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

[scandinavianyellow]

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

Oh no @Muchtoomuchtodo, your poor boy! Hope it heals well and quickly, and that he stays pain free. Very lucky that it’s not his dominant hand!

@GirlsInGreen, well done to DD on PS. That’s the advice we got from school too - that it doesn’t matter what you put in which box as long as everything you need to say is in the PS somewhere.

Enjoy Plymouth, @Meadowfinch. Coastal engineering sounds interesting and like something that will continue being relevant with the climate change.

@AuntyBulgariasounds like a good open day despite the rain.

@bluefineliner, congratulations on the list of four! Does she know what her non-med choice will be?

Regarding early responses, more hoping than expecting some. With the risk of the Oxford application, which statistically is far more likely to be a no, it would take some pressure off to hear positively from Exeter, which is DS’ second favourite.

DS has submitted his UCAS application with five choices. Phew. His sponsor and teachers will now complete his reference which he will get to see before submission.

Coastal engineering sounds fascinating @Meadowfinch. It sounds like your son is really switched on. Enjoy Plymouth. What other courses is he looking at?

@GirlsInGreen- DS was told to ignore the questions and just write the ps then just break it into three with the second answer of shortest possible length as this is all covered in other parts of the UCAS application.

Thank you for the feedback on Durham open day. DS has included Durham as one of his five, despite not having visited. If he gets an offer he can go to the offer holder day. The course does seem excellent; it’s just so very far away (but that’s my problem not his and I would never let that sway his decision).

I’m glad Liverpool open day went well @bluefinelinerand that your daughter is now fairly sure of her four choices. What will she apply for as her fifth, non-medical choice?

I hope your son’s wrist heals soon @Muchtoomuchtodo.

Hello! Rejoining you on the new thread as deadlines start to loom. PS started but still in bullet point format. Not doing any more open days, one spare uni still to be decided but think we'll choose without visiting for the final one.

@ComingInByAnsible and @Ventress DD is not choosing a non medical 5th option. She says she doesn't want to do anything else and would rather take a year out and try again if unsuccessful. I am leaving it up to her, there is always clearing if all else fails 😄.

@Muchtoomuchtodo Oh dear poor DS, young bones heal quickly though if it's any comfort.

@Muchtoomuchtodo ouchee! Poor son - so many bones in the wrist - hopefully healing well🫰
Well done to all the prospective medics on ucats.
@bluefineliner - the 'Pool is such a great city -great choice by your DD.

Signing up after a five year gap since I last had an interest in this.
DS is doing more exams this week so have laid off the pressure to find some lower tariff options as Cambridge, if he gets an offer, and LSE are going to be a much of a muchness.
Different sixth form from DD and it feels that things have changed a bit but DS is worryingly laid back and has only visited those choices. I schlepped across the country for DD and we had endless discussions with wider family as well.

@Ventress My ds is looking at environmental engineering, coastal & civil,
renewable energy engineering and straight mech eng.

He's trying for a degree apprenticeship in nuclear engineering too.

Wow your kids all sound so organised need to start nagging my DS again ! Got a feeling he is way behind only seems interested in finding time to see his gf.
Anyone know when they are meant to start applying for apprenticeships ?
@scandinavianyellow thanks for starting the thread.
@Muchtoomuchtodo wishing your DS a speedy recovery

@Tebheag i’ve seen some degree apprenticeships advertised already. It’s a good idea to have a basic CV ready as they often close applications early if they receive huge numbers of applicants.

Trauma clinic yesterday went well, he’s in a lighter, slimmer (purple) cast until half term!

So DD went to have her PS checked today and apparently it is ready to go. Her teacher also let her have a read of their reference for her and it made her cry! Happy tears thank goodness.

So we are all set to send off the application on Monday. Seems so quick and I'm not sure I'm ready for the long wait to see if she gets any interviews now. DD is feeling lighter for the time being just getting it out of the way so she can focus back on her A levels fully.

Good luck to the other early entry students working hard to get their applications finished.

They sound fascinating @MeadowfinchI guess the armed services would be offering degree apprenticeships too? Best of luck to your son.

DS said exactly the same @bluefineliner- huge relief to get the early app out of the way. He has been a little less stressed knowing it’s not lurking in the corner of his mind. I’m sure your daughter will reap the rewards of her efforts when the offers start to arrive.

