Thread 24 Covid Cohort - Oh Come, Oh Come offers from Emmanuel - and all other universities aswell!

[OrangeCinnamonCocktail]

I tried to sing the title... It kind of works...

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 posts 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 goodwill continues.

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

No judgement here, it's a hard condition to live with. Can you set reminders on your phone or similar?

Yes that's the whole thing about us putting on our oxygen masks before helping our children isn't it. We all need to be a bit kinder to ourselves.

It's so often about other people ALL of the time isnt it.

@singingstones @Alsoplayspiccolo I started reading up on ADHD when a nephew was diagnosed & lots of the traits resonated with me... Yes I have probably subconsciously adapted my career etc to suit me but it does help to explain struggles I had at uni etc. Not sure I will bother getting formally assessed but it’s something to bear in mind.

That went well. Very wonderful female consultant. Unpleasant procedure, but so be it. Got to wait for the biopsy but she said she wasn’t worried, so massively relieved, might speak to my children now, I’ve been avoiding them because I didn’t want to tell them. Thnks for everyone’s good wishes, they really helped.

Glad it went well and provided some reassurance @Zebracat. Have they given a timescale for the biopsy results?

Glad its looking okay @zebracat. Hope the wait isn't too long for the results.

Good to hear things look more positive, zebra

Oh @Oblomov21 sorry to read that update. Its hard to keep so many things juggling.

I need to catch up on all the messages properly. Just checking in to send some positive vibes to those on the thread who need it xx

DS had Cambridge interviews today. Seems quite chipper. Certainly not traumatised anyway!!

Good to hear about your tests @zebracat and great news from @piggywaspushed's ds! Now the long wait!

Dd's form went to UCAS yesterday. No offers yet! I was half expecting a next day offer from at least one of them, but I guess Psychology is very popular...

DD said that if the teacher who is off isn’t back by Monday, a different teacher will sort it out.

Zebra, that sounds really encouraging…and breathe…!

Oblomov, I can empathise with putting yourself last, but diabetes is such a nasty thing, you can’t afford to be selfless. I hope you can get it better controlled ASAP, even if that means neglecting other things.

Wow, Piggy, that sounds like a successful interview! My nephew was traumatised by his Oxford interviews last year.

Crazy - hurrah! Phew! Hope the offers come rushing in now.

Sounds like he was really prepared (and up for them!) Piggy. Big relief to get them done, even if his other options are just as appealing.

@Piggywaspushed. Chipper sounds like a supercool reaction. That’s great. @Oblomov21 thank goodness you had the appointment, seriously look after yourself.. @crazycrofter. Wow, after a really late change in direction, yours has still gone in before ours. Well done..
The biopsy results are estimated at 3-5 weeks, which is fine. Today, everything’s fine!

Sounds promising Piggy, well done to your DS for getting through the experience unscathed.

Good luck crazy with the offers and Blue with getting the form in.

Mr Nice Tutor has been in touch offering to have a word with DS. Not sure what good that will do really as they don't know each other and what 17 yr old boy is going to open up to a random teacher. He was very neutral about the rest, no sense of "gosh you're right, we have dropped the ball, don't worry I'll sort it out". Just that he's asking the teachers for feedback and will get back to me. Sounds like I will receive some bullshit justification and no help, but hopefully I am doing him a disservice.

@Zebracat that sounds encouraging.

@Piggywaspushed glad DS enjoyed his interview, hope he did justice to himself, I have to say, the wait for Cambridge decision feels loooong!

@Heifer pasties www.cornwallhamperstore.co.uk/collections/sale-now-on/products/medium-traditional-cornish-pasty. Maybe you could get some ultimate comfort food! I am not sure how DS1 is going to eat 8 of them, hopefully will spread the love!

DS2 got Manchester interview, booked for 14th Dec - he needs to do some interview prep now.....

Ooh exciting news about the Manchester interview @Monkey2001! Which is his preferred uni?

Singingstones, that’s really good. I would suggest you tutor your boy. I think that is the single most useful thing I taught our waif, to begin with flattery.. so glad it’s you, Sir, I just know you’ll get it., then some more flattery, it’s your/the schools/Ms Soandsosgreat teaching that really made this subject come alive for me. Then acceptance of the rules,/sympathy for the process. I know the school needs to stay honest in their assessments, and Iknow I was invisible / a fuckup for most of my time here. To the denouement but I think I have demonstrated significant progress through my recent performance, onto humility, so if you could tell me what more I could do.... then engaging smile and wam thanks.
This isn’t cynical either, although I know it sounds it teaching kids how to ask nicely is a long established part of parenting, and a good preparation for life. Your boy will thank you for it, at some point..

@Zebracat Pleased you got a great consultant and now feel able to talk with your family about it.
@Oblomov21 Look after yourself.

@Piggywaspushed Sounds a positive experience. Fingers crossed!
@Monkey2001 Great news. DS's friends who have applied for medicine have barely heard anything other than Edinburgh rejections.

Fabulous Monkey, that’s a great start.

@Zebracat loving the charm school techniques!

@crazycrofter DS wants Newcastle as he would have to do a foundation year at Manchester due to not doing Chemistry or Biology. But with medicine any offer is a great offer!

Zebra so pleased to hear the consultant was very encouraging.

Piggy good news that DS is ok after interview.

Great news on DS ‘s interview Monkey

DS has had an offer of A*AA from Exeter, same as his Bath offer. Not sure if that’s the one with integrated masters or not. If it isn’t it’s over the typical offers they have listed and talked about at the virtual open day. He definitely needs 2 more which are likely to give lower offers.

Can I vent and cry here, please?
You’ll remember we had a letter threatening action from the bursar?
Well, we spoke to him and he agreed a payment plan of either 1 or 2 years and gave us time to think which option would be more manageable.
We opted for the 2 year plan and sent an email to confirm.

Today, we’ve had a horrible email, saying he was expecting us to agree repayment over 12 months, with an additional comment about trusting well ensure full payment of ongoing fees as they fall due.

We have ALWAYS paid on time and in full prior to Covid, and the fees owing are a single term from last year, when we lost all income; we are up to date with this academic year.

I have just cried in the car, picking up the kids. We have been a bursary family all the time we’ve been at the school, so the bursar knows absolutely everything about our financial situation (which wasn’t great even prior to Covid) - we’ve always been open and honest, and initiated every communication throughout Covid.
I’m struggling to get my head around the attitude shown towards us during what has been an already incredibly stressful time, and which is still precarious, work-wise.
I know that schools are businesses when all’s said and done, but it still feels cold-blooded.

Oh also. So sorry.