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

@Benjispruce4 The family friend that went to NTU is nothing like what you described. Quiet girl, studious & friendly very active in student liaison etc. Not a party girl at all and she found her tribe. I think as with all universities, you will always find your type but people tend to exaggerate the noisy side of things. Leeds, for instance, is supposed to be a cesspit of drugs and alcohol yet friend's DD that went there is the most level-headed none partying person you could meet. DS1 is at Cardiff and that too is meant to be 'party central'...except he hasn't been to any.

Hand written recipe book is a fantastic idea - I have been trying to think of meaningful gifts that will not make DS cringe - also something DH can do as he is the main cook.

Do people just use a standard A5 spiral notebook or are there fancier options?

Thanks @CinnamonOrangeCremeBrulee & @singingstones.
Just dipping in as it's DS's birthday. My parents have already popped round. We are taking DS for a seafood lunch as a celebration for birthday/exams. He's meeting mates late afternoon for first pub crawl.

@Seeline and @Piggywaspushed I’ve spent the last 6 months fumbling over the name of DS’s course, which got changed in the middle of A levels when they cancelled the version he had opted for. Originally it was Environmental Conservation and Heritage Management, now it’s Wildlife Conservation and Countryside Management. Great news about DS1 Piggy.

DS has just done his student bank account application. Quick break and then he is going to unpack his DSA laptop, he didn’t want to jinx himself opening it before results day. He needs to set up logins on various softwares and book some online training.

Having said we’ll give Ikea a miss because of distance it has just occurred to me that we can detour to the Reading one easily on the way to Cirencester on Monday, so list making is happening and anything we don’t get will be Sainsburys / Argos. Also if it’s too busy we won’t stay long

Thanks @Shimy . I know what you say is true . Just need to convince DD.

Happy birthday to little sprout!

It's a fantastic idea!

DD asked for a copy of our no-frills cookbook (the Dairy Book of Home Cookery) and is looking forward to self-catering. Wonder how long that will last?

@Benjispruce4 I think Bristol and Leeds might be top of the drugs league. Hope she gets some great accommodation. I think somebody on WIWIKAU was advertising a room in a private hall in Nottingham they no longer needed which looked great.

I guessed the 3 x A* offer was Manchester. It is the same for Physics, I don't know anywhere else that does it. Although it is a super high offer, universities have to find a way to select for over-subscribed courses and, imperfect as A levels are, at least they are objective. There is no truly fair way of rationing limited spaces.

@singingstones I'm doing DS a little photo book. Just a few pages by themes eg sports teams, friends, one is just his uncle in different daft hats over the years. Not meant to be sentimental, more remember to look outwards.

Of course if you do a handwritten cookery book you would have to use unlined paper so that DD can illustrate it. 🙂

DD asked for a copy of our no-frills cookbook (the Dairy Book of Home Cookery) and is looking forward to self-catering. Wonder how long that will last?

Same @PhotoDad, DS was adamant he wanted self-catering but never cooks, I think the last thing he made was cheese scones in Year 8. So a crash course will be under way shortly and the recipe book will be really useful, can reflect his beginner status!

Nottingham people - in DS's email from the uni there's a link to the department welcome and that has a link to reading lists for each degree (or at least Life Sciences does). Let me know if you want me to post any.

@singingstones there are some fancy ones online with conversion charts etc - I think we’ll go for a spiral one!

@KingscoteStaff yes DP main cook here too. So that’s his job. Although I have been asked to contribute my pizza dough recipe….

DS is currently working through stuff he needs to do online as between work & Leeds Festival he hasn’t got much time!

Actually it looks like mainly life sciences and health sciences who have reading lists - they are optional though.

Eww that's a lovely idea, I will add it to my list!

Hello 😊 This thread has already got a lot of posts on it!

@singingstones I am happy to be on a list.

DS is part of a festival type thing at local pub today and my sister and brother in law are coming up to see it which will be nice 😊 need to tidy the living room a bit - DD did sort out her part of it that was a complete tip. DH gets kitchen duty.

I hope it's ok to post, Ds just got his A level results too and is going to his first choice which is Manchester met.
I'm sure this has probably been mentioned but theirs a few student accounts that offer a free 4 year railcard. I think Ds found it on martin lewis page. Ds is at work so cant confirm with him atm

@singingstones - she’s going to be studying at the Cardiff Campus. I think it is relatively new. I studied at Cardiff Uni and USW didn’t have buildings in Cardiff, then. I went with her to the talk about the course and it looks ideal for her.

@Northumberlandlass I'm making a cookery book too. I haven't chosen the book yet, but I have a list of recipes on my phone.

@EquallyDivided your DS's course sounds great, really interesting.

I've just had an email from my interviewer for my MSc confirming the time, thankfully she also said it will be relaxed and is just to get to know me, so I don't feel any pressure to do lots of research now and can concentrate on packing lists!

Have just seen on the Tesco clubcard website that you can get a 3 year National Express young person discount card for £10 of Tesco vouchers. Might be helpful for some if they will need to travel by coach rather than train sometimes

Thank you for the new thread @Cinnamon. Gosh these threads are moving so quickly. All the excitement of new beginnings. The family are flying back currently, so uni planning will begin tomorrow. Surrey Sen? Dept. have asked for an online meeting with Ds & we need to get around to ordering the DSA equipment post haste.

Wow, I can't keep up with this thread 😂

I'm still in total shock that DS got his grades and the uni he really really wanted. He took great pleasure in ripping up the list of clearing options I'd come up with. He had su

Thanks phone for posting before I'd finished 😂

That is brilliant news - you must be so proud of her! Well done her on bypassing foundation, that is a lovely fillip to her self confidence as she starts the next stage.
School is now irrelevant - there are quite a few here cross about their children being underestimated or inadequately supported, but I think one has to just clear one’s head of that anger and enjoy the next stage of these lovely kids’ journeys.

Well done to him! Great to be able to enjoy the gap year with all this done and dusted. 👍

Oh thank goodness!!