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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

Thread 28 - Corona Cohort Awaiting Offers, Advance Notice, Gap Years and New Jobs

999 replies

OrangeCinnamonCroissant · 07/02/2022 19:35

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 27 Here

OP posts:
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Oblomov22 · 09/02/2022 16:19

I like different discussions Zanda. I am pleased that the restrictions are ending early.

Ds's girlfriend got her Durham offer yesterday and they've booked to go together to Durham's offer day 22nd March.

Fruitygal · 09/02/2022 16:46

In terms of restrictions I would have preferred them to continue until end of March as there will be an uptick in cases once this happens and the rates are still high (1 in 8 primary kids had covid the last week , 1 in 15 high school). Waiting until March would have meant much lower numbers of cases circulating in the population and therefore far easier to avoid before the exams. Taking two weeks out being unwell when then are less than 50 days left before the exams and the long covid fatigue etc would not be good.

Heifer · 09/02/2022 16:57

I've just received a letter from DDs school saying that Yr11 &13 are taking a day off timetable next week to focus on How to revise, Plan a timetable, Make notes, Decode the exam question, with an external provider and experienced teachers... DD will be pleased... (as sarcastic as she will be no doubt). But as pointed out in the letter, it will be useful (fingers crossed)

Also found out more Mocks a week in March - again DD will be miffed as only 1 week and so will need to squeeze in 2 exams a day (2 hr papers). In her last mocks, most subjects had 3 full papers x 3.

DD and DH have been to Nottingham today. DH test to say seems to have been a sucess. He really can't read DD though ;-) she is as nice as pie to him... Not due back until 6.00 so a long day.

Original poster
OrangeCinnamonCroissant · 09/02/2022 17:38

Oh @Zandathepanda it must be so scary for her, and the rest of the family .

OP posts:
Fruitygal · 09/02/2022 18:12

@Zandathepanda sending a hug (its all I have) .

@Heifer sounds like a productive day for your DD at Nottingham - I love the place and the city - its great to be a student there - I went there and someone I am mentoring for a career in my industry is currently doing chemistry there and loves it !

Monkey2001 · 09/02/2022 19:12

@Zandathepanda of course you can talk about your fears on here. I think there are a lot of vulnerable people who are frightened about what might happen. I was talking to a GP friend about the awful state of mental health in young people and she is so frustrated.

ProggyMat · 09/02/2022 19:50

Thanks for the new thread @OrangeCinnamonCroissant and to @singingstones for yet another belting update of the list of where our ‘Corona Cohort’ are as of now!
DD has firmed Oxford and after much deliberation between UCL and Edinburgh has insured UCL.
Student finance is now open so that’s our ‘to do’ at the weekend.

Delphigirl · 09/02/2022 20:15

@proggymat - a great choice I think. Must be a relief that she has decided! DS took himself off to Cardiff today for an open day which he said didn’t tell him much more than the open day, although he did have a taster lecture which he said was ‘good’. The other applicants were ‘fine - normal’ but he was surprised that they all came with their parents, unlike him, so they didn’t mix with each other much which was a shame. He did manage to ask about deferral and the head of dept just asked him to send him an email.
Plymouth in a couple of weeks.

NCTDN · 09/02/2022 20:22

@Oblomov22

I like different discussions Zanda. I am pleased that the restrictions are ending early.

Ds's girlfriend got her Durham offer yesterday and they've booked to go together to Durham's offer day 22nd March.

Do you know what subjects the offer holder day is for?
sazzy5 · 09/02/2022 20:25

I lost the thread and now this one is filling up.
@Zandathepanda I get your concerns, I selfishly just though good I’m glad the DC can have some normality.
DS is waiting for the last 2 rejections, he can then approach other universities asking if they have space on courses he’s interested in. It would be nice for him to get some kind of offer, he may get something offered by the 2 he’s about to get rejected from. But hopefully he can start looking soon.
DS2 has expressed an interest in medicine, I’m hoping he finds something else.

NCTDN · 09/02/2022 20:26

Aww snazzy you don't know they'll be rejections.

PaddingtonPaddington · 09/02/2022 20:27

@ProggyMat great choices. I don’t think student finance England is open till March for 2022/2023?

ChristopherTracy · 09/02/2022 20:27

@ProggyMat amazing to firm Oxford and then have UCL as a backup!

Zandathepanda · 09/02/2022 20:35

Fruitygal yes I agree about the restrictions timings and looking at the evidence. And also having a plan in place beforehand for vulnerable children and staff, especially those having chemo etc. There’s no mental health support - we’ve tried. Her anxieties are real and justified so they have nothing they can offer (their words).

Oblomov22 I replied to your comment to me but I deleted it out of respect for this lovely supportive of everyone thread. I know your opinions from the health board but hoped you would leave them here.

It’s why I dropped out the first time from this thread as I realise everyone wants to get back to normal, including us, but we can’t and we are now living such a different life. It’s very difficult in real life.

