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

Ds is very small for an almost 18 year old, so as far as the vaccine goes...size should make a difference rather than age (hes 5'3" I shouldn't think he weighs 7 stone) I'm sure a 6' 17 year old lad will take the vaccine better than someone small. I know obviously girls are often smaller...but I'm thinking of the heart thing which seems to effect the boys.

@Wheresthebeach completely agree it doesn’t level the playing field. DS and DS have (I think) same academic ability. DS has always breezed through - he does work but it isn’t a struggle. DD has to spend double the time and it has been frustrating at times.

We have a scheduled meeting this term about Sixth Form, subject choice and UCAS at her school - I’ll let you know if I find out anything further.

@Wheresthebeach my DC are lucky enough not to have issues like dyslexia, but a couple of friends DC are dyslexic and one is really struggling with his course. He is doing Physics and got fantastic A level grades, is very bright, but is missing out on social life to keep up with work. I don't know if it made a difference that they were 2021 grades.

Is your DD looking at courses where she will be able to manage the workload with the additional time everything will take? I think my friend had not realised how tough it would be - her DS had a lab which started at 10am and they could leave when they had finished. The task involved a lot of reading and coding, people started leaving at 2pm but he still had not finished by 5:00, when everyone else had gone. I don't know whether courses give enough information about the content and way things are taught for a dyslexic applicant to work out which will suit their learning style. I think I have mentioned a YouTube video I once saw which really struck me about how demoralising it is if you are working really hard and feel that you are not making progress within your cohort. The conclusion is that most people do better if they are towards the top of their cohort. I have seen it with DS1 at St Andrews, he worked hard to stay in the top 30%, so might have struggled to be average at Cambridge, and he is definitely more comfortable where he is. I am sure you will have thought about it more than me, but when we are supporting our DC to get on the "best" courses, it is worth thinking about what will be "best" for them in the context of their self confidence and the way they learn.

I found this video, not the original one I watched, but really interesting.

@Horace123 thank you. DD school has a new Head of Sixth and he isn’t at all experienced so he doesn’t have any idea! I just pray she gets a Southampton offer as she has her heart set on it…

@Monkey2001 it’s a concern for sure. I’m encouraging her to look at Portsmouth as well as lower entry requirements. Also we’d like her reasonably close so she can come home for a weekend if she’s feeling overwhelmed. She’s chosen Uni’s according to how she likes the course modules which I think makes sense

@Wheresthebeach my DD (y11) is dyslexic and I do intend to apply for DSA for her (disabled students allowance). She "only" gets extra time at the moment but she is in a private school with very small classes, close contact with the SENCO and all the teachers fully aware, all homework given via app etc. It still takes her twice as long to do homework compared to the time its meant to take. She was diagnosed in year 5. Luckily for her, DS (y13) has much more severe learning needs and an EHCP so I am well used to navigating the SEN system and assuming he takes up a uni offer will be going through the DSA process with him next year before its her turn. Pretty well without fail people say that it is a far easier system to get support from than that for primary/secondary education. Do look into it.

@EwwSprouts he has no choice if he wants a lift! Luckily a close friend of his plays in the same team and I am good friends with the mum too so we travel as a 4 or liftshare when we can so we can have a catch up too, pitchside in nice weather, nearest pub/cafe if raining. DS isn't bothered about being cool. DD OTOH won't let me anywhere near poolside for swimming training.

DS is still managing two lots of football training a week too, I am pitchside now. No matches though, both are disability teams (hockey is mainstream).

@EerilyDisembodied oh I’ll take a look. Since it’s a recognised disability I thought it would count for something!

It may do. After posting this morning I looked at Royal Holloway's contextual page, they accept disabilities under the EA but you need one other factor too, eg postcode in area with low average uni attendance.

Checking in

@Delphigirl did you mention that you had DCs at Nottingham and Birmingham? Which one do you think is better at sorting out issues if they occur?

