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!

Most unis don’t give insurance people an option to book or request accommodation before results day. I’ve done a huge amount of research on this so can say this quite confidently! Most of the unis that are on our radar, anyhow.

DDs school opens at 8am for them to collect results or they will be online from 10am. We will be sitting in the car checking emails and UCAS before DD goes in to get her grades.

Physical pick up for us too. Not sure whether DS will drive himself or if he will want me to take him. We can phone but email isn't an option and DS prefers to actually have it in writing so will go in. I think it's from 8.30 and it's a just under 30 min drive so he might not have time to check UCAS first. Not sure if that's good or bad really.

Ours is in person from 8. It will be available online at the same time though. Not sure what ds wants to do. Not braved asking him yet!

We have to go in between 9 and 10 to physically collect DD’s results. DD will probably check UCAS before she goes.

DD has been provisionally allocated accommodation for her insurance choice at Durham. I think they are one of the only places I know of where they ask you to submit your choices even if you haven’t firmed them.

Not actually sure what time DD can get her results. DS two years ago was maybe 8am but I think he was in a little later than 8. I’m also not sure whether she will drive herself or if she’ll want me to drive her.

The Night before she and her friends are having a board games night (with no alcohol as getting results with a hangover could be bad I presume).

She's been able to request accommodation for Edinburgh which is her insurance although as it’s the same grades as Bristol I don’t think it will become relevant.

Two years ago my daughters ucas wasn't updated and we had the question mark of doom! A very stressful few days followed!!
Hoping this year is easier for my youngest just a green tick would be good

Dd will collect her results from school - from 8.30, I think. With ds he accessed his results online and it was in the evening as we were living in China at the time. We were all sat around his lap top at 8pm.

Do we have any Scots on the thread? Good luck for tomorrow if so 🤞

Hi all, just to let you know I'm thinking about you all as next week approaches fast. Sending lots of good luck vibes.

@ShanghaiDiva sorry to hear about the diagnosis, these health issues are such a shock as I know only too well.

@Penguinsa hope the surgery goes well.

DS is doing well, no further seizures or other issues & I fear he's getting more relaxed about the lifestyle advice as time passes, inevitable I suppose that there will be a few blips. Still no response from Durham to the request via school to defer the offer so I guess he'll be going through UCAS again - I have to say I'm not impressed that he's heard nothing. He did well in the year 12 mocks, to the extent that school have increased his grade predictions!

Also a surprise that the managing director of the company he did work experience at last year approached him to ask if he is interested in a degree apprenticeship with them, which they are thinking about creating.

We are off to Croatia on Thursday, which I'm looking forward to. DS have been pretty much full time at his part time restaurant job for the past few weeks, so the break will do him good too.

I think he'll find it strange going back to school in September with his year 13 buddies not around. Although a few are planning gap years so will be in the town for a few months.

Thanks Lego Have a lovely time in Croatia.

How are you feeling @Penguinsa, have you had your op? Hope all is well.

I'm looking forward to next Thursday now. I know the wait is super stressful for them but DD is not the easiest to be around at the moment

Good to hear your update @legosnowqueen and glad your ds is doing well. Do update us on the Croatia trip - dh and I are heading there on a mini-break later in the year.
It's bad that you've not heard anything back from Durham - doesn't put them in a good light really. Will the increased grade predictions change your ds's choices for next year do you think?

Thanks @QueenMabby & @Penguinsa

DS is still passionate about Durham so it will be his #1 choice. But will look at a few other places/courses too I think, especially as he is doing so well in Economics - although as was the case last year the Maths component is the issue with applying for straight Economics at many universities.

@QueenMabby happy to help with any Croatia info, went to Split last year & Lopud about 7 years ago. This time we are basing ourselves in the old town of Dubroknik. I've just seen this week how many cruise passengers are expected in the tiny walled town over the weekend so I suspect we'll be whizzing off to local islands etc on some days! It's a stunning country.

Glad I've found this thread! We've been in a summer bubble but finally realising it's close to results day.

DS has been so busy socialising, multiple holidays with friends and working that we haven't really discussed a Plan B if next Thursday doesn't work out as expected

I think the plan is for UCAS at 8am and then school for exam results shortly afterwards

Great to hear your ds is doing so well @legosnowqueen. It sounds like things could work out even better for him now. Not great that Furham haven't been in contact - has ds chased them?

@Lightsabre thanks, yes both school (who contacted them with health evidence etc) have chased them.

Thanks Stony Op is now scheduled for 13th and also go in on 12th. I've been very busy as recently been offered a new job starting in a few months time and doing all checks for that and also trying to get house and garden perfect and go out as much as possible pre op so not had time to think about it much which is good - glad to have it but recovery is a bit long.

DD is off out today with friends then work, have to get Student Finance forms done. Mine has been done for ages but DH is dithering with his. Seems cheerful enough.