Good luck to you all. A huge indicator of success is if you have your mum’s support and that is true of us all so they are all on the right track.

ProggyMat · 09/02/2022 20:52

[quote PaddingtonPaddington]@ProggyMat great choices. I don’t think student finance England is open till March for 2022/2023?[/quote]
I didn’t think so either but a poster on another thread said it was.
I’ve checked out that DDs loan would be as we think it will be for 2022 entrance via the government website
That said, perhaps the poster meant the updated loan amounts have been published?
We’ll find out at the weekend no doubt!

Fferny1 · 09/02/2022 21:45

@Zandathepanda please don't drop off this thread. I'm sure most of us can very much understand where you're coming from. Have you tried contacting some private counsellors that maybe are experienced in talking to individuals with the same issues as your daughter?
Are there any medical societies specialising in your daughter's condition that you can ask for help or can refer you to help?
The mental health services available for teens are minimal. My youngest was suicidal for several months and he was treated purely privately as Camhs were not fit for purpose. It was an absolutely dreadful time and I just can't imagine what living with similar levels of stress & anxiety would be like long term. So please vent all you like.
But at the same time lockdown was a major cause of his depression and I never want to see another lockdown.I'm fine with other restrictions though.
DS1 isn't talking to me at the moment. As we had a big row the other day & he's at boarding school. So I don't know what's going on with his uni entry as he's not answering my messages. He seems to be very rebellious & aggro. at the moment and I think I embarrassed him by being incandescent with rage with him in his barding house the other day.
..

Oblomov22 · 09/02/2022 21:48

I'm sorry Zanda I didn't realise anything I said was offensive. I didn't mean to offend.

Seeline · 09/02/2022 21:52

SFE is still saying it will open up in March. No specific date.

Oblomov22 · 09/02/2022 21:56

Do you want to message me? I can't message from my phone. I have no idea what I've posted that was offensive. Or what health board posts you are referring to. I barely go on the health boards. Only normally you be supportive to other posters who have a child diagnosed as a type 1 diabetic.

EwwSprouts · 09/02/2022 21:58

@Zandathepanda I haven't walked in your shoes and can only imagine the fear. UnMN hug and Brew. No apologies ever for sharing heartfelt worries.

@ProggyMat that must feel so exciting!

Sneaky DS kept it secret from me until we went out for tea with the grandparents, he received an offer from Durham mid-morning. AAA which is standard.

Fruitygal · 09/02/2022 22:10

@NCTDN Durham offer days are 22nd and 23rd March for all courses - you choose one of those days IF you get an offer and if it’s in time for the days. I’m as frustrated as you about the whole thing…. So bloody slow

We are off to Sheffield on Saturday- weather looking like rain ☔️ Bring umbrellas - which is a shame but seen on a dry day before so it’s ok. Still no department timetable or details so just know start time but no building or room? Was great last time so hopefully we can go and confirm to DD it’s still in the mix. (NEA stress and last redrafting happening today so can go in tomorrow or Friday)

@sazzy5 why do you think your DC wi get all rejections? It sounds like he has an alternative plan ? Think I may have missed some of your previous posts … so sorry if you’ve said before

@Zandathepanda I used to be first line cover for ICU and friends still work there so perhaps my understanding of this is better as I’ve looked after extremely sick people. I now work in a scientific research. I have two friends with kidney transplants so they are going through it especially as one is a mum with child at primary. Let’s focus on subjects that are uni and apprenticeship based as covid is so controversial but PM me @Zandathepanda if you want to scream and shout about it….

NCTDN · 09/02/2022 22:16

@Fruitygal thanks. Not much notice then from getting offers and when other unis also have offer days booked.

sazzy5 · 09/02/2022 22:22

@Fruitygal he will get rejected because they’ve sent all the interview invites out. He’s had 2 rejections so far, he may get offered a different course but he’s a bit stuck in what he wants to do. He should take a year out and reapply but he’s worried he will get rejected again. It’s a long course anyway.
My DS school has been saying how slow some of the unis are being and they are miles behind where they were last year in terms of offers. All quite unsettling and stressful.
Mocks for us after half term. For both boys, so that is going to be fun. I do think they’re going to be exhausted by the time their exams arrive.

Fruitygal · 09/02/2022 22:45

@EwwSprouts congratulations to your DS for biological science offer - will he firm it ? - hopefully DD will hear either way soon - at least the course is finally offering now which can only be good news - we saw a contextual and a unconditional for someone yesterday so was hopeful for standard offers or rejections being soon. How exciting to reveal it like that x

Fruitygal · 09/02/2022 22:48

@sazzy5 had lunch on Monday with one of DDs friends mum. Looks the same there only waiting on one where interview but not heard but not looking likely at all - so plan is to resit UCAT in late summer series - so no going travelling with DD as will need to work hard this time.