Popping back to share some wonderful news - my nephew has had an unconditional offer from Harvard. He has spent so long working towards this, basically since year 9. I’m so proud of him 🤩

Wow that is fantastic news @Ventress well done to your DN! Is he yr13? I know nothing about American universities, what will he be studying?

How exciting @Ventress I know nothing about American universities and their selection processes but he must have done amazingly well at interview or whatever he’s had to do to get an unconditional offer.

Thank you both. Yes he’s year 13 @bluefinelinerso will start next autumn when our DC start university. He has worked really hard; it’s based on interviews and GCSE grades plus predicted A level grades and he has had to take the US SAT tests. He was out in Boston last week having final interviews.

it’s a four year course where they start doing multiple subjects and then specialise in the last two years.

Due to the way the US financial support works it will actually be substantially cheaper for my sister and brother in law than a UK university! I’m so thrilled for him. It’s such an amazing opportunity.

@Ventresswow!! Well done your DN. What subjects are he looking to do. Would pass on the news to my daughter, we never looked into USA to study, but interesting to hear, I thought we wouldn’t get any financial help, so wouldn’t be possible.
@Muchtoomuchtodohope your DS is it in much pain.
To everyone who submitted UCAS already, exciting timings now to wait for the offers :) We are on final draft and submitted on Friday just before they closed for maintenance I think, hopefully they don’t need editing anymore. DD went for a birthday party yesterday with kids from school across the road and now find out too many of them are applying for the same Engg course 😬
I said it’s nothing to worry about, at least you will end up knowing one person near home, wherever you go for sure. ESAT prep took back seat with UCAS and have another 10 days to go.. She had done lot of prev papers, but prone to very silly mistakes when under pressure, I kept telling her, she is nit alone in that and keep calm and do as much as possible is the only way to go

@Meadowfinchthat sounds like an interesting course, DD was looking into nuclear and renewable energy but then left at some point. Which unis are on your list? DD is planning to visit Bath after ESAT as last openday was clashing with Bristol and we decided to go Bristol then!

@Newlease The financial scheme is specific to Harvard, they recently announced from the 2025 academic year. It will be completely free for students from families with incomes of $100k or less and tuition free for those with families with an income of less than $200k. Some other unis have some schemes but obviously Harvard getting so much funding and philanthropic funding that they can do that. Otherwise across most American universities it is very unaffordable for tuition fees, in terms of schemes for everyone, other than sport/music scholarships.

Congratulations to your nephew @Ventress he's done incredibly well!

Hi all - I have been missing out on your updates, as MN with all its ads won’t even load on my (brand new) iPad any more. Great to see those early UCAS forms going in! We are almost there but not quite, as DD has decided at the last minute that she wants to consider adding Durham in (possibly sacrificing Leeds in the process). Helpfully this idea came to her a week after their open day, which we have therefore missed. Can’t wait to hear about those first offers when they start to roll in, even as some of us go back to the drawing board!

Thank you for explaining @TheLivelyViper - yes, the Harvard financial scheme will make it possible for my nephew to take this offered place. He is obviously not entitled to apply for a tuition fees or maintenance loan via the UK scheme so without the Harvard financial help it simply wouldn't be possible. It's Harvard's attempt to widen participation.

DS has also decided to add Durham, sight unseen, to his UCAS choices @JessyCarr. They do have some virtual open day videos on their website and last week DS signed up for an online lecture taking place next month. Perhaps these would interest your daughter while she makes her decision?

@Ventress- yes, the October webinars from Durham do look useful, in addition to what’s available on the website. DD has also emailed one of the Directors of Studies with a couple of specific questions she has on the course offering, so it will be interesting to see what comes of that.

So pleased to hear of your nephew’s news. I did postgrad in the US (but at Princeton) - visited a friend who was doing hers at Harvard and she had an original Picasso on her bedroom wall. Oh yes, she said, I’ve borrowed it from Harvard’s Art Library! Amazing place to be.

Thank you. What an incredible story @JessyCarr! It does seem like an amazing place, and such a wonderful opportunity. I am hoping my nephew invites invites his favourite aunty (only aunty!) out to visit at some point

Hi, checking in after a bit. Does anyone know if the uni requirements are the minimum you must have or if predicted grades dont matter once you meet the requirements?

I don’t understand your question sorry @PinkChaires

Offers are made based on PG, sometimes students get accepted even if they don’t quite achieve those grades but not always

Sorry must not have been clear. If for example a course is requiring AAA, does a student with a prediction of AAA disadvantaged compared to one with 3 A*? Or is it that once the requirements are met how high the predictions are do not matter