Year 13 2023/2024 - General support thread

[Rollergirl11]

It’s now the time for our young adults to sit their final year at sixth form/college. Everyone is welcome!

Yes, I'd be annoyed about that too StColumbo. More with the school than your DS. After all, it's the first time he has done any of this, and if mine are typical, lots of things that are obvious to us don't seem to register in the teenage mind. But it should be second nature to the school surely? At our school PSs are first reviewed by a relevant subject teacher then by a member of the Sixth Form Leadership Team so you get the views of someone with relevant subject expertise and someone who knows how to play the admissions game so to speak. And they are virtually chasing kids down the corridor if they haven't submitted by now. Just a regular state school so I'd imagined that was the norm so I think you are entitled to feel aggrieved.
But at least he is on to it now, and there is actually loads of time still. It's easy to get panicky when everyone seems to be getting their offers in but this time a few years ago my older DS really didnt know what he wanted to do and in the end he submitted a UCAS application on literally the last possible day with some very last minute choices. But he still got multiple offers and is doing very well where he ended up.

We are going to be working on the PS over Xmas - colleges deadline was 23rd November but DS1's tutor is onboard with helping (and has done the others now...).

@MrsAvocet precisely. His Classics teacher took a look but she actively looked at every single person in her class regardless of subject, but she only has 15 students to be fair. The PS advisor just looked at spelling and grammar. The history teachers weirdly were the only teacher's at Parent's Evening who didn't ask where he was applying, even his Spanish teachers were like 'so he is obviously applying for history, we call him Mr History, where is he applying?'

Anyway, as you say, it is all in motion now, so hopefully all good.

Ooh ooh, I am so excited that I just have to tell someone! DS had another offer from one of his likely insurance choices this morning which was good, but he has just this minute had an offer from his first choice which is where he desperately wants to go. And it is a grade lower in every subject than the standard offer for the course. I guess all the effort that went into super curriculars and polishing the PS might have paid off.
Obviously he still needs to get those grades and he wants to aim higher because if he does better he can probably swap straight into the integrated masters course. So he still needs to keep working hard, but the offer for the Bachelors course is very well within his abilities so it looks like barring disasters of some kind he will be off to his preferred choice in September. So happy! 🙂

That's fantastic @MrsAvocet, so exciting for your ds and you. Great grade offer too with wiggle room. Now you can plan for an exciting year ahead.

That's great news MrsAvocet congratulations!

Brilliant @MrsAvocet so pleased for him. DS has exams this week, three down and one to go tomorrow. End of term next Tues so I don't know if we will get the results back before the or not.

@MrsAvocet that is just brilliant - well done! DS was very happy to get an offer from Liverpool the day after submitting - he would be very pleased to go there - & also has an offer from Lancaster which was his insurance choice. But is hanging on to hear from Durham.

It has been a tricky few weeks as he's been unwell with a nasty flu/upset stomach - has then worried about missing school. He is going to go in today (the third attempt to return) so fingers crossed. He breaks up tomorrow but expects to be working at the restaurant quite a bit over the next few weeks. I feel we are limping to the finish line this term!

Brilliant to hear all the positive news re university applications. And good luck to those awaiting outcomes from Oxbridge (and/or for super competitive courses and universities).

DD put in her application about three weeks ago. Within a week she had four offers but still awaiting a decision from Southampton. However, since submitting it, she's now decided that she wants to go to Exeter (not on her list of five), so is hoping she'll do well enough to obtain a place via Clearing (or the upgrade equivalent) once she's got her results. TBQH, she's a bit all over the place with her decision-making about university. She is clever but not hard-working so it's impossible to predict how she'll do when it comes to sitting her A Levels. Predicted grades are not brilliant but her GCSE results show that she's capable of surprising us, pulling it out of the bag when required.

It's almost cruel how long this term is. Sorry to hear that some of the young people have been poorly. Hopefully, at least they'll be well for Christmas. DD has been under the weather too over the past week or so. Just about managing to get herself into school for the final week or so. Doesn't break up until next Friday though.

