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

I agree @SilverBlue56! It’s mad. For DS it just means that he’s likely to be an A rather than a high B, so he will be happy. I don’t see the point in cheating in the yr 13 mock either, totally pointless.

Fingers crossed for Liverpool @bluefineliner(and the others) I am certain your daughter will get at least 4 out of 5 offers 😊

Is anyone else going to offer holder days where they didn’t go to open days?

Still nothing from UCL for DS. It’s the only one he hasn’t heard from now. I’m not sure if it is his favourite just because he is contrary and they haven’t offered yet or if he genuinely wants UCL. I can see why he’d want it, it’s a great looking course and in a fab location.

@SilverBlue56 agree, why cheat in spring mocks, all it does is skew results for the cohort as it seems to have done for Ventress's DS. I can only think they have parents who are strict and might get into trouble with bad grades?

We're still waiting for Imperial here but I'm pretty certain it will be a rejection. I hope everyone's final offers come in soon.

Unless those who cheat in mocks are testing their cheating methods for the real thing 😁

@Ventressfingers crossed UCL will come through soon. They do definitely seem to specialise in CEE which seems like a great fit for your DS’ interests from what you were saying. I am sure they’ll see that. Well done to him on his mock results!

@JustHereWithMyPopcornhope Imperial pleasantly surprises you with an offer.

@bluefinelinergood luck! Hope the interviews become offers soon.

@JessyCarr fingers crossed for the French interview outcome!

@Fabfabfab law conversion is also one of the options my DS is considering and Warwick is also apparently a target for that (but then Bristol is brilliant too!). I don’t know for sure but I think Warwick history graduates are also highly sought for consultancy and finance, but probably less quants roles?

@ComingInByAnsible 😯 clearly they need more practice! 😂

Looking on line today, Imperial interviews cycle seem to only run to mid Feb so if he hasn't had an invitation for interview by now I think its not looking likely. But in good news DS got his maths back and got a high A so he's delighted.

Thanks @Ventress! Fingers crossed he gets the luxury of the decision on Warwick (I think last year it was about 6 applicants per offer given for PPE so by no means assured). He would really like to visit Exeter, Bath and Warwick OHDs to help him make his mind. He is booked for the first two for the moment, but obviously can’t sign up for Warwick at the moment. None of his choices were in clearing last year.

@ComingInByAnsible I think Warwick is another of those unis that take their time with their offers, I remember DS1 applying and that was the last one he heard from too. Does your DS have a 5th choice?

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn I think offers are course dependent even within the same Uni - as I think they all work in different ways. My son's Warwick offer was really quick. 10-15 days tops.

I stand corrected @AuntyBulgaria I was just going from my own experience and also general comments I have seen online. Congrats on you DS's offer, is that his preferred uni?

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn to be honest I don't think there is any rhyme or reason to the timing of these offers!

Yes Warwick is a favourite - but some eye wateringly high grades required!

Of course, they love to make our anxiety rise with picking the most difficult places to get! 😂. I’m sure he will be good though, it might make him work a little harder to make sure he gets his place.

@ComingInByAnsible That's good to hear. The offer at Bath sounds great!

We have OHDs booked at Warwick, Bristol and Durham although Bristol and Durham are on the same day and we went to the open day at Bristol so will cancel it as we haven't been to Durham yet. DC was delighted to get a Durham offer although I do worry what would happen if he doesn't meet the grades (like 80% of people apparently). Exeter is a much lower offer (and one lower still as DC has an EPQ) so will probably need to be insurance. And could then consider Warwick in clearing if DC prefers it over Exeter after the OHD (although just because it was in clearing last year doesn't mean it will be the same this year of course).

@Ventress - I noticed you said somewhere you had spent ages looking at accommodation for a different University. I feel the same (spent ages looking at Bristol) and it may now not be the firm given the Durham offer! I then had to look at Durham colleges with DC as you have to put your preferences down on the OHD form before booking it! I have to say that Durham accommodation looks so much better than Bristol.

DS had a Warwick offer within a week back in October but that was for History Politics rather the PPE. I think the faculties decide at different times. DS was thinking PPE or PPL but really wanted History so changed his mind. It also made writing the Oxford PS easier.

