A level results day ( part 2)

[Twiglets1]

A thread to carry on discussing A level results and Uni applications as the previous one got full 😀

@halloween67 I’m a former Queens student (many years ago), live about 12 miles away and have dd as a masters student there at minute. Also did her undergrad albeit as a languages student. So if she is considering Belfast and you have any questions just shout.

Thanks so much, I really appreciate it. I will give you a shout tomorrow if she’s accepted. Thank you

Thanks for new thread.

DS2 seems to be moving past the disappointment of not getting his firm. It sounds like only 3 in his year got into their aspirational universities, and a few are going to Exeter like him We've got accommodation sorted and paid the first of 3 installments, but I'm reading about updating SF. Ds2 said he has to enrol first, but this wasn't possible yet? I will pester ask him again if he's quite sure.

DS2 will need a new bike. DH seriously suggested his old bike, currently stored at FILs. It's 7 years older than DS2 is! Then his next idea was we hire a care when we drive DS2 down, in case mine breaks down. There's absolutely no reason to think this whatsoever.

DS2 will need a new bike. DH seriously suggested his old bike, currently stored at FILs. It's 7 years older than DS2 is!

Dh used to come out with such things. I could never work out if he was joking or really thought he had a good idea.
Yes, dh, dd2 borrowing your bike to ride to orchestra carrying a trumpet, music stand and music, none of which will strap onto the bike, when she only has one hand and the only bike she's ridden in the last 10 years is adapted and yours isn't, is an absolutely genius idea. Not.
And he'd repeat it every time lift to orchestra came up.

The other one I got when we were getting stuff for dd1's student flat. "You shouldn't buy new; I had my grandmother's old stuff from when she died."
Answer: "Yes, and I had my gran's who'd also just died. So which of our parents are you planning on killing off, so we don't have to buy a new pan and a mug?"

@halloween67 No problem. Hope all works out for her.

My DP told DD "of course you can take the bike to Aberystwyth, Mum can buy a rack for the car".

I had to not very gently explain that no, I was not going to take a bike on a four hour drive on country roads in the already packed to the brim Ford Fiesta that I own!

Quite what either of them thought she'd use the bike for in a town where the uni tops a half mile long (steep) hill I have no idea!

@PennywisePoundFoolish I had to update SFE yesterday with new Uni. We are in a similar catch 22 that Uni want DS to enroll but he can't complete full enrollment until they see evidence of his loan approval. Between us we are going to call both uni and sfe tomorrow.

@halloween67 I completely get your DD's frustration but things have settled a bit after the flurry of Thursday and Friday and I think it's definitely worth calling some Unis that are officially asking for BBC. The rush for places is over and they will now be more keen than ever to fill places. Belfast does sound like a good option though.

@halloween67- and anyone else who’s put in for a remark - can I ask what the process was for you? I’ve had an acknowledgment for the payment from her college (you requested it via an online form) but nothing about the actual remark.

Really not happy with the lack of support from them.

I contacted school at 8:10 on Thursday. They emailed back to say it had been actioned and then I filled a form in to say I would pay the fees. We are still waiting to see if physics will go up.

We have also gone for a (meaningless) remark. It's too late to change anything but DS was 3 marks off the boundary and teacher recommended it. He emailed DS yesterday (Sat) to reassure him that he'd put it in for priority marking and we should have it back mid-week.

I know there is usually a fee associated (that is refunded if they find it's been marked wrong) but we haven't been asked yet. I will of course pay, but school are not holding us up with forms or payment - just cracking on with the re-mark.

Really not happy with the lack of support from them.

Ditto here. And I'm pissed off that DD's college charge a £10 'admin' fee per paper just to access her scripts. After the new term starts I'm considering asking them how they have the nerve to ask for this on their FB page.

Just thought the very thing yesterday as I threw a chunk of money to secure halls. How would someone do who couldn’t do that and no maintenance money in. It seems a ridiculous way to operate. Hope you get sorted.

DS2s school gave me forms when I asked about review of marking. But DS2 has decided against it. He wasn't that close in FM (9 from a B) which was his biggest grade drop (A predicted) but he'd had a nightmare on one paper and didn't get to start the last question worth 12 marks. He was closer in Biology (5) but his very clever friend was predicted A got a B, so he feels his C is about right.

