Year 12 #1 - GCSEs are sooo last year!

[bpisok]

New thread to see us through to Christmas?

Hi Soomaa we are a very mixed bunch here with every background & combination of courses, schools and colleges you can imagine, which is precisely why it's so helpful.

AH the big positive here is that DD is talking to you about the problem. As you know, my DD has had a challenging time this year with friends, but she has found it easiest to ask people specifically if they will go into town or go the the cinema etc with her, but she almost expects plans to change at the last minute (& face disappointment again). Is transport an issue at all? Perhaps they think the logistics are too complicated, especially if they are already in the habit of lift sharing together, and don't realise that they are being mean.

Can your DD see that following their exploits on social media prolongs the agony? Can you persuade her to take a break from it or not check updates as frequently? Easier said than done, obviously.

She’s not very big on social media but has a few accounts as there are course related group chats.

No, transport isn’t an issue. She budgets for taxis into town on a Saturday and her host parents are also willing to give lifts.

Sost !!!!! I've delegated universities to DD's uncles who have degrees from most of her current choices. Your plan sounds very sensible. Try to get DGD to have a range of grades in case of disaster and a genuine willingness to go to either of the two she picks. For what it's worth, I had to get EE for my first choice and ABB for my insurance offer!

What are they doing without her AH? Do they just hang out at each other's houses or is it activity related? Again, it's harder for an outsider to break in when it's on someone else's home territory and easier if it's shopping etc.

Time is flying though alex but dgd starts the Renaissance program at her 6th form soon which is for those aiming for Oxbridge and R Russell group units. They help shy and indecisive students with interview technique, entrance exams etc. She is also helping a couple of year 11s with their maths advising and showing how to do things to improve their grades.
She is weighed down with work but is managing to get those As in tests and assessments. Biology is A/B she needs to pick up a bit but its because she finds the unit they are doing a bit boring I think. She must up her fame in at least one to be on target for an A*. No pressure like

Dd says they tend to go somewhere like Nando’s or places that offer student discounts.

I can also relate to the slightly clunky social skills. Today DD got into a saga of one-upmanship by text at a rugby match. We were at an international a few rows behind the posts and she started bickering with a friend about who had had the best seats based on the relative quality of the teams playing. It nearly turned nasty!

Dgd was disappointed in half term alexbecause her friendship group who are all going to different 6 th forms/colleges didn't manage to meet up because they are all so busy with work for their courses. Even her friend in same 6 th form doesn't see her only at lunch times because of timetables. Dgd fed up she only gets 3 free periods a fortnight but her friend even more fed up because she has lessons timetabled after school to fit all in occasionally.! Then there's enrichment( different people coming in to give talks on different careers) 6th form studies ( helping other students) debating society and there's not enough time in the day.....

AH I think she needs to ask, then if she is blanked, accept that she needs to try elsewhere. Alternatively, look for someone else who looks lonely and ask them, broadening out her friends until she finds someone nice.

She says at school she has a group she socialises with/hangs around with but they choose not to invite her out at weekends.

Pup is huge now and takes all the bed up! Xmas is at mine and have bought all the sweeties and chocs for all and hid them up so no one eats them! Then its pickles......meat.......[santa]

How is pup with the fireworks?

Dgd only now trying to socialise with different people ALEX give it time she will start to gain new friends. She is not alone in being a little slower in mixing. Give her a hug from me. Sorry for caps!

She barks every time she hears a bang Alex which meant I hardly heard any of strictly tonight grr! At least she's not trembling. Why do people have fireworks for two weeks now instead of one night? Its a right pain! I was in a shop today where DC were excited about doing a bonfire etc I wondered if they really knew what they were celebrating...burning a Catholic.... Don't mind me I'm just a grumpy old woman and officially a senior citizen!

Tell her to hang on in there, keeping smiling & chatting. Things will gradually start to come together.

We are trying to have a mix
It's a good idea to apply for universities with a range of grade requirements, if possible. That way they can keep one firm (aspirational) offer and one insurance (back-up) offer.

Unfortunately for the course DS2 wants to study, nearly all the places he is looking at have an average offer of A*AA. He has only found one place (Southampton) he likes which gives a lower offer (AAB). He might need to put a less competitive course (e.g. BSc) as one of his five.

Gosh! Another accident on an inflatable at a fair 8 children hurt some seriously. A prayer for all involved. about time they banned them IMO.

Poor pup. Our dog luckily has no reaction to fireworks.

We half wonder if dd has got a bit of a reputation for over dramatising things. (Especially if people don’t understand asd and meltdown behaviour)

Yes I saw that on the news sostenuto.

My kids have been on those things. I hope everyone is ok.

Now we looked up the difference between a BA and Bsc apparently Bsc concentrates in more detail on main subject. Neither is more better than the other. A BA is a more wider degree I suppose in not so much detail on one pacific subject. But both equal in merit.

I thought BA was arts and Bsc science?

Mind you there was always a hierarchy between a BA & a BMus when dh and I were at uni. I did a BA dh did a BMus.

I get the point that BAs more popular than Bsc as I noticed that in geography degree courses. More applying for BAs.

I think people perceive a Bsc better than BA we did I know till we looked it up.

Missed you lot but got to sleep now nite nite!