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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

A Level Anxiety

895 replies

Toffee22 · 14/08/2011 22:42

Only 4 more "sleeps" until the A level results come out - not that I will be doing much sleeping...

Eldest son wants to study medicine. 3 "A's" required no slip ups allowed. Have just checked and most medical schools don't accept re-sits. How can I face looking at the cold hard facts at some point on Thursday. I'm sure it will be difficult for my son too! When I tried to talk to him about it today instead of a response he said he would do an "impression of a tree". It wasn't even a very good impression. What does this mean?

OP posts:
Ponders · 17/08/2011 20:25

If the conditional firms drop a grade would they take precedence over an open offer that met grades?

I would have thought not, harbinger - they would accommodate the open offers & then see who else they had room for - that must be the purpose of open offers, surely?

harbingerofdoom · 17/08/2011 20:31

I would hope so.
May I just say that I hope all the other mums and DCs have a peaceful night and that the results as you wished.

Tweed · 17/08/2011 20:32

It looks live everyone has been offered 3 "A"s, is this the standard offer this year or are all Mumsnet kids very clever? Can they all get 3 As as I am beginning to panic now.

Ponders · 17/08/2011 20:37

mine's on AAB, Tweed, but that's for both his firm & conditional (he didn't get anything lower) so still pretty tight.

he was on track for those grades following January modules but I'm still twitchy...

Bearcat · 17/08/2011 20:37

Oh good luck everyones children.
Just reminded DS2 that he ( and us) were in this position this time last year ( and in 2006 with DS1) as he waltzed out through the front door for a night at Oceana in Kingston!
They were lucky both times with top grades enough to get into firm choice universities.
DS2 also told us that one of the lads in his hall doing law (requiring 3 A grades at A level, top university) had to tell his dad when he came to collect him that he'd failed every exam! Apparently his dad said nothing!!!
How the hell does that happen? Yes I know why, he didn't put the work in, in his first year but must have been a very rough time for that family.
Makes your blood run cold.
I think we do have expectations that maybe were not so much in evidence 30+ years ago, especially if our parents hadn't gone into higher education / university.
I know that our two knew that we hoped they would do well, but we were pretty laid back parents, although we did get the odd moan that they were never allowed a TV in their bedroom. But that was a good decision in the end!

Tweed · 17/08/2011 20:39

AAA or AAB conditional so could go either way...an A* woudl be the icing on the cake. Didn't do modules so it is based on the A2 exams.

harbingerofdoom · 17/08/2011 20:44

It could be worse ICL,UCL,and I believe Cambridge wanted A*s. I believe they are still a gamble if your DC comes from a state school. The London Universities attract plenty of overseas students, many have a fantastic work ethic to get here.

AmeliaSachs · 17/08/2011 20:44

What time are the results published online tomorrow??

Tweed · 17/08/2011 20:45

We get them on line at school at 7am

AmeliaSachs · 17/08/2011 20:46

ok. I'm getting my on Edexcel's website.

Tweed · 17/08/2011 20:48

My son is away so he has to log on to the school website and call me. And i you bet I will be sitting on the phone waiting.

FellatioNelson · 17/08/2011 21:03

Mine had offers from all five choices:

AAB Sussex
ABB UEA
ABB Reading
ABB Kent
BBB Birmingham Confused

He opted to discount Sussex because he thought AAB was a bit much to hope for. He needs ABB but he keeps talking himself down. I'm not sure whether to just assume it's nerves on his part, or to think 'Oh fuck, he budggered them all up, didn't he?' Confused

FellatioNelson · 17/08/2011 21:10

Sorry that doesn't make much sense does it? I mean he opted for UEA at ABB and his insurance was Reading, also ABB, but less specific re: subject. Although right now Birmingham is looking like a lovely option.....

stressedmumathome · 17/08/2011 21:25

Fingers crossed for everyone and that they dont have to go into clearing its going to be so competitive this year with the fee increase no-one will want to reapply.

Mine had 4 out of 5 offers

AAA Loughborough
AAB Birmingham
AAB Leeds
AAB Durham
And an unsuccessful from Leeds met which left her very anxious as it was her first reply and the uni wanting the lowest grades.

She firmed Loughborough and made birmingham her insurance.

tweed your school puts results online? Envy

Changebagsandgladrags · 17/08/2011 21:27

Makes me feel like a right dummy.

My offers were:

ACC - Birmingham (I didn't turn up to the interview as it clashed with Salford and cba telling them)
BCD - Liverpool (1st and only choice I was seriously considering)
BCC - Salford
BCD - Brunel and one of them could be General Studies (not the B)
BD - Strathclyde which was my eventual insurance.

In the event I missed Liverpool by a grade Blush but I phoned up and they said yes. I wouldn't get in this year, not a chance.

carpwidow · 17/08/2011 21:27

Don't even know what grades ds needs as he has been talking in UCAS points - will just see whether it's a yay or nay. He's gone to see the Inbetweeners Movie with no mention of tomorrow's plans so all is calm. (ps I see what you meant last night about some of the AIBU threads; I ventured into one earlier and nearly got raped Wink)!

Steeplearningcurve · 17/08/2011 21:31

Good luck to everyone's dcs tomorrow! Still a very long way off for my dd, but I remember my own results day and how we had all convinced ourselves we had done badly by comparing notes after the exams, and in the end all were fine.

Ponders · 17/08/2011 21:32

DS2 had 3 offers

AAA Politics Exeter (too far away anyway, was never going to go there, no idea why he picked it)
AAB Politics & Philosophy Sheffield
AAB Politics & Philosophy York
rejected PPE Oxford (after interview)
rejected Politics & Philosophy LSE (harder to get into than Oxford apparently Confused)

Sheffield is firm, York is "insurance" (hahaha)

I wish he'd had a nice range of offers like your DS, Fellatio!

adamschic · 17/08/2011 21:33

Carp, mines gone to inbetweeners.

Good luck for everyone's DC's at least ours are only AS.

We might be going through all this next year. Can anyone tell me if all the unis interview before making offers? Just wondering what's ahead.

RustyBear · 17/08/2011 21:35

But Exeter is great, Ponders, you get hugged by Floella Benjamin when you graduate!

Ponders · 17/08/2011 21:38

I wish I'd known that before, Rusty - could have persuaded him to choose something more likely! Grin

(Honestly there are loads of good unis for Politics not so far away, like Birmingham or Leicester or Warwick, I don't know what he was playing at)

adamschic, most don't interview. Oxbridge does, & all the med schools, & also I think ones offering eg drama, & maybe a couple of other subjects, but mostly they go by UCAS application

carpwidow · 17/08/2011 21:40

rustyb I want to be hugged by Floella Benjamin!

adamschic Depends on course and institution - DS had no interview for his first choice and got a conditional based on his application and personal statement

RustyBear · 17/08/2011 21:43

DS did History and Politics at Warwick, and also applied for Leicester (which was his insurance) and Birmingham (who made him the same offer as Warwick) I've forgotten now which the other three were, but they were all within travelling distance of West Bromwich Albion's ground good ones for Politics/History

adamschic · 17/08/2011 21:45

Thanks Ponders, that is what I'd heard. Wow, so it's all down to predicted grades and PS, that's not so scary, although DD is practised interviews and comes across well.

Does school only predict on actual AS grades or can they be generous. e.g strong B predicted A?

RustyBear · 17/08/2011 21:45

Meant to say, DS didn't get interviewed at all, but got offers from all six.