GCSE '18s (20) - half term beckons!

[mmmz]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/further_education/3355907-gcse-18s-19-new-beginnings

DD is naturally bendy which is useful in disco freestyle dance. This is the one that gets me though.
I mean how is this even normal?

Is it really that vital to visit the universities you're considering? A lot of time and money (neither of which DD or I have). And you can find out a lot online.

I guess it depends on whether an interview/visit is part of the application process.

DD discounted one quite prestigious school because it wasn’t the kind of place she could envisage spending 3 years of her life.

I think a lot of narrowing down can be done on line but still useful to visit some (although not everybody does) . Mine spread it out so for instance DD2 went to 2 in the pre application rounds, then went to another one on a post offer day towards the end of year 13. She only had 4 on the form as from the specific course she wanted to do she could narrow it down to 4 she was definitely interested in. Then during the process one of them dropped out of favour compared to the other three so she didn’t bother going to that one. Some will interview too so you sort of have to go to those - it may be worth checking the websites so you don’t visit those that interview and end up goingvtwice (unless you want to of course)

DC may apply to both unis and conservatoires. The conservatoires audition. Some people even go to consultation lessons first. Nightmare.

@Oratory1 - 60s child here too. It's only been the last couple of years it has hit me.....gone from a size 6/8 to a size 12 (but I am short) and a 12 is now getting a bit snug. Ho hum another birthday in 2 weeks - desperately looking for positives and all I can come up with is periods SURELY have to stop soon, and a good excuse for a new wardrobe. That reminds me, I must die my hair and get rid of the 1" grey roots!!! Plus only 5 years before mortgage and school/university fees are over - retirement here I come 😁

It isn't Jufusmum

National Dyslexia Awareness week this week (and well as National Ballet Day yesterday). The documentary 'Farther and Sun' (originally on BBC4 earlier this week so available on catch up and iPlayer) is worth a watch

University visits are not really a factor for us. DD will do an Art foundation year at Bournemouth University before applying for University for a Fine Arts Degree, so its 3 years away yet

That was like us last year Thomasina. Dd had to audition everywhere she applied. She’s been attending summer schools the past few years too but in the dance/MT world there are also a couple of exhibitions/conferences you can attend. We went to CDET & Move It.

I think it's useful to visit at least a couple of places pre-application, especially if they have more than five on their shortlist.

Once the form is submitted, some courses/universities do invite applicants for interview, and many universities run offer-holder days which can be helpful when choosing the final two.

Nice to see we ve still got a range of potential post 18 destinations on this thread

Jufus I had to put my glasses on to check whether it is possible. My official verdict is that it isn't, so she must have borrowed a prosthetic leg from somebody.

I love the mix we have here & the daily updates which must seem so dull/trivial to the casual reader, but my must-go-to thread online. I want to know more about the weekend exeats, rugby players, the artists, musical theatre ambitions, D&D players and those DC who are bravely finding their feet in new settings or simply blossoming in familiar surroundings. This is as essential as in my travel !

I agree sticker. And lovely sentiments earlier whistl

I'm switching broadband providers today and currently can only access the internet via 4G on my phone. It might not stay working again until midnight. It's terrible!
I am genuinely troubled by this and I'm having to tell myself that I can survive. FGS! I didn't have an internet connection out a mobile until I was 30 and I was near 40 before it was worth having. But now I am troubled because I have to do a whole 24 hours without.
No wonder my DC look at me like I was deprived when I say that I didn't even have a phone in the house until I was 8!

Sticker that did make me laugh! I can confirm that is indeed DD's real leg!!

Meet the tutor evening tonight. DD reports he is 75 year old Chemistry professor who is, in her words "completely barmy". Should be fun!

I do like the sound of the chemistry professor!
I'm going to have to miss our meet the Tutor evening today - I can't get there easily from work and DH is at his parents' after FiL was rushed to hospital and likely to be there for some time. DS isn't helping by having come down with the school sickness bug although I think he can safely fend for himself today.

Loose sorry to hear about your FIL, it does seem a lot of us are now at the stage where parents/inlaws are demanding more of our time than our children!

Jufus I keep seeing that picture of your DD and it still makes me go eww.

There seems to be a real change at DS's school from when DD was there in that a lot of DC are seriously considering apprenticeships and the school seems to be actively encouraging this which is good.

I am beginning to question what the point of getting a degree is?
I started university 34 years ago today.
What I , and 99.9% of the class of '84, got out of it was a good time, an education, a well respected qualification and an expectation that in 10 years you'd be significantly further up the career ladder than you would be if you didn't get the degree.
The cost was some debt to top up the maintenance grant but the summer holidays were long, so you could work and save to mitigate that.
Now, its still fun (I think - but a bit worthy too? No clapping???!). You still get the education. A lot of the Kudos has been lost and you are signing up to pay higher taxes for most of your working life.
As to the career progression ... I'm not sure. I have a feeling that those doing degree apprenticeships will be much more employable and promotion-worthy.
Is it time for a rethink about whether degrees are the optimal way forward for DC whose IQs are in the top 10% ?

Sorry to hear about your fil Loose. I know how much that can impact on your family life along with the worry. For years my own parents had it with their parents. Oddly enough my fil ended up in hospital last night too although its really annoying as there should have been no need if he could have actually got a Dr's appointment sooner than the two weeks time he was offered. So his mother of all throat infections has now spread to his ears well.

Honestly I can't believe the difference between their Dr surgery and ours. Dh is convinved that they killed off his grandad all those years ago by their incompetence. In fact it was only a couple of years ago that we thought mil had pneumonia. She was really poorly. In the pharmacise next door there was a big sign up saying if you had the symptoms see a DR immediately. Now Ok it was between Christmas and New year but they couldn't see her for 10 days.

Fil has been very stressed recently too. he has angina and is pretty much the sole carer for mil who has undiagnosed dementia but refuses to go to the Dr, in fact she refuses to acknowledge she has a problem at all. However someone has shopped her to the DVLA as she won't give up driving.

Whilst dh has been off work they have both been visiting daily, to give his father some rspoite more than anything although fil has been wonderful helping to take dh places including appointments so I don;t have to have even more time off work.

You know I think you are right whstl. Dd won't be going to uni (we are sort of counting this as her uni experience) although she will if she wishes end up with a degree at the end of it all. Her diploma can be topped up to a full BA Hons by a year distance learning.

I think our dcs may be entering a good stage where the uni experience is still there if it appeals but it’s not expected if them or the only option. Even 4 or 5 year ago when DD1 was applying it was very much the expected route (;happily it was one she wanted) but I think that had become less so - I also see the start of the tide turning from dc s and schools being defined by their achievements alone. Long may it continue. There will need to be some adjustment in supply and the admissions process though if demand continues to fall

I didn’t say it at the time but I was surprised by the school that was distraught when a top pupil turned down an Oxbridge place for a degree apprenticeship. Surely a place in a scheme with a prestigious sheme is a success to be celebrated just as much and would show the school in a modern light

Oratory that was DS's school I think it was more to do with the fact they never get anyone to Oxbridge, they are very good at supporting apprenticeships! Where we live its big news if a local child makes it to Oxbridge as its such a rare occurrence.

I also heard this week that due to so many people now with degrees (43%) employers are asking for degrees for jobs which never use to and as a result people doing these jobs are unfulfilled as basically over qualified and those that would be suited don't get the opportunity!

Fair enough Bluebelle, that makes sense, as does your second post too. Hopefully this might change in future too.

Hoping your FIL is out soon loose