Thread 32 - Corona Cohort 'May' the Mumsnet force be with them for their venture to 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 31

CONGRATULATIONS ZEBRACAT !

@Piggywaspushed Did you say anything?

I just contacted the behaviour team. He was charging about the corridors. How nosy of me to notice!
Increasingly, kids take considerable umbrage at being told what to do by a woman. Sigh!

Water off a duck's back to me.

DD (y11) has muck-up day on Friday, I had never heard of this before and unfortunately got rid of all her spare school uniform a few weeks ago so she can't make a full decorated costume as she has to wear it for exams. She can use a shirt but we have no bottom halves spare. Then she's on study leave, she can choose to go into school but has opted for home. She has a prom after the exams.

DS has no muck-up day (different school) and no study leave but even if he did he would want to spend it all at school, his BTEC sport lessons are over now so lots more study periods available. Not heard anything about a prom for DS, but there is talk of a formal dinner, which they all really enjoyed last time they did one.

@Piggywaspushed I'd assumed, 'not a 6th former' meant not a student, I see I'm wrong. Students say silly things like you said, water off a duck's back. Don't let it get to you.

DD has given up waiting for Durham - even if an offer came through now, she wouldn't want it because she says they clearly don't want her and the waiting has completely put her off. I see where she is coming from.
So firm confirmed as Bristol and insurance is Loughborough. It's all getting a bit real now

Congratulations on firming @NCTDN , which accommodation is she going for at Bristol? I was in Manor Hall and although it is a bit dated now, the location is great and I recommend it as a good value option. If she worries about cost she could think about getting onto the hall committee so that she can stay on hall for second year as it is much cheaper than private accommodation (unless you go for fancy en suite)

Congratulations on Firming NCT.

Still waiting for two offers here, with only 6 more working days up to/including the deadline for universities to let people know their decisions. She is getting anxious about it now, and just doesn't want to get an auto-rejection after waiting for 6 months. At least she has Durham in the bag.

I cannot imagine how that must feel for your DD GoldenRuby. Really hoping she gets news by close of week.

@GoldenRubyi don't know why Edinburgh are taking so long, they are a very large university and loads of people are still waiting, so they are going to have a very busy time next week. DS's GF is waiting for Maths and may still decide to withdraw so she can Firm Nottingham and get her accommodation sorted. She emailed last week (in May) and the reply said she would get an update before the end of April! As Edinburgh would be her insurance it is frustrating.

I think it is absolutely awful that people are still waiting at this point. They have been through enough and are facing going into these exams with no experience of sitting public exams.

DS has his mock results. They would have nearly met his Bath offer (A star AA) - 0 5% off an A in physics).He'll be submitting extenuating circumstances form for there.He needs to decide between Southampton and Cardiff for insurance. Southampton AAA and Cardiff AAB. Spoke to Southampton who said they don't take extenuating circumstances into account when giving offers but do if they miss the grade of offer.

Cardiff would be take some of the pressure off I feel. His sister will still be there next year and it will be an easier trip on train from our new house which i think might be sensible as he struggles bit with change.

Southampton is a fair higher in the rankings for Maths but would it make much difference in reality? I think it would be if it were Southampton or Cardiff against Cambridge, Oxford, Warwick, Imperial but not Cardiff v Southampton. I read the recent article about it being what you come out with being the important factor .

If we weren't moving I would probably be thinking Southampton as is close but hopefully we are going. Sorry that's long, would appreciate any thoughts. Thanks.

Tomorrow DD's last day of school...sob.

I think it's awful that kids are still waiting for offers at this stage. They don't need this sort of pressure going into exams (and potential disappointment).

Volterra I haven't a clue about 'rankings' for maths. My gut would be go for the lower offer if your DS doesn't have a strong preference between the two. Congrats on the mock results!

