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

[BlackBean2023]

You’re a chatty lot… continue

@MiniMidiMaxi we don’t really do as levels except a few dc who started with 4 a levels and now want to move to 3 so they do an AS. Seems sensible but not the general norm.

@MiniMidiMaxi I wish DS would be keeping track of everything, I think his head is in the sand a bit about how close all of this decision making is.

Welcome @TeenLifeMum I'm worrying about grades here too. DS seems to be exclusively looking at RG but the grade requirements (for all the subjects he is currently mulling over!) are all in the A - A* bands. If he doesn't hit those grades in his exams next week the school won't predict them (our school won't increase grades from what they achieve this year without good cause).

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn exactly this! I’m far more stressed than she is. Not because I’m pushing for Russell group but because I want her to be able to do what she wants to do. She doesn’t really have a plan b. Closest friends have A* students without any concerns so I have to keep it all to myself.

My DS has been invited to a taster day at a University of Oxford college, next week.

Does anyone know anything about these? His teacher nominated him for it.

I wonder whether he should wear something smart (he's a grey tracksuit bottoms kind of lad!).

Thank you

@MiniMidiMaxi DS is taking a similar approach using AS papers. Sixth form seem to be covering that content although they don’t do the AS exams. He said quite a few of his friends have dropped to 3 A Levels from starting with 4.

Mocks start week after next and then we start open days not long after - it’s going to be a busy month.

DD has her individual “next steps” meeting at school after half-term, so we have spent a useful morning checking and refining her UCAS spreadsheet. Now focusing on 9 courses which need to be whittled down to 5! But still plenty of time to think.

Hope half-term is bringing a well-earned break to you all.

@Babbits my son went to a Cambridge taster day but it was in term time with a few people from school so he went in just what he normally wears to school.

Not sure he found it that helpful. He certainly wasn't fired up and motivated after it. Lots of other young people there and in fact I think it put him off! Which is good to know I suppose. I think he was just pleased to have been selected.

@TeenLifeMum DS's school friends are all A* students which puts added pressure on for sure.

@Babbits DS did an Oxford one in Feb half term, it is very relaxed, no one was dressed up at all, DS was in tracksuit bottoms, sweatshirt, trainers and a jacket.

@Babbits the email they sent said to wear what you are comfortable in. If yours is part of a school trip the school may want him to wear whatever the sixth form norm is (our sixth form is formal suits and they had to attend the UCAS day in those).

Thanks. It's not a school trip, but his teacher did nominate him. He doesn't know anyone else going.

Apparently there are some lectures and lunch.

Same as DS's day, everyone was casual. You could go for middle ground if you're not sure.

My son did a day at Cambridge a few months ago @Babbits and went in decent jeans and a polo shirt. He said there were people there in everything from joggers to suits and ties. I'm sure whatever your son wears he won't stick out. I hope he enjoys the day
Welcome @TeenLifeMum . My son is the same. Targeting RG+ and not really thinking about alternatives. He isn't sure what course he wants to do so we are booked up for lots of open days. Hopefully this will help him decide which course, and also which universities, to apply for.

@JessyCarr your daughter is amazingly organised. DS hasn't even narrowed down nine universities let alone nine courses! I hope her next steps meeting goes well.

Jumping in to say hello and join you! Daughter in year 12, driving test out of the way and just going in to open days. We're also going to Exeter on Friday, then Edinburgh and Southampton next month. Daughter is currently in total denial that mocks are coming up. We've had an enormous row about the EPQ - which I swear only exists to totally blight my life! So relieved currently for half term!

Yay, have found the new thread! 🙂 Lovely to catch up with how everyone is doing. So relieved the half term is here, it’s been a hard slog with stress at work, house move and DS mocks. He’s given up his fourth A-level (maths) as it was taking more time and effort than all his other subjects combined and dragging down his grades. He’s so much happier for it, has done really well in mocks and can count on excellent predicted grades.
This has ruled out an economics degree though, and he’s no longer that keen on doing pure law either. So he’s another one whose degree choices are completely up in the air and he’s been bluntly told by the school that he needs to start making up his mind. Weirdly he has a better idea about the selection of unis, so like many others on this thread we are starting the open day circuit with Exeter this week. He’s signed up to half a dozen different subject talks so it’s going to be painful!

