Thread 36 - Covid Cohort from GCSE 2020 - The Final Countdown to Results Day for Some?

[CinnamonOrangeCremeBrulee]

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

I'm not sure if DD needs to do anything.

As I said her insurance uni have told her that they have withdrawn her course. She has confirmed that she is not interested in the alternative option. They say that if she doesn't get her firm on results day, they will release her straight into clearing. We have checked UCAS and it is still showing as her insurance choice.

I'm thinking it would be better if the insurance just withdraw their offer rather than her application going to them if she doesn't get her firm and then them having to release her on results day. Sounds like there is a chance of things going very wrong and potentially missing out on clearing options?

@CinnamonOrangeCremeBrulee but it was ever thus, mums are nearly always the ones managing behaviour, reminding them about homework and music practice, trying to sort table manners, trying to stop them from fighting in public, the only involvement he had with school was occasional pick-ups and parents evenings, plays, concerts. Dads often get to be the nice guy!

This seems to imply there isn't a deposit @ealingwestmum ? Although I'm probably looking in wrong place. Some Uni's don't have them.

www.dur.ac.uk/student.finance/current/costs/accommodation/

@Seeline she will be able to self-release if the insurance offer becomes unconditional. Really don't worry, I don't think you can do anything about Clearing on UCAS until the afternoon anyway. Have you read the TSR guide I linked (just the first post of thread?

www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7234549

It was indeed me Orange. I completely empathise with you. I HAVE booked a celebratory meal out (but really, given that we did that for Cambridge day and she got rejected?), blah blah. It pisses me right off. I didn’t share on this thread, because it’s so emotive, but when DD got her Cambridge feedback, amongst lots of generic WP stuff (which we totally get and agree with), they said that she fell into the top 5% but yet they couldn’t offer her a place, that she would do very well wherever she went for UG and that they would welcome her for PG.

I and DD thought this was very decent feedback (given that she is privileged re private Ed), she will make the most of UG but the option was a nice touch and that they didn’t have to add this. After all C is not known for its compliments. But, DH read this in a completely different way.

Whilst I get p’eed off with DD in many ways, I will always go out to bat for her, rather than stand on the side line saying if only she’d have done this or that. So with you all the way Orange, go book that table, and enjoy, whatever the outcome!

Oh what Monkey said, with less words (and drama) :)

Thank you for the link Orange, I may have even dreamt it but that page is encouraging. DD normally forwards me her uni email and I remember there being something about £200 or £300 payable in advance post results, but we can't find the reference right now for me to see if we can hold off, bar accepting the uni place to cover the lag to 8 Sept, and then potentially withdraw.

I don’t know how Ds will react if he doesn’t get his firm. Lots of his friends are due to go there (or other uni in same city). There are not many of the same course in clearing unis that I think he would be happy with though his insurance is. Nothing at all for his firm uni. He may decide that he prefers something slightly different at another uni in the same city.

Before next Thursday we also need to check in on cariadambyth's Casper to see how his BLW/spoon 🥄 feeding whilst negotiating clearing goes.

And how whoamitojudge's DD is getting on Cabin Crew 👩‍✈️ wise. ✈️

After 4 A level results days in 3 years (yep October 2020 exams here too), it is good to be an observer this year with both DC settled at university.

DD decided the week before results to take a gap year and deferred her entry to university, only to then totally change course and university during the gap year.

DS was set on one course and one university only. He had a very achievable offer of BBC from a non-RG university and saw that his course was in clearing prior to results. On results day (algorithm year 2020) he was rejected and ended up in clearing. He was given ACC by his school and non-RG uni would not accept him so his only choice was to do the October exams. A year later he had AAB and is one year in to his first (and only) choice course having sat his exams exceeded the grades needed.

DD made this short video about the clearing process that might be worth watching.

Not a chance!!

I've ben very lax on these threads, probably because back in 2020 I would have thought the chances of ds going to university would be minimal.

But here we are. Ds Has virtually forgotten results are next week as he is away with NYMT (that's a whole other thread) & their show show opens tonight.

His offer is very achievable but her has an unconditional insurance offer in place too (just no accommodation there). DSA assessment done. It's getting scarily close.

He has to wait until 12 noon for his results as his college give A levels at 9am and Btecs at noon!

Anyone else getting results tomorrow? DD. has 2 A level results tomorrow and one next week along with DS all next week. It feels like an extended form of torture especially for DC with anxiety disorders

Nice to see you back @Comefromaway ! Your DS Orchestra pit dreams seem to be going well!

Thank you for the vid and good news story @Oldowl !

Good to hear fromyou @Comefromaway I too only dipped in and out very occasionally in the early days of these threads because I thought DS may well not get through GCSEs and onto A levels let alone university due to his SNs. I remember feeling crushed on the year 6 SATS threads in a similar situation, fortunately these threads have been MUCH nicer and DS has exceeded expectations.

@Oldowl glad the resits worked out so well for your DS, I will have a look at the video later.

DD school just sent the following link saying it may be useful.

linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2funiversity.springpod.com%2fclearing&c=E,1,hbeHaOMAURIV-dyfWfPwNZBaswtRxzL4fg8zzoMTwDB2H9_tMmGGIJrbU590OU1HzsbxCF9fwRD7gncu-Na6IlfFtIuhwMRERT2aANamxkTvk6GK0aiCpnBu&typo=1&ancr_add=1

How can they get a level results tomorrow?

Some international boards used to release results early?

Thunder and lightning forecast for DD's school postcode 8.30am next Thurs...

@ealingwestmum i think you are just going to have to pay the deposit and prepare to lose it, but you could phone Durham up on a no-names basis now and ask them. It may be that if they can refill the accommodation (which they are bound to, frankly) you might get your deposit back, but you want to hear that from them and it will be easier to catch someone now than after results day…

Good to have you back @Comefromaway

I keep trying to engage ds on choosing his third subject for A Levels but he’s being so difficult. He won’t talk about it, doesn’t even know if he might want to go to college instead of the school sixth form (which we’ve not visited, only does a few A Level subjects, offers mainly BTECs), definitely doesn’t want to do any of the transition work at all. He says he will decide on results day!

Whereas dd won’t consider a plan B, she only wants to go to Nottingham!

Haven't been on this thread for ages! Can't believe how quickly results day has come round. Not quite sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing...

DS has today driven himself and friends to Cornwall to Boardmasters. Another day of me fretting. Even though he's a really calm and confident driver, still the thoughts go through my head..

That’s good advice, thank you Delphigirl. Trying not to get ahead of ourselves but need to address some of this stuff (even if just to prepare DH)!

@ealingwestmum DD1 was at Durham and I don’t recall a deposit. Their website was pretty good for FAQs.