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

I asked about accommodation at the Nottingham day yesterday and said I was concerned a lot of it seemed booked up already. They just said that they guaranteed first years accommodation but not necessarily their top choices. DS is not ready to choose Nottingham yet so we have just accepted he'll get whatever he gets. Availability will change massively on results day and they also said they held back some accommodation for clearing anyway.

@Decorhate. yes this is exactly why he didn't apply for it in the first place. The email was emphasising the mechanical parts of it but it is run by the elec eng department so we're really not sure. Clearly there are a reasonable group of kids in the same position if they are doing a day specifically for them, all of whom will have wanted to do mech eng so maybe there is a possibility to skew it a little. I am still not sure it is for him and ultimately I think he will decide it is not for him but at the moment his heart is there and that's hard for him to leave. He's loved it since we visited last summer. It will definitely by a head v heart decision in the end.

As to what he wants to do exactly, no not really. DH is an elec engineer and works with a multi-disciplinary team and DS has liked his work experience there but what exactly he wants to do himself, I think it's a little early to say.

@Decorhate his offer for Warwick is general engineering and Nottingham it's Mechanical engineering so that is yet another choice to make. The final two will be a combo of Bath, Warwick and Nottingham but in what order who knows?!

@22Newnames Some engineering students don’t plan to work as engineers - eg they want to do a good STEM degree & then get a job in finance. Hence my question as it wouldn’t matter too much what the course was if that was the case for your Ds.

I have to say I am fascinated as to why mech eng is so popular in the UK, maybe it’s historical from the days when there was lots of manufacturing industry. Looking at the course modules at Bath I would say there is more overlap with the Civil Engineering course than the one your Ds has been offered!

If he’s really unsure about what field he wants to work in then the Warwick course might suit him better

@Decorhate
Ah, I get the question now. Yes he definitely wants to work as an engineer, just no idea of role or industry yet. Mechanics is the part that interests him most though.

Yes, I think the course at Warwick or Nottingham would probably be best, but he will need to make that decision himself. Bath in his view, and mine to be honest, is by far the nicer university and City though.

I think sadly he needs time to let his dream fade before he can replace it with a different future.

We have just accepted our Nottingham accommodation offer and not paid the £250 deposit as well. DS got his first choice (Broadgate) so we'll see.

What time did your ds apply @ChristopherTracy? Dd has gone from thinking she wanted self-catered to saying now she definitely doesn’t and she’ll be gutted if she doesn’t get Rutland or Sherwood! Her application is still showing as submitted but no decision.

@22Newnames what was it he liked about Bath so much and how much does the course matter to him? Hope it all comes together for him once you’ve visited again.

@crazycrofter I think DS did it when he woke up so probably about 9am on that first day?

Ok thanks @ChristopherTracy - if they’re doing it in order of applications then dd should have heard!

@crazycrofter Fyi I did DS's accommodation application at about 6am on Monday and he got his offer email on Wednesday evening, Broadgate Park, might see you there on drop off day @ChristopherTracy!
(🤞)

I am going to lobby hard for DS' dad to do that @singingstones or hope that DS has got a car by then and can do it himself - my boyf at the time drove me to uni. Parents nowhere to be seen!

Ha good idea Christopher
I have just realised I am working away during the first week so may not be able to do it either.

There's an interesting bit in the ts+cs about bringing your own car / parking - "You must not keep a car at the residence, or within a two mile radius of the residence, except on the dates you move in and move out."
It does say you can get a permit but they are limited and cost £300, according to the website

My dd seems to think that drop off will be a whole family affair. When I said I wasn’t sure if there’d be room for ds plus all her stuff in our (non-family sized) car she looked horrified - apparently he has to be there!

@mummyinbeds, @ChristopherTracy - when you accepted the offer - did it actually mention what building it was in?

In the email it states Rutland but on the website where you accept it just says

Your Accommodation

Location
University Park -
Room Type
En Suite
Catering
Yes - Food charges are included in the Fee Schedule.

and no mention of Rutland (although the amounts the same and dates given etc).

@Heifer we had the same. It only said Rutland in the email. I did make sure we only agreed to 31 weeks though.

Blimey this thread moves so fast sometimes!

@mummyinbeds Wah, we haven't heard anything from Nottingham yet. DS said people at school have been getting them all day but he hasn't had an email. God I hope nothing has gone wrong!

Just read a bit now and see everyone seems to have accommodation offers.

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn which accomodation did your DS apply for. I think some might be slower than others. Don't panic ( easier said than done I know)

@mummyinbeds Lenton&Wortley ensuite + and Lincoln ensuite + first and second and then Cripps, Derby, L&W and Lincoln shared bath+ in that order.

Good Newnames. I'm glad you had such a good day. I totally get the draw you Bath.

Ds has accepted his Notts accom offer.

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn no offer here yet and we applied 8am Monday morning!

Maybe they are just takings bit of time, to come through, Popcorn.

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn I hope he gets what he wants. He's applied for the more popular rooms so maybe that's why it takes longer.

So there was me thinking Dd won't find out her accommodation allocation until after results, but it seems Southampton are making accommodation offers throughout this year. She was allocated her first choice and knows what block she will be in.
She opted for quiet living en-suite at Wessex Lane , which is about 25 min walk from campus (she likes walking and they get a free bus pass). The quiet living was a last minute thing as was the only category available for the cheaper ensuite. She said she was inclined to put it first as she'd rather party outside her own flat !
Have also worked out that the trains go past the halls. Occasionally DH drives them on that route so he can give her a toot !

I know there’s been previous posts about this, but I’ve missed them so I’ll ask anyway -

Which halls have Brum people opted for?
And has anyone applied for RHUL accommodation? If so, which?

Thanks @Oblomov22.

Have just spent £160 on train tickets for a 4 hour event 😬. (Having declined to add £300 for a hotel room on top ) I am hoping it helps him make his mind up

We will then have the Warwick offer day the weekend after so he will have revisited all and be in a position to choose then 🤞.

To be honest I am just relieved we know the options now, even if DS doesn’t know what he wants, it is now down to him.