Class of '18 nervously waiting.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

They've left college, now we are trying not to think about a certain date.

Just catching up. derek marmite

DS2 got his BTEC results through the post while we were on holiday. As expected, he got 9 passes this year, 3 distinctions 3 merits 3 passes last year which adds up to MMP which is 80 UCAS points, the same as CDD at A level. More than enough for his HNC. Just a bit disappointing because he's capable of more if he worked a bit harder.

Anyway, next year is sorted. HNC at the local college, student finance sorted, maintenance loan for living at home. I'll need some of it for us to live on, but he'll be better off than before for at least a year.

I'll be back on results day to see how you all do. 🍀

That is great EllenJane. I’m getting a bit wobbly about it all now.

Did anyone hear how the number of unconditional offers have sharply risen this year, to about 25% I think (can’t exactly remember ). I was definantly aware that more unconditional offers have been offered to local friends, mainly from the ex-polys/colleges, and also,to,those who you would necessary expect (ie. not straight A* pupils).

Several of DD's friends have unconditionals for Birmingham. And I know of other unconditionals at Chester, Edge Hill and Lincoln. I don't know of any for high achievers.

Oh its not just ex polys that are at it!, the big names are at it as well. Can't remember their names now, but just read it this afternoon, its in the Telegraph.

Not big names like Oxbridge, Imperial etc

Yes Petal, article in the Guardian:

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/jul/26/rise-in-unconditional-offers-prompts-call-for-university-admissions-overhaul?utmsource=dlvr.it&utmm_medium=facebook

I've definitely noticed lots more unconditionals amongst DD's friends/ my friends' dc than I would have expected - and you're right, mostly to those expecting Cs and Ds.

Well done to your DD and DS respectively chocolate and Ellen.

Derek - hope things are better for you.

DS got an unconditional offer. It was for his 5th choice. He didn't take it. Several in his year have them and some accepted their places.

Ellen, that's brilliant news for your DS - all they need is enough to do what they want to do next. It sounds like the course will be perfect for him.

Congratulations Ellen - must be a big relief

Thank you all! DS2's offer was unconditional as it happens because his Y12 results gave him enough UCAS points. It did mean his Y13 was rather a waste of time as he just stopped trying to get more than a pass on each assignment. Very topical!

The BBC article said that 7.1% of offers were unconditional, which meant 23% of students got at least one unconditional offer. Some are obviously from lower ranked institutions wanting to guarantee bums on seats but there will be those for gap year students and mature students as well as for other reasons.

Thanks for sharing the article HesMyLobster, I hadn't seen it before. I'm thrilled for students who have unconditionals from unis they really want to go to, and who keep working hard to get their target grades, but do worry that the rise in these offers can disadvantage too - students who take their foot off the gas and get lower grades than they would have been capable of, or who end up accepting a course they don't love but have an unconditional offer for. At DS's school anecdotally a lot of unconditionals seem to have been given to students predicted around B/C grades and come results day it'll likely be those who've been achieving highest grades through the year who'll be most worried about meeting their offers .

Ellen I've just reread my last post, and am sorry it may have sounded a bit grumpy on the day your son had his offer confirmed. It's great news that he got his place and hopefully really exciting that he can make definite plans.

DS had two unconditionals...one completely unconditional from Leicester and one conditional if firm from Birmingham, which he accepted. His predicted grades were 4 A's, so they were not all for lower achieving students.

So this is where you're all hiding :)

Marmite and Derek I've got my fingers crossed for you that it's nothing to worry about (not that it stops you worrying, obviously)

Nothing exciting to report here, DD is mostly working and on her days off is slowly tidying her bedroom (it's making progress, I can see a floor!) I've been on brownie pack holiday, which was fun but exhausting.

hardwick that is funny, it certainly is! wish they could stay at the bike stage jumping out of bed first thing for a while longer than they do...

Derek you are being so kind to ds's gf, hope parents are going to now do some parenting too (although I think you mentioned before that one of them was in difficulties)
marmite and ursula trying to wave fairy wand to make health difficulties more bearable. I'm worrying about a skin lesion on my nose atm, prob made worse by sun despite suncream. Am going to book appt for tues with gp.
knitting so exhausting and draining. here's to something [anything] nice happening tomorrow, fruit flower or animal.

I'm back from Mallorca Cala San Vincenze (sp) near PPollensa. just wow for the scenery, pretty nice hotel and lovely children NOT FIGHTING. I was solo with two and that was really nice strangely enough we all shared a room. And apart from the tidying of teenage belongings which seemed constant, was everythign a seaside holiday in hotel should have been. did lots of sea swimming and read Chekhov for the first time... Too hot for sightseeing which suits me. and I drank NOTHING except water, which probably annoyed the hotel management.
Ds1 was with relatives in Ireland and had a great time without his parents for five days.
I'm taking ds scottish dancing tomorrow to the Highlands. Tis only 20 degrees there. London is a tropical smog atm, we have hibiscus and figs about to ripen.

