University offers for 2017 start (Part 2)

[EnormousTiger]

Continuation of the original thread which is now on to 40 page maximum.
Original thread (part 1) here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/2759621-Uni-offers-for-2017-start?

Most offers now received. My twins have had offers from their 4 and are currently deciding which will be firm and which insurance. One twin
( possibly two of them) is going to an offer holders' day coming up at Bristol next month with his friends from school.

ds is currently on a gap year, and it has been very good for him. He is very young for his year group, and looks no more than 15 now, so it was probably a good idea to go to university with at least two whiskers on his chin.

ds is not a travelling type but is working in a job relevant to his degree which he enjoys, plus he is just appreciating vegging out, playing the guitar, reading etc without feeling that he should be doing some revising. A great gap year doesn't have to be a wonderful experience a minute extravaganza.

But kids are all different. I know that ds misses his friends who have all gone to university, but he is not really a party animal, and a more social teen might feel really down in the dumps if no friends are left to hang out with. Plus if they moping along in a dreary job - or have no job at all! - it could be seen as a treading water year instead of a positive experience.

DS has firmed Warwick and just to keep me on my toes insured Birmingham. Both need high grades, DS says he's confident he'll get them but performance so far this term would beg to differ. Mocks were a kick up the backside so hopefully once he's handed in his Computing project on Friday he can focus fully in his revising. Fingers crossed!

Some schools or subjects mark quite hard in mocks so hopefully he'll do better in the real thing. I am trusting mine. They both learn in ways that work for them and it's taken them until GCSE to work out that method. It does seem to involve remembering things closer to the exams. one of their friends is doing a 9 - 6pm crammer course this holiday. Their sisters both did one in the past although one told me yesterady her sister's which was residential was used mostly for having fun apparently. She had a great time on it or rather outside of it. Not quite the point. Anyway my twins are having a bit of break over Easter. As how they work seems to be working I will just leave it to them.

It is difficult this year one has 2 new style A levels so all those good AS marks from last summer don't count and the other 1 new style one.

Neither of them has firmed up on their choices yet in case they change their mind nearer the deadline to firm. I don't mind but I would want the certainty of its being over and done with if I were they.

I honestly believe that this final year at school is the toughest. It is interesting that many other European countries tend not to send their offspring straight off to University after graduation from school, but rather have at least one, if not more years out before going into further study. This is certainly true in the Scandinavian countries. I tend to think that is the right way of doing it. The kids get a breather from study, time to explore their options, time to mature and time to earn some money to help fund it all!
Trouble with the U.K. is that the whole system seems to funnel kids directly into further education straight from school and it's only a minority that take a gap year.

How is everyone doing?

DD missed mocks last week due to a norovirus type illness (shared with me), but has caught up this week, and results so far are looking promising.

Waiting for info on accommodation now for her first choice uni. Anyone know about Exeter halls of residence?

Half term - DD has been working assiduously writing revision notes for physics, but she's going to have a day off and go for a long walk with DH tomorrow.

All well here. The twins haven't firmed an offer and they are having a ncie holiday at home here so far. One has done no work as far as I have noticed. However I cannot fault their methods. They got AAAA in AS last year and are 18 now so it's not really for me to suggest they should do XYZ amounts of work, although there seems to be not much going on. Their friend is at an A level easter revision class all day long this week 9 - 5 or 6 or something but he's finding it very good. Their older sisters years ago both chose to do one of those intensive courses in easter holidays (one was residential and the other in London). Their friend left at 4am one night this week just before I got up for work. They were here when the birds started singing and were surprised the FInancial Times is delivered to the house so early. I am making nightly use of ear plugs - not that they are having loud parties. It is just talking and TV and they try to be quiet.

DS still to firm but wants to talk it all through with us this weekend. Seems inclined so far to firm his unconditional. Revising 10-6ish everyday as already on Easter holidays and told me yesterday that even if he does firm his unconditional he wants the best grades he's capable of and to do himself justice (ideally 2A stars and 2As). He wants to know that even if he takes his unconditional he has met their usual requirement of Astar/A/A.

