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!

Great to catch up with everyone.

DS went back just over a week ago and lectures have started again. He had a mock exam on Tuesday covering the first term's content but he hasn't had his marks back yet. He seems to have settled back ok, he went to his college subject dinner last night and sent me a picture looking smart in his suit (I had asked him to get someone to take one!)

@legosnowqueen well done to your DS on his offers. My DS had the Meningitis B jab before starting uni at Boots. There are two doses which need to be spaced about 4 weeks apart I think. They now routinely give it to children on the NHS but ours are too old to have had it (it's also worth checking his records to see he hasn't missed any of the routine ones because some were missed because of Covid). It was quite expensive but worth it for us for my peace of mind.

Loving hearing everyone's travel plans. I still haven't organised anything for this summer when we will be able to go in term time for the first time in a long while as DD will finish her GCSEs! Need to get on with booking something.

Ah that's tough about the travel @legosnowqueen
I can empathise as have fallen foul of this kind of thing myself. I couldn't get cover last year even from the specialist companies that cover pre existing medical conditions. As soon as I ticked yes to "are you awaiting any investigations or surgery" they weren't interested. It's extremely frustrating. We were hoping for a proper holiday this year but unfortunately my MIL is very unwell at the moment which obviously takes priority and things are too uncertain at present to make any plans. So it looks like we may be having another year of short breaks in the UK. Fortunately there are lots of great places to visit in this country but I can see how annoying it must be to see friends jetting off all over the world and be unable to join in.
Glad to hear the offers are coming in. I'm sure he'd do well at any of those places. I may be biased, but Manchester is a fantastic place to be a student. (Well, it was 40 years ago anyway, and I'm sure it still is!) My DS has several school friends who went to Liverpool and they all seem very happy there too. It's certainly a vibrant city these days. I don't think he could go wrong with either of those options really, though obviously all the other places are great too.

Thanks @MrsAvocet & @IThinkIMadeItWorse

@MrsAvocet I'm sorry to hear about your MIL. There are some great places in the UK but in cold,wet January we all crave going abroad! I think Manchester would be a good outcome too - particularly if DS's health issues haven't stabilised, as it's a bit easier to get to & we have friends there who could support DS in an emergency.

@legosnowqueen it is rotten not being able to book anything bc of the travel insurance. And as you say, it’s probably just what he needs. Will you have to wait long for the appointment? And rough for him if his friends are disappearing off. It’s such a short time in reality til they all are back for the summer though - many finish April/May in Y1, and it’s almost February now so not too long to wait. I have a v good friend whose son is at Liverpool and absolutely loves it.

DD just texted delighted as she’s had some essays and exam results back and has done very well. She struggled a bit at school, and it does seem to be an August birthday/late developer thing as as the years go by she is coming into her own. Her self esteem is starting to improve, and with it her self confidence. It’s lovely to see. 🥰

Thanks @SooperOuting it's the NHS so who knows...they are a consultant down in Neurology so only one consultant to cover all local referrals.

As you say, the friends will be home soon but DS is very in the moment, he's described this period as feeling like his own lockdown.

That sounds great for your DD & will really help her confidence.

@MrsAvocet sorry to hear of your MIL being unwell. We loved our trips to Scarborough and Cornwall, and hafan y mor at the caravan site. A cooked breakfast always seems to taste much nicer when its on holiday at the van lol. @legosnowqueen my eldest studies at Manchester for her phd and so far they have been really great. shes been there since September and shes at private halls about 5 mins walk away. @SooperOuting thats great your DD is doing well.

Not too much to report. DD has done her formative exams and busy volunteering with the ferrets this week. Both DD was back at the weekend to go through some old photos at my late in laws house. Just preparing for my dads 70th birthday a week on saturday.

Sorry to hear about your son @legosnowqueen but great he has offers coming in.

We have succumbed to the cold and booked a warm winter holiday for the end of Feb. I feel so tired these days.

