Another path to greatnesses

[chopc]

I woke up around 4:30 this morning and it hit me like a tonne of bricks. Couldn't get back to sleep so thought I will have a go and starting the new thread. Hope the title is not too cheesy

Pls ignore shocking phone typing.

Durham can be a bit well meaning but chaotic, IME.

@chopc feeling exactly the same as you tbh! But have a day off work today so trying to be productive looking at budgets for the other uni choices, and planning a long walk with the dogs later which always makes me feel better.

I am glad I am not the only one @Pumpkintopf

By the way I remember by DS engaged in an online session for UCL where they discussed accommodation. Ask your DS if he remembers seeing any info when he choosing his Uni's

Sorry to hear about the sleep problems @chopc I totally understand that it plays on your mind. Plus along with the usual lockdown sleep disturbances!

Dd is submitting her History coursework today, she doesn't think it's good. I hope she's wrong.

Season - of course you are welcome and we’re all randoms on here, it just came across quite bombastic, like “here I am from last year to put you lot straight...”

I am inclined to agree @SeasonFinale This has been such a friendly and supportive thread, let's keep it that way.

@bendmeoverbackwards she is probably her worst critic so is likely to have done a good piece of work

@bendmeoverbackwards On the basis that I have had a couple of private messages with people sorting out any misunderstanding and the thread has moved on it is neither friendly nor supportive to keep @ ing me.

For the avoidance of doubt my initial criticism was not of the sadness or grieving being felt but of the doing down of people who had achieved offers or their type of school. Of course people can feel disappointment/sad etc and will do so for some time.

My mention of my DS and his situation was in a misguided (so it seems) attempt to say I too have been there as has he. The mention of his school and their stats was to show that he was in an environment where there were many able students with hardly a hair's breadth between their achievements with many getting offers but more not. I have been rounded on and basically accused of lying about his school (admittedly by one poster in particular who has been scathing on other threads too I now note). People seem to skim read what I was saying on many occasions.

The thread has moved on somewhat and I hope you have read the rest of the thread I have been adding what I hope people are finding useful links to information that might be of assistance.

I have no intention of explaining this yet again but the poster you have seen fit to quote and I have have chatted privately and she did say she wouldn't have posted that if she had seen my message first.

I get it easy to quote and reply before reading further through a thread to see everyone has moved on but keeping on raising it a couple of pages on isn't very helpful or indeed in keeping with the thread either. Let's hope it truly will move on now.

And in the spirit if being helpful this may be of interest to people:

ofqual.blog.gov.uk/2021/01/29/consultation-update-and-a-proposal-for-externally-set-papers/

@SeasonFinale Thanks for the link. I completed the form yesterday. I still don't understand their update about using questions from the exam boards when they can't all sit it on the same date/ time. We all know what TSR is like at exam time, discussing what is in the exams. Am I missing something?

I think it may not be quite the same as teachers will be requesting subject/topic tests relating to what they have taught and there is such variance. Anyone who discloses what is on a paper is really only doing their own grades harm if other settings get better marks so there is that disincentive. I am wondering if these may even make the cut on the basis that Wales have already ruled them out. The findings of the consultation and eventual plan will be an interesting read.

@Pumpkintopf I have sent you a PM

Is there any clarity on what will replace A level exams/Highers in the U.K. yet?
In Ireland our exams have not been cancelled yet. The government are insisting they will go ahead but teachers, students and parents are very sceptical.
The uncertainty is very stressful.

DD, rejected for PPE in Oxford, has offers from Bath, Durham and Exeter and is waiting to hear from St Andrews. Of her current offers she would probably take Bath as firm and Durham as insurance. If she gets an offer from St A it would replace Bath as her first choice but she would keep Durham as insurance because it was a bizarrely low offer.

Her real preference though is to go to Georgetown in Washington DC. She has already been accepted there. I am a bit concerned about her moving to the US during a pandemic so we will just have to wait and hope that the situation has improved somewhat by August.

My husband and I asked or DS to fill in the survey but even he wasn't sure what to say for the best. I think as long as they come up with a plan, whatever plan it is we can act accordingly- unlike last year CAG and the algorithm were applied in retrospect

@ChimneyPot enjoyed reading the update. I wouldn't like to make the choice- difficult situation isn't it? When does she have to decide by?

I think I am the first to post this kind of update here:

DD has firmed Exeter and Insurance is Warwick. Both at AAA, but Exeter will accept AAB.

She has always been the first in her year to make decisions. She was the first to put in her GCSE requests, and her A Levels, and the first to submit interest for Oxford. She was also the first to fill out her UCAS and submit it.

Got to hand it to her...... she doesn't dally.