I think we're missing a few. Please don't be offended if I've left you off the list - I am doing my best! And sorry if you're already posted on this new thread.
@LonericaJaponica
@TeresasGreen
@Icouldbeknitting
@puppypower1
@SluttyButty
@Bekabeech
@raspberryrippleicecream
@JumpingFrogs
@likelyLilac

We've been missing fantasy for ages too.

Lily don't worry, it didn't read like that at all. I'm rather frustrated with DS2's lack of work ethic and the unconditional offer didn't help! He has ASD and struggles a lot with anxiety and laziness in equal measure. It was ironic that his results arrived so close to the news article.

Birmingham do seem to be giving out lots of unconditional offers this year. I wonder why? I'd have thought they could fill their places without having to as it's a highly regarded uni. Perhaps they have found it encourages able but nervous students to choose them?

I went to Leicester back in the day. Had a great time! It was a mid ranking uni back then before all the polytechnics and higher education colleges became unis, and still isn't Russell Group but was great for astrophysics, biology and medicine. Genetic fingerprinting was developed there.

DD had an unconditional from Birmingham. I’d have loved her to take it to take some pressure off. She turned it down because she said it couldn’t be that good if they were sure she would do well enough. All A* at GCSE and 4 As at AS and she still has zero confidence in her academic ability. She loved the campus, the labs and the course staff.

I think I'd have been sorely tempted, Hardwick. Backfired on Birmingham in her case.

Yes, and I know she wasn’t the only one to turn it down for that reason at her school. It is a shame, I think she could have been happy there. As far as I can tell only those with relatively poor predictions accepted it, despite really attractive scholarships in her subject.

I think some of the unis are using the unconditional offers to avoid some of the hazard of having courses in clearing. Either way they get the bums on the seats but at least with an unconditional the unis get them guaranteed up front.

I have a few concerns about unconditionals:

• students getting lower grades in their A levels than predicted and then being stuck with a course because they dont have the option to go elsewhere

• students having taken the foot off the gas not just in terms of revision but also in the actual studying. Wont matter in many subjects but could be very important in subjects which assume a level of knowledge from A level. Many unis spend a time during the first year filling in gaps left by different syllabuses but this must be very hard for students who have been left with a lot of Y13 gaps through lack of application

• students 'settling' for institutions rather than taking a risk on a conditional offer. I think this has happened amongst DD2's first generation friends where there isnt the group knowledge on how to manage the risk. Many of the students in DD2's year were encouraged to aim far higher than realistic predicted grades would have suggested. They have then got nervous and settled for far lower than realistic predicted grades would have suggested.

• I know some students will say they worked better once the stress was off but how many students dont realise they have lost just a bit of edge when it comes to their studies and revision? How many dont realise that the extra bit of pushing themselves when they are sitting on a grade boundary would have pushed them up a grade?

The above is just from my limited experience of DD2's cohort so is very much anecdata.

I think grade prediction is very hard for and on teachers. A teacher may in all good faith predict a student to get 3As but as soon as that student accepts an unconditional offer and takes their foot of the gas (I know some dont but many do) that prediction is blown out of the water. The teacher looks like they cant predict grades. It is almost as though what is needed for grade predictions is a foot note: "I predict student Z will get 3As if accepting a conditional offer but 3Cs if accepting an unconditional offer"

Derek & Marmite tough times for you both at the moment & sending lots of positive thoughts your way.

Chocolate fantastic news on job front for your DD! Well done to her. My DD is doing a job & degree apprenticeship in Autumn, so maybe we can offer support to each other on here as two of the 'different routers'. Well done to your DS too Ellen on his BTEC grades!

Ouch Ursula - hope knee soon on the mend!

A few of DD's friends accepted unconditionals from Birmingham & are predicted high grades & have been in high achieving bracket since GCSEs.

DD was in a very quiet & reflective mood over dinner the other night out here on holiday. When I asked her if anything was wrong she said social feeds were awash with friends/groups dreading results day Poured her & G&T & told her to switch off & try to park it for now, but obviously the worry is starting. She said she worked so hard & just wants the grades to reflect this, bless her.

I know of one boy who accepted an unconditional last year but then didn't work hard, struggled with the course and ended up back at school to resit and try again.

Dds friend who has accepted an unconditional at Birmingham has also been offered a considerable financial incentive. His brother is already there so it all looks nice and comfy for him.

We are a quietly simmering pot of nerves. I know dd will be so disappointed if she doesn't achieve her first choice. I need to gather all my inner fortitude to support her if necessary.

The local nightclub is already advertising their results night drinkfest. Am I too old?