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!

@Rollergirl11 One of my DDs gave the long distance relationship thing a go. He stayed at home and worked while she went to uni 3 hours away - they are still together 8 years later, so it can work out. They even managed to keep things going while she did a year abroad. For her I think having her BF at home gave her stability and confidence, and actually made settling in at uni easier.

I'm glad everything is coming together for your DD @WriterOfWrongs

DD has done IKEA and Dunelm shops and is cramming in extra shifts at work this week while she can. She will finish on Saturday, then has next week to do last odds and bits and get packed ready to head north next Friday. We haven't heard anything about moving in slots and the website seems to imply that she can move in at any time after her accommodation contract starts, so I'm hoping that is right! All her ID stuff is done, student card is applied for, she has chosen an elective module, and her department has sent her a freshers week timetable. Definitely all very real now.

Ha! You just inspired me to add spring rolls to my next Tesco delivery @WriterOfWrongs I'll serve them with a stir fry and tell the family we now have a wok n roll lifestyle!
Actually the wok buying made me feel a bit sad. They had 2 sizes and I was debating which one to get when DS said "Well it's just going to be you and Dad most of the time now so the smaller one should be big enough" 😥

DD is experiencing a bit of FOMO for not going to uni this coming academic year. She's submitted her 2024/25 UCAS application to school already, so hoping she is offered a place (and we can sort out accommodation) very quickly now.

So most of the young people off to uni this year will be going up within the next fortnight or so (except for the Oxbridge-bound ones)? Hope they're all enjoying their last few weeks at home.

DS doesn't go til 28th/29th (Lancaster) although that seems late to me.

DD has packed a box of things to go on her wall 😊

DD has just over 3 weeks to go. Nothing done yet except apply for a bank account. And now the flipping cat is on his last legs I think 😬
I hope he lasts until after she goes.

Ds will be packing on the day

Oh no @stoneysongs 😿 that must be heartbreaking. Can’t imagine what we will be like when our beloved mog goes.

DD has done some registering and stuff online and it all seems pretty well set up so far. Waiting to book a drop off slot and get her room number, which I think will be next week. She keeps meeting people at parties either at her halls or doing her course so is feeling a bit more relaxed now.

We aren’t any further on with buying stuff really, although finally managed to get the elusive Ikea discount as DD now has a uni email address, so will venture there either this weekend or next. Taking DS back mid Sept - Scotland, so requires an overnight, and then DD the weekend after.

And then an empty nest…persuading DH to write a list with me of all the things we want to do and places we want to go, but couldn’t, because kids for the last 21 years…..

Oh no @stoneysongs 😿 that must be heartbreaking. Can’t imagine what we will be like when our beloved mog goes.

Yes, he's 15, so DD doesn't remember life without him, she will be devastated. Plus he features heavily in the photo book and cards I've done for her 😬

I'm not sure actually if it would be best to lose him while she's still at home with us or after she goes. Anyway we are waiting on blood results so fingers crossed, there's a small chance it's something manageable like thyroid 🤞

All getting very real now. DD2's boyfriend is now staying with us. He had to get a few admin bits here done before they move in a week today. He had enrolled in Notts College and met his tutor. Also sorted out getting a certificate and student number to present to council tax for exemption if needed. He had a job interview yesterday at the clip and climb just outside the city. Will be a final trip this week to get the mini freezer for their studio and any other bits and bobs.

They have been together long distance for around 20 months now Cardiff/Nottingham. Im very pleased its worked out for them both :)

DS also disappointed in DT (B, NEA saw a high A) as his NEA was modded down a bit, by about 15 marks. He wasn't far over a B in the end so no point in querying due to theory results. Sadly they had no theory teacher so he hasn't done badly really. He just really wanted an A. Did anything come of looking into your DD's?

@WriterOfWrongs, this happened with my DS too in DT. Very high coursework grade. Told he 'couldn't improve' it but:

a. It was marked down (I assume, the mark shown is less than school gave him)
b. He didn't do well in the exam element (50%) as the school had no teacher for Y13.

Sorry to hear about your cat @stoneysongs. Fingers crossed the bloods show something manageable.