Your ds has done really well @Volterra . I would also encourage Cardiff as an insurance - I’ve never looked into maths degrees, but I’m aware that Bath/Warwick and Imperial are good for maths; other than that I wouldn’t have a clue and I’m sure most employers are the same.

Hope your dd gets an offer or two from the ones she’s waiting for @GoldenRuby

@Volterra unless he has a strong preference for Southampton, I agree that it would be nice to have a "safe" insurance so that if he gets a B there is no stress and he will probably be going to Bath anyway. The way I would look at it is that he is probably confident of an A* in Maths, so the question is whether the other 2 will be AA or AB. If they are AA he goes to Bath and if they are AB he goes to Cardiff without a load of Clearing stress and it is a great university with good student life and low cost of living in a nice scale of city. I don't think there will be a lot of grade flexibility this year as the grades will generous and in this very uncertain world a bit of certainty is helpful!

I too Volterra am disgusted that so many students are still waiting for offers. It just riles me, so unnecessary.

@NCTDN feel sad that your daughter was made to feel that way by Durham. Am sure she will love Bristol and it's a fab uni and great place to live.

@GoldenRuby - hope the offers come in soonest! Is her preferred Durham and you're waiting for insurance?

@Volterra - I would advice my DD to pick Cardiff in your circumstances. Although it is lower in the league table than Southampton, it's still in the top 30 (thecompleteuniversityguide), so still a great uni. Haven't ever heard/read anyone not enjoying Cardiff and it will be 1 less thing to worry about grade wise.

Completely off topic - I need to some desserts to a surprise party at the weekend - any suggestions? any go tos that are easy to make or anything harder but worth the effort?

@Heifer she is waiting for St Andrews and Edinburgh, which will both ask for higher grades than Durham. I think she prefers Durham to Edinburgh, but loved St Andrews when we visited last summer so it will be a really difficult decision if she does get an offer. The Scottish ones are for her preferred subject combination though whereas Durham was a tactical compromise (swapping Geog for Sociology to go alongside Anthroplogy makes the requirements 2 grades lower, as I think it is just less oversubscribed).

Thank you all very much, that helps a lot and I really appreciate it.

@Heifer my current favourite is almond and berry traybake with a citrus glaze. Get asked for recipe every time I make it. Recently I have swapped the mixed berries for frozen raspberries and chocolate drops (dark and white). www.theguardian.com/food/2021/mar/13/tamal-ray-one-tin-brown-butter-almond-and-berry-traybake-recipe

Is it a posh party, heifer?
If not, pizookie is fun. Everyone dives in with a spoon, or you can portion it out.

glutenfreeonashoestring.com/gluten-free-pizookie/

I don't make it gluten free; I just use ordinary cloud and omit the xanthem gum.

That tray bake sounds delicious, Monkey!

@Heifer Great news about extra time. Well done for fighting for it.

I am also fuming on behalf of those still waiting

@Heifer my go to no stress pud would be cheesecake (lemon is my favourite) or pavlova, especially now when strawberries are beginning to taste delicious again.

More effort but more spectacular - I recently made Mexican impossible cake - it's a layer of chocolate sponge and a layer of sort of set custard (but not really custard) that cook in the same tin but swap places while they're cooking. The sponge starts on top and ends up on the bottom. Cake itself is easy and no bother but it needs a Mexican caramel sauce which needs stirring for 45 mins I think. Or you could buy a caramel sauce and save the bother of that bit.
It seems ridiculous and impossible (ha) but I have made it twice and it's worked fine. Got some oohs and aahs.

https://www.aspicyperspective.com/chocoflan-impossible-cake/

Heifer: Eton Mess. Ds2 had made it 3 times recently.

Pineapple upside down cake?

What about more posh : Monica Galetti : Dark Chocolate & Pear Tart, paired with a Hazlenut Coffee Martini.

@Volterra Just echoing what everyone else has said. Simply because it's the 'Insurance' choice, I would choose the safest option of the two and that is Cardiff.....
(and my ds1 is there thoroughly enjoying it).