A level Results - 18 days - anxiety rising....anyone else??

[Poppledopple]

Maybe because it is August tomorrow - but seems to have come round quickly. Had a nice break not thinking about anything since last exam and after full on year choosing, applying, getting rejected, getting offers etc....

Might as well switch off and try and get distracted for the next 18 days....as either way it will be v busy few days/weeks after results to get started on next phase of his life.

PFB -- any old hands out there want to give me a slap?

Just an update re the History paper...there is no update yet. So we wait... Has anyone else who had requested the scripts back heard anything yet?

Just got the remark back. 1 mark up in a module, but 1 mark down in another. So nothing change. Dd still needs this 1 raw mark to go up a grade. It's a shame because she is already AABC. Now move on to Durham.

As a mother I'm quite relieved because I don't prefer she goes to London. Besides, Durham is very strong in her subject. But dd has never been to Durham and she thinks it is a boring city without cultural activities or shops to spend a leisure weekend. Can any Mumsnetter give me a hint?

I'm from Newcastle and have a few friends went to Durham, it is small as PP said only 15mins on the train to Newcastle. It has a college system and some are more formal than others, but my friends say that you "find your own" they all had really positive experiences there, if that helps!

What????? Have just found this thread...

HiSTORY????????????

My DD just missed out on A in History so she lost her UCL place. We had the paper remarked as a priority but the mark didn't change so she's finally come round to her second choice.

Shit - she wanted to take a year out and retake History but we talked her out of it. After reading this, now I'm not so sure

VanillaSugar there seem to be a lot of lower marks than expected this year for history. What board was your DD exam? My DD's was AQA. In her case every student in one paper only scored an E or a U, so all papers are been looked at. Highly unusual. My DD got a B overall thanks to high AS and her other paper but needs an A, so needs this paper to be a C. However she was always taking a year off so now it's a waiting game to see if any changes to her grades...

Coco Since her firm was holding a place for her, we had to do the remark quick, so it was a priority remark.

I think Durham is more for her as she likes college system. The firm choice mainly on ranking. It took her half a year to convince herself she would be going to London to start her uni life. Now she has to adjust again. Maybe a little bit tough. However, chosing Durham as insurance was her own decision. She had never thought about she would miss the firm's offer.

Pleasant info on Newcastle. She's not a sporty girl so shops seem more essential for leisure. Thanks for your advice. I will spend a week with her in Durham when the term starts.

jaxxyj I didn't know that Newcastle is this close. It is definitely a great news for dd. Will pass your words to her on your friends' positive experiences. Very encouraging! Thanks a lot!

Vanilla Not history but another subject. She lost her UCL place too. Only slip 1 raw mark that leads to a different pave. She got an A in AS.

What is your dd's second choice? If you don't mind me to ask.

My DC had a priority remark back in 3 days and it didn't change either. 1 UMS point from first choice. tbh having spoken to both first choice and back up I am glad DC is going to insurance because all round they have been much more helpful and supportive towards special needs than original one.

one of my best friends is a marker. their view was that the change to the system this year means there will be very very few grade changes even if off by 1UMS. that does seem harsh but I guess we are where we are.

I do have an issue with our school because I think lots of pupils were encouraged to put a firm and an insurance that had very similar if not identical offers not realising that the idea of the insurance is that if you don't get the grades you want. they seemed to be more encouraging to pick the two places you liked best rather than 2 different offers. still I have a number of other younger DC so have definitely learnt my lesson on this one!

Janjanmama Am PMing you.

Also, I think it was the Oxford & Cambridge board which .... um.....has a different name. I'm being vague because she was at boarding school so I haven't been a helicopter parent.

Just looked - OCR.

Janjan. my ds is starting his 2nd year at Durham in October - loves the college lifestyle, has made wonderful friends, enjoys living in Durham, but also goes to Newcastle on the train from time-to-time too. He joined a number of sports clubs and has a very full week of social, academic and sporting commitments. I can't imagine him anywhere else.... He's not from a private school and feels it is very mixed (maybe choice of college helps)
It's also a very nice place to visit for the odd weekend!

There are 2 different History A level syllabuses (or syllabi?) taken at the dc's grammar school. There was one A in each this year. I have no idea if that is unusually low but they are a very good department IMO. Ds slightly shocked at some who didn't get an A who were candidates for an A.....

Who can tell us / where can we find out what's going on? I met DS's class teacher today (from last school year). Her son dropped down on his history grade too......

All turned on its head here. Just when we thought it was all settled.

DS went to re-enrol for fast track A level at sixth form college this morning. The tutor queried his choices, they rang up his first choice uni to see if they would accept the A levels as a valid choice on top of his BTEC for next year and the uni offered him a place on a Cert HE with the chance to transfer to his preferred degree in the second year.

Major panic now. He may need major surgery on his spine this year so I think he is going to ask the Uni if there is any chance of deferring the place.

Will they be likely to defer? I would have thought not.

I would have thought he stands a good chance - if he shows he's reliable, demonstrates enthusiasm - he's not deferring just because he fancies a year out but for a very valid reason - if he can convince them he's committed for next year I would have thought they should be open to that.

But I'm no expert and it's clear these things don't always progress as you would hope. Fingers crossed though!

katkat Dd was delighted when she heard about your ds' Durham experience. She is still a bit down ... mainly on pride for missing her firm where she thought it's a big name. But I think she will love Durham when she gets there.

Coco me too. I would not prefer London. But young people have their own dreams. We parents can only give advice and support, while we are seeking support from the others. So good to have Mumsnetters here...

Congrats to your ds Coco! Just saw your theard.

Thank you Fly, they have let him defer! I am very relieved although I suppose we will have to think about what will happen if he wants to re apply for the original course again next year.

Thank you Coco too. Glad your DS has accommodation sorted now.