DD is still debating the best student bank account for her. She says it’s a toss up between NatWest and Nationwide. Both offer £100 cash back and NatWest a Taste card and Nationwide £10 a month for a year Just Eat. She was veering towards the Taste card but I asked if she checked which restaurants you can use it in and it turns out she doesn’t eat in any of them. So she’s back to the drawing board.

She also applied for DSA yesterday and she needs a letter from her GP to confirm that her anxiety has been ongoing and to detail how it impacts her day to day life. She already has her ED diagnosis from CAMH’s. Hopefully if she is eligible for DSA then we can sort her out with some private talking therapy sessions while she is away.

2 weeks tomorrow we will be moving her in. DD’s boyfriend is coming to help. The selfish part of me doesn’t want him there as want her all to myself to send her off and I know I am going to get emotional. But he is a big part of her life so it’s only natural that she wants him there.

@sammyjoanne That's lovely that it has all worked out. I bet they are very excited to get settled in to their studio :)

@Rollergirl11 my dd went with Nationwide because she already had the teenage account with them. Worth knowing is that if you have a savings account (think it has to have £100 in on qualifying date) with them as well as current you can be eligible for a profit share payment each year - it's not guaranteed but was £100 this year. Although it seems a long way off, the graduate account they switch to seems to be one of the best around as well - Interest free overdraft is phased down over 3 years whereas some just last for two.

DD went with Nationwide too, I haven't looked but she said she thought it was the best deal. She does love a Deliveroo though 😁

DD had a teenage account with Nationwide and so has changed hers to a student one.

@PrincessOfPreschool

Oh interesting and disappointing for them. The school has asked for a moderation review of all 5 of them, which can take up to 35 days so nothing heard yet. 3 of them (presumably all?) have been marked down over 20%. Her written paper was just under an Astar. She would not mind an A as such, was upset it was 1 mark off a B. Will let you know if there is any change. It's a bigger deal for the teacher really, and he is great.

@PumpkinKnitter thank you :) im glad it did too. Long distance can work, as long as there is plenty of facetime, and visits. She would visit him once a month and he would come to ours, so they would see each other once a fortnight.

Eldest DD was about an hour and half away Lancaster/Manchester for a year. Shes currently living with him now at the parents, before she goes on to her phd where she will then be closer to manchester uni. Its about an hour away on the V1 bus, but they will see each other ore frequently now, and plans to move in next Spetember.

Ds goes to Uni 14th and I dragged him to Dunelm last weekend so we have some basics but he doesn't seem prepared. Admittedly he is working fulltime to earn before Uni and I've tried to encourage him to finish up but he is enjoying the work - very kindly they organised a leaving do for him next week.

He's also socialising (and playing golf badly) with school friends as they are all heading in different directions. He is nervous about his accomodation as it was his last choice and possibly regretting not spending enough time in choosing beforehand. He does know an older student at Uni so they have arranged to meet up plus he has booked fresher events so hopefully it goes ok.

His lack of planning for "living" at uni worries me but he's very relaxed - he would take a rucksack and say "it's fine" Anyone else with a laidback DC? Tbf, his approach is there will be shops & Amazon so everything can be sorted later, which is also true!

@stoneysongs sorry to hear that, the attachments we have is strong.

Sorry about the cat Stony Our last one made it to 17.5 but DD was away when she died in Paris and said she wished she had been here though its hard when you love them so much.

Done a Dunelm shop with DD though sure she will have a lot more shopping. Off to Venice in a few days for DD. Then I think her boyfriend starts uni a few days later and she will be with him on his first day which his Mum seemed to organise. Not off until 7th October. She has been sent pre reading but don't think she's done any. She is working but not getting anything like as many shifts as last year, maybe 2 or 3 a week though last year she did so many and its long days.

I don't think I'm especially worried about DD going to uni next weekend although I know I am going to miss her. But my body has decided to wake up for around an hour each night for the past few nights which I'm sure is connected.

DS finally got his accommodation allocated today and he got his first choice! He was thrilled as being a clearing applicant he was sure he'd get the dregs of what was left.

Finally it feels real that he's off - better start the shopping once dd is back at school on Wednesday.