@Waspie thankfully she’s very clear on the course she wants and doesn’t want to be too far from home. We’re in the West Country so have some great options. The furthest we’re travelling is royal Holloway.

DD has been to 3! Very relaxed .

Hi all, just checking in now we are on half term break.

@ellieinfrance your post made me smile because EPQ is causing DD stress here too and goodness don't I know it! My standard response is 'well there's nothing you can do about it now, just get your head down and get it over and done with' not helpful but I'm fed up hearing her moan 😂.

DD I feel has not been as full on as I expected with revision recently (teen relationship dramas) and I have bitten my tongue as she is usually so motivated. She spent yesterday getting back in to it which resulted in me being told last night how much biology she needs to do and how she won't get it all covered now 🙄. I am not reacting because I got this kind of comment when she did GCSEs and they turned out well.

DD never went on her Oxford visit due to illness but has since changed her plans so wouldn't be applying anyway. One less stress to accommodate!

I am looking forward to getting DD to the open days to bring it to reality, rather than all this talk about going to 'uni' but maybe not really thinking about what it all involves (not just academically, but moving away etc).

Thankfully we had a very useful (and interminable) presentation about UCAS at school.

We managed to whittle down the unis. DS doesn't want to spend his life in bigger debt than absolutely necessary, so that is London and Edinburgh out.
DH is very good at recommending courses and unis for the top best value for money choices. I am trying to convince DS to choose a more applied course (like accounting) for his fifth choice at an old poly near to us as a backup. I am totally failing so far.

I hope everyone's predicted grades will meet their expectations. 🤞

Congratulations on all the driving licences. (We have stalled on this due to lack of time.)

See you all on the train and at open days 😀

@Wehaditsogood we've got the school talk on UCAS in mid June which seems later than lots of others. But I'm hoping it will focus my DS's mind as he has recently decided that economics is boring and he should have kept doing physics. So is currently flitting between courses involving maths, finance and electronic engineering. He basically has no clue!

If we wait until the autumn open days he will at least know his Maths grade (as it sits his first exam next Wednesday) and he will know what kind of uni/course is realistic.

But talking to him about courses and where he would like to study is basically like talking to a blancmange!

DD says most people she knows are not engaging in the uni thinking. She thinks a lot of people don’t want to go away. Which is wild to me as I was so desperate for adventure at this age! DD is keen to go away but more for the course / pretty uni aspects which were not the highest on my priority list. St Andrews is falling further down the list by the day though as she contemplates quite how small it is - she is not interested at all in partying but does like a cinema/shops/eating fun food etc. We’re going to the Durham open day soon so she has high hopes for that. That’s our last one (thankfully for my budget).

Woohoo, DS passed his driving test this morning!! I am so relieved (and also happy not to have to pay for any more driving lessons!). Got a short notice test off an app and just grabbed it despite it being at 7.13am and his instructor being on holiday!

Welcome @ellieinfrance. I hope your daughter enjoys the open days. She's probably thinking about her mocks more than she is letting on. My son's school don't offer EPQ so we were spared that trauma at least.

Well done to your son @JustHereWithMyPopcorn - great news!

My son had a big meet up with his friends from his previous school and he said that there was a fairly equal split between those not considering university at all, those wanting to move away and those wanting to remain close to home.

DS is certain he wants to go to university but uncertain on what to study. He's still keen on a London university but appreciates it will be very expensive to live in central London for the full three years. He's considering living in halls for the first year and then commuting for the other two years. Like your daughter @TeenLifeMum DS doesn't want to go too far and has put on a 2 hour travel limit. We're in Berkshire so there are plenty of options.

We haven't had the UCAS/next steps talk from school either yet. It's work experience next week and then back to school 9th June to get their end of year results and UCAS predications..

Congratulations to your DS @JustHereWithMyPopcorn! Big relief I’m sure to have that over and done with, and for the end of driving lessons!

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn congratulations to your son!

Ours isn’t 17 yet but I couldn’t believe how much driving lessons have gone up in price since our oldest learnt 2 years ago! I hope he’s a quick learner, I’m not looking forward to taking him out to practice though!

We paid £40/hr @Muchtoomuchtodo and she wasn't the most expensive round here either!