Ds hadn't had his beginning of term exam results back yet although they should be coming soon. We see him approx every couple of weeks for a lunch or dinner as he isn't too far away. He seems to be enjoying the course although it sounds like hard work. No p/t job yet and no prospects for the holidays yet either.

DC has finally (just before the UCAS deadline, typical!!!) applied for their degree at the same place they are doing their Foundation year. All seems to be going well with top, or nearly top, grades on all their assignments (very proud and relieved mum here). Degree will be in Illustration we hope. Fingers (toes, legs and everything else) crossed they are offered a place.

Lovely to hear everyone's updates.

So sorry about the seizure Lego. Good to see offers coming in. I use InsuranceWith for travel insurance who do cover even if going through tests and also paid out for a lady on here who was at stage 4.

DD went back mid January, had exams and is doing lots of rowing and still loving it. Next back mid March and has a rowing trip away during Easter for a few days. I've been abroad for 3 weeks in 31C heat by the ocean / outdoor pool and recently returned and getting used to the cold again but looking forward to things like the Kew Orchid Festival.

Ooh that sounds lovely @MrsPenguins, I'm very envious though 31c would be a little bit too hot for me. I'd like to see more than the 3-4c we've had here for the last few days though!
I have DS at home at the moment. He came home predominantly to visit his grandma who is still unwell but he's staying an extra day as there's industrial action on the trains tomorrow. It's nice to see him, though DH and I are drawing straws to see who has to take him to the station at 6am on Monday morning!

Hoping all the young people are thriving.

DD has three more work shifts before she is off on her backpacking adventures next week.

She still has a lot of 'to dos' but she wouldn't be DD if she didn't leave everything 'til the last minute.

She will be going up to Exeter in September. She's already made a group of same-uni-bound friends through work. Need to nudge her to apply to SFE before she's off, leaving me to submit her accommodation application in her absence.

Thanks MrsAvocet Hope you had a nice time with your DS.

Congrats to you and your DD Louis Lovely she got her first choice and a nice place to study. Hope she enjoys her backpacking.

DD is back this weekend for about 5.5 weeks and will be lovely to catch up. First day she is off for a social meet up watching Formula One and she also has a rowing camp.

@LouisCatorze glad DD is having a good time. DD2 she had a gap year last year before starting in Sept 2024. She worked, spent her time with her b/f in Cardiff, and did jury service and had a holiday up in the Hebrides. She still works as the uni is local, but lives in the city as her campus is a 40 mins bus ride away.
@MrsAvocet enjoy the weekend with DD :)

Speaking of bus rides, DD2 had the call to go to campus as a cow was giving birth, so she saw on the app the bus was coming in 5 mins time (sunday night just gone). So she went in her jumper and pj bottoms, ran to bus stop, and got to campus where there's a local farm. The farmer was there as well as vet students and zoology students. Zoology students just allowed to observe. Unfortunately the calf didn't make it and most of the students were upset. Shes fine now, but it was her first time on calving observation and there's 27 other pregnant cows, so should be happier times to come. Pancake day was successful for her and her friends. Has done more animal handling including a stick insect and a millipede, and feeding the ferrets. She went to Scarborough on train with her B/F for an overnight stay, but on way back there was a suspicious package in Hull, so couldn't get back and northern rail paid for a taxi from Hull back to Nottingham.

DD1 still in Manchester, well into her phd first year. We went to visit this weekend and as it was nice weather we went to Salford Quays and Media City.

Hope everyone else is ok and DC are having a super time x

@LouisCatorze hope your DD enjoys her travels! Where is she off to?

DD is at Exeter and loving it! Where are her accommodation preferences?

Hope the travels go well @LouisCatorze

Good to see everyone’s news.

