OR 22 - Edinburgh, Warwick, St A, UCL, Durham, Nottingham, Bath and more

[Valleyofthedollymix]

Following on from the Oxbridge rejects thread but I've got rid of those two words. I for one am interested to know where they all end up and when Durham might finally deign to reject/offer DS...

No worries all I totally agree with you for many of the reasons stated. If DD had been absolutely set on Oxbridge, had broke her heart when she was rejected then I MIGHT just think it was worth another shot (that way she could put it to rest) but she wasnt. This has come about as she loves studying, loves the structure of it and obv the learning aspect and is in her element at the minute with A-level prep (no idea where she came from as I hate it).

@fishingeagle Yes to a Masters it is something she has spoken about I guess time will tell how she feels at the end of her degree (at Bath hopefully!!). I doubt she would apply for HSPS again like you said so very competitive. She has done A-level History, Politics and English Lit so HisPol maybe a contender also the HAT would be an advantage as HSPS required no essay or exam. Fingers crossed it won't come to that though and she will see sense.

@TangoWhiskyAlphaTango although I totally understand your worries about reapplication, in a way perhaps the fact she wasn’t heartbroken but is looking at this logically puts her in a strong position. My DD’s Sixth Form thought she should reapply with her grades in hand and told her that all their students who had reapplied that year had been successful. My DD didn’t because she was very disappointed and didn’t have gap year plans in 2020. Her tutor told her you don’t really know how you’ll feel till results day. My DD realised then that she was happy with her new first choice.
If your DD does really well and still thinks she does want to try, at least she knows the process and it’ll all be completed by January. To me the key factor would be whether she could do something worthwhile for the year, whether that’s working, travelling or volunteering so that the application doesn’t become the major focus. If lots of her friends are going she won’t want to feel left behind.
As I said, I do totally sympathise with your concerns and those of other posters, but just thought your last post sounded as though she’s thought about this very sensibly.

@Letsgoforaskip good points. I think my DS wouldn't re-apply because of his context - he's at a very academically selective independent from whence Oxbridge seem now not to take anyone with less than 4A and straight 9s at GCSE. That's not him so it would in all likelihood be a wasted year even if he gets 3A. Not complaining it just is what it is and if he meets his Edinburgh offer he'll be over the moon.

@Letsgoforaskip sorry about weird bold, think my laptop is about to die which I need like a frying pan to the side of the head.

So meant 4 A stars at A level for Oxbridge from DS school.

So even if DS gets 3 A stars it wouldn't be enough.

I think it’s possible DD could get 3 A⭐️s. I also think in her case it would not help much. Other girls in her class also applying to Cambridge for Geography this year, who were predicted 3 and 4 A⭐️were also rejected.

She does love reading around her subject. She enjoys academic debate and enquiry, she wants a career working with ideas, but I think Cambridge just wasn’t right for her. In her case, I think St A will be a good fit. I was impressed at the open day, and I’m glad that she was inspired.

I’m sorry if I projected onto your DD @TangoWhiskyAlphaTango She sounds like a mature young woman who knows her own mind. She is the only one who can know what is right for her.

@fishingeagle no worries. I hope your laptop pulls through and love your turn of phrase! 😀

We've finally had an answer from Bristol and its a no. Not a surprise really but still, I do feel sorry for our kids. I know I am preaching to the choir here and many have had similar experiences but seriously, the boy has 4 A stars predicted, he's just done his mocks and dropped a grand total of one mark across his Maths and Further Maths papers (I know the uni don't know that!), his PS was interesting and full of enthusiasm - honestly, I feel he's a really good candidate. But I guess I am his mum.....

I think he's shying away from Imperial although chuffed to have been offered - the offer is very high and requires the STEP, plus I don't think any of us are convinced that London student life is for him. But I am keeping shtumm while he processes the options for himself.

