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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:
webwiz · 18/08/2011 17:17

Well at least its all sorted now Fellatio and he can look forward to going to Reading.

Corvax · 18/08/2011 17:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RustyBear · 18/08/2011 17:19

I will second Reading being a good place - DH did his MSc & PHd there & we now live in Wokingham, not far away, DD knows a lot of Reading students - her bf shares a house with students, though he's not one himself now, they all seem to like the place.

RoseC · 18/08/2011 17:21

I'm glad he knows where he's going now Fellatio. Reading is a good university - my sister's best friend went there and loved it (graduated two years ago, now a Maths teacher).

missdisorganised1 · 18/08/2011 17:22

People here have been very kind to me, especially today. I haven't managed to speak to my Nan or Granddad yet, they are on a coach tour until Sunday and instead of taking the mobile phone and leaving the list of contact details they did it the other way round.

The estate agent sounded pleased when I confirmed that I would be wanting to rent the house out but that's it so far apart from Mumsnet people. The aunt and uncle who help look after my finances get back from work about 6 or 6:30 so they are next on the list.

webwiz · 18/08/2011 17:22

Its UEA Corvax - University of East Anglia

mumofsoontobelawstudent · 18/08/2011 17:24

Rustybear really? Is that what they say about Exeter?

Ref housing, our plan has been to think about maybe buying a 3 bed place in Exeter and then DS renting out 2 of the rooms. Why would the council want to put a block on lettings? Confused We were going to look at buying about Easter time and then have ready for September but now wondering whether we should think about buying a bit sooner.

Fellatio sorry you've had such a difficult/stressful day and he didn't get in. Like you say though, he has got good grades and you so often read of students who end up very very happy in their insurance choices. (still beat the crap out of him when he gets home though for buggering off on holiday and stressing you out!)

FellatioNelson · 18/08/2011 17:29

And UAE is United Arab Emirates! Grin

Yes, I feel after all the stress of today I can actually start to feel relieved and proud that he has a great offer. I hope he will feel the same soon. Apparently his GF is inconsolable as she has her place at UEA and they were hoping to be together. Sad They are both too sensible to let this spoil their future, but they have been inseparable for 4 years and I really feel for them. Sad

drcrab · 18/08/2011 17:32

Fellatio - well, if the gf wants to go to Reading, she can try and get into reading via clearing (if they have spaces on her course?)... seriously, some people do that (sometimes it's a good thing, sometimes it's not).

sieglinde · 18/08/2011 17:34

What subject will he be doing, Fell? Reading is just as good as the more fashionable UEA in most humanities, I think. And I taught at both, though that was a while back.

Yellowstone · 18/08/2011 17:39

mumoverseas I meant to say very well done to your DS way up the thread, I'm very glad for you both after the messed up maths paper.

My niece is into Exeter too.

FellatioNelson · 18/08/2011 17:44

Joint hons. English Literature and Philosophy sieglinde.

RustyBear · 18/08/2011 17:45

mos - it's because other residents have been complaining about the number of students in some areas - DD lived in Union Road in her second year, and Edgerton Park Road in her third year, both those roads and several more in that area (Pennsylvania/St James) have a very high percentage of students.

Last I heard, they were consulting on whether to do it or not. - This link explains more. If you're only going to have 3 students in the property, you will probably be OK as I think only places with 5 or more need a licence, but you might want to check that isn't going to change.

mumofsoontobelawstudent · 18/08/2011 17:45

yellowstone thanks. He ended up getting a B in maths (can't remember what his scores were for THAT paper) but thank god he did 4 A levels so had a safety net.

Its good to hear lots of positive things about Exeter. He was a bit gutted last year to get an early rejection from that place never to be mentioned again Grin

FellatioNelson · 18/08/2011 17:46

Well I was worried he'd insist on plumping for Essex through clearing just so he could be nearer her, (nothing wrong with Essex BTW) but I just wanted him to get his priorities straight, and he said no, he'd stick with Reading. It's all good. Smile

mumofsoontobelawstudent · 18/08/2011 17:47

x-post with Rustybear thank your that, very helpful. will forward to DS/DH. Unlikely to be more than a 3 bed, that will be our maximum I think so hopefully ok. Just seemed sensible and a way of keeping his debt as low as possible. Better to invest in property than to rent for 2 years and pay someone elses mortgage

Ponders · 18/08/2011 18:11

funnyperson, I knew your DD would be OK, from your posts about her around interview time Smile, but congratulations anyway! (& to your DS on his driving test)

yellowstone, did you post earlier? missed it if so. congratulations to your DD (& you too)!

