Year 12 (4): The one where they're pondering what to do next

[Numbersaremything]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/further_education/3491933-year-12-3-open-days-and-predicted-grades-beckon

Let's try this

We are at Bristol on Saturday too but travelling down by train on Friday as it is one of DS's preferred unis at present and he wants to do city etc on the first afternoon/evening. We are booked for early lectures etc. (History)

Hi Numbers
I remember you from GCSE thread. I did wonder if you were on here.
It all happens so quickly for them, doesn't it? Seems like only two minutes ago they were sitting those exams and now it's uni open days!!

I think we're booked in for all we can physically do for now, but I'm hoping it'll give dd an idea of what she likes.

Gospa there is quite a lot of parking on Bath uni campus, should be fine if they get there early.

@sunsbursts - sounds like we are on the same forum because I also saw the mixed Exeter reviews (also recognize a few others on there too from here).

DD has decided not to go to Warwick open day because she didn't want to miss a school day - so we are just doing Bath and then York and Edinburgh in September.

It's exciting times ..DD had the final interview for tutor position tonight so hopefully, she will be offered a job and my purse can have some light relief -although not a fan of kids being tutored from such an early age (just paid out £200+ for Reading tickets).

Thought I would post that there is a Facebook page, obviously, you can see people's identity but I am finding it helpful. WIWIKAU (What I Wish I Knew About University).

Yes oneteen we are talking about the same forum!

DS wasn't really worried about the mixed reviews about Exeter, his main worry is that it has a big focus on sport and he is not at all sporty but it sounds as if there are plenty of other societies that would interest him.

DS is off to a large UCAS higher education exhibition on Friday in Liverpool at the M&S Bank Arena (used to be known as the Echo Arena) all of the universities he has expressed an interest in are going to be there and there are around 150 exhibitors. I don't know if any other DC's are local to the area but it may be of interest. You have to pre book but admission is free.

Its all about balance which is sometimes difficult on forums. It's nice to see the various reviews which aren't always apparent on Mumsnet because there are understandably a lot of high achievers.

DD was at an event this week where she was encouraged (by the alumni) to ensure that the UNi she was considering had lots of societies and interests she could join in with ...mental health is so so important. It's my major concern as a parent.

It's not always about the course, the campus, the way of learning BUT more importantly about ensuring that DC are happy in the environment they find themselves in because if they are happy they can adapt.

Thanks for the info about the Facebook page, it looks useful.

DS and DH are off to Bath as well on the 22nd. DS's driving test is on Monday () so he's hoping to be able to drive some of the way on the M4

Can anyone recommend their child's car insurance provider for when he passes? I'm all for the black box, limited mileage etc.

DS2 has been to a college open day and actually now seems almost enthusiastic about applying for an apprenticeship (with one day a week at college), and is even asking about doing some work experience in the summer hols. I think it's because he's been banned from the PS4 for a week!

DS3 isn’t 17 yet, but some of his friends have recommended Marmalade for young drivers. They do a black box for once they’ve passed.

DS is going to a similar sounding UCAS convention at the NEC on the 25th June with his school. Will hopefully be useful.

Anyone heading to Bristol this weekend?

Hi sunburst, my DS is looking at computer science too and also debating whether to keep up FM. Currently thinking of keeping it up for a bit longer as he thinks doing more difficult maths will help with cs uni studies whether he takes the exam or not.

Do you mind saying which courses needed FM - I didn’t think there were many

We are heading down to Bristol today and staying overnight to do Open day tomorrow.

We'll be there tomorrow too.

Hi! I lost you all a while back. Good to find you. DD has also done AS's. No idea how they have gone really. She hasn't whittled down her university list yet, and no open days booked so far, but she did chat to several at a fair held at school this week, and goes to another much larger fair next week. Then we might get some open days booked!

We are about to sign up for Marmalade as a learner.

then when he passes (if) they do a separate policy which allows him to drive my car but on his own policy and build up ncb but if (god forbid) he crashes it doesn't affect my ncb etc. Also he doesn't need a car as such so no point getting a 3rd car for the family as he cycles nearly everywhere and won't need one at uni. Hopefully by the time he finishes uni he will have built up 4 years ncb and he can probably have my car then and I will get a new one!

oratory1 it was Oxbridge that like them to have done the further maths. As you say most unis are requesting the std Maths A level

DS was of the same opinion as your son and wanted to do the FM as it can be very beneficial for a CS degree. DS is good at maths but not a natural mathematician and once he had covered the interesting modules that overlapped with CS it became a bit of a slog for him. He has dyspraxia and found the visualisation and rotation of 3D/4D shapes almost impossible to fathom although was more than competent at mechanics so it was a bit of a dilemma.

