Year 13 -2025/26 - Support, discussion and looking after each other (new thread from y12)

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Hello
I have started a new thread following on from this one
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/further_education/5340007-year-12-202425-support-discussion-and-looking-after-each-other-thread-2?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=app_share

DS goes to school in Reading @SilverBlue56and says he thinks Bristol is Reading’s big brother. He hasn’t applied to Reading either 😂

I’m oddly glad your daughter didn’t like it@JessyCarr. I was beginning to think it was just DS.

I’m doing okay, thanks. I had my final round of chemo last week and I move to a new type of treatment on Monday. This feels like quite a milestone and I’m looking forward to (hopefully) being able to taste Christmas dinner and having the energy to eat it!

I hope your daughter is recovering well and enjoying feline snuggles whilst watching Christmas movies.

Thank you for the information about Exeter. You are such an authority on this. What is your daughter’s first choice currently?

@Ventress So pleased that you have finished chemo - that’s a great milestone. I thought it was particularly touching that your DS didn’t want to trouble you with the wait for Oxford interview news while you were going through that.

DD was originally very set on Exeter, which is why I have looked into it is some depth (we were considering investing in an HMO student house there). However, although she still likes it and has an offer there, she has had her head turned by other options. The long-shot is in France - there will be more news on that, one way or the other, in January. But in the UK she loved Manchester most and was really inspired by the professor giving the Arabic talk. In the end we had to drag her away from their chat so that the next presentation could begin! She also liked Edinburgh, but was not quite as buzzing about the people she had met there (she went up without us for that open day).

So no bad options, though privately I think France wouldn’t offer the right balance on the course. But she is such a francophile that she hasn’t perhaps been quite as forensic in critiquing their course content as she has for her UK choices. (Course in each would be Arabic plus either French, Politics or IR).

@JessyCarr thanks for the information about Exeter. If they end up in private accommodation, does this mean they are still likely to be in a similar 'halls like' environment, or could it mean sharing a flat with someone? Keen that DC gets the usual Uni experience. Do you know if there is any information anywhere about private halls in Exeter?
@Ventress really glad you are doing well and finished chemo. And well done to your DC for his offers so far, fingers crossed you hear from UCL soon! I saw on another thread that someone had had a Durham offer last night so sounds like the Universities haven't fully closed down for Christmas yet

@Fabfabfab Yes, when first years go into Exeter private accommodation it will overwhelmingly be into purpose-built halls, often very new, built to the same sort of spec as the modern on-campus halls. So far as I know, there is capacity for everyone who wants such accommodation in Exeter to secure it (some of the private halls are still advertising rooms available in the current year). Since the university is addressing its temporary on-campus shortage by partnering with these providers, there may be no difference in reality between what is offered by the university to a firmed student compared to what is secured privately by an insurance student.

The university’s on-campus building project is currently expected to deliver its Phase 1 accommodation in Sep 2027 and the final Phase 2 in Sep 2028. Therefore I think it is sensible for anyone choosing Exeter as their 2026 insurance to be fully prepared to go to the private market for first-year accommodation. The wise student will have familiarised themselves with the relevant part of the uni website: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/accommodation/private/options/ and also know the bus links between city, station and the university campuses: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/about/sustainability/travel/buscoach/. Route 4 serves a stop right in the middle of the Streatham campus so can make apparently distant halls very accessible if they are on the route (cycling in Exeter is a nice idea…if you like hills!). They can have a great experience - in current circumstances there will be lots of other freshers in these halls. But if results day rules out your first choice and you go to your insurance, it’s not ideal to have to get up to speed on accommodation options at the last minute.

Thank you @JessyCarr, DS had flu and, being immunocompromised, I had to stay well away from him which meant we were communicating via text message for three weeks. I think it was just too much like hard work to share news with me 😂

A friend’s daughter has just finished her UG degree at Exeter and they bought a flat down there to house their daughter and two other girls. In the summer they used it as a holiday let. Not quite an HMO of course, but it worked well for them.

Fingers crossed for the France option. Would waiting for 2027 and Erasmus be helpful in her situation? Although if Manchester is her favourite she could take her UG there wait do post grad in France?

DS loves UCL because his passion is Russia and Eastern European history and UCL have some exceptional professors with Eastern Europe as their specialism, not least Mark Galeotti. He realised it’s unlikely he would be taught by one of these professors but it is a draw. As is the chance to learn Russian (he’s been teaching himself for years but it’s not the same). I hope your daughter finds the path that is right for her. She sounds like such a lovely young woman.

Thank you @Fabfabfabis your dc applying for history or politics/IR? DS’s friend got a pol/ir offer the other day and I’ve seen on the Reddit thread that offers are coming for politics but I haven’t seen any offers for history yet.