Fellatio, I am sorry your DS is disappointed not to get into UEA in the end but Reading will be just as good, I bet (& boy does he owe you for what you've been through today Grin)

missdisorganised, you are amazing & I agree with all those who've said how proud of you your parents would have been Smile

hope I haven't missed anybody Confused & that all our students will enjoy their time at university!

Fififi · 18/08/2011 18:36

I have been peering at the miniscule screen on my phone all day following all the results...well done to everyone who is now sorted, commiserations to those who haven't yet got what they wanted.....

funnyp - was waiting to see how your DD got on - and the longer it was before you posted, the more certain I was that she was in to wadham and you were out celebrating. Didn't think it would be with WATER though ( or was that only because the driving test was yet to come?!). I may come to pick your brains in the next year or so as my DD2 goes into the 6th form intent on reading psychology ... and ponders , so pleased to see your son got Sheffield. It's all good...

re fellatio's son and gf, my DD1s best friend went to Glasgow together after three years together at school and have stayed together but equally a friend's daughter who is at Durham is still with her boyf who is at Southampton ( can't get further away than that) and , having met at the start of a gap year, they don't even have family homes close to each other for the holidays. If it's meant to be then they'll find a way and be far surer of each other as a result....if it's not to turn into a grown up relationship then probably better to be apart.

But you know all that and it sounds as if your DS too...I just enjoy pretending I'm Bel Mooney on her agony aunt column.

RosieBP · 18/08/2011 18:36

Not had to go through this myself but just to say congratulations and commiserations to all those A level students and mums out there!

Hope you all enjoy the last month before uni now! Went to Exeter and UEA myself so nice to see them represented - and if you want any info PM me as it was not that long ago!

Fellatio friends of mine went to Reading and loved it, so hope DS has a great time.

Fififi · 18/08/2011 18:40

Mumofsoontobe - I read law at Exeter and even all those years ago ( gazes through the swirling mists of time) it was a fab place to be. I lived in a three bed terrace in town which was mega convenient, but be warned that once there students get carried away with the possibility of living in gorgeous little cottages way out in the country. Is law still on the main campus or in Falmouth?

Does anyone on here know about Durham accommodation - I know it is a college system but not sure if studnets live in college for the whole three years..

sieglinde · 18/08/2011 18:42

Well, English at Reading is excellent; I have a good friend there. Can message with more if that would help, but don't want to poke my nose in too far.

mrswoodentop · 18/08/2011 18:43

Usually at Durham you live in for the first year ,out for the second ,and then some in some out in third depending on the college.

missmiss · 18/08/2011 18:46

Fififi - I think it depends on the college, but a friend who went there lived out for at least one year, iirc. I'm not sure whether through choice or necessity though.

mrswoodentop · 18/08/2011 19:00

Well our day was a bit of a curates egg ( good in parts).It was AS s for us ;solid As in English and RS,a middle C philosophy which he is dropping and a disappointing C for history which was the result of an A in one paper and a D in the other.( source paper)

He is a bit miffed at the Cs ( never had a C for anything) but was half expecting it with philosophy.

We hope he can get the D up to a B in the history paper although worryingly he still doesn't understand where he went wrong.

My question is should he refit the philosophy if he is dropping it ,he's hoping for politics at Sheffield / Leeds/Newcastle et al.Or do they not worry too much about the forth?

FellatioNelson · 18/08/2011 19:08

Thanks sieglinde but we know it's good. Smile I don;t think he has doubts about it as an educational establishment, and neither do I. I thought it was excellent when we visited and it's certainly a great campus with lovely new accommodation. He just goes to UEA regularly now for gigs and he's become kind of attached to the place, and it's only an hour from his home town on the train, so he just feels comfortable with it, but I'm sure he will adjust to Reading just fine (once his GF stops crying Sad) and love Reading too in the end.