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?

I just had a flashback to a conversation I had with my BFF about our children when they were still at primary where she said "We will be anxious and fretting until the day they get their A level results" - I though she was mad -- but on reflection she was pretty accurate.......my only worry now is does the fretting continue - until they get thru each uni year, graduate, get a job, get a flat etc...! please tell me I can disengage....

I'd love to say you can but I'd be lying

I'm currently taking a step back but keeping a watchful eye while DD packs for two weeks in London for work experience, I have made her a packed lunch for the five hour coach journey which is ridiculous really but I cant help myself.

poppledopple - my oldest is pushing 30 and it's fair to say I haven't disengaged yet! To an extent you do relax - he goes travelling to far flung places and I don't spend the time wondering if he's still alive as I would have done 10 years ago. I think the 16-18 age is probably the highest stress stage in parenting terms - it's not just the academic/their future stuff, it's also the social/emotional stuff.

Good link Sassy. Really useful. I've downloaded the app!

my only worry now is does the fretting continue - until they get thru each uni year, graduate, get a job, get a flat etc...! please tell me I can disengage....

I keep thinking that getting them all safely through sixth form or college and successfully placed somewhere,^ doing something^ meaningful at 18/19 is analogous to building and developing a spacecraft and delivering it to the launch pad.

My main era of primary responsibility for this one is coming to an end, but I'll still hang around mission control keeping an eye on the flight and offering occasional input informally. Meanwhile, I'm still working on the next shuttle.

At least that's how I see it so far

I don't know where all the italics sprung from

Dd was saying she has to go onto school. If she is going to college she needs her grade papers.

Just5...I like that approach - I have 3 more to launch and if the intensity of getting the first one over the line is to be replicated I doubt I will have much time for fretting about him once he departs....

does the fretting continue I have to admit that with DC1 at university I am still slightly on tenterhooks when he has exams and on results days. Now the prospect of graduation and jobs looms.
You just have to hope the rocket keeps going in a straight line

Intensity is the word popple.

Yes grausee, I suppose you couldn't maintain the stepping back if things began to wobble.

I remember both of my A level results days like it was yesterday.
The first one particularly is seared into my brain.
DD is back from her DofE walk and is getting edgy.
Yoga beckons (for me anyway)

With DD1, we made it through A levels fine, but then 1st year of uni went pear shaped. So I won't be relaxing for a few years yet!

Such a wealth of useful, reassuring and helpful information from so many posters here, thank you.

What I have learned:
Dig out DS's personal statement.

Set alarm for 7am to help DC's prepare for Track at 7.30 - tea and toast on standby for anyone able to stomach it.

Have list of possible Clearing options for Reject scenario, and list of possible Adjustment options for Major Surprise scenario

Ditto, Champagne.

Three Bs - surely not too much to ask! Interesting that Scotland have already announced, and DS's choice is Aberdeen and his course is already showing in Clearing which gives me hope of some kind!

Catch you all in a week

Bucking - my friend's DS was accepted by a Scottish uni a couple of years ago when he missed his grades by at least a couple of grades. She was told they were a lot more lenient with the English as they needed their fees. They also have a different number of places for English students as opposed to Scottish due to the different fee structures. Good luck!

"The wilderness years" 16-18 is what my friend called this parenting chapter - so much to negotiate, avoid, aim at, understand, pivotal decisions to make - tough exhausting times to get them over the line in one piece.

5 big sleeps ....

Dd asked me if I thought she had got into uni. I said no . But Im only going by what she says and we dont think shes passed her ict.
She says she will be disappointed but she will look forward to college.
She's going to pick sociology and government and politics, she says she has always been interested in sociology.
The added bonus is there is no course work with them

Coco - have you looked at the clearing link to see if your DD course is on it? If it is not on it now it might be early next week. This would tell you that there are spaces so even with a missed grade she could negotiate her way in. Is she all set up to make the call on Thurs at 8am to her dept if needed?
Another tip is on this call to add in something else that she has done over the summer and how this builds her skills. I hope that her MH issues are kept at bay as that is the most important thing - and having a back up plan which she is happy with (college place) means the uncertainty and the stress is taken out of it - so anxiety should be lower. Good luck to her.

Just looked on Ucas for DD's course at her chosen unis. Couple of days ago both were showing in clearing. Now neither of them are . Does that mean a lot of students have met their offer? I think DD had better look at possible other options as she is sure she has missed her offers in 1 crucial subject.

Yes Ive checked and its not there I will keep looking. She said she might have a shot when tracking(?) goes live at 12 again but I did say she might be better phoning .
Thanks for the tip, she volunteers at our local NT stately home on a saturday.
She HATES using the phone but Im sure she'll steel her nerves!

hellsbells99 - unis dont have A level results until tomorrow so it cant be that reason - but maybe IB / BTEC students are doing clearing now? is that possible ?

Coco - she just needs a quick practice - write out 2-3 simple sentences (from PS?) and practice saying these out loud a few times? Practice this on the end of a phone and also answering standard Qs such as why do you want to come here, what is it about the course you like, .... I have no clue what they will ask but there have been a few admissions people on this thread so I come that they will come back to tell us what the most likley Qs are and what the admissions team are looking to hear....

I would be a real shame if your DD missed going just because she lacked confidence to get on the phone for 5 mins.

According to student room, the A level results were sent to unis last night. Is that wrong?

Her 2 unis are showing in clearing for other subjects e.g. Electrical enginerring but not the discipline DD has chosen.

Hellsbells - no idea - I have zero insight - just passing on the info (could be all wrong) that I have read on MN which I thought was Sunday...

Universities did indeed recieve results last night. Now they will spend until Wednesday making decisions on which applicants are accepted/rejected s that it will all be uploaded onto UCAS track ready for Thursday morning.

Anyone looking for a place through clearing MUST have their results and also MUST speak with the universities themselves. We will not discuss someones application with a parent/teacher without the express permission of the student, and even then they would be expected t give that permission during that phonecall. Really though the students should talk to Universities themselves ... it is their future!!

Finally .... if track shows that a university has not yet made a decision on their aplpication get on the phone asap to get a decision out of them or at least find out why. Clearing places get filled quickly with the first few hours of the day being the busiest for Universities recieving calls.

Our clearing call centre opens at 6.30am!

origin - thanks for coming on and letting us know.

What are the standard Qs that they need to be able to answer when pitching for a clearing place?

Similarly if in the "no decision yet" position - what will the dept be looking to hear from an applicant on the call?

Are these calls in-depth interviews?