Thread 22 Covid Cohort - Creeping towards the Future - Personal Statements and Interviews

[OrangeCinnamonCocktail]

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/4370509-Thread-21-Corona-Cohort-Nervous-waiting-so-frustrating
Role Call below
@20newnames / DS / Engineering
@Alsoplayspiccolo / DD / English + Film
@AnneofCleavage / DD / gap year? Primary Education
@BlueMarigold / DD / Biology
@crazycrofter / DD / Child (?) + Mental Health Nursing
@Decorhate / DS / Economics + Politics
@Delphigirl / DS / Oceanography
@DoggerelBank / DS / tbc sciencey
@ealingwestmum / DD / Middle Eastern and European Studies
@EerilyDisembodied / DS / History or Environmental Management
@estherfrewen / DS / History
@EwwSprouts / DS / Biology
@Fiddlersgreen / DS / Journalism
@Fruitygal / DD / Biology
@Hattifatteners / DD / Vet Med
@Heifer / DD / Biology
@Hopeful201 / DS / Medicine
@Horace123 / DS / Classics
@icanbewhatiwant / DS / History + Philosophy
@Isthisjustnormal / DS / Comp Sci
@KingscoteStaff / DD / Medicine
@mummabear74 / DD / Environmental Science
@mummyinbeds / DS / Law + French Law
@Nard75 / DS / Maths
@NCTDN / DD / Liberal Arts
@Oblomov21 / DS / Accountancy
@OrangeCinnamonCocktail / DD / Music (uni)
@PaddingtonPaddington / DD / Music (cons)
@Piggywaspushed / DS / Social sciences combo
@ProggyMat / DD / Classics
@SandyBayley / DD / Medicine
@Seeline / DD / Liberal Arts
@singingstones / DS / Neuroscience
@Wheresthebeach / DD / gap year? Marine Biology
@whoamitojudge / DD / Cabin crew training
@Zebracat / DD / Liberal Arts or Anthropology
@ZittiEBuoni / DD / applying next year

Good luck to all those taking maths exams! How many universities require them?

Thanks for the advice @volterra. We’re also going through the process for year 11 ds in a different school. His SENCO hasn’t mentioned him taking a test to determine speed in various areas. Perhaps I’d better get in touch with her too!

Dd seems to have tonsillitis. She’s never had it before but she has a large white spot on her tonsils.

Fingers crossed all the maths test go smoothly and the hard work brings fab results.

Oh no, poor DD, hope it doesn’t last very long Crazy. I may be very wrong about testing processing and writing speeds but it definitely formed part of the original assessments DS had as the Ed Psych sent a long report.

I think about 10 universities use TMUA. Most don’t require it but will potentially give a lower offer depending on score so worth a shot, especially as you decide if you put it down so you can decide once you know results. A few places will look at MAT and some STEP. I think it’s only Oxbridge where mandatory.

Good luck to all those taking maths exams.

DD has extra time too, full assessment done externally as school isn't equipped to do it all. She'd be lost without the extra time - processing, handwriting and reading speeds. Really quite dyslexic.

Flipping heck, just looked at the Oxbridge and medicine threads and these ATs seem so difficult and stressful. 'Hats' off (sorry) and best of luck to all those taking tests at the moment.

Good luck to those taking exams.

Ds1 has had some rejections already from all his apprenticeship applications. He had about 8 ongoing at one point, and all their different maths tests, etc, before you even get to the human interview stage, at stage 3? of the 6 part process. He has 3 interviews this week.

He bagged one day work experience at a local accountancy firm at 1/2 term, last week, which he'd already put on his PS when he submitted it.

He says he feels washed out. Mocks next week.
I am emotionally exhausted too. This whole PS, UCAS application, apprenticeship applications has had an affect on me. (I'm sure we all feel the same).

I had my one of my closest friends, who is recently coping with a trans child, ghost me, last week, and I just keep bursting into hysterical tears over it.

I cant wait for August and all this to be over.

Oh dear @Oblomov21 sorry to hear about your friend - and ds’ rejections. They’re really competitive aren’t they, these apprenticeships. But there are loads of different ways in if he doesn’t get one at this point.

Expressing one is not, in any way, transphobic, but is pro women having the right to exercise and more importantly, vocalise their fears and concerns, as well as not dispelling all that is biology or science, in a similar way that the earth is round and not flat is always going to be challenging.

I hope that ridiculously long sentence actually made sense. I’m not sure what one is allowed to write these days. But thankfully I’m not in Scotland.

I hope time is able to reconcile your relationship Oblomov

I have had difficulties in conversation with a friend going through the same with her child @Oblomov21, I'm sorry you've been ghosted, that's a horrible thing to happen.

Oh @Oblomov21 I am sorry to hear you are feeling low, it's all so stressful and tiring, isn't it.
We have a poorly Dcat at the moment and I am ridiculously emotional about it.
But from what you have said about your DS, he will definitely make it to his accountancy training one way or another and on to great things.

