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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Another path - now we have a map

999 replies

chopc · 10/08/2021 14:27

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

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bendmeoverbackwards · 11/08/2021 13:00

Great news @Engley well done to him.

BigWoollyJumpers · 11/08/2021 13:42

Can I share on this thread, something that perhaps one couldn't elsewhere?

DD feels a bit sad today. All the news about top grades being "given" out, and particularly when you are in an independent school. Of course they had an advantage, they didn't have any isolations, they covered the whole course, they got fab remote learning. None of that however means that they didn't work bloody hard, and consistently, and do really well in their "exams". It is taking the shine off her achievement, and I think that is really sad.

BigWoollyJumpers · 11/08/2021 13:43

Pumpkintopf. Too late now I think, but I wonder whether there is still a great Italian restaurant down the road called "Orsino". Many happy lunches spent there in past times.

chopc · 11/08/2021 13:55

@Xenia nice to have you on the thread. I have been following your tales of your large brood on the 2017 thread and so wanted to ask questions from you but didn't feel appropriate as I was literally stalking a thread which is nothing to do with me!

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chopc · 11/08/2021 14:02

I hear you @BigWoollyJumpers and @DahliaMacNamara .

However I really do feel that the grades our students have gotten only truly mean anything within their own school

Despite promises of standardisation this process is the same as what happens with coursework I presume?

The main thing for me is that the DC are on to the next stage and I much prefer this years TAG to last years algorithm fiasco

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Xenia · 11/08/2021 14:10

Yes, I never quite know whether to go on a thread not meant for that group as it can make it go off topic, but it is good to hear how all sixth formers are doing on this thread as they move into their university years.

Pumpkintopf · 11/08/2021 14:16

@BigWoollyJumpers so sorry to hear your DD is feeling sad. I totally agree as I said above that it's seen as if these grades have been 'handed out like sweeties' - they bloody haven't, these kids have worked bloody hard and no one should be diminishing their achievements!!

(And will bookmark Orsino for a future trip!!)

chopc · 11/08/2021 14:27

Are you just there for the day @Pumpkintopf ?

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chopc · 11/08/2021 14:28

@Xenia as you can see from other posts we like having you here

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ChimneyPot · 11/08/2021 14:53

@BigWoollyJumpers
I think the DC and parents have to think of the results as a step on the journey rather than an end in themselves, particularly in these pandemic times.
The stresses and experiences of school and exams have been different for the last two years and it is difficult to compare experiences even between schools or individuals within schools.
I am focusing on are they happy with where they will be and what they will be doing this September and if not have they a plan.

I am of course trying to convince myself of this for our results day next month when the Dept of Ed are somehow applying an algorithm across teacher assessed grades and a full set of exams.
I am full expecting a fiasco and trying to be zen about it.

Eastisup · 11/08/2021 15:14

Hello again,
I was a minor poster on the Oxbridge thread, my dd didn't get an offer but I recently dipped into the last 'path' thread and would quite like to rejoin you all here if that's ok? There are a few with History students here I think? My dd had her offer confirmed yesterday for UCL.
Hope to share the trials and tribulations of the next few weeks with someone!

bendmeoverbackwards · 11/08/2021 16:30

Welcome back @Eastisup and well done to your dd! My dd is also doing History at Bristol. She really liked the look of the UCL course but we live in London and she wanted to go somewhere new.

bendmeoverbackwards · 11/08/2021 16:33

@BigWoollyJumpers I totally understand and my dd feels the same. It's hard for them being in the top 5% or 2% and now from the results it looks like they are only in the top 40%. I'm trying to encourage dd not to dwell too much, A level results will soon be forgotten. The main thing now is that they have secured their university places, can you imagine how awful it would be to miss out on their first choice at this stage?

Stillcrikey · 11/08/2021 17:54

Welcome back @Eastisup. Good to have you on board.

@Xenia, I always value your input. Particularly as DS is now (thankfully) off to Bristol.

DH and I have decided to extent our celebrations by having a night away in The Lakes (ds still on holiday with his GF). We’ve had a lovely walk and we are currently having a ‘small sherry’ in the hotel bar before heading off for a nice dinner later.
Enjoy your evenings all.

chopc · 11/08/2021 18:04

Chopc - Durham-History
@jano69 -Durham -History
@OnTheBenchOfDoom -Durham - Computer science
@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
@quest1on - gap year
@Maggiethecat gap year then Bristol- English
@Notagardener LSE
@olliepolly -Edinburgh- Physics
@321zyx -Durham-History
@Dobbyisahouseelf -Exeter-Geog
@Revengeofthepangolins UCL
@Eastisup UCL -History

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Eastisup · 11/08/2021 18:06

Thank you @bendmeoverbackwards and @Stillcrikey!
I'm relieved the results are all in and from what I've read, most have got the grades they needed for September. As we're in Wales, my dd had her 'results' in June but it was still a bit of an anxious wait for that confirming email for her place. Mind you, she hasn't heard a thing from UCL but she doesn't seem worried...I just want to know where she'll be living now!

