Thread 38 Covid Cohort, After Results Day

[CinnamonOrangeCremeBrulee]

ALL our children are heroes of their own stories, they have thrived through a once in a century catastrophe and they will succeed

This is a support thread for our young adults post GCSEs 2020, regardless of their educational setting, and their results (life updates for those who went into work or have had results earlier). 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 Sept?

Previous thread

www.mumsnet.com/talk/further_education/4613457-thread-37-covid-cohort-2020-results-thread-heroes-of-their-own-stories

Good work on the bank account @OverlySensitive, you are a step ahead of us!

I did buy a mattress topper, duvet and pillows the other night, DS doesn't even know about that yet. He is probably expecting to take his (single) bed set from home to use on his (3/4) uni bed. Who am I kidding, this will not have crossed his mind..

@Monkey2001 that sounds so familiar. Right down to the wrong door! I dropped dd off for an interview at a shop in retail park, it was on a Sunday evening so the shops were closed. I pulled up in front of where the shops were, she got out, I was reversing out of the space and then when I looked up she was stood outside of the wrong shoe shop. It was closed and she was talking to one of the staff through the glass. I had to beep to get her attention and point to the correct shop.

Also question myself over whether she should have had an assessment. No one else has ever mentioned it and I've kept my thoughts to myself, but now I'm starting to worry a bit about how she will cope at uni and hoping all the techniques we've developed over the years to make life more manageable will work when I'm not there to prompt her. Despite never mentioning it to her, the other week we were talking about a younger acquaintance who claims to have autism amd I was running through the typical symptoms and pointing out how she was pretty much the opposite to most of them. I jokingly said 'you on the other hand' about one of them, and dd said 'yeah I think I probably am autistic, I was researching the traits for a story a while ago and realised a lot of them are the things we always say about me'.

Anyway, I hope his first day goes well despite the frantic start!

Thank you @singingstones You are ahead of us with bedding though!! I keep getting a not yet, not yet here. Think I will just go ahead a buy them like you have done.

Dd hasn't shown a great deal of interest in preparing practically yet, although it has only been a few days and they have been busy so maybe I'm being unrealistic in my expectations.

I have opened her student bank account, changed her uni on UCAS, attempted to make her an appointment for contraception (none available for the next 4 weeks online!!! She needs to ring them and find out if this is really the case), applied for a railed card, identified some duvet covers she might like based on her vague description and set up a studentbeans account so she can get discount at dunelm, and started on a packing list.

Im feeling a bit on edge waiting for her accommodation allocation, as not knowing what type of room she'll have is impa Ted on my ability to plan effectively.

I'm back at work tomorrow and will appreciate the distraction from all things university I think. 😂

DH is telling me not to go ahead and buy things and that DS needs to make an effort and put the work in too 😂

Those who’ve opened the bank account, did anyone go with HSBC? We did the application on Saturday and it got to the point where we took a photo of DS’s ID and then it seemed to crash and take us back to the beginning so we tried again but this time it didn’t ask for ID just we ended up being on a page which said they’d be in touch. No account number or confirmation email or anything. I’m also concerned that it may have run 2 credit checks

Primark is your friend for blacks! Although I really struggled to get ds a short sleeved black shirt for NYMT showcase (rare occasion that the band was onstage and it was boiling hot so he didn't want a long sleeved shirt! Who knew age 15 (mens shirts are too big) short sleeved black shirt that can be worn with a tie was so difficult to get hold of!

My DD tried to upgrade her normal bank account through the app and it didn't work! After some discussion she's decided that she will just stick with her old one, as she has already given the account details for SLC, rent, etc. If she needs an overdraft she'll have to rethink... she already has a railcard etc.

Turns out that my DW is going to the uni city (Cambridge) for work next week and so DD is going along. She'll check out the location of shops near her accommodation, and has even arranged to meet a course-mate to visit an art exhibition together. Then will explore the city a bit.

DD has always been a "casual clothes" girl with no interest in clubbing etc. However, she has used birthday cash to buy some quirky retro stuff and is aiming for a bit of an "eccentric art student" vibe. It's amazing to see how she's really growing into herself.

She'll do paperwork as soon as the email comes through, I hope.

@Fiddlersgreen yes I opened a HSBC student account for dd. I didn't get asked to upload any ID and it took about 24 hours for the email to come through saying the account is open and documents would arrive in the next week (although dd did get a text soon after I applied online).

