Thread 31 Covid Cohort - Hopping through Easter and Revision

[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 30

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

That's great news @Zebracat.

Decisions decisions Zebra!

Hello all: been out of circulation for a few days as down in the West Country on hols Ds heard back from Warwick with a rejection on good Friday of all days. He was gutted for a few hours (despite having not liked it at all when he looked round, but that doesn’t take away the sting of rejection!). We did a flying visit to Exeter (where Ds has an offer but hasn’t visited) en route down. Such a lovely campus - ds was really impressed!

Hi, Ive followed this thread since 2020 but dont post often.
We're visiting Exeter tomorrow, good to hear others have liked it. DD2 is dithering between Exeter and Cardiff ( for 2023 entry as planning a gap year). History and ancient history. She has offers from both, and has already deferred the Cardiff offer. Not emailed Exeter about deferral yet.
She is a bit wary of the "small and posh" reputation of Exeter. Not sure if this is an issue or not?

Button pressed here - Newcatle firm, Bristol insurance. Head down for the tape now - 7 weeks to the first exam...

It’s 5 weeks to DDs first exam followed by one on 24th May and 25th!

@Zebracat

She’s waiting to hear from Cambridge foundation, but doesn’t think she did well in the interviews. She loves the WarwickLiberal Arts course too. But Devon is home so…

Lovely offer @Zebracat! Does she like the idea of being nearer?

Welcome again @pourmeanotherglass Ruby Grainger has a lot to answer for re: Exeter! I've know lots go from lots of different types of families and definitely big enough to find a tribe.

Kids are just kids at that age at the end of the day 'posh' or not. I would be tempted to play that element down as we all have to get along as adults.

I know it can be a worry , Dd is fixated at the moment on kids who may have had music lessons from a very young age also doing her degree, I just keep telling her everyone can bring something to the table and to try not to judge.

5 weeks +1 day until DDs first exam! that is so scary!

Welcome back @pourmeanotherglass. I've heard similar re Exeter but there must be students there who don't fit that criteria.

@KingscoteStaff - well done on button pushing. Was it a hard decision for DD or had she always favouried Newcastle?

DD has 5 weeks+1 until her first exam too - psychology everyone? Then a second on the 25th. She's got 2 more mocks this week....

Good to hear people are still getting offers, and commiserations for those with rejections. And well done to recent button-pushers!

@pourmeanotherglass I think there is an element like that at Exeter, but they’re still a minority. DD’s friend, who went to a comp, is very happy there, in her first year.

@pourmeanotherglass. Exeter does have that reputation, but they work really hard to widen participation, hence our care leavers great offer. I’ve known 2 students from comps who are recent graduates and they made lots of friends and had fun there.
@OrangeCinnamonCroissant. She grew up near there, but we are in the Midlands. We want her to be comfortable, of course, and she has family in the area. So whatever she decides will be ok with us.

Sociology and economics 23 May...

Economics, psychology and English, 23rd, 24th and 25th and then a break until after half term

26 May physics for us and then a break until the week after half term, which has 3 exams in quick succession

Spanish aural on 26 April.

Great offer Zebra!

Sorry to hear about the rejection Isthisnormal

DS seems to think his first exam is Psychology on the 27th. Or @ that date 😳
He's covered with hives still which may or may not be stress - induced. I'm hoping it's not an allergy to his ADHD Pills.

@Zebracat what a lovely Easter surprise for your dd.

Welcome back @Pourmeanother.
Enjoy looking around Exeter.

@KingscoteStaff Great news on the button pushing and on having a choice! Been a tough year.

Like @singingstones just physics before half-term.

DD has Geography on May 27th...gosh all seeming very real now.

Hello all, just catching up after a hellish 2 weeks moving step mother in law. She didn't want to move and would not help us make decisions about anything, wanted me to play Scrabble when we were trying to sort and pack. 5 Luton van loads later, she is in her flat (wanting me to go round every evening), we can't move for stuff in our house - I thought there were 2,000 books and 200 pictures, but there was at least 50% more, along with enough bedding for a small hotel and about 500 batteries (there were some in every drawer, and they had a lot of drawers). @Fonty I think you know the way it is! We are still cataloguing to pick up the valuable stuff before taking 20 car loads to Oxfam!

Exciting to hear about accommodation offers through. We are still keeping everything crossed for an offer from Newcastle, but DS is being great about it. He has also been brilliant in the move, he and his friends have done a lot of the heavy lifting - we couldn't get a removal company as it was all going to different places and we needed to sort as we went along. He is also visiting her, helped by a fairly generous hourly rate!

Physics and further maths before half term here. Then half term followed by 3 the week after, 4 the week after and 3 in the final week. I’d prefer half term to be in the middle rather than after 2/12 exams but clearly I cannot change the calendar!

DS hasn’t done anything at all since Tuesday when DH and I went away. I am so torn between how much to push/nag him and risk alienating him more or whether to step back and risk that he doesn’t step up 🤷‍♀️

He finally had his Covid booster today so I am not nagging but hope he gets back on track when back at school on Weds 🤞🤞

Just looked at DD's exam timetable. All bar two are morning exams starting at 9:00! No sleeping in then...DD seems pleased, will feel like a normal morning - everyone up and out the door.

We have the opposite @Wheresthebeach, nearly all are afternoon exams which pleased me as it means DS should get a good nights sleep and a bit of a lie in. Unfortunately the only morning ones are chemistry which is his worst subject.

I'd prefer afternoon exams because I'm paranoid about traffic holding them up in the morning! Actually I'd prefer exams that start around 10...