Applying for Uni 2019 Part 6: exams, leaving school/college (the end of an era), a long summer holiday and Results Day on the horizon

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Just when exam season gets fully underway our previous thread has almost filled up. Everyone welcome .

DS keeps saying he's not 'feeling very well' Non-specific. Think the stress of the past few months is catching up with him.

GP said our DS is run down. I have banned him from his weekend job he hasn't finished the antibiotics yet. Lots of sleep needed and good food. Metatone tonic in the cupboard so he can start taking that.

It's terrible that the stress and pressure of A levels is making young people ill. It's too much and is only getting worse with these new format A levels 😞

DrMads - congrats to your dd for finishing!

This format isn't new, anyone who sat a levels before 2001 will have done this format although far fewer students sat a levels. The big difference is that every university seems to have published offers of three a levels for every course (and then picking and choosing who they let in on results day with lower grades so they fill the course).

That should read three A grades at a level

It can be just as bad at uni. as I found. DS not eating properly working crazy hours came home at xmas with glandular fever weighing 9.5 stone. Was such as shock he slept through xmas and new year.

Dd is glad to have finished. Is taking this weekend off then has a list of things to tackle inc more driving lessons and keeping looking for a job for the hols.

NewModel, could well be the stress and constantly trying to cram in lots of facts over a few days, do an exam and start all over again. How many more exams does he have?

DD is lucky in that her exams are spread over 4/5 weeks, but she's revising 6-9 hours a day. Just hope she can keep it up for the last three without getting run down.

Dd got the job she had the trial shift for. Phew. She's always prioritised her studies, especially after watching her cousin go from stellar gcses to a level results that weren't good enough for the uni he wanted or his insurance. His mum blamed the school. I also think all his time socialising and working to run his car didn't help so have been happy to let dd get by on a small pocket money allowance.
But I've worried she'd finish uni and have no actual work experience.
Jobs in our town are few and far between as its mostly charity shops and hairdressers. So when I saw a fb post asking for seasonal staff that would suit a student I told her to get her arse down there.
And she did. And did her trial shift and got it.

Driving lessons, part time job and she wants to carry on volunteering at the library. Should keep her busy until September.

Great that your dd has a job DrMadeline, I am on the lookout for dd now. She is keen on either waiting or at work.

interesting that some young people do amazingly well in GCSEs.... and go on to less than successful A levels. I've heard of this happening quite a lot recently.

Yes, well done to your DD, DrMadeline. I have found a few options for DS which I'm hoping he will apply for, if only to fund his summer activities including potentially learning to drive.

I think people 'peak' at different points in their academic careers. So some will do very well in GCSEs but not so well thereafter, others will do much better in their A Levels than GCSEs , then here will be those will do amazingly well at degree level (despite not having had stellar school careers). Some people are probably better at independent thought and analysis (particularly in humanities subjects) than others - at some point this will be reflected in their grades, particularly if they are studying a subject they are passionate about.

Congratulations to your DD DrMadeline! We were happy for our DD to focus on her studies whilst at sixth form but she started working as a seasonal wedding waitress in May and it's been really beneficial. Not only has it given her some actual paid work experience it has allowed her to build up some money for her first term at uni and enjoy socialising with her friends this summer. I was worried the timing wouldn't be ideal but since she's been on study leave it's provided a change of pace and scenery for her to break up the solitary revision.
I hope your DD enjoys her new job just as much.

Does anyone know when the last date is that DS can apply for a student loan to cover fees (i.e. £9250)?
He is a complete donut and hasn't done it yet! Aaaghh!

Yes congratulations to your DD DrMadeleine, sounds like its well deserved!

Re the student loans, I think the deadline has passed for guaranteeing that the loan will be available for the first day of term, but there’s no issues about applying still. In fact I think you can apply several months after starting the course!

And the loan for course fees is paid directly to the uni, so I’m sure they are well used to the vagaries of student finance!

The early closing date is mainly for the means tested bit where they have to check the details of your income. The rest can be done quite quickly ( remember a lot of students change courses when results come out)

Thank you all so much for the quick responses re student finance.

Need to remember to do DS's UEA accommodation application once he's finished his A Level exams, just in case...

Good luck to DCs with exams this week - nearly at the final hurdle.

Blame the parents - both my DS did their loan applications last week, we got emails the same day and provided financial information that day. They have both now had their finances approved so it seems to happen quickly.
DS1 has also just been offered his accommodation choice, so things are really happening!

Thank you itscoldoutthere - that's reassuring.
DS appears to have turned his brain off since his exams have finished!
Hopefully he will remember how to use it come September!

What exams do they have this week?

DD has philosophy element of RE tomorow and music on Friday.

ifonly4 good luck to your DD for her exams this week. My DD has chemistry tomorrow and biology on Thursday and she's feeling the pressure.

DS just has politics this week on Thursday : ages to revise for that one, should he bother!

DS has two more Maths papers this week. MATHS! and one more Computing paper. Good luck to all.