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OR 2022 - We are no longer rejects. We are parents of fabulous offspring who will do wonderful things

442 replies

TangoWhiskyAlphaTango · 30/08/2022 10:42

Wonderful tongue in cheek title thread by he words of @ eightytwenty.

Soooooo our thread started out back in March 2022 when our dc were Oxbridge wannabes. After thousands of posts by their nervous Mums, nail biting, discussing applications, grades, will they get to interview won't they, debates such as private vrs state, the Scottish system, then some got rejected and some had interviews and entrance assessments then much more nail biting and eating and drinking a lot and a loooong wait over Xmas 2021 the remainders were then rejected. Then more nail biting for offers to come in from the competitive Unis they had applied to with some ending up with only one or two options - our Covid Kids had it tough.

Finally May came and their actual A-levels then the brutal wait for results. I don't think I can recall any of our DC not getting their first choice?

Lots of DC off to top Unis and achieving the best grades in the land. My DD is off to Bath to do Politics and IR and I am incredibly proud of her, she is a grafter not naturally super clever but loves to learn and god I am going to miss her but she is ready and so I happy for her 😥

So please carry on our lovely supportive thread so we can see where their journeys take them.

TWAT x

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278Newnames · 30/08/2022 10:48

Thanks @TangoWhiskyAlphaTango I feel like an interloper as DS didn’t apply to oxbridge but have found many people with similar DC and of course the Bath few!

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TangoWhiskyAlphaTango · 30/08/2022 11:01

Nooooo everybody welcome. It is lovely to have the support of others going through this stressful time! Let us know when DS gets his accommodation offer, should be by the end of next week fingers crossed.

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MillicentFaucet · 30/08/2022 14:44

Thanks again for doing this @TangoWhiskyAlphaTango it's reassuring to be able to pick the brains of more clued-up posters, especially since my pfb is going to be so far away from home.
I've been doing a spot of research this morning now that we know what he needs to take, and so far I reckon Aldi for bedding and Asda for kitchen stuff.
He's watched a few YT vids about Quads and is now excited about all the lie-ins he's going to be able to have as the architecture dept is only 5 mins walk away!

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TangoWhiskyAlphaTango · 30/08/2022 14:57

@MillicentFaucet You're welcome ☺️

Quads has eat and drink credit I think? DD weve done the obligatory IKEA haul for pots and pans essential and duvet. Duvet cover Urban outfitters - her fave. Then a Primark shop for a few bits, coat hangers cushions etc. I've started a food shop with store cupboard bits and stuff to make a first aid kit. If any child gets freshers flu it will be DD!! 3 weeks Saturday so not long to go 💃💃

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MillicentFaucet · 30/08/2022 15:32

Aargh it's going to be here before we know it! Good idea about the first aid kit, I'll also send him off with a bottle of Belvoir honey, lemon & ginger cordial as that's the best thing ever for grotty flu symptoms.
Yes he'll have £25 per week food credit so at least I know he won't be completely malnourished when he comes back at Xmas but he is looking forward to doing a bit of cooking too.
At offer holder day he was told there will be lots of model making in 1st semester so he's decided it'll be a good idea to take as much cardboard, packaging, paper etc as will fit in the car/topbox. No idea where he's going to store it all in those tiny room though.

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Geamhradh · 30/08/2022 16:10

Thank you TWAT! 😅
Can't believe it's all come round so quickly. We were staying with friends at the weekend whose daughter will be applying to Oxford soon and I was "phew, thank the Lord that's behind us!"
Quick (re)intro from me:
DD off to Bath for Politics and IR.
Rejected by Cambridge at interview stage. Held offers from Bath, Exeter and Lancaster.
We live in Italy but are British.

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TangoWhiskyAlphaTango · 30/08/2022 16:20

@Geamhradh Are you planning on coming over with DD? I seem to think not, I think you mentioned they have put on travel for the International students. DD arrives on 24th September so very excited to meet up with her new found Politics buddy, I hope it will make the transition easier having a couple of familiar faces! DD is in Italy right now with her Father, just arrived this morning after flying into Switzerland last night.

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Geamhradh · 30/08/2022 17:20

TangoWhiskyAlphaTango · 30/08/2022 16:20

@Geamhradh Are you planning on coming over with DD? I seem to think not, I think you mentioned they have put on travel for the International students. DD arrives on 24th September so very excited to meet up with her new found Politics buddy, I hope it will make the transition easier having a couple of familiar faces! DD is in Italy right now with her Father, just arrived this morning after flying into Switzerland last night.

I think I will be coming over, as we realized that the international transfers will be for the truly international students and DD really wants to meet up asap with all the people she's chatting to, irrespective of provenance!
As soon as the accommodation is confirmed I'll book flights and an extortionate hotel! PI already full...I'll probably stay one night (drowning my sorrows!) then go to my friend over in Kent for a few days, ordering saucepans etc as I go!!!
Hope DD is having a great time in Italy. We have had a break in Spain and Portugal but I'm now ready for my own bed!

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doubleshotcappuccino · 30/08/2022 17:37

Thank you @TangoWhiskyAlphaTango .. so excited for our DCs!!

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Wordlewobble · 30/08/2022 21:12

Thanks for the new thread my DS PFB is off to Durham Uni next month. I am soo so proud. He worked extremely hard and his A level results were brilliant and the Oxbridge rejection seems a very long time ago.

I am so proud of the son and lovely young man he has turned into and I will also miss him like hell.

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Puffalicious · 31/08/2022 01:04

Thanks TWAT and hi again all.👋. I'm one of the Scottish contingent. Simce Oxford rejected him, DS is off to Glasgow to do Maths (and Statistics and Physics in first year, so I'm told!). I have no idea what he speaks of- and feel he's let me down enormously 😆- as I am an English teacher.

