Another path - now we have a map

[chopc]

Chopc - Durham-History
@jano69 -Durham -History
@OnTheBenchOfDoom -Durham - Natural Sciences
@Majaso12 -Imperial - don't know subject
@bendmeoverbackwards -Bristol- History
@Pumpkintopf -Imperial/Cambridge -Natural Sciences
@ChimneyPot -Brown (US) - ? Subject
@Stillcrikey -Bristol -MML
@Tenpastseven - Bristol -also modern languages?
@Longtimenewsee - Durham - Chemistry?
@MidLifeCrisis007 - Durham -History
@BigWoollyJumpers - Exeter- History
@SeasonFinale -Bristol- History

Yes she would need to enter the grade she got on UCAS even if taking in Autumn session or next Summer. Eg. She would put (example only) Edexcel A level Maths June 2021 grade B and then Edexcel A level Maths October 2021 - pending grade. This generates a section for the school to enter a new predicted grade. On the basis that they have given her grades based on work that evidenced the grafe they awarded is there scope that they would predict a higher grade?

Completely random question, and obviously completely clueless mother: Whats wrong with backpacks? Apparently you can't take backpacks to uni? Have I missed something incredibly important? Or is it just some weird fashion thing?? DD has leather (fake) backpack she used in 6th form and will be taking that to uni.

Apparently you can't take backpacks to uni?

Of course you can. If you ate thinking of various references specifically on MN, they refer to a thread from a while back, where a poster asked for advice as they were intending to buy a new one as a present for their DC starting university and the very idea got twisted as a metaphor for the unhealthy micromanagement of said DC's life...

By the way has everyone's DC "redeemed" their child trust fund? Mine hasn't got round to it

@chopc yes he has cashed it. We didn't pay anything into it apart from the original cheque as we had no idea if Ds would be sensible with it. So from the initial amount it finished around £1200. Winner.

Instead we set up a separate child saver account in his name we which could control and we and his Grandparents paid into.

Oh my post disappeared.
Ds hasn’t cashed his yet. We never put any extra in and I think it’s about £1k. Must find the paperwork and remind him to do something.

Cashed in also. No extra paid in . Dd has forgotten about it so it was a nice surprise

@ilcailca The results day for the Autumn series exam is mid December, so still plenty of time to apply with improved grades.

She could defer her Durham place, have a gap year, do the Autumn series of exams, then if her grades improve or she fancies a different course or university withdraw from Durham and make a fresh application in late Dec/early Jan. (obviously not Oxbridge, but their are other great universities!)

We had a similar experience last year (not Oxford!). DS took a gap year rather than going to a uni/course he was not keen on, did the autumn exams, improved his grades by 2 grades then reapplied in early Jan. He is going to his first choice uni for the course he wants.

DD also had a gap year due to accommodation issues. She had a complete change of heart and reapplied for completely different universities and courses from her Y13 choices.

Are you sure you have to declare airing in October ? Seems odd to me as they are happy to issue new certificates etc. My impression was that if you applied after you had October results, that was it - your secret. But I haven’t researched it.

But, there isn’t much time left to swot - they start right at the start of October a d are normal sets of papers on the whole curriculum .

Phew, slight panick regarding CTF, till I realised it's dc2 and not dc1 aged children we are talking about....

Last year we managed to squeeze D1 and all her stuff into our Skoda Citigo (just - it was a bit squashed for the 300 mile drive) a couple of days later, she texted to say a girl had just arrived with her stuff in three big cars - goodness knows what she was bringing .

I think D1's 'essential' would be the passwords to the family Netflix and Spotify accounts and good headphones.

@ilcailca really sorry your DD missed her place at Oxford. What grades did she get if you don't mind saying?

My son is going to Durham. I would look at why she chose it in the first place. Durham have released their Welcome to Durham 2021 video on YouTube for new and returning students. Might be worth having a look. How long would it take her to get up there by car and by train?

Did she look at clearing at all?

