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Further education

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

Original poster

Thread 30 Covid Cohort, Mad March Hareing Towards Exams

995 replies

OrangeCinnamonCroissant · 13/03/2022 09:12

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 29

I've made this one a little bit earlier as things are so busy, at home and on thread, so please feel free to use up previous thread first Grin

OP posts:
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11
cariadambyth · 26/03/2022 14:55

Thanks for all your support, this really is a lovely place.
@Heifer, I agree, we definitely need some kind of ‘pressed the button’ emoji or something. It feels rather momentous!
@Alsoplayspiccolo you explained my daughter’s feelings far better than I did, ‘a less aspirationonal’ choice is exactly how she feels but I still think it’s a better option for her. I’m so sorry @crazycrofter, I’ve lost track of where your dd has firmed. Peer pressure is a tricky thing to navigate but I’m sure wherever everyone ends up, they’ll find their people.

crazycrofter · 26/03/2022 15:16

@cariadambyth dd is going to firm Nottingham, which is fine as it absolutely suits her - she’s very sociable. But earlier on in the process she refused to consider any non-RG (except Bath!), mainly because of school friends’ opinions. It was very annoying although for her it doesn’t matter - I’m glad your dd has gone with her gut feeling. Hope things work out for the best with your dd too @Alsoplayspiccolo

cariadambyth · 26/03/2022 15:42

Ah, Nottingham, of course. It seems lots of people are very taken by it, my sister did her law school year there about 20 years ago and loved it.

Original poster
OrangeCinnamonCroissant · 26/03/2022 16:48

For History @cariadambyth it has a great rep! Another button pressed !

OP posts:
singingstones · 26/03/2022 17:50

DS has pressed the button, firmed Nottingham at AAB and insured Aston at BBB. He loved Aston at the open day but Nottingham has been his plan for a while and the lure of some of his friends potentially studying there too won out. I feel like he's in a win-win situation as he will be chuffed with Nottingham but Aston would be a great (maybe better?) fit for him. Or I should say, win-win-lose as of course he may not get into either of them. BBC or worse is more than possible and he is hopeless at predicting how well he has done in exams so we will be kept guessing until 18 August.

He had a maths mock recently and got 76% in the pure paper so that's encouraging, but isn't looking forward to receiving his applied mark as the paper was "an absolute joke, mate".

We have also applied for finance so Nottingham accommodation is the next job in a couple of weeks.

For everyone still waiting 🤞🤞🤞

crazycrofter · 26/03/2022 18:00

Well done to your ds @singingstones, two good options there. Aston seems very overlooked on here, but I’ve worked with lots of really good Aston graduates.

kiwiandcherries · 26/03/2022 18:14

It's so exciting reading through the thread and seeing so much progress with offers and dc firming favourite choices!

We are just back from our fifth and final interview and so now just have a wait to see if an offer comes through. Looking forward to her being able to make some decisions and take the next step.

EventuallyDelighted · 26/03/2022 18:27

Sorry, been AWOL for a few days, post-covid fatigues is still making itself felt.

@Oblomov22 - well done to your DS! No advice from me as I don't know anything about accountancy but clearly many on here do.

@Delphigirl - so sorry about your DH's accident

@singingstones = sorry to hear about the teacher arrest, it's sickening. A former friend of DH's who was a teacher was found guilty of the same thing, we found out from the tabloid press, just awful.

@cariadambyth and @Alsoplayspiccolo - DS also applied to RHUL for history, but for him it's the other way round and we felt that even foundation entry might be punching above his weight so at the moment it's in the reject pile.

I think we are creeping closer to a decision though. We went to Chichester offer holder day today today, and while I have been really impressed with their offering, DS doesn't think it's the right place for him.

Seeline · 26/03/2022 20:21

UCAS must have had a busy day - DD also pushed the button today! UEA (AAB) firmed and Kent (BBB) insurance.

Fruitygal · 26/03/2022 20:46

Hope Bristol was good today! DDs tutor started there as an undergrad and now is doing his PhD there and loves it!

