Thread 21 Corona Cohort - Nervous waiting, so frustrating

[Monkey2001]

Continuation of OrangeCinnamonCocktail's threads

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.

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/a4354626-Corona-Cohort-Statements-Scripted-Grades-Predicted?msgid=111487286#111487286

How together are all these young people right now?

@icanbewhatiwant and @AnneOfCleavage thank you so much re Sussex, that's really helpful. I think I will get DS off on his paper round early to hopefully be back by 8 and head straight off so we are there around 9.30 and head off again by about 2, I think we will have tired by then.

@Heifer Clinical Scientist isn't too far off what I do, I started with a chemistry degree.

Finally got the personal statement done. Think at the end it was a miracle we didnt fall out. Really hoping that the teachers approve, I don’t have the stomach for any more changes. We have changed some of the choices too, think it is more balanced now, altho the PS discusses history, and the courses are more of a mixed interdisciplinary bag.
We had the same issue with a big gap between the best and the rest in terms of entry requirements, and of course so many also have foundation years. I think she would be happy at any of them, Dont think she could cope with the uncertainty of clearing.
The additional complication is that every institution has a slightly different definition of care leavers, and then different levels of support. If I was a science / data type I’d have it all on a spreadsheet, but I’m not so it’s all swirling in my mushy head.
I know someone else has a liberal arts candidate. Can I ask, where they are applying?

@EerilyDisembodied - DD found it listed under careers with a Biology degree and followed the link and loved what she saw. I had a look myself on the NHS website and a lot of the specialisms did state a 1st or 2-1 Biology degree was ok to get onto the NHS training programme (although obviously very competitive). Sounds very hard to get onto as few places each year but it's a step in the right direction and gives DD a focus.

@AnneOfCleavage

Wheresthebeach DD also contemplating a gap year. Initially she'd put deferred on her UCAS form but I persuaded her to put 2022 entry as didn't want any offers to be put off. I'm told when they get their offers they either accept or defer. Forms have already gone off so I'm hoping that's the case.

It’s so difficult! I’m going to ask our Head of 6th what he thinks. We are ready to go so this is a bit of a fly in the ointment in terms of sending everything off. So the options are - apply and ask to defer, apply asking for deferral, apply for 2023?

Wheresthebeach I don't think 'apply for 2023' was an option, least it wasn't on the form DD filled out but that could just be her Uni choices - anyone else know?

Getting the PS done and dusted is such a relief isn't it Fiddlers and zebra well done to your DC.

Fingers crossed your day goes to plan Eerily. Have you got plenty of petrol? There wasn't any open stations when we went and I don't know what the situation is like around there still.

Argh - covid cases rising significantly at DDs school - well in the 6th form. She knows of at least 15 positives since the start of this week! They've been told today that L6and U6 are now in separate bubbles, masks to be worn etc. Break up for half term on friday - they could easily have switched to remote for the last two days. Seems likely she will probably have to spend half term isolating. Fingers crossed she won't catch it, but all the people she knows who have tested positive have all been single jabbed, if not double, and several have already had it before!
First driving lesson booked for monday and open day at her first choice uni next weekend.....

Seeline, DS (15) had his Covid vacc last night. The nurse who gave it to him was very disheartened by the low uptake - she made a big thing of thanking him for coming, saying how pleased she was he’d opted to have it.
She said she knew cases were snowballing in schools.

Fingers crossed your DD stays well 🤞🏻

The rise in Covid cases in schools is alarming. I do wonder about the impact on learning. I fear the government will push with exams come hell or high water...

@Seeline - worrying that so many with vaccine are getting positive Covid again...really don't want asthmatic DD to get it!

IS there a similar increase at unis does anyone know? Most have been back for a month now. I wonder if the double jabbing is the answer. So frustrating that the older teens can only have one. I think the uptake amongst them for a single jab has been pretty good at DDs school.

Last week they said on the news that 15% of secondary school children had it!

