Thread 27 Covid Cohort Snow or Like Spring? Let's Do This Thing!

[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 found here

@PaddingtonPaddington congrats on the test pass....both my dc's have had black boxes. I wouldn't let them drive without. Ds1 had one for 3 years. Ds2 still has it. No curfews. Just an app that monitors their driving, if they speed it will let us know. It will also alert us if Ds uses a mobile while driving. Plus if we are driving and Ds isn't in the car then connects to our phone instead and we wouldn't get contacted about being slightly over the speed limit. Not that we drive his car now. But I think the black is an excellent idea.

@PaddingtonPaddington well done your DD!

Congratulations @PaddingtonPaddington, life is easier when they’re driving. We used Admiral and had a black box.
@ChristopherTracy it is always hard when they don’t pass, it is so disappointing for them. Booking the test is a pita as well.
My DS has been getting a bit fed up with the whole uni application process and has had 2 rejections and will get another 2 soon. It’s really tough for him to go through and it’s hard when his friends are getting exciting offers.

DD has a black box, but no curfew or other restrictions, just an app that shows the driving within speed/how her premium is on track to lower renewal etc.

Oh and I made up a rule where she was not allowed any back seat passengers for 3 months. Only admitted to her recently that it was not a condition of insurance but me making up my own rule. She and her friends thought that was savage, but fair play

Yes @sazzy5 thats why its so important for us all here to share the difficult stuff as well as the wins.

We've had 4 youngsters who have died locally in cars in the past few years. Either due to messing about or texting. So I felt a black box should help, they know they can't speed or we will be alerted and insurance will increase, the same with using the phone. I also had a no passengers rule for the first few months (apart from us, obviously) We didn't tell ds1 when we renewed his insurance for the 4th year that he no longer had a black box.

Black box here as well but no curfews etc.

sazzy5, hope your DS’s luck turns around on his other options.

Congrats on the driving test result Paddington.
Sorry to hear of the rejections @sazzy5. Really hope there’s better news soon.

Phew, finished the photobook. I did a bit in my breaks at work and then another 4 hours tonight. Normally I leave them for a few days and give them one last proofread, but I was up against it timewise so I have hit send. I will start one for DD sooner.....

We have at least booked into a Nottingham offer day in mid-Feb!

@sazzy5 so sorry to hear the applications are
not going well. Was it down to UCAT? Is he able to remain focused on getting the grades? Which 2 are you waiting for? Is he willing to take a gap year and reapply? You have probably come across me taking about DS1 who got no offers in 2018, but 3 offers in 2019, they are stronger applicants in a gap year.

@ExtremelyDetermined you live up to your name, sound like an epic production.
@Monkey2001 yes he didn’t study properly for the UCAT test, he was above average but as you know all of the cut offs have gone up again this year. I want him to have a proper go, but he’s worried he will get interviews next time but then no offers. He is focusing on his grades now, as that will determine if he can reapply. I’m hoping DS2 chooses something where you might actually get an offer.
Are many others with GCSE and A level DC taking exams this year? It feels like all they’re doing is tests?

There are quite a few of us with GCSEs and A levels, yes. My DD got her GCSE mock results back today, they were pretty good.

Yes I’m another with both GCSEs and A levels this year.
Both have recently had mocks and then more coming up in Feb and March

I’ve got both as well. Mocks were before Christmas for both of them and then dd has more A Level mocks after half term. Ds has been advised today to do combined science - so there goes his plan of only focusing on Biology to get the one 6 in science he needed! He shot himself in the foot by doing nothing for the other two and getting a 3 and a 4. I also heard from his English teacher that he will only manage the 6 he needs if he puts some serious work in. He came home and spent all evening on the Xbox 😩

@sazzy5 So sorry it's not going his way at the mo. We went through it all a few years ago with DD. It was a tough process then, and so much tougher this year. Really hope he can see that there's a long game to be played, and if he can just get those grades under his belt he stands a really good chance next year, with maximum effort on UCAT and some good work experience in a year off.
Having said that, my DD (3rd year medic) is just waking up to the INSANE starting salaries that some city firms are offering her contemporaries, and realising that being a doctor is going to leave her waaaayy behind. Not that she's particularly bothered about that, and it certainly isn't shaking her resolve, but it's made her appreciate that there are so many different paths to careers that are satisfying for one reason or another.

Congrats and commiserations on the driving tests and sorry to hear things are not going your DS's way sazzy. What a tough process it is for medics, but he will be in a much better position next year with grades in hand and more time for the UCAT, if he can bear another go
I'm another with the GCSE / A level combo, mocks were before Christmas here but there are endless topic tests and NEA deadlines happening.
And good luck to the Cambridge contingent this morning 🍀

(Also sorry to hear about the fleas Piggy, what a pain. My only tactic apart from the hassle of treating carpets etc is wearing trousers tucked into socks. Otherwise my ankles are irresistible, apparently )

Good luck to the Cambridge aspirants! 🍀

Our cats have a six-monthly injection for fleas, it doesn't kill them like spot-ons but prevents them breeding. So they pick up the odd one in the garden (they are both allergic and you can feel scabs where they've been bitten but it doesn't seem to bother them) but they don't infest the house.

Well done to @PaddingtonPaddington’s DD. It is amazing how much freedom it gives parents too when they pass.

DS1 had a black box in our car and for the first year in his own car. He then got two speeding tickets (36 in a 30 and 46 in a 40 so not ridiculous) and is back on a black box now as he can’t afford insurance without one!

We didn’t get a black box when DS2 started driving our car (he doesn’t plan to get his own). He is a lot more sensible and the cost savings weren’t worth it for the restrictions on all of us.

Good luck to Cambridge people today!

Good luck to all the Cambridge people!

Hoping the Cambridge applicants are happily rewarded for their efforts.

well done on the driving tests :-)

Good luck on those waiting for Cambridge offers - I think I spotted 5 on the list. Hope all goes well.