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

@Heifer my DD has gone for Durham ( loves the course structure and final year practical options) and York but discounted Bath :( & Leeds. Sheffield and Lancaster are in the UCAS pile too! Also liked idea of Loughborough and then checked course modules and then discounted as too sports science related not bioscience enough according to DD ?!? Form in now for reference with school hopefully early November to unis. Really good luck for offers. Scary times. Easier with DSs 4-5 years ago.

DD filled out most of her UCAS firm in her tutor group at school. They went through it question by question and were told what to put where. She was most amused that most didn't even seem to know which Council area they lived in - school gave them the hint that it was the people who collected the bins 😆

I did check everything through just before the send button was hit, but everything was correct. Maybe things are happening behind the scenes for those of you worried about a lack of action.

We're going to the open day at UEA this weekend. Final one! Hopefully we'll have the opportunity of one or two offer holder days early next year 🤞

@BlueMarigold I think this year is going to be nuts - lots of unis have deferred students using some places for 2022 and they won’t want to be over subscribed again. Many are waiting rather than being in a position that they over offer too soon. I think courses in the top ten will be able to be picky but I think below that the kids will have a strong chance if they have the predicted grades, a solid PS and good EPQ may swing it. Let’s hope our DDs get the offers. My DD has no friends applying for her type of course as most do medicine or law but her biology teacher is chuffed and supportive.

@BlueMarigold they didn’t offer CCC officially last year but they liked her EPQ and PS. She loves there it btw!

@Fruitygal thank you. Interestingly my DD also rejected Loughborough early on for the same reasons!

@Fruitygal @BlueMarigold - same for my DD re Loughbourgh. She assumed it would be her 1st pick until she read the modules. I thought she might change her mind the other week when she mentioned Clinical Scientist but she said no she still wants a course that offers more just in case (she does love plant genetics and sustainable living too).

Good luck all - how funny if all 3 ended up at the same uni. Although I think only Sheffield is listed for all 3?
Nottingham favourite for DD. Sadly she didn't like York..

Sheffield got dropped from our list and replaced by Nottingham

What didn't she like about York @Heifer? Was it the course? It may be on dd's list, as she loves the city but hasn't visited the university.

@crazycrofter DD loved the course at York, but kept hearing on Social Media just before we visited how boring York was.... We went anyway and no she didn't like the uni either. I think her mind was made up tbh sadly. I LOVED York. I think she may end up applying though as 1 of the 5 but will depend as she need to double check all the course modules again to make her final decision. We have only visited York and Nottingham but plan to visit the other once she gets offers in (fingers crossed)...

Ah, ok! Dd pondered the other day whether the main reason she liked Southampton and not Liverpool or Oxford Brookes was because her best friend was with her and they had a fun day. To be honest, I suspect she’s right! I’m going to see if I can get best friend to come to the Leicester open day with us (and anywhere else we go if dd decides she does want to talk about it this side of Christmas!)

We are also going to Sheffield on Saturday.
Anyone know roughly how long the subject talks are?
DS desperate to get back for his friends 18th birthday party (the first of his group to turn 18) but it’s a long drive home!

Congratulations on offers and auditions. All really exciting.
Dd has taken Exeter off her this and added Swansea. She didn’t like the modules or that the Exeter Marine Biology campus was so far away from the main campus. Seemed a waste of a space to put Exeter down when she really didn’t want to go there. Now we may do a Swansea open day but only if she gets an offer

@EwwSprouts in my experience a lot of people book open day talks but don't turn up. Also, I have never seen them check the people going in have booked. I would say it is worth sticking your head in the room of a talk you haven't booked and staying if there is space. At the Newcastle open day they didn't take bookings, even for medicine, which is always one of the best attended. I advised DH and DS to go to the second talk and it was almost empty.

@Fiddlersgreen Most subject talks will be 1hr approx. Plus a chance to ask questions. If you have the am talk worth getting up early and doing the SU tour before the talk and accommodation tour afterwards. Allowing 2-4hrs if doing the tour, talk, accommodation and lunch. We did Lancaster and back down south in one day with a very early 4am start so DD could go to an 18th that night.

Reading all these posts make it seem very real! It’s so exciting to see some people already getting offers. Well done everyone!

Indeed. I think as a thread, we are all doing very nicely.
PS's don't even need to be ready till Jan 26th.

That's 14 weeks away. 3 months. Lots of time to make changes and revisions and re-revisions to Uni choices!

This thread moves so fast! So many good things to read though.

Just a pick up on a previous post by @Delphigirl, I may have completely misinterpreted, but you mentioned that we’ve seen the last sitting of A levels, and to take mocks seriously? In the midst of rising covid numbers, just wanted to ask if you were able to expand, in the know of something more...can you share or difficult to?

I know some would welcome the cancellation of exams but I’d hate it, though understand the need for more hybrid approach to grades this year if lack of schooling is a major issue again (exams and TAGs for example for those needing them)

I can’t really elaborate I’m afraid @ealingwestmum which is not helpful of me. I’m not saying that IS the case but that I have heard that recently stated at the very highest levels of govt, which surprised me.

No worries Delphigirl, I thought that may be the case, and for us to read between the lines to err on caution, especially re any student assessments/mocks etc again.

Thank you.

[quote Heifer]@crazycrofter DD loved the course at York, but kept hearing on Social Media just before we visited how boring York was.... We went anyway and no she didn't like the uni either. I think her mind was made up tbh sadly. I LOVED York. I think she may end up applying though as 1 of the 5 but will depend as she need to double check all the course modules again to make her final decision. We have only visited York and Nottingham but plan to visit the other once she gets offers in (fingers crossed)...[/quote]
Social Media has so much to answer for : I do think it is dominated by the voices of certain 'types' (the same sort of voices that dominate some MN HE boards

I did my PGCE in Nottingham and had a great time but I do wonder why students are so taken with it? What's its USP?

I too don't want the exams cancelled. But have forewarned ds re mock importance.

@Monkey2001 Thanks we may well follow that advice. Does a furtive scan to see if any Sheffield admissions staff on here to hear that.