The forms say they have to be sent from the student's school email account. I don't think they offer to look over first, but maybe they discuss that directly with the student.

I was a bit broad-sided that we had to pay the first term payment for accommodation so quickly, too. I had a saga with the guarantor forms, as I managed to lose the witness signature page. My witness kindly signed again. Obviously I found the original afterwards, on DH's bedside table(!)

His halls aren't actually that close, hence the bike. I'm not sure he'll manage well with presumably a big bag. The accommodation start date is the 6th and term starts 22nd for him I think, so we'll probably get him moved in around the 13th. So he'll have some time to work out the best way to get to his site.

Oops, fell foul of the *s turning stuff bold 🙈

DD was 1 mark off the higher grade but she's decided that she too is pissed off with the college making it complicated to apply for a review and charging to access scripts so she's not going to bother.

DS had 2 bikes stolen whilst at university. Maybe the one that is 7 years older than your son isn't such a bad idea if he just wants to get from A to B.

Years ago, a MN mum said her dd had covered her bike in Peppa Pig stickers to make it less desirable to bike thieves!

The other one I got when we were getting stuff for dd1's student flat. "You shouldn't buy new; I had my grandmother's old stuff from when she died."
Answer: "Yes, and I had my gran's who'd also just died. So which of our parents are you planning on killing off, so we don't have to buy a new pan and a mug?"

*My DP told DD "of course you can take the bike to Aberystwyth, Mum can buy a rack for the car".

I had to not very gently explain that no, I was not going to take a bike on a four hour drive on country roads in the already packed to the brim Ford Fiesta that I own!

Quite what either of them thought she'd use the bike for in a town where the uni tops a half mile long (steep) hill I have no idea!*

😭😂😂😂

Glad I'm not alone with a husband who has a compulsion towards ridiculous ideas.

DH originally wanted to take DS2 in his van, which keeps developing expensive faults. Why he thinks my mum-bus isn't up to the journey, I really can't fathom. He's also an insurance nightmare, and if I'm doing all the driving I'd rather have my own car.

@Evisam yikes at 2 bikes stolen. FIL has customised the bike with a rather fetching basket that DH was going to remove. Maybe we should take it and leave it as it is 🤔😂

@SlightlyJaded I hope you get the SFE stuff sorted too. I also need to make sure DSA is updated for DS2 as well But I sense he's not keen to take up the offered support. I'm hoping he comes around to it, as he's never been one to speak up when he's struggling

This year? Oxford dropped 2 grades? What was the subject?

A language

Was the offer something like 3 a stars and the result something like an a star in French, an a star in Spanish, a b in politics (or whatever) meaning that the language aptitude was demonstrated?

in any event, Oxford does weight the interview quite a lot so that can give wriggle room if it was stellar.

Modern languages is insanely less competitive than other subjects (that's not to say that those studying them aren't just as worthy as anybody else at Oxbridge). A tutor told me that if a state school boy applies for French or German, he'll get offered a place and will go so long as he gets the grades.

Hope everything went well today.

Just thought I'd come back on the new thread to say thank you for the advice on the last one regards deferring. DC now all sorted, so feel like we can celebrate the success now rather than stress.

Hope that all the children get things sorted, the husbands get back on planet earth with their ideas and you lot saying goodbye don't suffer too much

Does anyone know what the ‘actual’ acceptance deadlines are?

DD accepted a place through clearing but is now leaning towards retaking. (Even though it’s a risk I think it might be the better choice - just not sure she’s in the right headspace to go this time).

What I can’t work out is how long she has to decide…

We think the student finance deadline is 4 weeks before the course starts. But we can’t work out what the course/accommodation deadline is.

(Her place is at Nottingham - so perfectly good uni, but not the one she picked. And less choice with the accommodation, which isn’t helping).

As far as the course is concerned, she basically has already accepted by accepting the course offered through clearing. Nottingham will be assuming she is coming, though of course she is free to withdraw at any time.

The uni will want a deposit to secure the accommodation so at the point you pay a deposit it is assumed that is accepting that offer.

I would phone UCAS for advice really. They are neutral.

Student finance are also happy to give advice over the phone.