End of Year 13: Results, Summer and plans for September and onwards

[Rollergirl11]

Noticed the current thread is almost full so thought I better start a new one for discussing results day and our DC’s plans for uni/gap years or anything else!

Ah thank you @TenSheds It’s good to hear that other people think it’s a good choice.

@space99
If you don't mind saying, how do you know your DS is moving in on 21 September? Has he had an email from UCL? DD hasn't said anything about that yet but I have booked a space with JustPark for both the Saturday and Sunday, can cancel with 24hrs to go though.

We are a good 3-4 hrs away so I hope she hasn't booked anything ridiculous like a 10am arrival slot 😬

Our good news is that all her DSA stuff arrived today I think - DH and I have been out all day and returned just now to find a pile of tech on the kitchen work surface 🤦‍♀️

(Also @space99 we had a nightmare with their IT when it came to applying for accommodation, it took a few weeks and many many emails and phone calls - IT dept said she hadn't firmed when admissions could see she had, they wouldn't talk to each other, it went right up to the deadline for applications, awful. So keep pestering is my advice.)

@Rollergirl11 your dd will have a fab time at Exeter!
Within her friend group we have Bath as a popular choice, Exeter, Durham and St Andrews. I can’t imagine dragging up to St Andrews from Devon..

Bristol, Bath, Swansea, Exeter, Birmingham and Warwick all v popular here as they fall into that sweet spot of far enough away without being too far (we are in S Wales). DD has one friend going to Plymouth but she is a medic so you go where you can get in I think, and the where matters less.

Thanks @sammyjoanne and @QueenMabby I’ve joined the Lancaster parent’s Facebook group and lots of great info already.

DS has accepted his accommodation and got his first choice though he would have been happy with any of the colleges as they all looked good options. I’ve booked a hotel the night before arrival as we have a 5 hour journey and can’t contemplate going back the same day after unloading and shopping.

DS has applied for a student bank account using the code in the UCAS.

Absolutely! I've just been told no kitchen equipment is needed and do we really need to drive as he will just have a bag.
Empty nest is daunting isn't it?

@stoneysongs I have Sat 21st in my mind as that’s the date the contract starts and also I think it comes up on accommodation portal, despite it not allowing us to book a specific time. Anyway, apparently DS has requested to move in on 20th now as his dad wants to take him a day earlier. No idea why or if there will be availability for that.

DD also has said about the toiletry bag Pumpkin

She is working today punting and was punting yesterday with boyfriends family and family friend and his parents.

She has opened a student account with Santander.

Popular unis here Oxbridge, Bristol, Bath, Exeter, Warwick, Durham, Edinburgh. I knew a girl who went to Exeter and took her 🐎 horse.

DD is the only one in her group going to Notts, most popular here amongst the girls are Bath, Newcastle, Southampton and Leeds. The boys she knows are mainly going to Exeter, Durham, Cambridge & Imperial.

DS’s school is Durham, Oxbridge, Imperial, LSE and Manchester.

@QueenMabby @PuddingtonPuddington A lot of parents like to go to the Lancaster house hotel as its on campus. I do love the toll house inn which is in the city and they have a lovely breakfast. Premier inn north of the city is pretty good, as well as the lodge. Some like to go to the Stork which is just south of campus. If your going to go the city, Ive always found a place at the Auction Mart car park. Its south of the city, but, never had an issue with parking there. Also Cable street car park north of the city is good. Auction mart is cash and also ringo app. Parking on campus is free at weekends, and on weekdays after 6pm.

@SooperOuting Thats great your DD is going to Notts, Were about half an hour drive away from Nottingham uni and DD2 is off to Notts Trent. DD2 likes Nottingham. There is plenty of things to do there, although I think she will spend a lot of her time in the kitty cafe across from where she will be living lol .

@MirandaWest Thats not great of Bristol, especially when its 4 days into freshers week she can move in. When shes does move though I would imagine it will be lovely being in a nice new accommodation. New mattress is a bonus as well.