@Ventress i think Erasmus is only applicable if you are an exchange student, rather than a permanent student at an EU institution. So it wouldn’t help DD if she got into her French option (which, as she is non-EU, would charge full international fees unless she got a merit scholarship). But it would be relevant if she did Arabic and French at Manchester, as her year abroad would be split half and half between the languages, so she’d qualify in principle for a grant for the period spent in a French-speaking country. Whether there’s enough for everyone who qualifies to actually receive a grant will remain to be seen!

@JessyCarr that is so helpful. The wise student in this case has an organised mother on Mumsnet! Did you get to the point where you decided which private accommodation you preferred or had your DC changed her mind by then? France sounds exciting (and does that mean lower Uni fees too??).
@Ventress My DC is also applying for History. Not seen any offers for Durham History yet either. UCL seems great but my DC doesn't want to live in London unfortunately, Bristol is as close as it gets!

@Ventress Congratulations on completing your chemo! That's very much a milestone and I'm happy for you! You've got this!

I understand, that’s a shame about the French scholarship option but another tick in the Manchester box. I am positive she will take the best from her studies wherever she goes @JessyCarr

If DS hears from Durham I will tag you @Fabfabfab. Hopefully our dc will hear soon. Bristol is a great option, it’s very well regarded. DS was quite anti-central London too, but the open day won him over.

Thank you @temperedolive😊

I hope everyone has a peaceful and relaxing Christmas x

Been quite nice although dd is stressing about outstanding homework but not actually doing said work, she needs to do about 3 hours a day for the next week to catch up, which isn’t too bad if she actually cracks on.

Shes been humming and harring about going to Greece with mates this summer and has decided to go, which I’m glad about. Got an offer from Southampton last week, which was quite high and so she’s thinking Reading is going to be her insurance place (if she likes it, still not visited campus, but are near the town and it’s probably commuting distance) Liverpool is the only one not offered yet, and of course that’s her top choice.

I did wonder at what stage Santa stops leaving a stocking, I’m told he needs to keep coming until she leaves home. I can’t remember when my mum stopped doing one for me. Probably when I left for Uni..

Very peaceful Christmas here - it's strange to think that this time next year DS will hopefully have left school and will have to travel back home for Christmas!

DS has a maths admissions test on 8 Jan and there is some practice going on but not as much as I would have thought necessary (nothing changes!). Also homework has not been done. So a couple of work heavy days before he's back to school on the 5th!

@wonderstuff Father Christmas stopped leaving a stocking when my child was about 13! Though Christmas is not a massive event in our house.

DS got a usual presents - clothes, books, underwear and some money. I was toying with bribery to get him to practice driving but DH rolled out his veto (he doesn’t do this often so I listened).

DS has split up with his girlfriend. They’ve been together about 16 months and it’s his first “proper” relationship so he’s quite upset. I feel for him.

He has mocks just after the holidays but isn’t able to focus. He’s been through a lot in the last six months, including recent flu. I’ve told him not to worry about the mocks The school are making a big thing of it but is it really?

Lovely for your DD to go to Greece next summer @wonderstuffand excellent news on the Southampton offer. I’ve said before I know but I really like the Reading campus. I hope you get a chance to visit. Fingers crossed for Liverpool!

No more offers for universities for DS yet, but he’s not expecting any until after all applications are in.

Best of luck to DS for his test on 8th @AuntyBulgaria🤞I am sure he will pull it out of the bag.

DD has now got offers from all 3 choices! She's accepted one as firm, one as insurance and rejected the other. She's also filled in the form to express interest in living in halls for her firm.
Apparently she will always need a stocking if she is home at Christmas......

We still have a stocking for DD here too, just an excuse for extra presents I think 😁.

@Ventress your poor DS, break ups can hit hard regardless of who and why. DD went through it during her GCSEs and Y12 mocks and thankfully it didn't affect her grades. Your DS has had a lot to deal with so I agree these mocks are not vital and don't affect anything. DD's mocks start next Weds and although the general theme has been for everyone to revise hard over the holidays, her teachers have told DD not to do this as she has interviews to do/prep for too. I am confident she is on top of things so agree they have to take a backseat atm.

@AuntyBulgaria I am sure the lock in for prep for the test will start soon. Good luck to your DS for the test.

DD has an interview on Monday, then her last 2 at the end of Jan/beginning of Feb. It is great she got 4 interviews but there is an underlying level of stress at all times juggling what needs to take priority. I am, as usual, support crew keeping my distance as much as I can!

The first few months of 2026 are going to be full on for everyone aren't they!

That’s wonderful @hels71! How organised your daughter is to already have firmed and requested halls 😊

Well done to your daughter on four interviews @bluefineliner! hopefully she will get her first and second choice. I’m sure she will as she is clearly both very bright and very motivated. Best of luck for the one next week and those which come later. I agree with the teachers that her priority is the interviews and she shouldn’t worry about mocks at all.

DS and I are going out of lunch today. We’re meeting up with his very old friend (and his mum) from nursery who started at university this year. He has really enjoyed his first term and I hope that catching up with him will help raise DS’ mood and help him think about what is in the future rather than the past.