@VikingNorthUtsire really sorry to hear that, really hard to find the right words when we see them stung by rejection, well it has been for us. Lurking in the background seems to have worked ok. Gosh these clever kids and rejections makes no sense. I will be honest with you and thought that London student life wouldn't have been a thumbs up from me but having spent many covid hours reading and watching YouTube and talking to people who have their DCs go there I'm now fully supportive and excited for DD's firm which is in London. As for the STEP, I heard a quote this morning that you miss 100% of the shots that you don't take .. and with those predicteds your DC sounds like he's in with a very good shot .

@VikingNorthUtsire sorry to hear. Was that his favourite option? I’ve forgotten other options he has apart from UCL. Hopefully something that he’s keen on.

Thanks everyone. DS hasn't said much, I think he was expecting it and his friends are experiencing similar rates of rejection. It's all a bit dispiriting really - I knew Oxford would be tough but really thought he would have his choice of other unis with those grades and his enthusiasm for his subject.

He's not saying what his gut feeling is, he has Exeter and York offers as well as Imperial. All of them have an element of compromise but they're all great Unis. Ultimately, I know he'll be OK wherever he ends up and I am sure that goes for most or all of the DC in this situation.

Does anyone know, if your two UCAS choices are one London and one non-London uni, how does that work for applying for finance?

VikingNorthUtshire I'm so sorry to hear your news. That's gutting. I have no comprehension why your DS with those predicted grades would be rejected from any non Oxbridge (we all know what they are like 🙄) university. Do you get feedback why rejected? Is it worth asking?

@VikingNorthUtsire Very sorry to hear about Bristol, it does make you wonder with such amazing grades who does get in? I am not sure about finance would it worth a phone call to them to find out? I know DD had to put her firmed Uni so I suspect they will pull it form that and if he rends up out of London the finance will reflect this.

Forgive my terrible grammar the spacebar on my laptop is playing up 🙃

@VikingNorthUtsire Gosh I'm so sorry about Bristol. I don't know what more your boy could have done. I'm told that the percentage increase in DC with awarded A stars from last year has led to many more applications to high tariff institutions. Seeing a lot of this playing out at DS's school - kids with straight A star predictions who would normally have received 4/ 5 offers from such places are getting only one or two; some have had none.

I thought it had just gone quiet here, but it had just dropped off my watch list!

DDs has her French speaking next week. I can't believe we are at exams already!

Sorry @VikingNorthUtsire Looks like Bristol is getting all their paperwork done before the bank hols 🙁
Both my DSs were rejected from Imperial, but both got offers from Bristol so there doesn't seem much rhyme or reason 🤷‍♀️ I think Bristol do a lot of contextualized offers. My DSs' certainly seemed that way, and I know their school is rated as underperforming in some circles. Has your DS registered to do the STEP??

@VikingNorthUtsire - sorry to hear that. My DS had a very high offer from Imperial too, Step x 2 papers. He decided against it as it would be too much pressure in middle of A levels.

@VikingNorthUtsire Sympathies. My son just got rejection from Bristol too. As did several of his school friends with Cambridge offers. If it's any consolation, when we went to visit Bristol the staff were all on strike for 10 days over pensions. That's not going to get resolved in a hurry, so it may be a blessing. Anyway, it's Warwick for my son now.

DD came bouncing in from her oral exam today full of joy. I do hope it isn't misplaced, but either way, that's it done now.

She is also beside herself at getting to vote tomorrow. She wanted to do it on the way to school, but I pointed out that a) she struggles to get to school on time anyway, and it will be rammed with post drop off parents from the primary opposite and b) I want to go with her!!!

So we are doing it when we both get home from school.

Great news! Good to start positive.

DS has his first AH tomorrow. They have been given predicted grades and the school will appeal if the kids don’t do as well as predicted. Nice at an individual level but of course creates future problems potentially.

Good luck to mini Eughtytwenty. DS1 has his first on Friday.
DS2 is 3 M5s down already, number 4 tomorrow. It's been a bit full on...

N5s

That is a front - loaded timetable @Puffalicious hope things get easier. Only 2 down with N5’s. Fear momentum might dry out as the weeks go on. But he’s lucky to have a well spaced timetable.