DS is having a tricky time. He had another seizure after 3 months of good health, he’s fine now but it’s always an ambulance job & traumatic for everyone. Luckily it happened at home again & DH & I were both here, but it does make me worry about him going away to uni…

DS then got the devastating news last week that Durham are not offering him a place. There was no guarantee of course but as he got an offer last year & school sent a detailed letter about the extenuating circumstances that prevented him from sitting A levels, we were really hopeful. He actually got an offer from Edinburgh the following day - so offers from everywhere except the one place he wants to go! Gutted for him. His economics tutor has recommended that he appeal the decision - I’m not sure though if that might just prolong the heartache as all they need to say if that they followed the process, different candidate pool etc. Any thoughts/experience on this welcome!

Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear that @legosnowqueen It seems very unfair under the circumstances. I know what you mean about appealing though, it may be better to focus on the positives rather than drag out the process when he has both his exams and his health to deal with.
I know it must be devastating but I do believe that an able young person with a positive attitude can have a positive experience almost anywhere as long as they've not chosen the totally wrong course or something. And Edinburgh is a great University and a brilliant city.
I've probably told this story before, but back in the dark ages I was rejected by both my first and second choice Universities which was a real shock to everyone, me included. Then I went for an interview at my third choice and did get an offer but just didn't like it. I ended up going to my 4th choice which I have to confess I'd really only put down at all because it was a big city quite close to home and I fancied a shopping trip on interview day. I was quite a high flyer academically and to be honest it had never even occurred to me that I'd be seriously considering anywhere lower than my second choice. Important life lesson! Anyway, I went to my 4th choice and I loved it. Given my time again I wouldn't change anything. It felt like a disaster at the time, but it really did turn out to be anything but that. I know quite a few other people who have had similar experiences- my DH went somewhere in clearing that he'd never even heard of before the day and it didn't hold him back. It's a cliché I know, but I do think there's some truth in the saying that what is for you won't pass you by.
Good luck to your fantastic, resillient boy who I am sure will thrive wherever he goes.

I am so sorry for your lovely boy Lego that's very harsh of Durham. Great he has an offer from Edinburgh. So sorry about the seizure.

Re appealing its a difficult one as it could go either way and also though this may not be rationale but the universities that were very kind to DD re her personal circumstances I wanted her to go to, the ones that appeared not to care I thought they have shown what their pastoral care might be like and I don't want her to go there. In her case it was easy as the kindest one matched where she wanted. I know my DS has had all his dreams smashed and its difficult. Your DS does have very good options though and I don't think there would be much difference in outcomes between the universities he has - I personally prefer Edinburgh to Durham but I know its not that easy with his health and distance and Scotland is presumably 4 years and a different health system. I don't know if someone on here who works in admissions would know the chances of an appeal working. It's a hard choice - if you can appeal and not think about it then maybe appeal but if he would be really upset by it failing I would be more inclined to try and see if he can get more attached to another choice, maybe a visit or a group of people with offers like via Student Room. So sorry he has to deal with this.

My DD is now back for Easter and its just constant talk of rowing and seems to be rowing every day, nothing about the course which I hope she is doing inbetween the rowing. Off all over the place rowing. Talking about it until 2am then we have singing at 6am and then off she goes rowing on girls teams and coxing boys teams. Not sure what's happened to the boyfriend either but seems happy.

Sorry to hear your son wasn’t offered a place at Durham this year - it seems so unfair. I can’t help with appeal process but it might be worth a go. In your situation I might also consider emailing the relevant department head.

IIRC you son has been advised to limit his alcohol consumption. Based on my son’s experience so far at Durham, his social life involves a lot of drinking. The college bars are so cheap and there are lots of bar crawls up and down the hill. The clubs might not be great but they are also cheap - £1 shots some nights!. It’s possible that Durham was not his best choice anyway - or my son has turned into an alcoholic which was unexpected as up to the age of 16/17 he only ever drank water.

He will be home early Sunday morning as he is trying the coach this time. The 5 week holiday should give his liver a good break. He’ll be working over Easter, but not full time so will hopefully get some exam prep done. All his exams take g
homew with 24 hours to complete. Not sure of strategy yet - all advice gratefully received. His marks so far have been ok rather than brilliant but we live in hope and this year doesn’t really matter. The academic year ends in June 4 weeks after his last exam 🙄🥳.