I hope your son gets that Warwick offer soon @ComingInByAnsible. and enjoys his OHDs.

DS really liked Exeter as a campus and uni. Again he got a really quick offer and a grade reduction if firmed. However, as @JustHereWithMyPopcorn says I think he thought it was just too easy. They don't care what they do to us do they? 😂 Both Warwick and Exeter were in clearing for history last year too.

DS is a pain as he didn't like Bristol or Warwick. I would like him to go to the OHD at Warwick but he refuses. Bristol is out - he didn't apply. He didn't like the city, the accommodation or the course. Basically he disliked everything about Bristol.

I hope your DS gets that Imperial interview @JustHereWithMyPopcorn with those mock results he certainly deserves it! I realise the accommodation cost would be prohibitive but he might still choose Bath anyway

Yes, I am not repeating that exercise @Fabfabfab !

Thanks @Ventress 🙂

I'm just been looking at Bath accommodation, the vast majority of beds look like cheap camping beds. Not impressed with that. Also the halls he likes are the most expensive, strangely enough. 🤔

I agree @JustHereWithMyPopcorn the Bath accommodation looks a bit grim! I think the City accommodation looks better really, but nearly everyone seems to be much keener on getting onto the campus. And the obligation to take up food and drink vouchers on some choices is really odd. As it’s DS’s first choice atm, I take comfort in the fact that everyone seems to end up happy with where they end up.

Can he take his own sofa bed?! That accommodation sounds horrible for Bath. Hopefully it’s better in real life. Your son clearly likes the best of all options @JustHereWithMyPopcornI think mine is the same. I wish that I hadn’t said I’d pay his first year rent now 😂

Good that your daughter has her first choice nailed on @MiniMidiMaxi Does she have her insurance chosen too?

Still waiting to hear from the last three unis @Ventress but it’s probable that Bath might be his lowest offer (the joint honours degrees are slightly lower tariff than the pure discipline engineering degrees). We’ll see! To be fair Bath seems to have been refurbishing its older accommodation, and the variability is well reflected in their relative prices.

Sorry I said daughter @MiniMidiMaxi- not sure why! Is he another waiting on Imperial? Lots of campuses seem to be doing the refurb at the moment. Bristol, Warwick and Exeter all see to be removing catered and putting in en-suites.

I’m glad the prices aren’t too bad- Bath is such an expensive city. I’ve been looking at UCL and whilst it’s not as bad as Imperial and LSE it’s still nose bleedingly expensive!

No he decided not to apply there in the end. He’s waiting on Warwick, Sheffield and Southampton. Sounds like Bath will get expensive when living out, around £10k a year for rent is what I’m hearing. On campus accommodation is between £6k and £11k.

Manchester is also doing a big revamp of its accommodation, some of which is refurbishing and more of which is demolish and rebuild. The future is in high-spec self-catered ensuite, it appears.

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn @MiniMidiMaxi I went to Bath for a conference a few year ago and stayed in an en-suite room on campus which was small but very modern and pretty nice actually

DS is still waiting for his mock results. Some teachers have been off and they seem to be waiting for them all to be marked before releasing any results. Hopefully this week!

He has booked Warwick’s OHD but was too slow booking the Manchester date that is during half term so he’s dithering about that now! Don’t think he’s booked a Bath OHD yet and he’s still waiting to hear from LSE - that won’t be until the recent TMUA results are out though I think.

At the OHD’s I’m going to have to get my head around the accommodation issues and prices I think. The course part is definitely up to DS but we have to be realistic about the other parts of going to university. I’m off to have a look if there are other threads to help me out with this!

Things seem to still be moving at warp speed!

We have mocks results tomorrow, but I suspect DS has forgotten. That will be a surprise tomorrow. I have to say from his reaction to the papers I'm not overly optimistic 😒
Ar least it will focus his mind on areas for improvement

@Fabfabfab Thanks for that bot of info, I'm hoping I'll be assured on the OHD that they aren't as bad as they look.

@gingercat02 hope the mock results have gone well today.

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn Not bad B in history and C in Geography, still waiting for business as it was a proper external exam, and has gone away to be marked. He's quite pleased as he thought he had done badly.
There were Ds, Es and even a U amongst his friends so not everyone has had a good day 😭