I think we have some understanding of what you are going though albeit our children were rejected after interview by either Oxford or Cambridge which is why this thread is "another path"

@JulesJules We have told Ds whatever fits in the Kia Sportage is what he is taking, we are not getting a roof box etc. We are folding down one seat as we will be taking Ds2 along. As I am completely mad I will be doing a sort of dummy pack. He has started dividing his things into blue Ikea bags so all bed stuff is in one etc.

I get a feeling that everyone on this thread is an organised sort of person but I have found a pan with a deep lid with draining holes in Lakeland so no pouring your pasta into a colander. www.lakeland.co.uk/14310/Lakeland+Classic+20cm+Lidded+Saucepan+

If anyone knows of something similar with an actual long pan handle can you point me towards it? I do love Lakeland but £38 feels extravagant for a uni student pan. Ds loves cooking and takes care of equipment but if I can find cheaper I would be happy. Would prefer non-stick over stainless steel.

@Revengeofthepangolins

Are you sure you have to declare airing in October ? Seems odd to me as they are happy to issue new certificates etc. My impression was that if you applied after you had October results, that was it - your secret. But I haven’t researched it.

But, there isn’t much time left to swot - they start right at the start of October a d are normal sets of papers on the whole curriculum .

I assume "declare airing" means declare the retake. Yes if the result is pending you need to put the date of the first result and pending for second.

If applying after a retake eg. December result gives an upgrade then you apply in January you still put first date - result October - retake result. For the purpose of UCAS then ALL results have to be listed. Any missed or false count as a fraudulent application and could lead to offers being rescinded.

Some boards will provide a replacement certificate to show the better of the June/October grades. Others (notably CIE) do not, you just get an additional certificate. For the purpose of a job application or CV you can put the better of the two grades. It will. be interesting to see whether this leads to a request during an application for these to be declared going forward.

@ilcailca that is very difficult for your DD. Our DC have all had more time to find a different path, maybe a gap year would be good.

Yesterday was a move in day for international students at Brown. I though DD had a lot of stuff until I saw a student arrive with a chauffeur driven bus and the chauffeur unloading her stuff!
To be fair a lot of international parents can’t come to the US at the moment do having a chauffeur bring your child shopping might be their best option.

Da1’s school says that if you apply after October results you only have to give those results because they aren’t results. Fwiw

@OnTheBenchOfDoom check out M&S for saucepans my DD chose the black aluminium non stick 20' which was £22.50 which I thought was fairly reasonable. We bought 2 x saucepans and a frying pan in this range for £62.

@Revengeofthepangolins

Da1’s school says that if you apply after October results you only have to give those results because they aren’t results. Fwiw

They are incorrect. I suspect that a teacher may be assuming that but the exams officer/UCAS team will be able to put them straight and should not allow an application to go through without both.

@BigWoollyJumpers Tell your DD thank you - DS has now worked out his room number!
However can you ask your DD how/where she is finding her flatmates? Is it via the Exeter Freshers Facebook group? DS having problems finding any others at the moment!

@Jng1 DD has explained that she has found her flatmates through the various fb groups, firstly freshers, then the accommodation (East Park), then the block and then just scrolling through posts to link with others in her flat. Sadly there isn’t a central organised group!

DD here - I found out from the group chat of my specific residence. If your DS is not already on one, ask on the Facebook freshers chat if he could be added to any group chats of his residence/ block. Then from there you can work out by the number who is with who.

Well, DS has returned from Leeds festival, suitably appalled by the toilets but otherwise seemingly unscathed having had a brilliant time.

That's lovely to hear @Pumpkintopf . Good prep for the start of student life

Heading back to Ireland having seen DD settled in her dorm.
I was quite surplus to requirements about 30 minutes after she started online international orientation and made friends.
@jano69 and @BigWoollyJumpers I think you both had friends of your DDs or DDs of your friends going to Brown. If they went to one of the big London girls school DD may well have met them.

Glad he had a good time Pumpkintopf .

@Pumpkintopf

Well, DS has returned from Leeds festival, suitably appalled by the toilets but otherwise seemingly unscathed having had a brilliant time.

Delighted your DS enjoyed his festival @Pumpkintopf