Thread 29 - Covid Cohort - Whirlwinds and Waiting

[OrangeCinnamonCroissant]

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 28

Great news @22Newnames! Nearly there…

Hope the Cardiff visit goes well tomorrow @Fiddlersgreen

Well done @22Newnames DS, it has been a long wait, but sounds like you might be getting there!

Enjoy Cardiff @Fiddlersgreen, great news @22Newnames is that our first Warwick? I've a feeling it was one that we were resigned to awaiting for some.

@22Newnames

Yey! We have an offer from Warwick! It came through at 5.30 this evening. Well DS does anyway but it feels like ‘us’ Offer is A*AA for the MEng with a dual offer of AAA for the BEng. He is very happy.

Just Bath and Durham to wait for now…

Fabulous news 22, way to start his weekend!

So good to hear of offers still coming through!
Dd got Warwick ages ago but for a totally different subject.

Thanks all.

Yes Warwick engineering issued a few offers a couple of weeks ago but not many.and they seemed to be early entrants (unlike DS).

Just happy that he has at least one of his top 3 now

Great news 22 especially as it's one of his top choices.

Thanks @Monkey2001 and @Shimy we will investigate. Realistically her place at Southampton is precarious if she gets less than a B at Music A-Level (they confirmed at open days)
it is worth checking with Cardiff but I'd be surprised if they don't say the same.

Great news 22, and lovely to have firmed Southampton Orange.

Hope Piggy you enjoying Birmingham, and Fiddler that Cardiff is a good day too.

Sorry to hear about the endless waiting Monkey - fingers crossed for good news soon.

@Wheresthebeach I had a quick peek at location of the marine science building for Portsmouth. My friend kept boat next door at the sailing club. One of my most memorable days was going out on a trip around the harbour on a lovely sunny day and seeing the baby seals. Portsmouth can be windy and miserable some days but a beautiful sunny day knocks it out of the park!

@22Newnames nothing for us but then I think a straight rejection more likely than an offer of A*AA, there's no way we're getting that!

Congrats!

@ChristopherTracy but your offers will hopefully be lower as contextual so worth a hope. No news is good news at this stage with the Warwick, Bath and Durham lot I think…

I also know that Warwick gave out a few engineering offers a few weeks ago to early entrants so it’s not a foregone conclusion

Fantastic news over the last few days on the thread, well done on all the offers, driving test pass and firming of choices!

DD and I have just done the student finance application together. Now a bit stuck on the DSA evidence as it says ‘ A full diagnostic report that documents each specific learning difficulty you have. This has to have been carried out by a practitioner psychologist or a specialist teacher holding a current Assessment Practicing Certificate.’ DD doesn’t have this, she has an Ed Psych report detailing learning difficulties but then a psychiatrist later diagnosed the ADHD so thought we’d be able to get the GP to confirm. Any wise people out there who know what we need to do? Do I really have to get another assessment by a psychologist? 😱

DDs SENCO told us that a Psychiatrist assessment of ADHD trumps any other evidence. I don't entirely trust him, but it might be worth trying.

I'm not sure @PaddingtonPaddington but we might be in the same boat as DS was diagnosed with both Asperger's and dyspraxia by a community paediatrician. We have a detailed Ed.Psych report for his EGCP but it is not a diagnostic report as he had already been diagnosed by the Paed. Planning to start his tomorrow.

Thanks @ReflectiveJournal and @EventuallyDelighted. I’ve submitted a copy of a letter from the psychiatrist to the GP which contains her diagnosis and it will take up to 10 days to review so fingers crossed (although it’s not what they asked for). As a plan B I’ve contacted a local person with the correct credentials who can do an assessment asking for advice.

When we applied for student finance for Ds1 we had to do a current year income form as dh's income was very different to the year they asked for. So we had to do an estimate in the July. Then submit proof the following April. So what happens if you fill in the year they ask for, do you send proof straight away? Annoyingly I forgot to photocopy our tax returns, I knew I'd need them for proof, so I meant to photocopy before returning to the accountant. Now he will charge us for sending us copies.

I just posted something and my post disappeared! It was a student finance question..

DD’s passport expired. It said they will tell us what to do regarding providing proof. We only have one copy of the birth certificate. Do you think we will need to send it in the post?

Back from Birmingham! Had a midday wobble ....the guy delivering the talk on the subject was not great. I know academics can be a bit casual, and appear flippant but DS is used to teachers. Anyway, the guy said something about the economics element that worried DS and also his lecture was a bit over pitched. DH wasn't too happy when DS said he wanted to swap his choices. The lunch bit was chaos too!

DH did make the sensible suggestion to head back to the department and find someone to talk to. On the way back, I saw the student rep who was lovely and helpful and reassuring and very enthusiastic. She did say she thinks the course is badly marketed! That really should let the students run these days. Sheffield was much better in terms of the warmth and teaching skills of the man in charge.

DS feels a lot better after talking to the student. But if he hadn't already firmed, he wouldn't choose Birmingham.

Went to look at accommodation in the afternoon which was fine. Not all open but saw a few flats.

@Piggywaspushed When he did firm? I think you’ve got 14 days of grace from firming to change it if you want.

Sorry to hear the Birmingham day was a bit chaotic @Piggywaspushed . Hope he’s not come home too downhearted?

We’ve been at York. Dd is no clearer about where she wants to go. She felt the uni seemed very white and middle class, and maybe a bit of a bubble? She’s wondering if Nottingham is the one now, although I don’t think she’s ruled out Southampton or York yet. Maybe she’ll have decided by June!

14 days tomorrow and I assume not open at weekend. But his insurance he also hadn't visited. You can change after 14 days ; just a bit more complicated. But he's fine now. Just nerves I suspect.

Yes York Bubble is a phrase! Funnily enough, I ssid to DH how middle class Birmingham students were!

York has a high state intake for a more elite uni. Doesn't mean they aren't very affluent though.