Thread 30 Covid Cohort, Mad March Hareing Towards Exams

[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 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

DS applied for student finance over a month ago now, ticked the DSA application box but hasn't heard anything yet. Can anyone who has heard give us an idea of timing and how they communicate please? Just want to ensure nothing has gone wrong!
(DS has firmed Loughborough, insured Strathclyde for Economics).

Did he fill in the DSA application and submit the evidence documents @Chewbecca? You can check the status by logging into SFE. We did it together, then a few days later I thought I'd check and the documents had vanished so I uploaded them again and it was approved very quickly after that.

Sorry if this has already been answered, just catching up - anyone know what time Nottingham accommodation opens on Monday? Have managed to register ok but not sure which of us will be best placed to do the application

@singingstones nobody knows! @heifer has been doing a sterling job keeping on top of the information but I don’t think they’ve revealed when it opens yet!

@singingstones & @crazycrofter - it doesn't seem to be advertised anywhere but when I email back in early March and asked I was told..
"Applications will open in the morning, normally around 8am".

I can see others asking on sm, and they seem to assume it will be midnight as it has been in the past! I really hope not as I am travelling back from Swindon and may not be back by then...

I have asked the question again but received a link to FAQ page (none of which asked re time). The latest email does say they will contact us again when the accommodation portal opens on Monday. So I am guessing it will be from 8.00am - but don't blame me if it opens at midnight ;-) I can see a lot of people being surprised that they have to create the accommotion account first as it doesn't actually tell you that until you go into it. Not very well explain tbh - but I'm hoping it will work to our benefit whilst other try to work it out ;-)

Who is your email from Heifer please? Crazy do you have a phone number? I just think I should be prepared, incase there are problems, and my investigations so far have found no email address, only the contact enquiry form, or
0115 951 3697

Monkey, did you say ages ago that you know of someone who offers private tuition for A level geography?
It might be too late, but DD has mentioned extra tuition might help.

PS my ds was actually in one of my attached photos.

Ds wants to be near Jubilee, so his 3 choices are s/c:
Riverside Point 153.00
Raleigh Park 111.50
St Peters Court 134.00

Riverside is his fave.
But he has taken on board / has not dismissed, what I told him about Heifers amazing suggestion of Rutland at 31 weeks.

Thanks eventually, he did upload at the time but on checking the documents have vanished! He’s uploaded again now. Thanks again.

When we were at the Nottingham OHD, we met a student in a 31 week hall (can’t remember which) and whilst she was happy with the price, she did complain that totally emptying the room was a pain in the butt and it actually made me keen on halls where they get to move in for the whole academic year.

Thanks for the Nottingham info, or at least flagging the lack of it! Not sure either of us will be awake at midnight and DS will be on his way to school at 8am on Monday but I could probably do it for him then if necessary. Yes, it does take a little while to sort the login and create an account, hopefully that will put us ahead of the pack!

I thought I'd do an update as there has been so much news lately, I'm sure I've missed some of it:

