Year 12 - 2024/25 - Support, Discussion and Looking After Each Other (Thread 2)

[BlackBean2023]

You’re a chatty lot… continue

Well done to your DS @Waspie 👏gives him lots of options. Enjoy Oxford all that are going, DD never made it there when she was considering but I secretly just wanted to have a nosey around!

Sheffield for us Saturday so I will be researching parking options too @postitnot , then that is it until Sept, I'm looking forward to getting my weekends back for a few weeks 😂.

Well done @Waspieson 🤩 great results. Results in hand makes it easier for uni visits. We stopped after three, for no reason. Mentally I think I am waiting for the prediction. No idea what DDs reason is.
Really good to hear everyone’s update on uni visits

Well done @waspieDS. Enjoy Oxford those going there.
@bluefinelinerI’m also looking forward to getting my weekends back.

@Lalux @bluefineliner I am looking forward to my DS showing a bit of enthusiasm and curiousity. He went to UCL last weekend because I booked it and it's local. But beyond that university applications are hardly registering with him!

DS got his predicted grades today - thankfully at the upper end of his expectations, which considering the fact that the school had emphasised how they defend their past record of accuracy versus being generous, was a bit of a relief! It means he’s a credible candidate for all the courses he’s interested in, so all good.

Excellent news @MiniMidiMaxi! So pleased to see it all coming together for many DC on the thread. And for those who are not there yet, there’s time and an abundance of great paths to be taken.

Well done to your son @MiniMidiMaxi and wonderful that his chosen courses are within his reach!

Great news for your DS @MiniMidiMaxi it’s so nice to have that reassurance of having the PGs that meet course requirements.

Enjoy Oxford today if you’re going. DS’s change of course means he won’t be trying for it now, grade requirements are too high for this course sadly.

Everyone enjoy Oxford today! DD isn't going as won't apply but is going with a pal to have a nosey at Cambridge (not applying there either) next week - looking for nice places to eat😁 priorities!

Delighted to hear predicted grades are coming together for everyone.

Oxford tomorrow for us. Just about to leave to travel up ready for a flying start in the morning!

if anyone that went today has any top tips I’d be pleased to read them.

I see lots of open days happening mid week. Are your children missing school to go?

Yes, school are authorising absences for open days. Tomorrow is sports day so no work missed.

@Muchtoomuchtodo that's interesting. No mention of that in my son's school. But then I think they're expecting open days to happen in the autumn.

DS’s school are allowing two school days as authorised absence for open days, and have been strictly tracking it.

The autumn ones aren’t great timing for us - DS will be head down revising for the MAT test for his Oxford application which is on 22/23 October.

He might just get his Oxford application in by the Oxbridge deadline and add his 4 other choices later but we’re not going to prioritise open days over MAT preparation.

That’s crazy we used 3 to visit 2 Scottish unis (same trip) and 2 for Durham . Then we have another one tomorrow for Oxford. But dd is at college so comes and goes a bit anyway as needed, I allow her to make her own decisions about attendance while she’s bringing home the goods in terms of good grades!

We won’t be going to any in the autumn though, my finances won’t stand it ! Possibly an offer holder day but I’m not sure how essential that is?

DS and I went to Oxford today. We prioritised looking at the colleges as DS is happy with the course content. They have two “Next steps” next week at school where they have admissions people from both O and C so he wasn’t worried about attending admissions talks either.

DS really liked the colleges and I was amazed at how cheap the accommodation is compared to other universities we have visited.

have a great time tomorrow @Muchtoomuchtodo

DS wanted to do the summer open days rather than autumn where possible because if he does decide to do early application the autumn open days are too late.

@AuntyBulgariaDs’ school give three days for open days. DS will have used his by next Friday (Cambridge) but he wanted to see both O and C and they only run open days during the week. The other he used on UCL last Friday.

Which colleges did you look around @Waspie? We have a kind of shortlist but it’s still too long to do in one day, especially as DS wants to go to the maths dept talks.

We looked at Trinity, Jesus, Bailliol, Magdalen and Somerville @MuchtoomuchtodoMost are quite close together. DS loved Magdalen but they were all very impressive. Speaking with students about their life in college was really helpful too. The student ambassadors will be handing out maps - we got ours at the park and ride!

Wow! You did well @Waspie

We also went to the Pitt Rivers museum (DS favourite) so I am exhausted this evening @Muchtoomuchtodo ! 😂 Have a great day tomorrow- I hope your DS enjoys it.

Ps the porters are lovely to talk to about admin type stuff and Somerville offered a free lunch. They know how to appeal to teenagers!

Thanks. Somerville is on my radar!

Ah, one of my best friends went to Somerville back in the day, whilst the other went to St Hilda’s (with their EEs offer while I had to grind for my A levels!!). Had happy times visiting them both.

DS not interested in Oxford but going to the Cambridge open day next week. Will try to prompt him to research colleges before then, we won’t be going with him this time.

On a different topic from uni visits and applications - what are your DC’s plans for the summer holidays? 6 weeks seems quite short compared to the luxury of post GCSEs last year!

DS has got a few trips planned - he’s going to Boardmasters, a camp week and will be coming away with us for our family holiday. I’m not sure how long he’ll want to still come but I’ll make the most of it while I can!