I have to say if I was thinking of money, Durham or Bath would win. If she’s got a massive scholarship at Georgetown then that could be worthwhile depending on what she wants afterwards. It does have a very interesting history but if you are paying I cannot see why it would necessarily trump PPE here. I guess paying full fees depends on your wealth. We deduced against a New York based art school for DD on cost. 4 years would have relived us of around £1/4 million.

@BigWoollyJumpers Well done to your DS. Sometimes it's best to just crack on with it. Has she had chance to visit Exeter? I think it could be DS' firm choice too for Economics.

[quote calculatorqueen]@BigWoollyJumpers Well done to your DS. Sometimes it's best to just crack on with it. Has she had chance to visit Exeter? I think it could be DS' firm choice too for Economics.[/quote]
Not visited. We were booked for an Open day back in May, but that of course was cancelled. She has booked an offer holders day in March, but doubt that will go ahead either. So, it's all really on what she thinks of the course, which is great, the campus, which she likes the look of, the general area, and what she has been able to ascertain from others she has spoken to who have been. Lots of U6 from last year, friends of friends, daughters of some of my friends, quite a few of DD1's friends. So, all she can really do, all any of them can really do this year is get an idea and hope for the best.

DS has decided on Birmingham, although he is applying for a degree apprenticeship which still has a few more hoops for him to jump through. I have to say that the chances of him getting the apprenticeship are even lower than Cambridge with only 40 places, but if he is unsuccessful he will get a place on the standard BSc course.

He was also impressed with Southampton but I am personally hoping he will change his mind. Exeter have offered BBB (he already has an A in maths) and in the uncertainty of this year I think that would be a great reserve (Southampton is A A B)

Well done to your daughter @BigWoollyJumpers . It's good to make a decision and start working towards that

@derekthe1adyhamster what subject? A degree apprenticeship sounds fab. Good luck to him.

DS still waiting for LSE so he will have all options but I do hope it is irrelevant as I would much rather he choose UCL ahead of LSE

@derekthe1adyhamster

DS has decided on Birmingham, although he is applying for a degree apprenticeship which still has a few more hoops for him to jump through. I have to say that the chances of him getting the apprenticeship are even lower than Cambridge with only 40 places, but if he is unsuccessful he will get a place on the standard BSc course.

He was also impressed with Southampton but I am personally hoping he will change his mind. Exeter have offered BBB (he already has an A in maths) and in the uncertainty of this year I think that would be a great reserve (Southampton is A A B)

That's exciting. DD's school has really started pushing degree apprenticeships, they had parallel talks with uni's throughout Yr 11 and 6th form. I think they sound a really good option. Fingers crossed.

Southampton was on DD's list, but as a filler, just in case all else failed. Shame really, it's much closer, the offer is lower, and they have been very keen!

Hi everyone. Feeling so much better today and have even been for a run. Congratulation BWJ and derek on the firming of offers. That’s where we all want to be!

I think actually, the most difficult thing about the C rejection (for me) is that it means further uncertainty. Now we’re just back to the waiting game - mainly for LSE. I think the waiting while contending with mocks and coursework is enough for 17/18 year olds in a normal year. But the boredom and isolation from friends (intensified by all the social media chat) is so much harder. So many friends have reported their DC have become taken over by serious anxiety and mental health issues. It’s scary and we need to look after ourselves, we really do. I saw a friend this morning and her daughter is now seriously anorexic and it was incredibly sudden, with no prior warning. This GW having this consultation in the middle of the school year is ridiculous and they could have planned for a second lockdown / further school closures last summer. Bunch of muppets imo.

It wouldn’t surprise me now if he turns around and says extermally-marked exams will be used for 50% of TAGs or something like that. Then unis who have calculated offer ratios on the basis of exams not happening may end up with places to fill come July. Sorry to rant, but nothing would surprise me and I wish there was clarity on what’s going to happen as I have another one facing GCSEs as well.

chopc - could I ask why you would prefer UCL over LSE? We’ve no experience of either!

Well done BigWoollyJumpers DD on firming on Exeter.
I think it is really tough on them having to chose without getting to do a real Open Day but it’s great she knows people who go there already.
DD did open days at UCL, Oxford, Durham and St Andrews in 2019 because she thought it would be easier to take the time off school at that stage. Never dreamed that they wouldn’t happen in 2020.
She found the open days helpful and she was able to decide she really didn’t want to go to London.

@PresentingPercy Means tested financial aid is available to all US citizen students at Georgetown. The all in tuition, accommodation, food, books , incidentals is estimated to cost about $75,000 but of that the parent/student contribution is on average about $12,000 for a normal middle income family with the vast majority of the rest is grant/scholarship with a small amount of work/study where you have a job on campus about 5 hours per week.
She really wants a 4 year broad degree which is why she would also like St Andrews. Georgetown have really good internship placements as well which is a huge draw.
I think June is the first decision date but realistically you can withdraw at any stage. They operate wait list systems.