Applying for Uni 2019 Part 5: UCAS, offers and exam season looming

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

New thread started. Here's the previous one

Aargh, DD has worked so hard over the Easter holidays. Back to school yesterday and she’s been given 3 essays to write already.
This is getting very real now.

Dd has first speaking exam on Friday and another next week

DS had his first oral exam yesterday and has his second tomorrow. Then about two weeks until his first written paper. So he's 25% of the way through one subject now. Gulp.

Mine has his speaking on the 10th and asked for help today . Is there even a suitable emoji for my DS seeking help and showing signs of work!!??

He has an alarming amount to learn....

Has anyone else's DS/DD had them running all over the country to open days and acceptance data, confirmed their offers, and not put in a bloody strike of work since? Because that is how things are in this house right now!

DS had one essay to do over Easter, he forgot was reminded yesterday it had to be in today. He was up till 3am doing it.

Good luck to all those who have started exams already.

@Justasking, sounds like our house. Terrible types in previous post, by the way. Should do some homework myself!

On the one hand it is stressful but on the other I'm at the point of "best to fail now, if he plans to, and at least it's still free".

I hate it though. Still praying he pulls himself together.

Good luck to everyone else!

DS has a real crisis of confidence last night and feels he is going to fail everything!
He was very much like this during GCSEs, but had seemed better this time round. I get really worried about him when he’s like this as he doesn’t open up easily.
Hopefully today’s revision will go better and he’ll feel more positive.
Also - last day of school! Wonder if he’ll let me take a photo?!

This is probably a natural point to have a dip in confidence, I would have thought. So much rests on doing well, doesn't it? Doesn't make it any easier for the young people though. Sometimes I do wonder whether if they're feeling muddle-headed/bogged down about revision, it's not good advice to get them to step back from work for an evening or day.

DS was saying how very tired he is at the moment - I advised him that studying hard is very tiring (and also why it is important to eat really well!).

Thanks for reminding me about taking a 'leaver' photo too, blametheparents. In my early-morning not fully awake haze, it would be all too easy to forget. It really is the end of an era.

He had just one essay to do, Just Asking, and didn't do it?

Ds did about 16 timed essays across his two written subjects over Easter as part of his revision (lots of marking for his teachers!)

His subjects finished teaching a while ago but I guess 5 hours of lessons per subject compared to 4 helps there.

He's now counting down his last Monday before exams is done (BH, then art exams) etc... Scary times!

Thanks NewModel - I have advised him to go to the gym tomorrow morning before he starts any work, and he said he’ll go. He is used to doing a lot of exercise and is hardly doing any so I don’t think that’s helping.
It’s always maths that pulls him up short - if some questions don’t go well he gets really down.

You’re right in that they are all really tired too. Hope your DS manages to get some rest.

And - he let me take a photo! He even smiled!

NewModel how come today is the last day of school, where are you?

Dangling I’m always surprised when posters seem so intune with the quantity & breadth of revision their dc has done. Your DS must be very open. DS here doesn’t share anything about what revision he has done, none whatsoever and it’s not for lack of asking. I’ve seen him write some essays, but he doesn’t share any detail on topic, numbers written wether he is timing it, nothing! I’m looking forward to this journey again with DS2 who seems much more like your DS.

May

@panda, Maybelline? 😉😂

Shimy - not so much open but a tendency to anxiety and perfectionism so I check in with him every few days to make sure he's doing just enough and not too much (rather than the other way around!) and to reassure him he's on top of it.

Not today, Friday - when I say last day of school, I mean the official one - of course exams still to do but last day for registration and proper lessons.

DS gives very little away about school, work, revision and/or even his friendship group. It is only if I manage to catch him in the right mood that I get anything out of him at all!!!

Dd2 has finally has finally firmed
liverpool and Durham insurance .

Now to the important part, not sure I can take the best 6 weeks of stress!

riverislands - I've got a couple of friends who feel like that. Both DSs say they want to go to uni, but there's a distinct lack of effort and decision making over unis.

blametheparents, I think it's only natural to have doubts at this point and find it hard to cope. Last day at school, wow. My DD can go on study leave from 18 May (last registration on that day, yes, lessons on Saturdays!) but wants to stay until her last exam (boards away) as she studies better away from home. Apparently her teachers will still be available at scheduled lessons times if needed.

piggy that's great he's getting focussed.

DD did work over the holidays, but there's a lot she meant to do and didn't. As mentioned by some of you, she was particularly tired then studying, but did go back with quite a few timed essays in RE.

Good luck to them all over the next few weeks.

2/3rds music exam already done (compositions and performance) which is good. DD's first exam is 8 May. So glad she's doing A levels, it's going to be very stressful for IB having so many exams compacted together.

Dd2 has finally has finally firmed
liverpool and Durham insurance .

Sorry, RedHelenB, only joking.

DD has been doing some revision, mainly with friends and in various locations (main public library, sixth form block at school and this evening they have the use of a space at the Civic Centre, a legacy of their involvement with our local Youth Council, but I'm fairly certain as many timed essays as there were days in the holidays have not been involved to date. The Ho6 wrote her a nice letter, though, to say, concentrate on what we know you are capable of, not on any of the results of the recent mocks which may have been a bit disappointing. I am trying not to see that in the 'if wishes were horses' way. And actually, she got all but full marks for her Eng. Lit coursework, which is hopeful.

Danglingmod He had just one essay to do, Just Asking, and didn't do it? confused

No he had tons of work including essays just forgot this really important one (bangs head)

I did worry about him working such long hours after a long school day 8.30-5pm but thought in a few months, he will have to get used to working crazy hours at uni. His two bros. told him that getting stuff finished often meant burning the midnight oil.

Myself and DH did not go to university. We're just sorting finance and accommodation for DS1. He's doing a history degree starting September. My question is, for anyone who might know is; how many weeks should he rent for 41 or 51. I imagine the longer resent may be for courses like nursing and medical degrees where placements are part of the course.

Length of accommodation is as much for convenience as cost. 51 weekers tend to be full of postgrads or overseas students so they can come and go and leave stuff in situ or use library and resources out of termtime. 41 usually means you don't have to move out over Christmas and/or Easter.

41 weeks would be more usual for most students, Obviouslynotallthere. Even then that probably includes paying for Easter and Christmas hols when undergrads may or may not choose to stay in university halls.

Dangling I see what you mean and yes sounds similar to my ds2. Why can't they just get the balance right?

New Thanks for clarifying that. I was wondering where in the world you were .