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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:
WombatChocolate · 13/02/2025 19:29

It’s a funny thing with their gut reactions in favour or against places based on a short visit isn’t it.

On one hand, the vibe is impirtant and they do have to find ways to reduce their shortlist down to a firm and insurance, and it does have to be their choice……but I wonder how many reject an excellent or better option based on pretty spurious open day things that can be pretty potluck?

Ive known kids reject or choose somewhere based on one meal they had there, or one student ambassador or one lecturer they briefly spoke to. They do have to choose …but sometimes they aren’t that good at it.

Id say that if anyone’s DC seems to making an odd choice or one you’re uncertain of, just really encourage them to go to more of the Offer Holder days than they might choose. It just gives one more chance to think about it. And whilst many have their initial thoughts confirmed, lots also change their mind after a 2nd visit. If they can get to go whilst it’s uni term time (ie next week) then I think they get a very different feel to the out of term time Open Days many will have been to.

NCTDN · 13/02/2025 20:13

Can I get opinions on holidays at Easter?
DS is away over the Easter weekend for 4 nights. Would you take them on another three night break early on? His first exam is 23rd May. I'm concerned that he might explode or peak too soon if he spends the rest of the holidays revising.

WombatChocolate · 13/02/2025 21:11

Personally, I think one 4 day break is perfect and enough.
Assuming they have a 2 week holiday, you don’t want to be away for a full half. Many subjects are likely to be doing mock papers straight after Easter and having enough time to prep is important.
Some kids would struggle with the idea of being away for 4 days and want to be home all over Easter. But it’s good for all to get a bit of time out and away. Some would be happy to be away for a full week or even longer - but often they haven’t really grasped the work level needed or how close the GCSEs are. Some kids need not to be given reasons not to work.
Exams will be over mid June. That’s the time for more trips away. Easter through to June needs sustained hard work. And families who fancy a holiday or usually go away at that time, would benefit from delaying it until the summer and enabling study in that vital time. Exams might be starting just 4 weeks later. It’s not long.

WombatChocolate · 13/02/2025 21:17

Revising over Easter could be doing 2 of the 3 sessions (morning, afternoon, evening) for 10 days with 4 full days off and that 3rd session of every work day off. They can have some long lie ins, still have a decent ••lunch break, do some sport or other activity, meet friends and have some evenings out so it doesn’t feel like all work. Fitting in maybe 5 hours per day leaves plenty of time for breaks and fun things. If they aren’t good at organising their own social life, book in some treats like cinema trip , nice lunch or whatever. But giving them plenty of time at home so they can work without feeling stressed and there isn’t any time to do what’s needed, really helps. Remember most students are doing 8-10 subjects and have n excess of 20 exams to get ready for:

NCTDN · 13/02/2025 21:27

It's three subjects with exams starting on 23 May.

jamimmi · 13/02/2025 22:31

@NCTDN we have 2 nights a a spa booked the 1st weekend of the holiday. DD won't gonaway during the week as her collage sauna lot of revision stuff. Her exams aren't till June as all maths and science. I'd say 4 days are enough but get the peak to early too. Spa is the choice over a city break to allow chilling!

maybemedmum · 14/02/2025 07:23

Think it also depends on what will work for the individual. My kids (we have GCSEs this year too) vetoed going away over Easter. School are running sessions that they don't want to miss - we had suggested going to my parents' house in Spain to revise, but they're not keen. We're having a proper break in February half term (hand luggage only, so no laptops etc!) and then hunkering down for the run in.
I would have quite liked a long weekend or similar over Easter, but have had a clear steer about how they want to manage it, so going with that.

mumonthehill · 14/02/2025 07:33

We have never gone away at Easter if exams are on but I think 4 days is ok unless they are really behind. Ds has now firmed his choices, Nottingham first choice and Oxford Brookes insurance.