Eastisup · 11/08/2021 18:07

Thank you for adding me @Chopc!

chopc · 11/08/2021 18:07

Welcome back @Eastisup

When DS was rejected by Cambridge I felt better once I looked at the History course at UCL

I am a UCL graduate and loved my time there

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Eastisup · 11/08/2021 18:13

AH, that's good to know @Chopc ! Yes, UCL was her first choice and Leeds a slightly reluctant second and she applied to Oxford as she was prompted to by her teachers and me really! She loved the open day, and was quite up for it by the interview stage but I'm so glad she's got UCL as she really really wanted to go there. She applied twice! Once for the History with a year abroad and once for straight History to give herself the best odds!

Pumpkintopf · 11/08/2021 18:16

Yes just for the day @chopc. Now on the (painfully slow as you can't travel on the fast train til after 7pm on a weekday without selling a kidney) train home.

We had the loveliest day. A good look around - even inside the buildings and through doors at eg lecture theatres- culminating in a trip to Beit hall, one of DS's choices, which is home to the SU bar - and happened to have the lady who runs it all and all their events sat outside who struck up a conversation. I think DS was very impressed with all the events they have planned for freshers week (x2, as they weren't able to do a 'proper' freshers last year they are doing both a 'welcome' week and a 'welcome back' week- should be fun!

Very pretty hall with a lovely central quad, as well as were his other two choices with lots of green space outside- and of course Hyde Park across the road. I'm so pleased we visited, it was so much better IRL than any of the online stuff we'd seen.

So after a quick shopping trip we were ready to come home when the flipping Cambridge email re adjustment landed. No place for him. I'm sort of annoyed we even applied as feel it put a slight dampener on the lovely day - but honestly so glad we visited imperial as he really was sold on it and I think would have picked it over C on the basis that he's doing a pure MSci physics at Imperial as opposed to NatSci at Cambridge and he's really ready to leave bio and Chem in the past. He is also very keen to be in London.

So I think we are all good- as I say, slightly annoyed that C impinged as we were in a good place but I guess if he hadn't have tried adjustment we'd always have wondered 'what if'?

Glad that journey is finally over however (unlike my train home that'll be another hour at least Grin)

Eastisup · 11/08/2021 18:16

@bendmeoverbackwards, my dd applied to Bristol too but it's not far enough away from us!! She was born in London so she's determined to get back there Grin

Pumpkintopf · 11/08/2021 18:18

So can our list entry be finalised to Imperial- Physics please. That will be a nice bit of closure Grin

Peaseblossum22 · 11/08/2021 18:26

I think I was on the original thread too as Peaseblossom22 I then changed names for a bit and when I changed back it wouldn’t let me have the original so I had to change one letter ( bonus point if you spot which !) DS also deferred at the last minute but is now happily looking forward to English at Durham in October

Like many I think he felt he had to test himself by applying to Oxford but didn’t enjoy the college he was reallocated to and was only briefly disappointed at his rejection. His heart was in Durham or his insurance choice of St Andrew’s.

chopc · 11/08/2021 18:42

Chopc - Durham-History
@jano69 -Durham -History
@OnTheBenchOfDoom -Durham - Computer science
@Majaso12 -Imperial - don't know subject
@bendmeoverbackwards -Bristol- History
@Pumpkintopf -Imperial -Physics
@ChimneyPot -Brown (US) - ? Subject
@Stillcrikey -Bristol -MML
@Tenpastseven - Bristol -also modern languages?
@Longtimenewsee - Durham - Chemistry?
@MidLifeCrisis007 - Durham -History
@BigWoollyJumpers - Exeter- History
@SeasonFinale -Bristol- History
@quest1on - gap year
@Maggiethecat gap year then Bristol- English
@Notagardener LSE
@olliepolly -Edinburgh- Physics
@321zyx -Durham-History
@Dobbyisahouseelf -Exeter-Geog
@Revengeofthepangolins UCL
@Eastisup UCL -History
@Peaseblossum22 Durham -History

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chopc · 11/08/2021 18:43

Chopc - Durham-History
@jano69 -Durham -History
@OnTheBenchOfDoom -Durham - Computer science
@Majaso12 -Imperial - don't know subject
@bendmeoverbackwards -Bristol- History
@Pumpkintopf -Imperial -Physics
@ChimneyPot -Brown (US) - ? Subject
@Stillcrikey -Bristol -MML
@Tenpastseven - Bristol -also modern languages?
@Longtimenewsee - Durham - Chemistry?
@MidLifeCrisis007 - Durham -History
@BigWoollyJumpers - Exeter- History
@SeasonFinale -Bristol- History
@quest1on - gap year
@Maggiethecat gap year then Bristol- English
@Notagardener LSE
@olliepolly -Edinburgh- Physics
@321zyx -Durham-History
@Dobbyisahouseelf -Exeter-Geog
@Revengeofthepangolins UCL
@Eastisup UCL -History
@Peaseblossum22 Durham -English

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