Sent friend off to Leicester uni today with her DS year 12 as he’s looking at Astro physics and Leicester as really solid insurance .Waiting to hear back from them as to how it went? Leicester was in number 5 position! It’s their first
open day x

Fruitygal · 26/03/2022 20:47

@Seeline have friends at UEA and DS1 had Keele as 1st choice - so exciting!!

Fruitygal · 26/03/2022 20:51

@crazycrofter My first fiancée was an Aston graduate for his PhD. Currently working snd living Switzerland 🇨🇭 as a very senior pharmaceutical executive - Aston was great place that he loved!

Fruitygal · 26/03/2022 20:58

@singingstones Nottingham and Aston fab choices - Nottingham is amazing my dad studied their without the uni I wouldn’t exist …

Fruitygal · 26/03/2022 21:01

*there - goodness never drink Sauvignon - it leads to catastrophic grammar mistakes 🤣😂

singingstones · 26/03/2022 21:30

Oh thank you for the Aston support, don't hear much about it on here but the neuroscience course looks great, very hands on, compulsory year working in industry, I think it would suit DS down to the ground. And 2 hrs away from us, so far enough but still possible to pop up with emergency chocolate shreddies for a quick visit. Pity about the accommodation, which is lovely but all en suite 💰💰😱

HarrietDVane · 26/03/2022 21:55

Hello all!

Bristol was looking glorious in the sunshine, and DD was quite taken with the course. My legs might recover from all the hills in a few days!

I think she might plump for it as her insurance place but she's mulling it over. They've given a surprisingly tempting (contextual) offer of BBC which might well be the deciding factor.

I agree with PP that it would have been helpful to see the accommodation as well.

NCTDN · 26/03/2022 21:56

@HarrietDVane that's an amazing contextual offer for Bristol- what's the course?

Oblomov22 · 26/03/2022 22:17

Well done to Cariad Singing and Seeline. 🔲

(Any suggestions for better button emojis?)

Alsoplayspiccolo · 26/03/2022 22:30

Well done for pressing the button, singing and seeline. Are you relieved?

Fantastic news about Bristol, Harriet - a lovely, comfortable insurance offer.

Sorry you’re suffering from post-Covid effects, Eventually.

sofakingcool · 27/03/2022 02:14

Just catching up on the exciting firm/insurance news Thanks

Sorry you're still struggling with Covid eventually

Fruitygal · 27/03/2022 07:10

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mummies today!! Also sending a hug to everyone who’s mummy isn’t around xx

We have MIL over with FIL today for dinner so I cleaned all day yesterday as house was a tip after NEA focus, very busy with work and all of us being ill with different things in past few weeks. DS2 is coming to see me at lunch before going back home before bed as he has a early start tomorrow. Very excited to have all three DCs together.

Got up for some quiet time before everyone gets up xx

cariadambyth · 27/03/2022 07:48

Gosh, between us we kept UCAS on their toes yesterday! I’m so glad for those of us who have decided, one less thing to have to dwell on. Thinking of those still waiting for offers, a few of dd’s friends are and are beginning to feel a bit despondent so I hope you all get news soon.
I’m glad Bristol was a success yesterday.

BlueMarigold · 27/03/2022 07:51

Excited to see all the news about pushing the button on firm and insurance choices! Congratulations everyone!

BlueMarigold · 27/03/2022 07:51

Happy Mothers Day to you all!

Fonty · 27/03/2022 09:44

Excellent news on DC firming!

We were at Exeter yesterday for their offer day. It was well organised with lots of student led tours. Couldn’t see inside accommodation but stood outside various blocks & apparently there are lots of YouTube tours.

An excellent talk from a vibrant history dept which went into great detail about Exeter life as well as explaining the fact that you can add extra modules from other depts to your degree each year to add depth, which really appealed to DS. Refreshments at the end. Had a quick trip out to Exmouth beach which was just glorious in the sun.
All in all, they went to a lot of trouble to really sell the place.

Accommodation opens 4th April, but is not first come, first served. DS wants to hang on for a little bit just to see if Edinburgh offer, but their open day is next Sat!