Hope everyone gets what they need on results day. I will be in hospital that day so not sure will be on here but DDs school are very on the ball as is DD if issues which is good as DH isn't on the ball at all. Boyfriends parents are also very helpful.

That's great results are up Lego Have school sent increased predictions through to Durham, that might help though not sure. Economics is great - though can be harder than it used to be without Maths A level these days. I did it without fine but has got increasingly that need Maths A level at a lot of places and some prefer FM as well. The issue is as well even if they don't require it checking if the maths things are optional on the course (unless things he's confident at) and can opt out if find too difficult. Econometrics I found fine and was statistics with computing though again having it optional would be good or at least not counting for final grade. I think, though not an expert on this as DD had Maths but not FM, the Scottish universities are more relaxed about maths but check if interested and think they are 4 years rather than 3 and not sure how health works as devolved. St Andrews looks nice and has a lot of courses. Joint can also be more relaxed.

The emails go out from 8.30 DS says. It’s a huge 6th form college so I’d imagine they don’t want everyone to come in simultaneously! Good luck all…

DD has gone off to Edinburgh for a couple of day with a friend to see another friend who's working at the Fringe. She'll return on Saturday at 5pm and has warned me she'll need a quick turnaround to then go out celebrating another friend's birthday!

Hoping all goes well with your operation @Penguinsa.

DD is keeping busy over the next week.

Interesting to read about how many Russell Group courses are in Clearing for the upcoming academic year.

Wishing everyone the very best of luck.

Yes interesting about clearing- though when I checked a couple it was for EU/International students only. But I hope this will mean leeway for those who need it.
Ds claims to be Busy but no idea doing what. It's a long summer!

I've made a spreadsheet of possible clearing options that are close enough to DD's chosen course. Feel much better with a list! Some unis in the mix are places none of us know well. She would be anxious about going to an unknown place so if it's clearing, we'll be on a road trip next weekend. Can any of you lovely people offer any thoughts on Nottingham, Newcastle or Royal Holloway? (Uni, town and general vibes) Swansea's also on the list, but we're in Wales so that's not an unknown quantity. TIA 😊

Nice to hear your update @legosnowqueen. Wow, what a boost for your DS being offered the degree apprenticeship! Do you think he’ll go for it? I’m totally not surprised that you haven’t heard from Durham. Communication to their applicants is a major downfall as far as I’m concerned and gives off an air of arrogance that is rather disappointing. Hope you have a lovely time in Croatia.

That sounds exciting for your DD @MirandaWest, will they be going to any of the sets at the festival? I’ve never been but have always wanted to. DH went many moons ago and saw The Arctic Boosh (before they because The Mighty Boosh) and he said it was fab.

@TenSheds we are just up the road from RH. Absolutely beautiful campus. DD did the majority of her A level revision in their library. But there is absolutely zero to do in Egham which is a very small town. Not many bars or pubs and certainly no clubs. Not even sure there’s a Spoons. Windsor is the closest bigger place and you can travel in to London by train in 45 mins. But it is a far cry from your typical uni town. Don’t know how important that is to your DD.

Gosh, DD and I haven’t done anything with regards to clearing research. Other than discover that her firm choice subject looks to be in clearing but it’s still higher than her offer so makes no difference. DD is currently in Ayia Napa with her boyfriend and gets back late on the 13th. This is a good thing as I’m sure it’s keeping her distracted. I think she’d be insufferable in the lead up to Thursday if she were here!

DD hasn’t looked at clearing at all. She says if she doesn’t get in to either choice (which are same grades) that she would need to rethink things and wouldn’t want to rush into anything else not least because accommodation can be an issue with clearing places and so she would want a year out in that case.

I can do Nottingham - lovely main campus, large and leafy with a nice feel. Sports facilities very good. It's to the west of the city, on the border between Nottingham and Beeston. Beeston is a nice suburb with good amenities (cinema, big tesco, sports clubs etc). Public transport is good, tram stops right outside the campus.

There is also Jubilee Campus for some subjects like business and computing I think - (walkable plus there is a shuttle bus) and Sutton Bonington campus which is further and I don't know much about, where the vet school is.

Accommodation on main campus is all catered but there is a large s-c complex just across the road at the western end, the self-catering accommodation is closer to some depts than some of the catered, so absolutely no need to worry about being out of the action. I don't know what the accommodation situation will be like post results but probably unlikely to get on-campus catered. Those are just the university owned/managed options - there are also lots of private halls. I have never heard of anyone not able to go to Nottingham because they couldn't find a place to live.

Off campus accommodation in the city is plentiful and can be pretty cheap.

The city is fine, medium sized and easy to get around. Plenty of nightlife aimed at students with UoN ("uni of" as DS calls it but that might just be him) and NTU.

If there's anything else you'd like to know, just ask.