And that's even been with pacing herself better with her Saturday job. She's not been working every weekend because this term has been so full-on with tests in September, mocks in November (and more in February), and two NEAs to do. At least she's nearing the end of the second part of her English NEA and will be able to have some chill time over the festive holiday period.

Well done on the offers.

Louis DD did say that before a university has given a decision you can change them on your UCAS form for another one though probably best to do asap as once an offer or rejection cannot change DD said.

DD out last night at her work Christmas dinner party got in early hours and working this morning for them from 8.45am, she loves that job so much though.

@Silkierabbit hope you're doing well. I truly admire your DD's work/study ethic. She sounds super dynamic.

DD did swap around one of her choices but think there's a 14-day 'cool off' period in which it has to be done. So probably it's too late to make any further changes. At the moment, with her predicted grades, not sure she'd get an offer from Exeter (and she has already got Southampton and Glasgow as her two aspirational ones). It gives her something to strive towards with her studying and revision between now and June.

DS had an offer from Durham yesterday, so he now has 4 offers. His Oxford interviews are over and he is now waiting until the 19th January for the outcome! It has been a stressful process. @LouisCatorze unfortunately it is a fortnight from submission to change applications. @Rainsdropskeepfalling my older DC didn't apply until January and one had 5 offers and the other 4, so it didn't seem to affect their chances of offers.

@mushroom3 thank you. The college deadline was 23rd November but I think, hope, that his tutor is willing to accept a late application and put it 'through their process'

Louis Shame its only 14 days, oth I think some students would swap all the time if allowed longer and / or unlimited swaps. Probably just as well DD has left 2 off her application as she's a swapper. Yes DD is non-stop go, always has been, its odd as DS a sloth could be made to look energetic apart from on holidays when he seemed to switch into action mode and would do things like ziplining 300 metres in the air, climbing mountains, white water rafting, canoeing, rest of year he's found with an ipad under a blanket. Doesn't even manage to walk as far as the bin though does split his rubbish between recycling and food in his bed drawers. The food one is yuck.

Lovely to hear all the offers coming in! @LouisCatorze Exeter is one of DD’s favourites too. @mushroom3 congrats on Durham offer. That is the last uni DD is waiting to hear back from.

DD is really struggling now to be honest. She is utterly exhausted all of the time despite getting a good 8 hours sleep every night. Initially we assumed it was purely because of how much she’s had going on this term; Ucas application, Cambridge application with admissions test and interview, mocks and finally History and English NEA’s to submit. On top of that she’s working 12 hours a week. But now I’m actually wondering if there is a medical issue. She just cannot stay awake once she’s home and she’d sleep for hours and hours if she wasn’t woken. She spoke to the GP yesterday who has sent her for blood tests to see if there’s any deficiency.

To top it all off they still have another 5 days left at school as they don’t finish until Thursday. This term has seemed endless!

@LouisCatorze DS was the same - v bright but didn’t work hard enough. His GCSEs were TAGs so we will never know how he would have fared at them. What is interesting to me is that DS was always the quicker, brighter one at primary. Things started to change at secondary.

DS chose tricky A levels, DD played to her strengths. DDs A level predictions are now higher than DSs - for the first time she is “beating” him. Will see if she can ramp up the work a bit now - as I think now to May is real crunch time. Really hoping nothing distracts her - as it did DS. End of term-itis, hormones, sheer exhaustion are setting in - never known her so stroppy and rude. That old MN trope “this too shall pass” is muttered under my breath each day at the moment.

Re clearing - the big thing IME is accommodation. There were loads of courses in clearing last year (subject dependent) - comparing to the previous year. But really check closely that there is accommodation with other freshers from the same uni! It makes such a huge difference to their experience.

@Rollergirl11 - hugs to your dd. Hope she gets some answers.

We're breaking up today. So glad! We're back early though. 4th Jan I think and straight into mocks. Ds is revising (I think!).

He has his Lancaster interview just after mocks and is still waiting for Bath but has three offers in the bag which is nice.

