Thread 19 - Corona Cohort, Enrolling on Year 13, hopefully NOT unlucky for some

[OrangeCinnamonCocktail]

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Oh that's good. I only asked because I am now so aware of how unreliable these LFTs are, having never 'failed' one even when I knew I was positive!

Hope it's all clear and just a bug.

@Zebracat good news about predicted grades. Don’t be too hard on her - she’s a teenage girl and “stropping off” is in the job description.

I also feel sorry for current year 13. There will be very slim pickings at Durham for them.

I think current year 13's will have to do a FOI request to find out how many deferrals there are for their subjects. I know History had 30 from last year

From the Durham thread as apparently Durham has added new subjects to the deferral cash in hand offer today.

Not that we're aiming for Durham but it seems unfair that our year could be starting alongside those who deferred from this year with a £5k handout and probably having to get higher grades for the same courses to avoid the same happening again.

I feel the same. DS might have it as an aspirational for biology but if it's already a highly aspirational shot is it actually verging on a wasted choice?

Would be interesting to know what 30 in history is as a % on the intake. Too late for me to go looking now.

@EwwSprouts I know what you mean. Is it going to be wasted as a firm choice?

I'm think some unis will massively reduce their offers for Yr13s, to ensure that don't have the same problem going forward in case no exams again? They know they can fill the places in clearing.

So highers grades needed + less offers made + deferrals is not looking good.

I hope I'm wrong though..

DD was aiming for 1 uni who wanted AAA, 3 with AAB and 1 with BBB - but they have now changed, and 3 wants AAA, 1 AAB and 1 AAB-BBB (not sure what that meant - need to read it in more detail).

I will feel much happier once DD decides on her top 5 and hopefully gets some offers back - then it's up to her to deliver. We can work with that. It's the moving of goal posts that I find hard. It would be easier if she was a AAA student but that is aspirational (although definitely possible). Although I guess all the courses who were asking for AAA will now as for A*s so just the same for the AAA students ..

@Heifer how do you know the grades have changed? Are they different on the website now?

This has happened with some of the courses DS is interested in too - Manchester wanted AAA when we looked before but now they want an A star. I guess everything is more competitive for 2022 now that they know how many deferrals they have.

(AAA definitely deluded aspirational here so A star pushes it off the list I think)

[quote NCTDN]@Heifer how do you know the grades have changed? Are they different on the website now?[/quote]
Yes - although the one's I've noticed hadn't actually put 2022 requirement on the website previously - so they haven't changed them what they originally published for 2022 - it's the ones that still had 2021 only showing. Although I would check all...

@singingstones

(AAA definitely deluded aspirational here so A star pushes it off the list I think)

Manchester is 1 of the ones that have changed - although it's the wording that changed for Biology. ie Previously said "If your grades are AAB or higher, we will accept a Grade A in Geography, Psychology, Environmental Studies or PE in place of one of the Hard Sciences" - now says "If your grades are AAB or higher, with grade A in one Core Science, we will accept a grade A in Geography, Psychology, Environmental Studies or Physical Education in place of the second Core Science", so DD will need an A in Biology (only core science) rather than a B being ok last year.

DS is applying for history at Cambridge and school - who are v little help - have said to register for the test. We have both looked online and can't find that there is a pre test for history for next year - - he is applying to Downing. Does anyone else know if there is a history test??

I believe History requires an at interview assessment Esther, so no need to apply for the pre test.

This intake’s interviews will be online again though; and the preference is for students to conduct these from school premises. You may want to check with your school that they will be geared up for this in December?

@estherfrewen DS1 applied to Downing in 2019, sadly didn't get but college is lovely. The admissions officer, who was Kate Flint, was super helpful. I suggest you email and ask her. [email protected]

Thanks @ealingwestmum - I think school expect us to know this stuff by osmosis sometimes...! Will get DS to have a word in school. They do get 5 or 6 to Oxbridge each year but am wondering how as communication is totally non existent!

Thanks @Monkey2001 - fab idea. Will get him to do that. Downing is lovely isnt it. His friend started there last year for history and loves it

We completed DS's UCAS form last night. He might edit the PS a bit more, but would be happy to submit it as it is.

Some of you may remembered discussions when we got their GCSE certificates and I said that they should be scanned and physically filed in a safe place so you are always confident that you can find them. Then I spent an hour looking for them last night because my computer died last month and I forgot that they had got a bit bent so I had left them to flatten somewhere a couple of months ago! Re-scanning and filing more carefully this time. I still can't find grade 8 double bass, but don't think anyone will want to see it. If anyone has lost ABRSM certificates from 2020/21 I saw on their website they are issuing free replacement certificates at the moment, but can't do 2019 and earlier due to Covid, so no good for us.

@Monkey2001 - just heard back from Downing. No history test. Thanks for the tip!

[quote estherfrewen]@Monkey2001 - just heard back from Downing. No history test. Thanks for the tip![/quote]
Their admin is superb! Good news.

She’s been told that she can ignore The Mayor of Casterbridge, A Streetcar Named Desire and all the poetry studied so far (ie all of year 12), and they’ll only be doing Hamlet and Chaucer.

@Alsoplayspiccolo I'd be delighted with this as these are the two areas that DS has done thoroughly (although would prefer A Doll's House over Chaucer because that's easier!)

@Zebracat please take her for a test. DS is coming to the end of his isolation period but this morning -after a day or two of feeling better - he is back to feeling awful with a sore throat, loads of catarrh, chesty cough and his glands are up. I've just nipped to the chemist and ought Vicks and have smothered the poor boy with it in the vain hope it will stave off a chest infection.

Sorry zebra just caught up with the latest posts and see you are taking her. I hope she's not feeling too poorly.

How are you feeling today Piggy ?

Just, sorry to hear your DS has it so badly, we hear about so many asymptomatic cases that it is easy to be complacent. Hope he shakes it off soon, and that he does not overdo it and make it last longer.