My Covid journey has been frustrating. Positive LFTs Saturday to Tuesday, negative yesterday. Negative PCR Sunday, positive PCR Tuesday. I had to say my symptoms started last Tuesday to be allowed to book a test, but actually they started earlier, so I am at least 10 days in, but have only just tested positive. I am having to miss my uncle's funeral today, but DH and DS have gone, I will join virtually. DS singing a solo and will be my representative. Under current 10 day rules I no longer have to isolate, but I have only just tested positive so that feels wrong. This SW strain is really prevalent here, schools are sending out letters about it and it is now spreading, so LFTs are not as useless as I thought they were!

@AnneOfCleavage there is an option on UCAS to apply for deferred entry for all courses.
Although some do not give deferred offers, most do. A lot of people apply for current entry and ask for permission to defer later, which is nearly always given. Unless they know they want to defer I would go for current entry as delaying is easier than bringing forwards.

@Seeline I am double jabbed, didn't stop me from getting it, but I have had it mildly and don't appear to have passed it on to DH or DS, which may have been down to the jabs.

My understanding is that students have a lot more Freshers Flu than Covid. Most publish numbers, St Andrews have had 51 students test positive since 1/9 when they started going back, so very low.

Interesting Monkey

DD is on her second heavy cold since going back. PCRd the first one as she was coughing, but came back neg. Haven't bothered with this one but LFT neg. If she tested positive now, her symptoms actually started on Monday, but did/do just seem like a bad cold, so not sure about the 10 days isolation if required. Sixth form is full of it.

Uni DS actually in second year as did foundation year, but obviously mixing with lots of new freshers just starting his course. He is living in a house share this year and has had very heavy cold/fresher's flu twice, but that was really before he'd actually started back on campus!! Not sure how often he and his housemates are testing though.....

Gosh how frustrating @Monkey2001. Doesn't seem like the tests are very reliable.

DD's Head of Sixth has told her to apply for deferred entry, rather than accept and ask for deferral. Not convinced...

So sorry you will miss the funeral in person Monkey. Your boy’scsolo sounds like a wonderful tribute in your absence

Condolences, Monkey. Such a shame you have to miss the funeral, especially when it’s not clear whether you’re able to go or not.

Sorry to hear you are going to miss your Uncle’s funeral Monkey. I couldn’t get to my Mum’s as it was abroad and I wasn’t well enough to go. I watched it online and did feel part of it and it helped.

Friend in Bristol having similar to with testing, has only just had a positive PCR yesterday and now finally coming through the other side of it. Her parents only had a mild cold but are triple jabbed, she has been a fair bit worse than them .

@Monkey2001 yes that is a shame you have to miss the funeral. But on the plus side you aren't very ill with it, that's the main thing.

Ds2 has just text me from school to say someone in his year has tested positive and put ds as a close contact. He said he hasn't been near the lad. I said just wait to see if test and trace contact us, he wants to go for a pcr. He was excited at first as he thought he had to come home and isolate. He's still saying he doesn't want a second vaccine. So I don't know whether he will need to isolate each time he's contacted once he passes 18 if he doesn't have the second one.

@icanbewhatiwant it is no longer a legal requirement for close contacts to isolate, so it is a decision for schools. It's a right old mess, particularly in Bristol with so many LFT positive PCR negatives who don't have to isolate. I see huge numbers coming.

And yes, I am grateful that, probably due to the vaccine, I am barely ill and haven't passed it on to DH and DS.

Monkey thinking of you as you grieve

Ohmonkey, how frustrating all this is for you.

@Wheresthebeach

The rise in Covid cases in schools is alarming. I do wonder about the impact on learning. I fear the government will push with exams come hell or high water...

I think we should all be operating on the assumption that the last ever A level exams have already been sat. Please highlight the importance of mocks to all of your DC.

Monkey I am so sorry for your loss

@Monkey2001 - I hope you get some comfort from being able to watch, I know it's not the same, but if more people behaved like you then it would be so much better for everyone. Some people can't seem to sacrifice missing a trip to the local pub when showing symptoms let alone missing a family funeral. Sometimes its hard to do the right think so I hope you know it's appreciated.

Re someones comment on Mocks - just heard that DD has her Mocks on November 31st... DD says its her only set of Mocks - no more after? isn't it too early to be the only ones?

Just received a letter from head of 6th Form telling us how vital it will be for DD to be spending her half term time effectively to consolidate her knowledge - wouldn't it have been better to give them more warning! DD is miffed that she only has 6 weeks to prepare.