up to DS and nothing to do with me I had a great day and to tumble into the car, both of us talking at a million miles per hour about how utterly awesome everything was is something I could never replace. Consider my mind changed and me chastened. Also a bit gutted that I don’t get to move to Bangor and do the course too, everyone was just fantastic and the area stunning. First choice decided.

Ah that's brilliant MrSlant I'm so glad you both had such a wonderful experience.

Fantasy has your DD decided on a favourite now? Which other London one did she go to?
DDs best friend went to Westminster today and I think is going to choose it as her firm choice.

MrSlant I keep wanting to go too. We liked Cardiff because everyone was so friendly.

Re driving : reluctant driver here , she sees the point but has little interest. Is likely to need it for work so it’s easier to learn now than post Uni, not done theory yet. Have said she can do theory after A levels then an intensive in the summer. Dd2 will be learning in Sept. I’m not having two at once!

dd was put off by the fact students are scattered far and wide in accommodation across London.

I think we need to be careful not to be stereotype international students, they can make for a very culturally enriching experience.

dd is going to learn to drive intensively in the summer. She has very long days and I think doesn't need the additional stress at this point.

derek
The top performing ones at dds school went ucl imperial and oxbridge and the others want Manchester and Birmingham

Her experience at Westminster was mixed she had a bad tour guide who took them in and out rooms up and down stairs they’d already been up and down and didn’t give much insight into the place, many parents weren’t happy and several joined other tours meeting back up later for the taster session.

Dd said in terms of goldsmiths they make you question politics and see that it’s everywhere it isn’t the politics you think of and dd lives this but there’s a lack of been able to do things abroad apart from Erasmus
Whereas Westminster it’s the typical politics it’s discussing governments and not so much questioning, but there appears to be more activism and trips to Delhi and all other the place and you do get your money’s worth, the lectures are also predominantly international whereas goldsmiths is typically white British males and sometimes female
There’s elements of both she likes she wishes she could combine the two
hes
There’s still royal Holloway to visit and university of east London

kitten
I think dd will do an intensive 1 week guaranteed pass after uni

DS1 is also hoping to have intensive driving course in the summer.

His 18th birthday party was last night. Approx 60 guests. We hired a venue (and professional security). Some of his friends are in a (surprisingly talented) band, so they played a set.

He then went out clubbing in town with friends and got back at 3.30.

Kitten
We had the same thought re London accommodation and ds decided against LSE for that reason.
No driving lessons here, so ds will need to learn when he moves to the UK later this year. Ds is at an international school and those applying to UK are really only interested in Oxbridge, UCL, LSE - perhaps Warwick or Durham. Fees are so expensive, they don't want to look at anything too far down the university league tables. The Netherlands is pretty popular for those students looking for cheaper fees.

Also a question what is special about been part of the university of London? That might help dd when deciding where to go

DD loves the course UCL offers, but isn't so keen on living in London.

Second party sounds wonderful, congratulations on ds's 18th, and it all going so well - he sounds full of confidence which is all we can wish for our children really! I like the sound of professional security. May I ask how you went about finding it? google party bouncers?? I also like the idea of proper guest list.
MrSlant yes, it is exciting to visit and imagine the life you need to visit another too, to confirm your impressions -and have a fun adventure with ds
raspberry and fantasy London is amazing but I think you have to want to roam around, it wouldn't really offer the close Halls existence (unless you are somewhere like Harrow) that I suppose I imagine ds having. But then again, once you are in 2nd year it is easier than you might think finding students to share with and cheaper than you might think (dnephew has a house in Fulham near Imperial) at 120 a week sharing with five others renting I hasten to add. First year so incredibly far from the campus 45 min commute was a pain though, it just seemed like having a job rather than being a "student".

nettle
She really loved London hence why all of her choices are London
She likes the idea of accommodation been spread out
She was certain she didn’t want a proper campus uni like Essex for example
Goldsmiths is campus but not fully

Having been in boarding school she didn’t want anything that resembled boarding school which links into accommodation been far, dd wants to know when she goes home she is home and not still within uni unlike school

She loves London and I can see her been very happy there

Fantasy that completely makes sense. Your DD sounds like she's thought about it very sensibly and really has a good idea of what she wants and why. I have a feeling London will be perfect for her and she'll flourish there.

DD has test number 3 coming up in a few weeks. But has so little time to practise and hasn't even had a lesson since her last test so I'm not feeling very confident for her.
I think if she doesn't pass this time an intensive course over the summer will be the best option.

Nettleskeins the venue hired the security for us as part of the package, using a company they often work with.

I had been concerned about excess drinking and gatecrashers. The problem that actually arose was a couple of lads (friends of DS1's friend) taking ketamine 😒

The security staff caught them taking it (they were regularly monitoring the loos), found the boy who'd brought it, got all their details, contacted their parents to collect them and handed over to the parents when they arrived. All this was done swiftly, discreetly and professionally.

hes
I think it’s the fact she won’t stick out like a sore thumb, her makeup and skin colour etc won’t be scrutinised the same way she currently is