@legosnowqueen that is so harsh of Durham after all your son has gone through. I wouldn’t want my DS to go there now out of principle (or stubbornness) but yes, surely worth a shot if DS adamant. You both have nothing to lose.
Lovely to hear how all DC are getting on. My DS gets the train home from UCL on the 29th. Not seen him since Xmas, so it will be lovely to have him home for a month.

Really sorry to hear about your ds @legosnowqueen, it must feel like you can’t catch a break. It’s always worth appealing but I guess he also has to be realistic. Very gutting though when he had his heart set on Durham and matters were out of his control last year. There’s an admissions academic on here called. Poetryandwine (I think). I wonder if she might advise?

I’m sorry that’s happened too.

I wonder if an email to the Head of Dept outlining the situation of an offer last year, then the health crisis and delayed A Levrls and reapplication might help.

I assume he has same predicted grades as last time? If not, the situation might be clearer and less worth querying.

It’s quite possible only an administrator saw the application and knows nothing of last year. The Head of Dept might be able to look at it in a more nuanced way.

I wonder if the email (sent from son not you) could ask if they might re-consider or if they would advise going for an appeal.

Best case scenario is Head of Dept simply says an offer can be made in the circumstances. Hopefully even if that doesn’t happen, reasons can be given for the rejection and useful advice about if to take it further.

You want the email to get to the right person so be careful in finding out who that is and in tracking down their email. I’d do it sooner rather than later as places still available to offer will be reducing.

All the best - there could be a good outcome here. But I’m glad he has the E offer as that is brilliant and some might think preferable.

In the email to Head of Dept I’d definitely refer to the extenuating circumstances letter school attached to his application . Maybe check with them that it was def included.

Bearing that letter in mind and possibly medical support too, if his predicted grades are the same as before and he got an offer then, I actually think you could have grounds for appeal. Hopefully the Head of Dept would see that and recognise the decision has been unfair in the circumstances and be able to change the decision. These things do happen and errors are made so worth following up.

Man @legosnowqueen your DS needs to catch a break 😣

I’d echo tagging poetryandwine or DM her about it, she’s v knowledgeable about this sort of thing and pragmatic.

A friend of DSs reapplied to Bristol after a gap year and was rejected when he’d have had an offer the year before. This seems especially cruel of Durham given your DSs circumstances, and as others have said, I think I’d find it hard to look past that and it would colour my view of them.

DS is at uni in Scotland and Scotland was not on his radar at all before results day. He couldn’t be happier now and is thriving. You hear lots saying 4 years is a negative - my DS is very happy he has another year (tuition fees at his uni capped at 3 years) - and he certainly needed the first year to settle after some trauma so that worked well. Free bus travel for under 22s (including airport buses ) and cheap as chips flights mean it’s often quicker for him to get home than many of his friends at other unis in England. And I won’t bore you with the many other advantages there are for living in Scotland - we adore our visits to him! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🥰

I’m so sorry to hear of the problems @legosnowqueen . There’s been a lot of fab advice and I hope things work out well.

Here things are good - delighted that last week DC got their Unconditional offer so now the accommodation application has gone in. Student Finance we tackle this morning.

@legosnowqueen- what a shame for your ds. It just feels like one blow after another! I hope he manages at least to get some feedback from Durham even if he chooses not to appeal.

All is ok with DS at Lancaster. He seems to be doing really well in weekly classwork but exams are a struggle. I think he must panic or something as his results never seem to reflect how well he does with his weekly worksheets and lab reports etc. He seems fairly unfazed by it all though!

He’ll be home next weekend and I can’t wait to see him. He’s not been home at all this term. DH saw him for a few hours in Manchester the other week when he was there and DS travelled down to see him but that’s it. Obviously I’m thrilled he’s so settled and not homesick or anything but I do miss him a lot.