Afternoon all, popping in finally to see how we (and our wonderful ORs are doing!)
I no longer have a school student, but one caught in that limbo between school finishing (last Tuesday amidst popping corks and a pool party and a few nostalgic tears) and exams starting. Language exams (English as requested by Bath) done on Wednesday, Chinese (just because the rest of the class were doing it) yesterday. Driving test on Thursday (wouldn't want to miss out on any potential stress now, would we!!) and then the big ones on 22nd and 23rd. Dd is utterly unbearable and I want to book into a hotel. <this too shall pass>
Thanks to the wonderful @TangoWhiskyAlphaTango and mini Tango, dd is now in a host of chat groups for Bath freshers 2022 and exam stress notwithstanding, can't wait. Last update from Bath itself was that they offer a free bus shuttle at the beginning of freshers' week for those coming in from abroad. I'd envisaged taking her myself, but this sounds infinitely preferable, she'll get to meet other people on the buses, I won't embarrass her by my weeping motherly presence. Win-win. She's done accommodation choices (involving lots of spreadsheets and pros and cons) but haven't sent them in yet, and SF is applied for but I'm envisaging being asked for translation of documents. They didn't ask at the outset, so I'll wait until they do. Was bloody minefield and I ended up sending the 15 page paper form as dd didn't fit into any category (plus ca change) on the online one.
@Shimy I was saying to dd just yesterday that I still prefer the UK system of applying then doing the exams and seeing if the results get you what you've already asked for (iyswim) but she says that's just because it's the system I went through, which is probably also true! It does seem odd to me though that some of my students have already been to unis and found flats etc for October while others will "sit the test for medicine" in September for October intake! (medicine is really an odd one here- the "private" universities have already done their tests, the "state" ones will do them in September. (state doesn't mean free- it just means not as expensive as private) I wonder what happens if they fail the state test in September- though all mine that have failed (the majority, it's a massively over subscribed thing) do biology or nursing science. Some try again after one year of another course. Some don't pass the test in one region and go to another. I have a student who failed here, but passed in Sicily, so is in Palermo.
Re: the Scottish 4 year system- although St. Andrews (eventually, end of May!) rejected dd, <boo hiss> the 4 year system was the reason she so liked the look of it. I suppose eventually it boils down to personal preferences, but I, who knew nothing about the system until dd taught me 
thought it looked wonderful. All those interesting subjects to dabble in at a higher level and with YOU choosing, and THEN making final decisions after dabbling is done. Sounds pretty perfect to me, and in my next reincarnation, that's where I'll go.
That's my essay finished! Congratulations to all those who have finished, and good luck to those still going and blimeyheck to all those now thinking of deferring! Wishing splendid and safe holidays to those off celebrating the end! Dd will be coming with me to the study holiday job in July and August - she's got an Activity Leader contract so can start saving up for ££££ Bath!