We've gone with HSBC. It was really easy to open but then we were asked to take proof of address into the branch and it turned out to be a bit of a faff! Eventually we got it sorted. Remember if they do 3 transactions within 30 days of opening they get £100.

Sorry 5 transactions not 3!

Re balls. DD1 was at Durham and they had a few. It the girls just got long ‘going out dresses’ from their regular online stores.
DD been with Bf or work over weekend but popped in yesterday to get her tennis racquet and we did the accommodation request. She seemed bright and breezy but when I asked how she felt she said she’s not thinking about it! So who knows! Her biggest worry was always making friends and missing home. So at least she will be much nearer. Think I’m just going to get her to focus on completing the first week as it’s a bit overwhelming.

@horrificbiology thats part of DD’s profile, good luck with your DS. It’s hard for them and us, DD is very bright but couldn’t access education easily and we had to apply for an EHCP at secondary for her

DD and I attempted to apply for a student account via her app with Barclays but it just said she wasn’t eligible but didn’t say why, didn’t even ask for the UCAS code either. There is no number to phone and it can’t be done in the branch so that’s unhelpful. Going to try HSBC later this week instead, tempted by the £100.

Went shopping Saturday and after 7 shops DD could not find a duvet cover that she liked - anyone would think she was buying something highly important. We did get a small saucepan with a lid and managed to sort out her child trust fund account so worth the trip.

DD needs black concert clothes which she has 3 sets of thankfully from various music tours and concerts. Also she needs some non black performance clothes for recitals so will need to find something for that.

DD has never been clubbing as only recently 18 (and we live in the middle of nowhere) so no idea what she’d wear. I’ve been trying to say she needs clothes that don’t require ironing and will withstand a tumble drier but that’s falling on deaf ears.

For DD1 Durham students were very casual. Leggings, sweatshirts/hoodies / fleeces joggers and puffer jackets in winter. Girls wore little vests underneath, trainers etc. On student nights they sometimes wore that stuff in bars and clubs . Only really dressed up for special nights and events.

Thanks for this @Cafeconleche . Which halls was your DS in?

@crazy, the amount currently due and payment dates are shown on your accommodation contract (in accommodation portal), and it show other options here
www.nottingham.ac.uk/academicservices/currentstudents/fees-information/how-and-when-to-pay-student-fees.aspx

@crazycrofter - don't worry about emailing for payment plan just yet - DD's just got a reply saying it will take 10 days to deal with her email - and then says if asking for a payment plan - wait until they have loaded 22/23 onto the DD's portal as they haven't done it yet - and then email again once it;'s there to request a change. For info there are 2 options for payment plan, 1, 3 equal instalments or 2. 9 monthly Oct - June.

@Seeline he was in Crome Court. He’s just told me that all the major supermarkets delivered to the campus and the drivers would call/text when they were outside the front door of the halls.

I think we will definitely want 9 monthly as that is how exdp and I are going to put the money into DS account? Otherwise it will always be out of whack.

We could open a student account as we didnt have our 4 digit code?

Re: the DSA equipment is it via an email to Ds? Or do we have to check the student finance portal?
I've done nothing about it yet as I wasn't sure what was happening this year.
DS is totally jet lagged & I can't get any sense out of him. He slept all day yesterday & has now been awake all night. I need him to stay awake for the orthodontist. Dd1 is doing vet rotations today & fainted mid-consult after 3.5 hours sleep due to jet lag 😨 So she's been sent home & is totally embarrassed.

@Cafeconleche That's where DD is going! I don't suppose you/he has any photos of his room that you would be willing to show me? The website only has Barton and I think they are different. Trying to work out what storage there is etc and how the bathroom is set up! Are there any essentials recommended for CC in particular? Good to know all supermarkets are available.

@ChristopherTracy

Found this BP info from last year which is quite useful, can't see this year's yet

www.uppbroadgatepark.com/wp-content/uploads/simple-file-list/Student-Arrival-Guide-21-22-copy.pdf

DD has her accommodation sorted for Newcastle. I'm usually really sniffy about social media, but watching her join the WhatsApp groups for her halls, fill in the spreadsheet with her flat number and instantly make contact with people in her block / on her floor / in her flat fills me with awe!

Yes that's very good isn't it...

Thanks @mango0 and @OverlySensitive I will give it a few days and then try and chase with hsbc if he hasn’t heard from them