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

I don’t know if it’s just here (suspect it probably is) but there’s a definite geographical bias at play when it comes to choice of university with a cut off around Birmingham . I think that’s why I didn’t know Lincoln had a University before. Just looked, looks very nice.

So you don’t know of any universities north of Birmingham? That’s a shame as you will have passed over Durham, Manchester snd St Andrew’s to name but a few!! I think most people are very aware of good universities north of Birmingham!

No I’ve never heard of Aberdeen or Manchester where my DH went ! Obviously a few from here do go above Birmingham - Durham and Sheffield the last couple of years spring to mind but the overwhelming majority of my friends’ DC do tend to opt for southern universities so those are what I hear being discuses - that absolutely doesn’t mean I am completely unaware of all universities above Birmingham 😂

Just looked on wiki and it says that Lincoln has a long history but current name since 2001 and in that time I hadn’t heard it mentioned until it crept into my consciousness last year when reading HE threads on MN. I accept I am completely weird in never having heard of it! Looks like a lovely place .

Moving on from Lincolngate, anyone else hoping to get UCAS forms on next week?

I think most people are well aware of the well known unis country-wude, but probably know very little time about what each offers specifically if it isn't one that their DC night be interested in.
There is a lot more to choosing a uni than just its name. Many students have geographical limits on their choices. I think it's another factor that has been brought to the fire with the pandemic - kids want to be able to get home quickly in an emergency and/or their parents to get to and them. We are London based, and DD was very clear she didn't want anything north of Nottingham. Yes, that may have ruled out places like Durham, but if she wasn't going to be happy studying there, she wouldn't have done well, which makes the whole process a bit pointless.
I hope we can all remain supportive of each other on this thread. We don't know the full stories behind anyone's decisions. But we all wish everyone the best for their circumstances.

Totally agree Seeline, this is usually a lovely, supportive thread. We didn’t see DD for 8 months during lockdown as was in Wales and that is certainly having an impact on where DS is applying.

We didn't really look into universities much at all with ds1. At the start of year 12 he didn't want to go to university. He changed his mind towards the end of year 12. He wanted to stay nearby. So looked at UEA. Also Essex university. He wrote Sussex on his ucas as we have family there. Then a teacher suggested Harper Adams as dh farmed. So he looked into that too. As neither of us had been to university we have never looked at league tables or even heard of RG universities. As I've said before he's at UEA now, but wishes he'd gone further away.

Lincolngate

Yes I agree this thread is usually very supportive and a happy calm place to be. Let’s hope it continues on in that way.

Oh my. I did this.

@ealingwestmum

Oh my. I did this.

I aggravated it.

I know we need to move on from Lincolngate (😁) but just want to say my nephew (who got A*AB) is very happy doing engineering at Lincoln. He has made some great industrial links and will be doing a project in America in the summer (Covid permitting). DH is an engineer and he said that when recruiting they are happy to look at any IMechE accredited graduate, which Lincoln is.

In my opinion Russell Group is pretty irrelevant for undergraduate degrees, but worth thinking about for post grad studies. Good researchers do not necessarily make good teachers, in fact I know more than one Bristol academic who sees the students as something which gets in the way of research. The main reason Russell Group salaries are higher on average is because they get the majority of the high performing A level students with better connections. It is not necessarily because they have added more value.

Teaching style varies between courses and places. DS1 at St Andrews is taught almost everything for Y1/Y2 medicine, whereas at Newcastle and Manchester there is more self directed study. I don't think that is because St A isn't Russell Group.

crazycrofter will her Uni choices accept a grade 6 singing result as part of her UCAS points? Grade 6 and above can be used to get extra points at some places however this wasn't the case for DD with hers so she didn't worry about doing it in time for UCAS. Hope it is the case with yours though and well done to her doing her first live exam.
DD had her dance exam yesterday too. IDTA gold bar freestyle (4 different style dances one after the other) and then a Musical Theatre duo exam the same day. She wanted to do a solo one too but teacher thought too much in one day. Not done any exams since 2019 as missed out on the March 2020 one when Covid first struck. She felt it went okay though but we wait aaaages for the results unfortunately.

Great news on more offers coming in. How did those who did interviews yesterday feel they went?

Well, that escalated quickly!

It’s raining here…again.

DD has checked her UCAS portal repeatedly since Friday, even though school hasn’t yet submitted her application.
It’s going to be a long week.

@TizerorFizz might I ask you to respect the ethos of these longstanding posts. You seem to want to continue this debate despite others confirming not willing to discuss further. This is supposed to be a friendly and supportive thread.

Great news @Nard75!

Just popping in to say good morning, I hope everyone has a lovely Sunday whatever you’re up to.

Any suggestions for new thread name/theme?

Has anyone put their tree up yet? I need to tidy first and funeral is next Friday, still got much work to do, pick up Orders of Service, exchange work laptop and somehow find a new car to replace 18-year-old Volvo just died. ...oh and write a little speech for Mum's service too

Tree is real and outside getting wet in the garden. Might cheer me up if there are any nice photos to be seen?!

Sorry you have so much to deal with at a tricky time @OrangeCinnamonCocktail

Our tree is being delivered this afternoon so hopefully that is tonight’s job. Might even do some mulled wine

Thinking of you @OrangeCinnamonCocktail xx

You handle all that you have on admirably Orange.

We've had a tree sat in against the porch for 2 days now. DD wants to help dress it but has a long lifeguarding shift today, so let's hope it hasn't walked by this evening. I'm amazed it is still there, given how edgy our street is.

Missed you all and the chat has moved quickly - last day of meeting up with friends and DD had her last party prior to Christmas. We are now attempting to hunker down so we can see family at Christmas.

As for the uni thing - have DSs that have gone to middling unis in terms of performance and reputation and both have loved their courses and done well (happy, friends and good grades) and not found their unis have held them back in their professions. My last one my DD has more inner drive and also push from school so will look at top performing unis but has considered places based on their friendliness, the course fit for her favourite topics etc - happiness is often overrated but very very important factor in success.

I think this thread is a fantastic breath of fresh air in a fairly harsh judgemental MN. Thanks for the founders of it for keeping it so xx

Our tree(s) have been up since last weekend, but only because I couldn’t face going up in the loft in DH’s absence, so he got everything down before he left.
Turkey is in the freezer and presents just about bought, but I haven’t written any cards yet; DH did his before he went, which is about 2 weeks sooner than he usually manages!

Despite all this early prep, I still don’t feel in the Christmas mood 😞

I hope you can find a moment for yourself this week, Orange. Xx

Really sorry ^OrangeCinnamon*. As if you didn’t have enough to worry about without the car , why do things always happen at the same time. Our tree isn’t up yet. I’m getting nostalgic about the ones we had when I was little with coloured lights and lametta.

Ah thank you all.. I'm just busy and life events are happening. Such is Life.

Dd went on a works night out to a meal the other day and they had a Hotel Chocolat cocktail menu. I might try and recreate one to help with a festive relax after mammoth tidying today...I have pretend Baileys and Amaretto and Yazoo chocolate milk.....
I hope those looking for their 'Christmas spirits' find them soon.

@OrangeCinnamonCocktail - You've got a hell of a lot to deal with this week - remember your mum would understand if things aren't perfect and simple can be beautiful. Sending a hug for you and your family.

We have the fairy lights up outside thanks to DS1 this week. Going to get things sorted inside between work during the week and then my DS2 is home next weekend and then we get the tree from the farm and get it decorated. So will post once its done.

Cards are about 35% complete and we have about 3 presents bought?!!? so I think online will be