Good for the Behind son. One of mine is playing the guitar upstairs(they were both asleep until almost noon) and the other just came out to the shop with me and says it's too early in the school holiday even to start the holiday homework. They are spending much of each day with friends at the gym. Anyway everyone is happy and they seem to be getting reasonable exam results at school so I think they know their own ways and they genuinely do have to revise closer to the exam time as they don't retain stuff learned so far in advance in terms of revision anyway.

I'm convinced it isn't a good thing to oversee their revision. In fact, I think it just stores up problems for later in life. It's their exams, and they need to be motivated enough to want to achieve the grades.
I focus on creating a good environment for my DS to work in. Keeping the chores down to a minimum for him, avoiding confrontation, cooking healthy and appetising meals and filling the fridge/cupboard with all his favourite 'go too' snacks and drinks. He rarely goes out, wants to continue to go into school throughout study leave, and is pretty organised so I'm sure he'll be fine.
After all's said and done, we are not all defined by our A level results (thank goodness, as mine were appalling!

I'm convinced it isn't a good thing to oversee their revision.
I think you're right. I nagged and nagged (and nagged) DS over revision for his GCSEs, as he never seemed to be doing anything. However, I don't think it made any difference to his work ethic, sadly. It just stressed me out! I gave up nagging for A-levels, but I think he's much more mature now, and realises you can't get by on minimum work for these exams. I think that GCSEs come at just the wrong age for so many teenagers. DD's doing GCSEs this year, and is putting in so much more work, I'm glad to say.

Sorry, just re-read my post & it sounded a bit smug and self-congratulatory, didn't mean it to. May also have been a bit 'previous'; there is revision going on but also breaks for guitar playing and catching up on the occasional(?) episode from a boxed set. He's diligent though and it is the Easter break. They do need some downtime and time to recharge.

I've just read your post, and thought it sounded fine. Am impressed he's still keen to achieve, despite the unconditional.

First choice now firmed and is on a Facebook group for fellow firmers. Accommodation next - 'No dd do not put down the £8000 halls...'

Thanks Quite. **

They do need some downtime and time to recharge

Absolutely - hopefully most of them are learning to get the balance right. I guess it does help if - like Jobs and mine, they have 'staff' dedicated to their wellbeing ... though OTOH those who are by choice or necessity more self-sufficient may find adjusting to the next stage easier.

Firm was decided ages ago but he was flip flopping over his Insurance. All decided now and he just needs to get the grades. I think he'd be happy at either his Firm or Insurance ( Manc/Edinburgh)

Mine have staff but slightly haphazard ones Errol - I'm thinking Manuel in Faulty Towers 😁

Ds had practical A level biology on Tuesday and feels confident about it, just broken up for hols and having a final party with 6th form friends on Saturday before lockdown!
Just hope he uses the 2 weeks to get ahead in revision, at his last parents evening teachers were v positive and feels he is capable of getting required grades....he's youngest in yr and not 18 till early August and I don't think he was prepared for his AS exams last year....hope the year has allowed him to mature sufficiently....he knows where he wants to go ( firmed choices as soon as they came in2 months ago!)....waiting to hear about accommodation- keep telling him to check his spam folder as his older sister didn't and missed out on her first choice of halls!

Still no decision here- ds away on work experience at the moment so hopefully that is taking his mind off things.

Two interesting work experience/ summer training opportunities have come up for DD in the summer.

One a week of work experience at the Highlands Wildlife Park, and the other a couple of days of interesting looking projects at the Uni she's most hopeful of going to.

So that's very pleasing. I feel she needs to use her summer in positive ways.

Maybe look into trying to pick up some paid work too at some point.

But meanwhile these opportunities will give her some focus and are something to look forward to.

I'm hoping I can go along for the ride too! And will be lovely to have these couple of breaks with DD, even if I only see her in the evenings!

Juggling, that sounds great. The more they can do like that the better.

Thanks Tiger 😊

Another DD here who thinks £8000 a year for accommodation is reasonable. NO. I'm already broke after 3 years of DS at uni. DD has agreed to put cheaper halls on her list. (though I quite understand wanting ensuite facilities, I would.)

Gosh. Where is £8000 required?