Eventually he decided last month to drop FM as he was predicted a C based on his test scores for the year and he was worried the pressure would have a knock on effect with his std Math grade too. He decided to focus on the std Maths A level and go all out to get the best grade he can as many of his preferred uni choices are requesting an A grade for Maths.

yearinyearout thanks for the reassurance about Bath campus parking.

Hmmm. Had an email from the school. Maybe I’d not thought things through sufficiently but I hadn’t reckoned on the school internal deadline for Oxbridge/medicine applications being so early - it’s 16th September. This is because two thirds of Y13 apply for these. We won’t have done many open days by them! Bath on the 22nd but we were planning to do Birmingham on the 14th September and Warwick early October. As DS will have to put the application in that early, it makes more sense to wait for offer holders days. Do most/all unis have them?

DS’s other ‘issue’ is that he hasn’t decided on Oxford or Cambridge yet. He’s on a Physics summer school (he only found out a month ago he had a place) in Cambridge which means he misses the Oxford open days in July. The next open day is on September 21st after the school’s deadline! (And actually he’s on a school residential Physics trip) He’s going to email the Oxford Physics department to see if they will let him visit outside the open days but the website makes it sound unlikely they will arrange this. We can obviously visit colleges but DS would want to see where he could be studying for 4 years!

@TerfOnTheWagon - Dd's dad used his own car insurance company to insure DD for her Mini - she hasn't passed her test yet but she is insured as a learner driver and I think the cost was around £380. I would probably on this occasion do two things 1) contact a couple of brokers and get them to do the work for you in getting quotes 2) contact your own insurance company to see what they will offer (if they are insuring other family cars then you may get a better deal). One of my clients mentioned that his (under 21 yr dd) has cheap car insurance but I didnt ask who through - but he did state the VWUp is the best car to insure for a young driver. Good luck to your DS - one of DD's friends has passed her test and she's taking DD out shopping tomorrow , so nice not to have to play taxi anymore.

I have a happy DD she got the tutor job and starts training in August If anyone else's DC is looking for a paid part-time job - worth considering www.explorelearning.co.uk/ (they tend to take in 16 to 18 year olds)

Thanks for insurance advice! Our existing multi car deal (we have 3 cars already) is super-cheap and excludes under 25s and over 75s!

I went on MSE, read Martyn's advice and ended up with a great quote from Smart Wheels (MoreThan) who do a black box policy for new drivers. It's £980 a year when he's passed his test and includes loads of stuff. DS has his granny's 15yr old 1.3litre Polo and she and DH are named drivers (having an experienced named driver brings down the cost) but he's the main driver.

Interestingly, the "young driver" specialists wouldn't quote for him and one of the things was that the car is only worth £500 so I suppose they think he won't be bothered about crashing it. (It's got FSH and only 30000miles on the clock! But is just really old)

Anyway it's been a learning experience Fingers crosses he passes....

@terf £980 seems a very good price...I don't think DD's dad's policy had any exclusions or age restrictions - he has 5 cars of varying age- it's his hobby as well as boating - same insurance -hence he is was very keen on DD getting behind the wheel....He brought the mini also not new but looks amazing) for DD so HE could play with it for a while before she passed her test - boys toy) - she doesn't like it and wants a Fiat 500 ??

Reading the car insurance with interest as DS may start driving lessons over the summer. I'd love an excuse to get a mini!

Ha! Lots of my mum friends have recently got minis - it seems to be the female 'mid life crisis' car and most of our friends with daughters seem to have gone for Fiat500s too. I would love either! But my Mondeo estate is so perfect for Ikea trips....

OneTeen, perhaps your DD will get into driving boats too? I'm sure that's a niche job for a woman. I quite fancy piloting one of those container ships round the world!

Anyone else going to York on the 28th?

DD's mini is a little bit bright- although I think it's great! I think DD has probably driven a few of his boats over the years - thankfully he's now more into sailing boats and I think DD lasted one season (interest ended abruptly when she went into the lake). What I was trying to say is if you have a lot of insurance cover with one company then you can negotiate maybe a slightly cheaper policy for the DC because the insurance company don't want too loose the business or open the door for another company to take your business (obviously this was not possible with your policy Terf).

We are going to York terf but on the 30th (Sunday).