Year 13 support thread - The End.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Not the end of the threads, just this chapter of life. We'll keep going, don't worry!

However! Not to be used until this one is done

Well the most fabulous thing has happened. DD has decided to have a go at a DofE residential, and it is all booked! It is close enough to home that we're within reach should it all go pear shaped, but I am confident given how enthusiastic she suddenly became that it will all be fine. Goodness me, I am quite giddy with optimism today. Baby steps!

That's really good Hardwick!

dd is managing a dentists appointment by herself. I know it's tiny, but it's a really good step in confidence for her.

DD is currently asleep in my bed having got home at 3.40 this morning and insisting on regaling me with tales of her holiday. She has had the best time ever, met loads of new boys people and wants to go and work there next summer. The owner apparently asked her but I pointed out he probably says that to everyone. Nope. He has befriended her on Facebook.

Well, it's good for her confidence!

hardwicke that is really good. I hope it goes very well for her.

kitten don't minimise it. It is a great step to independence.

Well the boy is back from his D of E gold expedition. Thankfully they relaxed the rules a little and provided extra water on route, as the streams they were supposed to purify water from had all but dried up and were not safe to use. Sadly his Dad's 18th birthday present rucksack is no longer useable, and DS's boots are also wrecked. Suppose the bank of mum and dad had better replace in time for September!

HardwickWhite hopefully it'll be a really positive experience for her.

We had to buy all new for dds final DofE expedition.

So pleased Hardwick

For those of you with DCs off to uni, I thought you might be interested in this thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/AMA/3304176-Im-a-university-admissions-tutor-make-decisions-about-who-to-give-offers-to-AMA

Thanks chocolate :)

I was reading that thread earlier chocolate - very informative.

DS and his friends are back from holiday. Not much to report apart from the fact that they have all come back with awful colds, coughs and a collection of mosquito bites. He said he'd go on holiday with all part from one of them again - no falling out but very irritating apparently.

starfleet this is what happened when DD went on holiday. One girl was a right PITA, the rest were fine and they plan to go away again, but without the PITA.

Thank you chocolate that thread is really interesting.

Yes, thanks, useful thread!

Thanks for the thread. Was fascinating.
His statement about how RG unis are not taking near misses to popular courses seems to be playing out among ds friends.

They got their results last week and whilst he made his offer some friends just missed.
So far 2 have been rejected by their popular firm offers. Both dropped the equivalent of one grade in one subject.

One other who missed a grade by 0.1% is still waiting for news. We have our fingers crossed for him.

I had a look at the UCAS figures for applicants by 15/1 and there are 6000 less than last year out of approx 500,000.
Not a massive drop but a drop nevertheless.

At the higher end it does not look like that small drop in applicants is making it easier to get in with lower grades. Of course it could be that the unis are extra cautious at this stage as A level results are not out and that for A level candidates they will have the full picture on offers met and may be more flexible.

Upsetting stuff for the kids who missed their offers but da tells me that both prob accepted over optimistic and identical offers as both their firm and insurance and are now in a pickle.

hi,
wonderful news about the Bacc results, Downey

ds1 has received his accommodation confirmation, and unfortunately it is his first choice which we told him not to put because it is TOO expensive (and he said he wouldn't get it because everyone would want it) grr. We're sending him down to check it out rather belatedly as it is not even on campus. double grrr. however it is near Aldi. might save a few coppers there, if we reduce his allowance to allow for cheaper food.

Ds has gone on the anti Trump march today. if he got out of bed. I'm in a different country so I'm not sure. There's been a lot of World Cup watching.

Just checking in after long internet dearth!

For anyone who is interested, it is raining here and through the mist and the rains you can see the moors steaming where the peat is burning deep down. A weird sight.

Oh Ursula thank goodness! Hopefully will put a stop to the fires once and for all.

That's good news Ursula.

Its rained here on and off since lunchtime, I hope its a bit heavier where you are to get the fires out.

Hoping the fire is soon out Ursula.

Dropped ds off at the airport early today - he is off on a lads holiday to Berlin.

Beginning to turn my mind to uni. Those with older dc - do you mind giving an idea of what budget they need to live off.

Ds will be in catered halls and the fees include money on their lunch card too. So basically all his meals are covered.

Am a bit out of touch with UK prices and am wondering how much he will need for
Socializing, toiletries, laundry, clothes, books etc.

I will sort out his flights on my credit card so we don’t need think of those.

Am clueless how much he will Need. I left the UK straight after uni when it was still a pound a pint!

Downey there is a thread in Higher Education at the moment that asks how much a student needs a week. I am following it and it is quite helpful and interesting.

They also have a link to Southampton uni with an outline for general costs of living.

Thanks marmite

I'll check that thread out.

We had 0.2mm of rain yesterday. I don't think that really counts However, it did allow us to go on the protests yesterday without drowning, I was so proud of dd yesterday. It was massively out of her comfort zone but she did well.

We've finished turning her bedroom into less of a teen pad and more of an adults bedroom. It looks pretty good I think.

Ds1 had his accommodation through-it was his second choice though as some of the cheaper ones were further away meaning travel costs.
I think he will have around £40 a week for everything except rent! He seems to think he'll manage perfectly well and even save a little.
I think we may have to help a bit.

He is 18 on Tuesday and we are having family over tomorrow for a barbecue, the football nearly threw us completely. I attempted to make a birthday cake tonight, cheap small cake tins and an unfamiliar oven have not made for great baking. I think we'll have to buy one as well.

He is starting to count down the days until our holiday and his start date. I'm not sure I like it.