Corona Cohort: Statements Scripted, Grades Predicted

[Monkey2001]

This is a thread for supporting all young people post GCSEs 2020, regardless of their educational setting. It is respectfully requested that all are supportive and helpful to each other. If you want to start a debate, e.g state vs private, please don't within this thread. Please also be sensitive when responding to threads about grades.

Some of us have been here since first thread back in yr10, some will be new. Everyone has been friendly and helpful in the past. Everyone is welcome. It is hoped this will continue.

From OrangeCinnamonCocktail:

Our DS/DD may go down various paths (such as employment, apprenticeships, higher ed) We have decided for anyone interested they will most likely find us within the Further Ed board.

Previous thread - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/further_education/4339233-Thread-19-Corona-Cohort-Enrolling-on-Year-13-hopefully-NOT-unlucky-for-some?pg=1

@Monkey2001 I think we all as parents of the Corona cohort are more than aware that we, unfortunately, are not the ‘norm’!
The question I posed was: ‘In ‘normal’ times, after public exams, how is the curve of A level grade distribution created?
I can see the percentages that would be realised across all subjects by’ pegging back’ grades to a mid point from 2019-2021.

Really sorry to derail this ongoing debate BUT, DS plans to submit his ucas tonight and still hasn’t decided on his 5th choice. He refuses to submit four and add one later, so pls don’t advise this. He has researched them and likes both of them: Loughborough & Nottingham for the same course (Bus.mgt) and they are both AAB & both have reasonable accreditation’s,campus, towns okay. Purely on academics, Which one is considered more reputable?

I am assuming he hasn't visited them shimy? Because to me , lifestyle and location might make a big difference. Both are excellent universities. Nott. is obviously Russell Group but Loughborough is excellent and highly regarded for business. It's a very tricky one. Personally, I'd rather live in Nottingham but Lboro always has very high student satisfaction scores.

Purely anecdotal, two of DS friends had a stay on the Loughborough campus over summer for their sport. They want to do different courses but both came away from Loughborough saying it left them cold. One has put Nottingham on his list. DS is also likely to plump for Nottingham (different course again) as he liked it when we had a walk around.

You’re right Piggy he hasn’t visited any of them and I told him this is where open days really help. But he dithered and dragged his heels and showed very little interest till time went by and now he wants to submit so he can focus on other things, He just wants someone to decide for him at this point.

Eww Did they say what they didn’t like about Loughborough?

What are the places he ahs definitely put down shimy? And why?

DS is having this same problem with 4 unis for 2 remaining places and slightly different degrees.

Just a feeling. It would have been buzzing as loads of teens were there for different sports and they stayed in the accommodation blocks. They enjoyed the event but don't want to go there.

I remember a different friend's DS a couple of years ago barely getting out of the car at Warwick such was his instant dislike. Who knows why? Just a gut feeling. She wasn't impressed as it was a 5 hour round trip!

If league tables matter , Lboro is a lot higher both overall and for business in the Good University Guide.

Warwick, Bath, York. His main reason: all are highly reputable both for his chosen course, he likes the content (quite rigorous) and overall rep.. All are campus universities.

Ds saw a slightly different (&more interesting) degree at Loughborough, the standard offer is AAA. Seeing that he wants Loughborough as a possible insurance, we didn’t think this would be a good idea.

That's 3 unis then? So he could do Lboro and Notts?

Sorry missed out Brum.

Aha!

He likes a campus then!

Actually it may be that Business and campus unis go together : plate glass unis have a good rep for business.

It's a great selection.

If he is bothered about location and likes a city and wants RG : Nottingham

If he wants to go somewhere with industry links/placement years and a modern reputation for Business : Loughborough.

I was talking to somebody (at one of my funerals) whose DS is a very good tennis player. I know the other friends on here were unimpressed at a sports camp, but her son is very happy there. Loves the fantastic sports facilities all very close together. He is doing Economics.

Obviously what he SHOULD do is leave them blank and visit both places before he decides, but you don't want us to tell you that! He can still change it in the 2 weeks after it is submitted if you fancy doing a Loughborough/Nottingham weekend. Would it help if someone else, like his tutor or even a grandparent, advised him to visit the final 2 before deciding? You could try to find a YouTube video recommending the strategy of saving some decisions for later.

Ds1 wants to submit his UCAS form asap aswell. By October 1/2 term. Just to get it over with /done.
Are there any disadvantages of submitting early, pre Jan 26th (my birthday)?

Nottingham also offers a Placement year. At this point he can toss a coin for it. Hopefully all will go to plan and he’ll get some of his other four. I know that sounds a bit reckless but we’re all tired talking about it. He did speak his tutor about and they recommended Notts. But DS was sceptical and said, ‘He studied Economics at Notts’. I’ll try and see if I can convince him again tonight to visit.

Maybe he should just toss a coin!

If he really doesn’t want to visit there are a lot of videos on YouTube for him to look at and see what he prefers the look of - but he might as well just pick one out of a hat. A kid who doesn’t want to visit his 5th choice and is scraping anecdotal comments off the internet is not likely to go there which ever one he picks. Flip a coin or Rock Paper Scissors him for it!

Ds1's girlfriend wants to do sport and Loughborough is her first choice.

We attempted a visit to Sussex university today. The drive down was good, roads clear early on a Saturday. But when we arrived it started to rain. We did listen to the history talk and the philosophy talk so that was good. Then we tried a walking tour, but it was so wet and windy we were soaked through. So we left. The year abroad talk was at the same time as the philosophy talk. So we missed that. I'm not sure whether we could view accommodation inside. But neither of us wanted to get wetter.
We spent the afternoon with DH's dd and are now in the Airbnb. It's still wet with up to 70 mph winds. I wonder how the awful weather influences peoples decisions. I know it shouldn't. But a nice warm sunny visit day must give a better impression than the washout we had.

Thanks everyone for your help.

Sorry to hear that @icanbewhatiwant

I know what you mean. The sunny visits we did over summer are on top of DDs list and rainy day ones didn’t make the list or were bumped down. It shouldn’t make a difference but it does!

What a shame @icanbewhatiwant. Sadly every time your DS remembers Sussex it will be the rain and dripping wet unless he can see beyond that. The day ds1 went it was a beautiful sunny day and he just fell in love with it. We had a disaster visit with Sheffield uni like yours, and that didn’t make the list either even thought it ranked quite high for his subject.

Yes, rain cursed Oxford Brookes for DS1 a few years ago.