Happy new year everyone! 🎉 Let’s hope 2026 brings nothing but good things for our DCs.

Well done on the offers, DS got one from Manchester on Christmas Eve which was a nice surprise. We still do stockings for the kids here despite one of them heading up to 22!

@Ventress im sorry that your DS is having a horrible time at the moment, as young as they are, their feelings are very real and these things hit hard. Hopefully he will gather himself for the mocks, but I agree that they aren’t that important other than getting an idea what they still need to revise. DS has done next to nothing in terms of revision and we did have words yesterday so now I’m the baddie. It’s horrible that they can’t just enjoy the Christmas break without a set of exams to worry about immediately after.

Amazing that your DD is in a position for firming @hels71 that must be such a nice feeling before the new year!

Good luck to your DS’s maths test @AuntyBulgaria 🤞

DS has his summer holiday planned, Greek island with the boys. Something for them to look forward to.

Good luck to everyone with interviews coming up!

Happy New Year everyone!

2026 is an exciting year for our dc, DS already has a school rugby tour and a boys trip to Spain planned!

He has mocks next week which he’s not done a huge amount of preparation for but he’s a bit of a steady Eddie and revises hard for each unit test, and of course his AS levels so he ought to be ok. Apart from confidence they don’t count for anything either.

He needs to keep an eye out for offer holder days as he’s got offers from 2 universities that he’s not visited, but I’m leaving that up to him. Just asked him to keep me updated on when he’s going and where as I’ll need to pay for his train tickets!

Happy new year all, although it makes exams feel closer 😂
DS has mocks next week and has done a reasonable amount of revision in between a hectic social life and Christmas (and sleeping) He informed me at 2am when he came home, he is quietly confident 🤔 We shall see!
We are skiing at February HT and he has a lads holiday booked for early July. DH and I are planning a holiday, just the 2 of us. That's rather exciting.

My ds has done his mocks and pleased with the results.
Just finishing his UCAS form, and easing in to the last term of teaching.

He's upbeat & cheerful. I'm shattered 😁

Happy 2026 everyone, may it be a great year for all our children (and their families!).

I haven’t been on Mumsnet for a while, so much to catch up on!

I am so glad you finished chemo @Ventress, I hope the new treatment is going well and you are feeling ok. I am rooting for your DS for both an Oxford and a UCL offer. Sorry to hear about his break up, he’s had more than his fair share of troubles and I hope he’s spoilt for choice with unis!

@bluefineliner, four interviews is amazing, well done to your DD! Hope she aces them and they translate into offers. Agree that mocks don’t really matter at this point.

Hope your DD is fully recovered @JessyCarr.

Exciting to read about the driving tests passed, holiday plans and other news!

Here DS has taken a while to lick his Oxford wounds but the holidays have helped, as has the Bath offer for politics with economics that arrived in December.

His driving test is end of March and he is definitely improving so hopefully he’ll be ready when the time comes. He and his friends are talking about Malta for the post-A level trip. He is already going on a school music trip to Tuscany so it might end up an expensive summer!

We have booked an offer holder day for Exeter in March. DS liked it a lot when we visited so it’s looking to be a serious contender. The accommodation issue sounds scary though, thanks for the heads up @JessyCarr!

Happy new year everyone,

That is good news about the Bath offer just coming at the right time for your DS @ComingInByAnsible .

Our new year has started unexpectedly as MIL (who has lived with us for 20 years) had a stroke on Friday and is in hospital now. Not sure of the prognosis as she is very elderly, she can recognise us but her speech is not great. DD was with her whilst waiting for the ambulance and all the time in ED, she was amazing but is obviously very shaken by it all. She has her interview at Leeds today so we are just hoping she can hold herself together for it, she is focused and her Grandma was one of her strongest supporters for her to study med so she would want her to carry on.

Mocks start on Weds but I've been in touch with school to inform them. DD has done lots of revision and prep anyway it is just the last few days have been awful for her so it might affect her exams. I told her these exams don't matter as they have no bearing on anything now.

@ComingInByAnsible well done to your on the Bath offer, my DS would be very jealous as that's who he really wants to hear from (different subject but his preferred uni). He got an email from them on Friday saying 'your application is with us and we'll be in touch soon' not sure what the point of that was (other than to raise and dash his hopes! 😂) as we got the generic email when he first applied telling him they had his application.

So sorry to hear about your MIL @bluefineliner , sending positive thoughts for a speedy recovery. Good luck to your DD in her interview today.

DS is on exam leave through these mocks which our school have never done before - it feels odd. First exam tomorrow morning, Chemistry, the couple of past papers he's sat over this weekend are not looking hopeful....

@ComingInByAnsiblecongrats on the Bath offer. @JustHereWithMyPopcornI feel the pain DS got a Happy Christmas message from one of his choices just before Christmas and of course as soon as the email comes through it gets their hopes up.

@bluefinelinerso sorry to hear about MIL. Best of luck to DD today.