@22Newnames / DS / Engineering / Lincoln (U/C), Nottingham (AAB), Warwick (AstarAA-AAA) Bath
@Alsoplayspiccolo / DD / English Lit + Film, Liberal Arts / Reading (BCC), Birmingham (AAB), RHUL (ABB), Southampton (ABB)
@AnneofCleavage / DD / gap year + Primary Education / FIRM: Chichester, INSURANCE: Oxford Brookes (104 pts)
@Appuskidu / DD / Psychology / Nottingham, Birmingham
@BlueMarigold / DD / Biology / FIRM: Birmingham (AAA-AAB), INSURANCE: Lincoln (U/C)
@CaliforniaDrumming / DS / Economics / FIRM: UCL, INSURANCE: Nottingham
@Cantonet / DS / Sports Science / Oxford Brookes, Bangor, Surrey (DMB), Aberystwyth
@cariadambyth / DD / History / FIRM: RHUL (BBB), INSURANCE: Bath Spa (U/C)?
@Chewbecca / DS / Economics / FIRM: Loughborough, INSURANCE: Strathclyde
@ChristopherTracy / DS / Mech Eng / FIRM: Nottingham (ABB), INSURANCE: QMUL (ABB)
@collywobble / DS / PPE, Economics / Lancaster (ABB), Loughborough (AAB), Leeds (AAA-AAB)
@crazycrofter / DD / Psychology / FIRM: Nottingham (ABB), INSURANCE: Southampton (ABB)
@Decorhate / DS / Economics + Politics / FIRM: Leeds (AAA), INSURANCE: Sheffield (AAB)
@Delphigirl / DS / Oceanography / gap year + ACCEPTED: Dalhousie (CC), Southampton (ABB), Cardiff (BBB-BBC), Plymouth (112 pts)
@DoggerelBank / DS / Biotechnology / Bristol (ABB), Leeds, Glasgow (AAB), Edinburgh, Manchester
@ealingwestmum / DD / Middle Eastern & European Studies / Bristol (ABBM2), Manchester (ABBM2), Leeds (ABM2), Durham, McGill, TCD
@esterfrewen / DS / History / FIRM: Cambridge, INSURANCE: Lancaster (BBC)
@EwwSprouts / DS / Biology / FIRM: Durham (AAA), INSURANCE: Sheffield (AAB)
@EventuallyDelighted / Environmental Management / FIRM: RAU (56 pts), INSURANCE: Winchester (104 pts)
@Fiddlersgreen / DS / Journalism / Bournemouth (104pts), Brighton (BCC), Cardiff (ABB), Sheffield (ABB)
@Fonty / DS / History / Birmingham (AAB), Exeter (AAA), Edinburgh
@Fruitygal / DD / Biology / FIRM: Durham (AAA), INSURANCE: Sheffield (AAB-ABB)
@GoldenRuby / DD / Social Anthropology + Geography / Sussex (ABB-BBB), Durham (AAB), St Andrews, Edinburgh, Exeter
@HarrietDVane / DD / MFL / Warwick (ABB), Bristol (BBC)
@Hattifatteners / DD / Vet Med / Nottingham (AAB), Bristol
@Heifer / DD / Biology / FIRM: Nottingham (AAB), INSURANCE: York (BBB)
@HibiscusIsland / DD / Biology / Nottingham, Southampton, Surrey, Bristol, Warwick
@Horace123 / DS / Classics / Oxford (39/666), Edinburgh (34/665), Exeter (36), UCL (36), Durham (37/666)
@icanbewhatiwant / DS / History + Philosophy / FIRM: Sussex (DBC), INSURANCE: Gloucestershire (112 pts)
@Isthisjustnormal / DS / Comp Sci / York (AAA), Exeter (AAA), Warwick, Bath
@JustHereWithMyPopcorn / DS / Law / FIRM: Nottingham (AAA), INSURANCE: Birmingham (AAA)
@KingscoteStaff / DD / Medicine / Bristol, Newcastle, Birmingham, Barts, Nottingham (biochem/med sci)
@kiwiandcherries / DD / Primary Education / FIRM: Winchester, INSURANCE: Gloucestershire
@Knickerthief1 / DD / Child Nursing / York
@Monkey2001 / DS / Medicine / Newcastle
@mummabear74 / DD / Environmental Science / York (AAB), Southampton (ABB), Cardiff (BBB-BBC), Nottingham (ABB)
@mummyinbeds / DS / Law + French Law / FIRM: Nottingham (AAA), INSURANCE: Warwick (AAB)
@Nard75 / DS / Maths / Aston (BBC), Birmingham (AAA), Nottingham (AAB), Manchester, Warwick (AstarAstarA)
@NCTDN / DD / Liberal Arts / Bristol (ABB), Warwick (AAA), Loughborough (ABB), Manchester (AstarAA), Durham
@Oblomov21 / DS / Accountancy / FIRM: PwC Nottingham, INSURANCE: PwC Reading
@OrangeCinnamonCroissant / DD / Music / FIRM: Southampton (BBB), INSURANCE: Cardiff (ABB-BBB)
@PaddingtonPaddington / DD / Music / FIRM: RWCMD (EE)
@Piggywaspushed / DS / Social Sciences / FIRM: Birmingham (AAB-ABB), INSURANCE: York (AAB-ABB)
@ProggyMat / DD / Classics / FIRM: Oxford (AAA), INSURANCE: UCL (AAB)
@SandyBayley / DD / Medicine / Oxford (39/766), Newcastle, Leeds, Bristol
@sazzy5 / DS / Sport + Exercise Med Sci / FIRM: Exeter (AAA)
@scabby1 / DS / Economics + Politics / York (AAB), Nottingham (AAA), Leeds (AAA), Bristol (AAA)
@Seeline / DD / Liberal Arts / FIRM: UEA (AAB), INSURANCE: Kent (BBB)
@Shadedog / DS / History / UCL, LSE, Edinburgh, Newcastle
@Shimy / DS / Management, Business + Management / Birmingham (AAB-ABB), Loughborough, Warwick (AstarAA), Bath
@singingstones / DS / Neuroscience / FIRM: Nottingham (AAB), INSURANCE: Aston (BBB)
@sofakingcool / DS / Business, Economics / FIRM: Reading, INSURANCE: Bournemouth
@TangoWhiskyAlphaTango / DD / Politics + IR / FIRM: Bath (AAB), INSURANCE: Nottingham (ABB)
@Volterra / DS / Maths / Exeter (AstarAA), Bath (AstarAA), Southampton, Cardiff
@whatsnext2 / DD / English joint hons / FIRM: Reading (BBB), INSURANCE: Swansea
@Wheresthebeach / DD / gap year + Marine Biology / Swansea, Portsmouth (U/C), Southampton, Plymouth, Liverpool
@whoamitojudge / DD / Cabin crew training completed and flying high!
@Zebracat / DD / Liberal Arts, History+ / Warwick (ABB), Birmingham (ABB-BBB), RHUL with foundation (CCC), Cambridge Arts Foundation, Exeter
@ZittiEBuoni / DD / applying 2023 tbc

@NCTDN

Nottingham looks lovely! I can see it suiting DS in a couple of years time. He's not a city person like DD.