It's very stressful at the moment with extra mocks added to DDs school year from just some in January 2022 to now further ones in December 2021 and January 2022 and March 2022 plus Geography NEA and the UCAS stuff. So pleased EPQ is out of the way and that DD decided against Oxbridge because I don't think she would have coped with this week of testing and the interviews on top of everything else. DDs school had problems with BMAT for medicine test yesterday at school and the IT issue wasn't resolved for 2 hrs her 2 besties were in pieces.

I am sorry your friend has ghosted you @Oblomov21. Hang in there with your friend she may come round - I had an extremely difficult period of life due to family very serious health issues in the past that went on for a year and could not cope with many friends and cancelled going to social things (nothing they had done it was all me and being overwhelmed) some friends hung in there and waited for me and others took offence at my lack of contact and interaction. Give her time and don't take it to heart.

Oh dear oblomov, friends can cause as much pain as partners when there is a disagreement. We had the trans thing, complicated by SS involvement. I was beside myself. Eventually I thought that I had to be true to my own self. Because there was no way that I could have seen what was clearly a trauma response, lead to irreversible change, and cheerlead that, and maybe later have them say why didn’t you stop me , I was a child? Weirdly, I never had to take a stand, as soon as my views crystallised, it began to fade. Not discussed in our house, too many potholes.
Don’t know if mine makes sense either really, lots of feelings.

that sounds tough @Oblomov21. Your friend may have totally withdrawn from everyone. I imagine it's a tough time for her, especially if she is peri or menapausal herself ;-) That doesn't mean your feelings aren't valid though, as I can understand if your feeling are hurt.

Fingers crossed for your DS and his interviews.

Hope all goes well for those testing this week.

DD found out that as well as mocks in early Dec she does also have them in Feb so does have 2 lots.

Still not completed PS but does know it needs to be done asap so it can get set off. She has made progress with emailing school about something else ongoing so that is positive.

Doing lots of homework, revision and partying at the moment..

Asked DS how he got on with TMUA today his reply 'Ok'. Don't know what that means but he can log in for results on the 29th maybe then we may get onto UCAS application.

After a horrendous CAT yesterday, DD has just received her first offer from Bristol: BBB

Congratulations to Proglet on the offer!

Nards Ok sounds OK 😀 Unusually I got slightly more from DS. Said the first half was quite painful but the second was alright and that seemed to be general consensus where he is,

Just catching up after hectic work week. Sounds as though it has been a week of ups and downs for everyone. Sorry to hear about issues with predicted grades which sounds like madness from some schools. I feel as though the UCAS application has aged me by 10 years. Unbelievably stressful.

DS got Cardiff offer today. ABB or BBB if firms by 30 June. @ProggyMat - great news on Bristol offer

@Volterra Thanks! It was a welcomed relief !
@estherfrewen Thanks and well done to your DS!

Sympathy and lots of supportive vibes to everyone struggling, for whatever reason

Congratulations to mini Proggy and Esther - lovely news!

We’re still on half term here (seems to have gone on forever…)
I’ve been trying to persuade both DC to get stuck into revision for January mocks, but DD is off to Center Parcs for the weekend with school friends tomorrow, and DS has a 6th form trial day (potential change of school), academic scholarship exam (for current school) and an important audition next week, so his mind is elsewhere.

Ahhh, congrats @ProggyMat and @estherfrewen juniors - exciting news! DS was reasonably positive about TMUA. He gets extra time and realised he’s been doing all his practices without the extra time!! So he suddenly managed to finished one of the papers that he usually doesn’t get through - and most importantly felt like he did as well as he could do. Ds is trying (veeeerrryyy long shot) for Cambridge @singingstones but I’m afraid I don’t really post on ‘that’ thread as I just can’t take the overall level of energy: it’s much nicer in here - although a few others on this thread handle it with aplomb!

@Oblomov21 sorry to hear about your friendship troubles. So tough. I have a very good mate with a child experimenting with trans identity at the mo, but luckily we have similar opinions so can talk without tensions. I hope you and your friend can find a way though.

Oh and hope your cat feels better soon too @singingstones!!

Thank you all for such nice comments.

Congratulations Proggy and Esther!

We’re not off the blocks yet…

Congratulations on the offers.

Still waiting impatiently here.

Final exam timetables were out on Monday:

filestore.aqa.org.uk/admin/t_table_pdf/AQA-TT-GCE-JUN22-CONFIRMED.PDF

qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/Support/Examination-timetables/GCE_Summer_2022_Final_v1.pdf

www.ocr.org.uk/administration/general-qualifications/preparation/key-dates-and-timetables/ (Scroll down to see the link to the excel file)

@Isthisjustnormal

Oh and hope your cat feels better soon too *@singingstones*!!

Thank you and well done to test takers and offer receivers. Sorry to be gloomy but Dcat is going to be put to sleep tomorrow