Hi and thank you for tagging me although I don’t post much I read with interest.
DD who will be 18 at the end of the month has had both vaccinations with only a sore arm as side effects.
As some of you on here might remember from my previous messages DD wants to be cabin crew and she has started the ball rolling by applying for EasyJet for their summer season next year. I know that applications will be high and depending on how many return after furlough but I’m excited for her.
Good luck to everyone with uni applications

Oooh, good luck to your Dd on her easyJet application, @whoamitojudge : how exciting!! What’s the process like: is interview the next stage if she gets through initial sorting (I’m sure she will: she sounds very motivated and engaged!

Cabin crew was my childhood dream

My mum worked for PanAm in the 60s and flew LA to NY. She had Carey Grant and Jimmy Stewart on flights . V glamorous.

Cabin crew sounds a great choice. Travel seems exotic again.

@whoamitojudge

Hi and thank you for tagging me although I don’t post much I read with interest. DD who will be 18 at the end of the month has had both vaccinations with only a sore arm as side effects. As some of you on here might remember from my previous messages DD wants to be cabin crew and she has started the ball rolling by applying for EasyJet for their summer season next year. I know that applications will be high and depending on how many return after furlough but I’m excited for her. Good luck to everyone with uni applications

It does sound so exciting. Does you watch Below Deck? There is a lot of money to be had..although it on the sea not in the air !

@Isthisjustnormal If I remember correctly there’s an online assessment and if you pass that then there’s an interview
@EerilyDisembodied it’s been hers since she was young so I’m keeping everything crossed
@Piggywaspushed That’s fantastic. It’s a great job but very hard work
@EwwSprouts I’m so glad that it’s picking up again

@BlueMarigold none at Nottingham I’m afraid. One at Birmingham and one went through Sheffield but she graduated in 2019 so missed Covid thank goodness…

@OrangeCinnamonCocktail I’ve seen it advertised but not watched it yet. It might have to be my next ‘ must watch ‘

whoami, one of DD’s friend’s mum is cabin crew (she’s 50 now, and has always done it) and she was so excited the night before her first flight after lockdown that she didn’t sleep a wink.
It’s definitely a calling - everyone I’ve ever met that has been cabin crew had always wanted to do it.

Just popping on to let @Oblomov21 know my DD1 started PwC’s School Leaver Higher Apprentice in Accountancy in September. She applied to around 10-12 accountancy firms (such as GT and mazars, not just big4) plus JPMorgan and civil service (economics) as well as 4 universities to read economics and 1 Flying Start. Like your son she really really wanted an apprenticeship over uni. Everywhere has 6-8 stages of recruitment and it’s very competitive. It’s odd that she was knocked off in first couple of rounds at places like Mazars but got all the way with PwC and final stages with JPMorgan. Tell your DS not to be too disheartened and apply ‘everywhere’. It’s good practice if nothing else. But he needs to remember there are around 5000 teens applying for 40 or so places at each company but it’s likely the same 5000! Please pm me if you think I can help at all.

Thank you so much NotDonna. Well done to your dd. I will pm you. Ds1 so far has done the things you suggested. Smaller firms like mazars and Menzies aswell. He's currently having tests with KPMG.

But as you say, Uber competitive, and very few places, and I just can't get him to grasp that. But we soldier on....

Well done to whoamitojudge dd on her applications. Let's hope EasyJet have treat sense to select her. Is she interested in BA or Virgin, only because I live near Heathrow I know plenty of people who work there, a dd who last year started on the BA training scheme.

Personal statement finished and UCAS application sent off - phew! I wonder how long the school have it before they send it off.

Whoiam that's lovely that your DD has had a career passion for so long and I'm sure she will be snapped up.

DD has wanted to be a Primary teacher for as long as I can remember (don't worry she didn't put that in her PS😂) but with the stories I'm hearing from friends who are teachers it is definitely a vocation and something to go into with eyes wide open. She volunteers in a couple of schools but the children all seem lovely so she's been lucky. I hope she continues to be as she loves it.

How are you feeling Monkey? I can't remember if you had any symptoms when you got your positive LFT.
How are you also doing Piggy?

Thanks for asking AoC, I am fine. I have a cough and a bit of a sore throat, slight headache but really nothing major. Just so frustrated that it is stopping me from doing things. Still waiting for PCR result although DH and DS have theirs. Have not worked out what to do about my uncle's funeral if I am not negative before the day.