Very similar story here @Rollergirl11 , Ox admissions ordeal, history and English coursework due in, working 3 evenings, trying to muster the energy for socialising and hobbies, and a week to go (mocks in January) - DD's shattered. And this weekend looking busy too. I don't think she's got anything underlying, but we think DH has long Covid, he is falling asleep all the time and going for tests. Our Christmas is generally quiet, due to family being scattered far away, think we'll all be grateful for time to recharge.

Our poor kids are exhausted - here's hoping they manage a bit of a rest over the Xmas period. Ds hasn't got a job and doesn't socialise much but is also tired and not showing a lot of enthusiasm for mocks starting after Christmas. He finishes on Tuesday at least.

Yes just to echo how exhausted my DS is too. What a term! UCAS application, revision for HAT test for Oxford then the interview on top of all of the work, he now has mocks that he just hasn't had the time he wanted to revise for. He actually emailed one of his teachers to say he didn't think that he'd do as well in the mocks this time as he normally does because he hasn't had the time to revise properly! She was lovely and emailed an understanding message back to say that he's one of the top. students so not to stress and that she understands that he has had additional pressures this term, which is great because he was worried she'd be annoyed with him.

The saving grace is the mocks for him are over before Christmas so he can have a proper break, unlike some. So we're looking forward to Monday which is the last exam. Then Christmas then we are going to the coast for the new year and his girlfriend is coming along which is lovely.

I hope all of our DC can have a relaxing and joyful break over the festive period. They really do deserve it x

Most of the local schools here broke up yesterday or do so today, and my niece's independent finished last week - seems very early. But DS doesn't finish til Weds.
I've got very mixed feelings. It's been a long busy term and he definitely needs the rest but it does mean that the last full term is just around the corner and I'm acutely aware of all the "lasts".
DS and his best friend have been stalwarts of the school media club since they were in year 7 and this time of year is usually busy with recording and editing footage of Christmas events but I noticed he didn't seem to be doing anything this year. I commented on this and he said that he and his friend were around for advice but that younger pupils were doing the bulk of the work this time as "we won't be there to help them next year after all". It made me feel inexplicably weepy.
He's got his sport's club Christmas meal on Saturday which will also be a "last". The club captain has been in touch asking for ideas for a present for DS as they want to give him something in recognition of his years of contribution. I think it's for the end of season do rather than tomorrow but it's a sign of things to come very soon and I'm not looking forward to it to be honest. Well I am. But I'm not!
Well done to those with offers received and good luck to those still waiting. I hope all the poorly ones pick up over Christmas.

Last day is Wednesday here so not long to go. DD is like the Duracell bunny with extra energy so never seems to tire. We did get told off for having the musical advent playing as cat loves it when she had an online meeting with school which apparently we should have been physic and known she had but otherwise pretty jolly mood.

Hope everyone has a lovely Christmas / holiday period and New Year. It's lovely having the real Christmas tree up and all the lights and people in our lane seem to have decorated like they are expecting a Hollywood Christmas film to be coming to film. It's lovely but looks like Santa is about to land on his sleigh. 🎄⛄

I know what you mean about the 'lasts' @MrsAvocet. Ds school Xmas concert was a last and I was quite sentimental and a bit tearful. 12+ years of school coming to an end for me. I'm excited about the future (for us and ds) but also feeling a bit nostalgic about times past and how quickly everything has gone. This phase of our lives is almost over.

Does anyone know if admissions staff work outside University teaching terms or is it now likely to be silence in terms of offers and further communications until students go back in January?
Not that it matters massively as DS has had 3 offers including the Universities which are likely to be his firm and insurance, though still waiting to hear from a couple. Plus those who have offered said they would be in touch "soon" with info on offer holders days. I just want to know if I can "switch off" for Christmas now really! My elder DS hadn't even submitted an application by this stage, he was very last minute, so this bit is all new to me!

@MrsAvocet admissions staff are theoretically in till this Friday at most places, then closure days till 3rd Jan or so. That said, many take additional annual leave over Christmas, so offers will be slower.