He's my favourite child (we're not supposed to say this, but it is true🤭) and it's his 18th on Friday and I'm strangely quite emotional.

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TangoWhiskyAlphaTango · 31/08/2022 06:38

@MillicentFaucet Never heard of that cordial I shall buy some! He can have my cardboard boxes too - slight panic of how I am going to fit all her stuff in my Mini. DD Dad has offered to take her in his bigger car instead but she wants her Mummy there 😂

@Geamhradh Exciting times, yes to the overpriced hotels I was thinking of staying but refuse to spend £200 when DD will most likely want me gone anyway 😭To be fair its around 2.5 hours from home so not too bad. You never know if the stars align we may see each other.

@Puffalicious DD is my favourite daughter (I only have two and the other is a son!!) I have her 19th Birthday 2 days before she leaves, still find it hard to believe I have a 19 year old then DS turns 18 at Xmas......Hope your DS has a wonderful day, at least he will be fully legal just in time for Freshers 😄

@Wordlewobble Brilliant, I was thinking we hadnt seen many for Durham this year. I went with DD for a look tour - beautiful place I hope he will be really happy.

@doubleshotcappuccino Me toooooo 😘

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Shimy · 31/08/2022 09:07

Thank you @TangoWhiskyAlphaTango .
DS got his accommodation! has anyone else going to Warwick got theirs?

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Puffalicious · 31/08/2022 16:21

Thanks TWAT. I forget that down South your DC can be so much older than ours. DS could have gone to uni last year at 17 with our system. I went at 16- not 17 until 3 months later- and kids can still.di this if they want, it's mental. He's delighted he'll be legal for fresher's- he's been desperate to go clubbing legally for about 2 years 😆

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TangoWhiskyAlphaTango · 31/08/2022 16:30

Ooooohhhh I have never been called a Southerner before! Yes DD is one of the eldest in her year, she loved the fact she was legal before many of her peers!! 16 seems so very young..

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Puffalicious · 31/08/2022 18:24

🤣 Down South of Scotland - so all of England is down South to us 🤣.

16 is too young. In retrospect I should have waited, but headstrong and knew best 😒. Good for your DD- I think the older the better.

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Puffalicious · 31/08/2022 18:25

1? 16, I meant.

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Eightytwenty · 31/08/2022 21:33

Ahhhh @TangoWhiskyAlphaTango lovely post, and here’s to us moving on together over coming years…. envisioning the panic over second year accommodation and future milk round job applications.

But first is getting started. Only 2 more sleeps for us the rest of the St A crew. Have to say they’re doing a very good job at putting on online events for his halls and for the university. Much better than when I went to Uni.

I wish we’d done family planning better though. He won’t be 18 for a month which is rubbish. Lots of talk of different coloured wrist bands. Durham / Cambridge would have been a better start date.

Hope everyone’s packing and planning is coming on ok.

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Puffalicious · 31/08/2022 21:40

Eightytwenty I heard St As is a very early start date. DNeph is heading up this weekend (2nd year), which I think is super early. DS fresher's starts on the 12th- phew he just makes it woth 18th on the 2nd, but his mate who is in right now isn't until the 16th and his Fresher's is also the 12th. Bummer.

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Geamhradh · 01/09/2022 09:23

Because of the way the system here world, DD who will be 19 during fresher's week, was pretty young for her school class! She'd been envisioning being much the oldest in her university class and was pleased to hear that Tango's DD is the same!

She hadn't really drunk at all before this summer, but thanks to working as an activity leader on the residential course, seemed to learn very quickly! (This was another fear of mine, she'd go from nothing to getting hammered during Fresher's Grin but having seen her in action at the Staff cheese and wine and hearing tales of Wetherspoons and lying on fields with bottles of prosecco, I think I can tick that one off the list of things to do!)

@Eightytwenty are the holidays spread out differently at St A? Do they have longer breaks at Christmas and Easter?

We are now back in Italy as of last night and I'm allowing myself a few days off before Diving Into University Planning. DD meanwhile continues to refresh her email. Though I've promised to help her tweak her CV ready to apply for part time jobs now she finally has her summer job to put on it!

Have a lovely day all...I'm off to do 20 loads of washing.

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Geamhradh · 01/09/2022 09:23

*works not world

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TangoWhiskyAlphaTango · 01/09/2022 10:33

@Geamhradh DD is not much of a drinker, it makes her vomit quite badly and feel awful the next day so she only has a couple. How lovely that it will be her Birthday in Freshers week! Extra celebrations then. DD is very excited to have 'met' a lad on her floor in halls and they are in touch on IG now so hope yours hears soon - it has taken the tension out of not knowing anybody in her block.

Good luck with StA @Eightytwenty very early move then but best get it over with now, hoping these next few weeks will fly by for us. Off to Center Parcs next week with my two and my parents on a very much needed break, going to mainly read, run and swim - ooohh and we have a sauna so naturally I will look at least 20 years younger by the end of the week!!

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TangoWhiskyAlphaTango · 01/09/2022 10:35

@Geamhradh DD will most definitely be looking for work too I think she is hoping for something on campus like the SU bar or some outreach work. She is realising now she is going to be quite skint 😂

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Eightytwenty · 01/09/2022 10:36

@Puffalicious that is better for sure

@Geamhradh i think the term matches the US calendar (wonder why?!! 🤣).

They have an independent learning week in October. They get about a month off at Christmas and week off in February. Then term is finished by the beginning of May.

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Mumwithbaggage · 01/09/2022 11:36

Not relevant to anything but during Upper 6th I used to play in a string quartet that we called The Oxbridge Rejects - not that we advertised ourselves as such! We all went on to lovely other places and a couple of us did go on to study as PGs there.

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