Thread 34 Covid Cohort - Heat 'Waving' DC to final exams and drinking more

[OrangeCinnamonCroissant]

...water

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. It's all relative!

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 continue down various pathways ( employment, apprenticeships, higher ed) We have decided for anyone interested they will find a thread within the Further Ed board.

Possibly a move to Parent of Adult Children Board in future? Post Results?

Previous Thread

Hi @icanbewhatiwant 😀

I’ve seen @Piggywaspushed pop up too. Hi 👋🏻 I remembered you from the other thread.😀

Oh hi benji! Lovely to have you on board here Nice to have another sociologist on board! I tried to no avail to get DS to put York first . That would have been funny! York is his insurance.

Older one at Silverstone today.

Welcome @Benjispruce4 !

Has anyone got older kids who’ve done NCS? Is it any good? Ds is going tomorrow for the activity week and camping. He’s currently adamant that he won’t be doing the volunteering week 😩

Oh really? Yes that would have been. DD got offers from Bath, Manchester, Bristol and Chester too. But bf at Leeds so I’m sure that was the main draw. We love York anyway and went for a look in October. Also love Bath but grades a little higher. York is ABB. Predicted A*AA but History is a bit iffy. She’s worried she won’t get a B. Chester is insurance and I know nothing about it . She picked it without telling us!

How did your DS get on? You dropped off that thread which was a shame as I always enjoyed your input.

Thanks @crazycrofter .DD1 looked into it but her tribe weren’t doing it so she didn’t bother. Shame really.

I didn't want to drop off but a certain poster does not share many of my values, shall we say?? And it was stressing me out so I sloped off...lurk occasionally!

DS, who surprisingly is the organiser of his group re holidays snd houses(!) couldn't get any sort of grad job so is now doing an MA in policy (still at Lincoln) with a view to civil service or local Government . What about yours??

Hi @Benjispruce4 - Chester was one of my dd's choices and we were very impressed with the university, their communication and reputation. Hopefully yours won't need her insurance anyway but I just wanted to reassure you that Chester would be a good back up plan!

Welcome @Benjispruce4 ! Ds is hoping for York too, although for maths and. comp science all a slightly different subject space :-)

Hello @Benjispruce4 ! How was Durham Graduation? Or have I already asked that on the Durham thread?

Oh thanks everyone for the warm welcome. Ha ha @Piggywaspushed , 😉 no worries.
Thanks @kiwiandcherries that is reassuring to hear. I’d never heard of it but I’m not very well informed having never been to university myself.
DD1 achieved a 1st at Durham. Always been on the cards , the only possible fly in the ointment was her penchant for partying but she managed to max out in all areas.😂Those on here applying for Durham- she has absolutely loved it and only arrived home this afternoon, very sad to leave. It’s a lovely, small, safe city with so much history. Crap for shops and clubs but Newcastle close by and the college system and bars more than makes up for that. She has a part time wfh Human Resources job that she’s been doing on and off throughout the last year so that will keep her going for now. She has an interview this week too.

@KingscoteStaff not sure. It was fab thanks, very well organised and traditional.

Amazing news benji!

And yours too @Piggywaspushed. What was his degree in? He obviously loved Lincoln. I’m surprised DD didn’t want to do an MA herself. Has your DS had his graduation ceremony?

Hello benji, welcome and thank you so much for the feedback on your DD’s experience at Durham, and her result, go her!

I have a DD who has firmed there. Parties like mad too but then totally gets her head down academically and participates in wide music life for kicks. Has been allocated a great college by all accounts, but won’t decide on whether to go until early Sept after Irish Leaving Cert grades are out, and if she gets an offer for TCD.

I didn’t go to uni either so all new, but so much support here on my constant questions, but right now, all I want to know is where the hell am I buying stuff for later this summer. Typically, they also differ on D being catered and TCD non-catered. Both have pros and cons, but I do know if it is Durham she goes to, it would suit her well. She’s very split.

DD goes on holiday tomorrow. Biggest dilemma here - can I justify watching love island without her?!

No benji, it's in September. He hasn't even had his result yet!

Result announcements vary so much don’t they?
@ealingwestmum I’m happy to answer any Durham questions. DD was at Collingwood which suits her as a little less formal than some colleges. She was catered first year which was reassuring for me but in reality she only made breakfast once or twice a week and mainly at the weekend when it was brunch. The rooms weren’t great considering the cost either but it was me who was more miffed than DD! We actually just had a graduation dinner in the dining room at Collingwood. Students were free of charge and parents £25 each including fizz, 3 courses and all wine. 😋

Thank you on the questions front Benji, I will be sure to ask. Hope the forthcoming interviews go well for her.

And now to getting your DD2 through it all too!

@NCTDN tricky one! I don’t watch it but you could see it as your parenting duty to keep up with it for her??

@crazycrofter DS1 didn't want to do NCS, but some of his friends did and enjoyed it. One of them still meets up with his NCS friends. A neighbour's DD starts gets tomorrow.

Neither of mine have done or are doing NCS, in DS’s case not possible because of Covid, DD just not interested. Both have been through Scouts/Guides and done bronze DofE and felt that was enough of that kind of thing. Friends whose DCs have done it have said it’s been great though.

Welcome @Benjispruce4 - I'm guessing you've been around a while on MN with your use of naice (not ham related though) :-) You will find this group quite different to most others I've experienced on MN.

@crazycrofter sorry about the late bday wishes to your DD, I had forgotten she had already turned 18 ages ago - although now you've said I do remember you mentioning at the time re late family do. Glad it went well.

@NCTDN re love island. I've got to admit I usually watch with DD but she is also on holiday so I'm watching it on my own. It will still be on when she gets back so she can always catch up if she wants to (although I may have to sit through it again)... There is no way I was going to wait for her as it's all over social media etc so hard to see spoilers. I thought I only watched it because I was watching it just for DD - turns out not the case ;-)

Hope everyone has a good week. When do your other children break up from school?

Just dropped ds at NCS departure point and the two best friends he booked to go with have managed to lose their places because they didn’t answer a phone call to confirm their place last week 😩 They’re going next week and he’s gutted. I felt a bit bad leaving him there, even though he’s very independent 😢