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

999 replies

Poppledopple · 31/07/2016 13:31

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?

OP posts:
Dunlurking · 10/08/2016 18:00

So effectively you're in the same position as us homebythesea !

Fingers crossed for the ICT then Cocolepew

Just5mins we couldn't believe our luck that he got the AAB offer as I think they have been generous making that their requirements. Obviously it will be the insurance choice of all the candidates whose firms are A*AA or AAA so not holding out a lot of hope for an AAC acceptance. Glad to hear your ds has a more sensible choice order!

BirdintheWings · 10/08/2016 18:06

He's hoping for an apprenticeship, Coco, but he has his heart set on one locally that hasn't been advertised yet and may not even come up this year.

I've suggested that if not, he tries a different A-level (taking the whole thing in a year) to complement the two expected good ones. Don't think he's keen, though.

I know it's his life, but I'd like to see a plan other than 'Dunno, s'pose I'll get a job or do busking...' from a really quite bright lad.

Just5minswithDacre · 10/08/2016 18:09

A and B are such good grades bird*. Is it worth him trying to rustle up his own advanced apprenticeship by writing to likely employers?

Cocolepew · 10/08/2016 18:09

Fingers crossed it comes up .
DD is down to do 2 A levels at fast track, then she would try for university again next year.

Just5minswithDacre · 10/08/2016 18:09

A* and B

Dunlurking · 10/08/2016 18:17

Ooh I never thought of that - fast tracking another A level. Ds would have loved to do Art. Is that feasible in a year? And repeating a few modules of Maths....

Good luck for the apprenticeship Bird. One of ds's friends is hoping for one with BBC Radio - preferring that to uni - there are some amazing ones out there.

BirdintheWings · 10/08/2016 18:20

I suspect (may be wrong) that he's worried that the effort put into trying to drag that D up to a C could have scuppered the other grades, and is thus trying to put the whole subject out of his mind until he sees where he stands.

Good luck to your daughter, Coco! A friend's son did exactly that last year and upped the grades from ABC to A* A A

Cocolepew · 10/08/2016 18:22

DD is going to do 2 different ones, she doesn't want to try to get a better grade in ICT if its low, she's had enough of it!
She picked to do 2 because you don't pay for them, only the exams.
Doing one is classed as part time stuy and theres a fee.

Cocolepew · 10/08/2016 18:24

Thanks Smile

BirdintheWings · 10/08/2016 18:26

You don't pay if it's full time? I didn't know that was an option (it isn't at the college DS has been at, but sounds like I should be asking around!)

Cocolepew · 10/08/2016 18:31

Not here, I'm in NI, it might be different elsewhere.
Its at a college. DD had to leave her high school to go to a Grammar school sixth form and, wasnt particularly happy. Unfortunately her school doesn't have a sixth form. She wishes she had gone to the college for her A levels but it wasnt even on my radar. Or hers I suppose.
Im a bit useless at this Blush

BirdintheWings · 10/08/2016 18:48

God, me too, and my lot never seem to do things the easy way.

Other DC is contemplating dropping out of uni, and for that alone I'm reluctant to shove the academic route down DS's throat if he's not sure about it.

TaIkinPeace · 10/08/2016 19:44

3rd year of 6th form definitely exists - here in Hampshire almost all 6th form is colleges and lots of kids do a 3rd year
they have to be "full time" and they have to be under 19 at the start of the course
but the money is there
I could bore you all to tears with the economics of why the government funds it rather than other things-

I re took my A's at a crammer
but there are more options now ....

Leeds2 · 10/08/2016 20:18

That is tough Coco. Good Luck to her.

What are your DS's plans Bird? Will he apply, with his results, for next year?

Original poster
poppledopple · 10/08/2016 20:42

This time next week we will be counting down the hours......all be can do is prepare for the worst and hope for the best.....and keep our kids calm and open minded to change and swift decision making.....

Does anyone know how early you can call depts to beg?

OP posts:
NapoleonsNose · 10/08/2016 21:32

I'm fairly sure DD will get the grades but have been trying to coax her into making a back up plan in case she doesn't but she is refusing to talk about it, saying that she won't go anywhere she hasn't visited. I'm going to try and suggest that we have a look at courses in her subject already in clearing to see of there are any instututions that she might consider and hopefully get her to do a bit more research for a 'just in case' shortlist.

This time next week and I think I'll have bitten all my nails off again.

Coconutty · 10/08/2016 21:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Dunlurking · 10/08/2016 22:32

Thanks for the info about 3rd year sixth/full time study Cocolepew and TalkinPeace Will get ds to consider that.
Coconutty that's really good to hear of the ACC at Newcastle. Good luck to your ds for his AAB.

Good luck to your dd Napoleon

FayaMAMA · 10/08/2016 22:38

My younger brother and step brother are awaiting their results - the tension is increasingly becoming unbearable. I'm currently on holiday and my parents have sent him to me, paid for his flight and all sorts, because his stressing was driving them insane! (Under the pretence that he needed to be distracted).

EllenJanethickerknickers · 10/08/2016 23:55

DS1 got the same offer of AAA from 4 of his 5 UCAS choices and one very aspirational offer from Warwick, so he and I decided he may as well put Warwick first and choose his favourite of the other 4 (Exeter) as his insurance. It seemed to make sense at the time to have a difference between firm and insurance... but he's more likely to go to Exeter and they don't let you apply for accommodation unless firm, so he's in limbo a tad.

We're hoping for a bit of a miracle to get him to WarwIck. He definitely needs A in Maths, and one of 3 options of A in Physics, A in FM and grade 1 in STEP or A in FM, A in Physics and grade 2 in STEP or AAA! He reckons he'll get the A* in Maths but nothing else is certain.

I'm taking DS2 and DS3 away for a long weekend in Devon tomorrow and DS1 is holding the fort. He's got a 9-5 summer job and a party (not here!) on Saturday. That'll bring us up to Monday so only a few days to go til Thursday, then one more week until DS2's GCSE results. Aargh, why did I think a 2 year gap was a good idea?

dotdotdotmustdash · 11/08/2016 01:11

It was results day in Scotland yesterday and Dd got ABB at Advanced Higher (equivalent in UCAS points to A*AA). Glad it's all over. She had an unconditional to study International Relations at Edinburgh but she's now decided that she's taking a year abroad (China) on a language scholarship and then coming back to apply to study music at the Conservatoires.

Exciting times ahead!

Original poster
poppledopple · 11/08/2016 02:39

Wow dot - that is brilliant - well done your DD - and how brilliant that she is choosing to widen her horizons - congrats on the scholsrship as well, Enjoy your celebrations....

OP posts:
NapoleonsNose · 11/08/2016 07:18

Well done dot's DD. Fantastic results.

NapoleonsNose · 11/08/2016 07:22

This time in a week some of our DC may already know their fate. DD has to go to school to collect her results, but not until 9am. I don't know if she's going to log onto Track before then to see of she's in or not though. She needs ABB for Reading, same as her AS grades. She's not a natural academic but she worked so hard that I hope it all pays off.

MissionImpossible3 · 11/08/2016 08:01

My PFB has decided to take a Gap year and her first choice Uni has agreed to defer. Does that mean they may consider a drop in grades - she needs AAA? Anyone out there any experience ? Anxiety rising and GCSE results the week after!!