It is lovely , I'm feeling a bit annoyed at Dd for dismissing it

Great news @oblomov22

Thanks @singingstones that's brilliant! 7 of us with Nottingham as firm so far....

@Chewbecca it is going to be a pain emptying the room at Christmas and Easter, but we'll only be just over an hour away so don't mind doing the journey and we wouldn't be able to afford the 39 week catered. I know in years 2 onwards students often stay in the holidays, but certainly in our day 1st years didn't. I'm thinking after 12 weeks in a hall of residence they'll probably be ready to come home and recharge! So it does seem a bit of a con having to pay for weeks they won't be there...

@Monkey2001 hope the move is going OK and DS birthday weekend too !

I loved the Nottingham campus, I wanted to move into catered halls there myself. Sadly DS decided the course he’d applied for wasn’t the right one so it was ruled out. We had a fantastic meal in the city centre too at Iberico World Tapas if anyone is visiting.

@Oblomov22

Who is your email from Heifer please? Crazy do you have a phone number? I just think I should be prepared, incase there are problems, and my investigations so far have found no email address, only the contact enquiry form, or 0115 951 3697

@Oblomov22 - it was an email from Laurent Duval, Accommodation Officer in response to me filling out the enquiry form.

DD also had a generic email on Friday evening with these links.
www.nottingham.ac.uk/accommodation/contact.aspx?dm_i=5IL5,HMBQ,3MHXL9,25FN5,1
www.nottingham.ac.uk/contact/?dm_i=5IL5,HMBQ,3MHXL9,25FN5,1
the 2nd link has a general phone number on but it won't be open in time to help :-(

@Chewbecca

When we were at the Nottingham OHD, we met a student in a 31 week hall (can’t remember which) and whilst she was happy with the price, she did complain that totally emptying the room was a pain in the butt and it actually made me keen on halls where they get to move in for the whole academic year.

@Chewbecca - I'm expecting DD to moan like mad at Christmas after packing her room up if she does get Rutland but it's £2k cheaper so I'm willing to risk it... we are 2.5 hrs away but DH will go and collect her in his van and help. I will have to keep reminding her £2000, £2000 think of all the clothes, makeup and booze that can buy :-)

Singing I didn't give you an update on ds's offers.

Nottingham ABB Firm
Reading AAB Insurance
QMUL AAA
Durham ABB
Southampton ABB

He's also still got his BDO Apprenticeship Job - 3 x A*-C.

Bit worried that his insurance is higher than his firm. Still can't quite get over the fact he's rejected Durham.

Thanks Oblomov.
He has done so well! You must be super proud
Good for him turning down Durham, he has got bigger fish to fry!
Hope everyone firming Nottingham makes their offer, we will need a secret signal for dropping off days. I have my doubts about DS and whether his current level of commitment is enough to get AAB but we'll see. He keeps telling me to "chill, mate" so I am doing my best. Insurance choice Aston would also be great for him, so if he can manage BBB it will all work out ok.

Thanks, Singing. DD also has offers from Bath (AAB), Birmingham (ABB) and Liverpool (BBB). Birmingham said they would reduce the offer to BBB if she made it her firm choice - contextual offer.

DD was poised to make her final decisions today but the Ucas website is down - hopefully she'll be able to press the button soon!

Just picked up on the thread again as DD firming today but UCAS is down until 6pm tomorrow. She put down Portsmouth as her 5th choice and received an unconditional offer but has decided to firm for Southampton with Cardiff as insurance. With Southampton accommodation opening Monday she was keen to get UCAS sorted.

We keep getting an error on student finance when we're trying to upload our financial details. Has this affected anyone else? They've advised us to complete and post back a paper application but I'd much rather do it online.

We've had more success with her DSA application and waiting to hear back from them.

It's all becoming very real now. Not yet sure how we'll cover the accommodation costs. DD suffers with anxiety and needs an ensuite as her anxiety upsets her stomach so that's an extra too.

Just done Birmingham accommodation. En suite definitely beyond our price acceptability at Birmingham!

DS1 wouldn't have liked that - he gets stomach anxiety too.

I was a bit surprised DS2 didn't ask for a quite room but he seems up for being put in party central.

Thank you @singingstones! It’s lovely to see so many people have already chosen their firm and insurance.

@singingstones year 11 ds tells me to ‘chill mate’ too He also assured me yesterday that he will definitely get really good grades - because he will definitely revise enough this time We will see… it slightly concerns me that both my kids have gone with the ‘see how well I do in the mocks with minimal revision’ approach!

@Piggywaspushed good choice, I’ve heard too many stories of students in quiet flats barely emerging from their rooms, which would make it hard to make friends.

@Oblomov22 I haven’t phoned anyone at Nottingham I’m afraid.