Changes17 · 14/02/2025 11:11

We haven't got as far as planning any breaks over the next few months - though we are leaving for a summer holiday on straight after term ends. But mostly for lack of organisation. A short break sounds like a lovely idea, but only if your DC isn't going to spend it worrying they are getting behind.

@mumonthehill Nice to have firm choices settled! DS still has offer days to go to so hasn't as yet.

NCTDN · 20/02/2025 11:24

Anyone at Sheffield on Saturday?

Changes17 · 20/02/2025 11:38

March for Sheffield, I think @NCTDN. Would be interested to hear what you think. What subject?

NCTDN · 20/02/2025 12:31

Aerospace Engineering

Changes17 · 20/02/2025 13:02

Ah, fairly similar. DS for physics.

Monstermunchy · 20/02/2025 15:58

We're also at the March offer day in Sheffield, but different subject

Changes17 · 20/02/2025 17:41

Are you all going to offer days, or sending DC alone?

Monstermunchy · 20/02/2025 18:14

We’re going so we can have a wander round the city and also look at accommodation with him - not sure what the itinerary is yet, and he’s only been able to book one ‘guest’ so we’ll play anything else by ear

NCTDN · 20/02/2025 18:52

We're both going. For Sheffield they are allowed a guest into the lectures- I'm happy wandering round! We want a good look at the accommodation.

NCTDN · 22/02/2025 21:24

Been to Sheffield offer holder day today and very impressed. All the staff and students were so welcoming

Changes17 · 23/02/2025 09:35

That’s good to hear. Thanks for the update @NCTDN

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 23/02/2025 15:19

Changes17 · 20/02/2025 17:41

Are you all going to offer days, or sending DC alone?

@Changes17 DC1 is doing offer holder days by herself - she prefers it that way but I don't think there's a right or wrong way to approach them. It probably helps that she's already narrowed it down in her head to three universities (if she gets an offer from Edinburgh, that is!), and she's been on open days to those three, so had been able to identify the kind of things she's hoping to get out of an offer holder day.

She had one at Manchester this week and came back feeling really positive about it - the department was very small and friendly and the taster sessions were interesting. It is quite likely to be her insurance choice now, depending on a) whether Edinburgh make an offer, and b) if that offer is low enough for it to be a sensible insurance choice. Her first choice offer is her aspirational one, and has high grade requirements with no chance of flexibility, so she's investing at least as much energy in getting the right insurance choice.

Changes17 · 23/02/2025 18:27

Thanks @TheTurn0fTheScrew. DS also heading to Manchester this week for an interview, and is going alone. It will be a fairly long day since it’s three hours each way on the train. He’s a bit nervous about the journey, but says he will have to do it at some point, so good to get the experience.

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 23/02/2025 19:54

@Changes17 best of luck to your DS for his interview! I think Manchester's a really Marmite place - DC1 and I love it but I quite understand its detractors at the same time, especially as some of the bits near the train station don't give the best first impressions when you arrive.

Sweetpeasaremadeforbees · 24/02/2025 19:37

Are you all going to offer days, or sending DC alone?

We took DD to Lancaster on Saturday but she did the sessions on her own whilst we went for a wander had noodles and rice from the takeaway. She admits that she's actually more confident and less nervous when left to get on with it. She made friends with a girl doing a similar course and in typical teen fashion they're now friends on Insta!

Loads of parents attended subject sessions with their kids but I said no (DH would have done but I stopped him).

Tiggerspal · 24/02/2025 22:59

I'm going with DC. I understand what you say about more confidence etc but we've found that when discussing one Uni vs another, it's really helpful for us both to have been there. It's very easy to forget what was said at which place or which accommodation was where.

Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky · 05/03/2025 06:56

Well my daughter is now 100% York not just 99% after the offer holder day - in her talk I would say 85% with parents.

It was actually really useful seeing the halls with belongings in - it made it more homely and helped my daughter to imagine herself living there. We saw loads of windows decorated with post it note patterns / pictures and apparently they leave a pile for the students when they move in.