University 2020 :7: Results tombola, roll up, roll up, pick a prize!

[MillicentMartha]

Well, it’s been a crazy few days.

Old thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/3962422-University-2020-6-The-one-with-the-results-at-the-end?watched=1&msgid=99082625#99082625

They’re still going to get their moderated results, though, DadDadDad, or did you mean the school CAGs? People are using them interchangeably and confusing me!

DS's GCSE result next Thursday!!!! I will be like a husk by then

Sorry if I'm being confusing.

Teachers submitted CAGs (which were based on mocks and all other info).
But grades to be awarded tomorrow will be the moderated ones (may match CAGs, but we know many won't, unless govt makes another intervention today).
But now they're saying, you can have your mock result (presumably you have to apply after tomorrow to get that), when surely it would make more sense to say you have your CAG (as they have in Scotland).

CAG carefully assessed by teachers - no, we won't give you that!

Mock result which might have been subject to all kinds of consistencies (and certainly hasn't been moderated against other schools) - of course you can have that!

Schools could always email CAGS to Unis if places are in question. I'm going to ask for that if needs be.

to everyone. I do love my son! He seems pretty unaffected by all the drama and we know the plan for tomorrow. It is very complicated, involving undeferring and also simultaneously trying to upgrade to a better uni through clearing . Who knows how it will go. Mocks were BDD and he needs BCC for firm.

Pancakes and champagne are a great idea! Even if the results aren’t great there’s still some celebrations In that we’ve got here and are all still talking

I think I’ll book a restaurant too and then can cancel if need be.

What’s everyone up to today? I’m sitting in the sun drinking coffee. It’s finally sunny here! Think a walk (I chickened out of the run!) will be lovely. Might try to drag a boy out with me. Apparently they can appreciate the beautiful day from inside

DS has signed up for 2 work shifts today to 'make time go faster'???

@KingscoteStaff good for him!!! It’s brilliant he has a job. I think that’s another thing that this year are finding hard. No structure with very few jobs. My son had a temporary contract over lockdown and it was brilliant. Such a shame it was only temporary.

I'm going for Bucks fizz and pastries for breakfast tomorrow, but it will have to be early as D1 is talking of going to school at 7.45am with her mates .
This is to beat the queues (school opens at 8am for results). I want her to wait until Track opens, am really hoping it might open a bit before 8 - I know it has in previous years. Obviously as this is 2020, all bets are off, haha. There will be teachers and help on hand at school for clearing and appeals, I'd rather she at least knew her offer status before going. Parents not allowed in, but can wait outside school.

Pmk

I'm about to have a panic attack. My whole road has lots its internet. An engineer will come within 5 days. Anyone ever done clearing on a mobile phone?

Dd2 is still furloughed.

20h 22mins until ucas opens

DS did proper, exam condition mocks in January and got the grades which match his first choice offer (deferred until 2021).
DH & I are relieved!

DS, however, seems strangely detached, possibly because he isn't planning to go to uni this year, and his predicted grades were higher than his offers.

I think he is just fed up with the whole thing . He said that whatever he gets, employers in the future will always look at his results and say "ah, you've got 2020 results" .

Our school have helpfully announced that tomorrow they will email each student a chart with Awarded Grade/ CAG submitted/ Mock result so it will be easy to see the situation.

I feel we are in a fortunate situation though and feel sad for everyone facing uncertainty tomorrow .

The mock option is like “winning” that dusty old bottle of Harvey’s Bristol Cream on the tombola - not worth carrying it home.

@Sssloou haha so true!!!!!

Is there a list anywhere of what to take to uni? My son was planning a gap year and now has decided to undefer do we’re rushing around trying to get sorted.

I’m checking his immunisations are up to date, will get him sorted with a student bank account, try to get a dentist appointment. He needs a laptop too, his beloved teeny Macbook Air which he’s had since he was 12 has finally died! Anything else obvious?!

Oh money-I am clueless! How do others work it? How much do you give them?

I did clearing 2 years ago with my son. It required a lot of prep in the days before:

1. Interview phone practice. All paperwork to hand. Ready to talk thru PS and explain results.

1. Short list of courses already advertised as in clearing - numbers ready to go. Many have an online system as well.

1. Two laptops/phones ready to go from 7.30

1. Keeping DS calm and confident (fake it to make it) as we supported the logistics so that he could focus on the telephone interview.

1. Understanding the systems at each uni - eg often first call is to a call centre and they tell you if you are in the zone or not for an interview - and then you wait and get called back at anytime by an academic.

1. Admin was chaotic at one uni - they told him he had an interview and when he was called back it was with a different pupils details.

It was a 3 person job in our house - v intense and full on - finally secured something by 5pm. Can’t imagine the meltdown tomorrow.

@Sssloou - exactly!

DS says he wants to get the grades he feels he truly deserves/ worked hard for. He did arts subjects with a lot of coursework and spent hours and hours perfecting his work. I'm just hoping some of this will be reflected in tomorrow's grades.
There's no way he'd resit I think.

I wonder if done are moving to a (maybe) fairer electronic option. Liverpool are doing it by completion of a form online. I just hope they come back quickly!

The phoning system definitely favours more mc kids who have a lot of parental support. I feel for those floundering around on their own.

I should qualify that as kids who have a lot of parental support and whose parents are switched on to the process- mc or not.

@ThrawnCow

I'm about to have a panic attack. My whole road has lots its internet. An engineer will come within 5 days. Anyone ever done clearing on a mobile phone?

@ThrawnCow

Can you set up a hotspot using your phone? Might be easier.

I’m a little confused about what we do tomorrow-If DS doesn’t get the grades for his first choice, what happens? Do we ring them at 8am and ask if they’ll have him anyway? Or is that automatically refused on the system and he’s offered the insurance place?

If he doesn’t get the grades for either offer, should we be ringing individual other universities all day? Or speaking to the school about appealing?

Help!

DS has just rightly pointed out that this 'Triple Lock 'system once again penalises students taking art/drama/design/music etc as mock results tend to be based on just the written paper which often makes up the lesser part of the total exam (e.g. 40%). So in his case, he got a B in the mock, but was assessed at A* for his practical work, which should have brought his average up well into the 'A' band.

And of course there is no option to include NEA work in autumn exams. Ho hum.

Place marking

Thrawn the horror. Can you go to Costa in case of emergency,buy endless coffee & use theirs?

Appu UCAS have parent guides. Head to their website now.