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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

Year 13 2024/2025 - support, discussion and looking after each other - continuation from year 12 thread

997 replies

elkiedee · 21/08/2024 19:13

I've just realised that the year 12 2023/2024 thread is full - oops! - last message on 16 August - don't know if someone started another continuation thread but I can't see it. This coming year DS1 does A levels and university applications, DS2 will be in his GCSE year.

If there is a thread already started please let me know.

OP posts:
Original poster
elkiedee · 05/12/2024 01:11

In other news, DS1 has been invited to an interview at Oxford - as he worked very hard to prepare for his test and felt it hadn't gone very well, I don't think either he or I were very optimistic. I kept wanting to ask him but didn't want to make him sad, and was sure he would tell me when he got news. Two of his closest friends also have interviews, one for Oxford and one for Cambridge.

OP posts:
Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky · 05/12/2024 02:42

Congratulations @elkiedee

We have offer 1 - 24 hours after submission. Exeter.

Currently sitting at 3rd choice but she feels good having one in the bag!

mumonthehill · 05/12/2024 04:24

Congratulations @elkiedee !! Fab.

BlueMarigold · 05/12/2024 06:18

Congratulations @elkiedee! Good luck for the interview

BlueMarigold · 05/12/2024 06:41

elkiedee · 05/12/2024 01:04

@BlueMarigold and @Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky

DS1 was also invited to an interview/open day at York - he's applying to do Maths. They made it very clear that they were going to make him an offer anyway and that they'd just make him a slightly lower offer. This was very soon after his application, and Manchester made him an offer around the same time - but he went to an open day there in June and they presumably know he'd visited. I would say though that this is a York initiative aimed at early applicants - targeting those who are interested in Oxbridge.

I definitely would have been really scared of an interview and didn't look at courses where I would have faced one, but I think the advantage for applicants of the York scheme is that it's a lower pressure way to get interview practice as well as a look round. I encouraged DS1 to look at York/Leeds as backup options - actually his offer from Manchester also seems to be on very similar grades to York.

@elkiedee Yes we kind of suspected that. DD also applied for Maths. We were a bit nervous about the interview because as you said, she was going to be interviewed along with children who were most likely to be Oxford applicants and would be much more polished in giving interviews as they would have been more prepared. But it did sound like everyone who attended got their grades lowered. Even with the lowered contextual offer, York is a bit of a stretch but it’s been firmed. It is giving her the motivation to try her best.

I think if they looked closely at DDs application they would know she wasn’t applying to Oxbridge as she didn’t do the additional maths test they required.

Changes17 · 05/12/2024 08:53

Best of luck to all DC with interviews!

Not sure DS’ application has left his school yet. He seems fairly relaxed though, pointing out that they have till January 29 (?) to deal with it. Either way it’s off his plate for the moment so he can concentrate on the work.

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 05/12/2024 08:53

@Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky Congratulations to your DD on her offer, and so quickly too!

@elkiedee lovely news about the Oxford interview for your DS. Wishing him and any other DC on the thread with upcoming interviews the very best of luck.

MotherOfCatBoy · 05/12/2024 09:55

Changes17 · 05/12/2024 08:53

Best of luck to all DC with interviews!

Not sure DS’ application has left his school yet. He seems fairly relaxed though, pointing out that they have till January 29 (?) to deal with it. Either way it’s off his plate for the moment so he can concentrate on the work.

Mine’s the same! I have decided to stop asking about it now (which I only did every couple of weeks or so) - I will have to trust that school will make sure it goes. 🤞

Changes17 · 05/12/2024 10:40

I have promised to stop asking, @MotherOfCatBoy! No doubt he’ll let me know when there’s something to know.

Monstermunchy · 05/12/2024 11:42

elkiedee · 05/12/2024 01:11

In other news, DS1 has been invited to an interview at Oxford - as he worked very hard to prepare for his test and felt it hadn't gone very well, I don't think either he or I were very optimistic. I kept wanting to ask him but didn't want to make him sad, and was sure he would tell me when he got news. Two of his closest friends also have interviews, one for Oxford and one for Cambridge.

Congratulations to your son, @elkiedee - hope it goes well!

Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky · 05/12/2024 17:54

Yay! After Exeter yesterday she got offered top choice York today.

Waiting on Durham, Edinburgh and Brighton.

Brighton she's not fussed about as school just said she had to have an insurance below York so she stuck that on.

Edinburgh is the only one that may change her mind as we haven't seen it yet.

Durham was after York on her list.

Tiggerspal · 05/12/2024 19:35

Well done to everyone on their offers.

Changes17 · 07/12/2024 09:35

DS got a confirmation email from UCAS to say his application had gone in yesterday - and in the afternoon his first offer arrived, from Newcastle, which feels like quite a moment.

It seemed to be below the standard offer and allows for exams to go quite wrong, so a handy banker to have.

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 08/12/2024 08:00

Congratulations to your DS @Changes17 ! Lovely to have an offer back so quickly, and even better that it's one with lots of wriggle room. Newcastle's a great city as well.

Changes17 · 08/12/2024 11:41

It definitely is. He’d have a great time there. And he’d have an adventure by being far away from home!

mumonthehill · 10/12/2024 05:54

We have now had a Newcastle offer and it is a good one if ds puts it as first choice but it is so far from us.

Changes17 · 10/12/2024 07:43

Congratulations to your DS, @mumonthehill! Yes, it’s a long way for us too. All of DS’ choices are hours away, though DS has now also had an offer from Sheffield, which is ‘only’ 3.5 hours away. I suppose it’s a chance to live in another part of the UK before most likely ending up living here after uni.

mumonthehill · 10/12/2024 07:49

@Changes17 all if Ds are over 3 hours away but Newcastle is over 8 and that just feels far!!!!

Changes17 · 10/12/2024 08:26

Ah, it’s five or six from us, but, agreed, 8 is a lot.

Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky · 11/12/2024 14:13

My daughter got a third offer. Standard is BBB-BBC. She got an offer of CCD!!!!

She only put it down as she needed an insurance (even though her first choice is beneath predicted grades) and so she has no intension of visiting or going!

mumonthehill · 11/12/2024 15:41

@Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky that is a fab offer!!! If anyone has watched Gilmore Girls we are going all Paris here with a spreadsheet!! Might help a choice to be made.

woolleybear · 12/12/2024 11:12

Last offer in for dc, Bath, AAB or A*AC, as its the same as their top choice that's pretty much their decisions made. I'm trying to persuade them to postpone pressing the accept button until they have been to offer holder days in Feb but I strongly anticipate they won't listen!

Tiggerspal · 14/12/2024 16:33

Do the Universities send offers before rejections? DD waiting for Bath and Durham, which I know traditionally offer late but seeing that offers have come out. Applied for Economics.

Changes17 · 14/12/2024 18:02

DS now has offers from Newcastle and Sheffield universities for physics and has been invited to an interview at Manchester University in February. Still waiting to hear from Liverpool and Durham.

jamimmi · 15/12/2024 10:07

Just wondering do you think there will be offers made this week or now nothing till after Christmas which is what I suspect. Dd form was submitted by college on Friday. She has had an acknowledged form York but nothing else. Waiting on York, Lancaster and NTU. She has 2 choices still to fill as she wants to ger a feel of offer 1st and predicted grades are borderline for the 1st 2.