@Jaxx for popular uni choices; were from Nottinghamshire, so the popular ones a lot of her friends chose were local Notts uni/Trent, Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester, Warwick, Leeds and Lincoln. Although DD2 is living in the city, shes still half an hour drive away from us and is living with her boyfriend (was long distance for 18 months but hes living and studying in the same city). She has anxieties. She took a gap year and and with the right meds, a part time job whos keeping her on during uni, and she did jury service in june, its helped her confidence no end. I still do worry though. Ive said to her she still needs to mention it to the uni anyway, just in case she comes across a situation she finds stressful, so she is going to do that. Im sure Durham will be super supportful, and we did look at that uni for the eldest DD1, and it looks all nice and has lovely green space.

I can 2nd The Toll House. We stayed there when we visited for an open day.

My DD is heading up there in 6 weeks time and can't wait. Her/my shopping list seems to be growing by the minute.

@sammyjoanne - thank you for all that good info. I think dh and da stayed at the toll house when they went for the open day.

@BarnacleB - it's good your dd is so excited. What will she be studying?

Does anyone know what happens with the maintenance loan and when it is paid out? Is it in 3 installments? I think DD is going to use that to live on but don’t know how early they receive it.

Yes three installments in September/October, January , April

New thread for anyone with DC going to London unis (or with older ones already there or younger ones thinking about it) - all welcome to share tips and experiences

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/5144963-thrills-and-spills-of-studying-in-london

Help - quick question. After reading on this thread, we've booked DC in for a Meningitis jab before going away. The GP said that this was the only one that they were due. Does anyone know if they will need to provide proof of their other various vaccinations? I've copied everything I can find from their Red Book (remember those?), which literally go back to the Year Dot. The only ones I've not included are Swine Flu, Covid and their yearly flu jab.

I've also copied all exam certificates (GCSE, A level and EPQ) to take for registration, which I know are definitely required. Anyone know if they'll need anything else? THANK YOU.

They won't be asked for proof of vaccinations unless the degree includes clinical placements, in which case there will be an OH questionnaire. Uni may want to see original certificates for registration, passport or birth certificate for id, proof of residency or visa.

Thanks @sammyjoanne 😊 we visited so many unis with her and were starting to wonder whether she’d ever find one she liked. The smile on her face when we went to UoN was a picture, it was The One. She was the same with secondary schools lol. She knows what she likes!

@Neveragainisaid depends on the uni. They will likely email your DC and give clear details of what is needed. My DS in Scotland needed proof of address to get a free bus pass, but that’s Scotland specific. @MrsAvocet I would recommend your DS getting onto this ASAP as we had multiple issues with it. Totally worth it though!

Hello all, great to see how the plans are coming together, some trials & tribulations of course. @WriterOfWrongs hope you can stay on the thread, it's been so supportive over the years & even though my DS will now be taking A levels next year I still feel invested in these DCs  good luck everyone, especially interested in @Jaxx experience as Durham is still the goal for DS.

We have another nail biting weekend ahead with DS due to go to Leeds Fest for the third time!

Thank you @legosnowqueen and everyone else who tagged me the other day (which I’m reading through) for your loveliness.

I’m really down about one of DD’s predicted A in Art being a D. It feels so unfair to her and as if something’s gone wrong. I’d like it to be remoderated but she’d need to sign forms for that and she just wants to move on. She says if it comes back as a D it will feel like another rejection and she already had A level issues in having to give them up and take time out for health reasons before doing them in a year.

I completely get her point but..,

And having to resort out accommodation, finance and disability services is a huge pain, DD is being really pragmatic though, although sad, and is prepared for some frustration in getting these practical things sorted.

I meanwhile, am trying not to cry. I’m going away with my other child tomorrow for a few days and feel awful as he and I had been do looking forward to it, but now don’t feel in the right headspace and want to be here to help DD with admin.

@MirandaWest that’s not good of Bristol at all accommodation wise. Good attitude by your DD though.

I don’t feel in the right headspace I mean. DS still is. I feel bad for him that I’m not.

This parenting malarkey is hard innit!

This parenting malarkey is ridiculously hard, I agree.
Hope you manage to have a lovely few days away with your DS @WriterOfWrongs regardless.