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

[TangoWhiskyAlphaTango]

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

[TangoWhiskyAlphaTango]

@Puffalicious I feel your pain, DS is supposed to be applying this year too. It has taken him approx 6 months to write his statement and I can guarantee he will leave it to the day before the deadline to hit the submit button. Hey ho he is sooo laid back compared to DD but it nice to have opposites I think. They do all get there....eventually 😄

[TangoWhiskyAlphaTango]

Thanks for the wishes, Xmas wasn't too bad glad to see the back of it tbh, but I am not an Xmas lover anyway. Barely saw DD between me working and her going off to her BF for the majority of the holiday. She is however coming home this week which we both looking forward to. @So1invictus Hope all goes well with exams, DD stressing this morning but then was fine after. She is not doing a placement but is now going straight into 3rd year in September - she is looking for summer internships instead. Number of different reasons but seems the right thing for her.

Glad all of your wonderful DC are doing ok and back at their Unis, I just cannot believe how time flies. I was reading some of the Oxford offers days posts and couldn't catch my breath that it was 2 YEARS AGO for us......how??!! Is it exam week for all Unis? If so good luck one and all x

[doubleshotcappuccino]

@Puffalicious honestly the journey to this point for DS was not easy but the relief of not continuing to try and coach and goad him down a path that clearly wasn't for him is huge - good luck for you..xx

[Puffalicious]

doubleshot I'm.so glad you're enjoying the scenic route- it gives me hope! We've had the 'I want to leave school' chat this evening 🙈. Hopefully just a hormonal blip. I'm a firm believer in what mam always said 'Whit's fur ye, ill no go by ye'.

[doubleshotcappuccino]

Wish there was a like button for all these lovely updates .. @So1invictus have been trying to find my mute button for weeks too 😂@Puffalicious you are so right.. some of them might take the scenic route but they will get there too .. and I'm quite enjoying being on that route with DS ..

[Puffalicious]

Yes eightytwenty it is! If he was left to his own devices he would not bother, but his dad & I are on hand. The things you do!

[Eightytwenty]

@Puffalicious good effort to apply for degree apprenticeships- way harder process than UCAS.

@So1invictus next gen SPAD in the making.

[So1invictus]

Happy New Year all!
Lovely to keep up with you all.❤️
DD is still here, going back next Tuesday. Has a 3pm deadline today for 3 written assignments and is currently proofreading. 🙄 I'm refraining from comment...
She'll be busy looking for placements when she goes back, having now decided she wants to stay in the UK to do one (she'd previously fancied an EU one which would perhaps have been easier to find...) and is refusing to countenance anything not directly related to politics.

Hope everyone is well!

[Puffalicious]

Happy New Year all!

Lovely to hear the updates.

DS1 continues to soar - he loves uni life. DS2 needs to press the button on the UCAS submission this week- it's like dragging him through treacle 🙈. Also applying for degree apprenticeships. His gf is moving to Glasgow for university come September, so I reckon whatever he decides he'll want to stay home, which suits him as I feel he's just so young & his adhd means his executive functioning can be disordered. He'll just take longer to be independent, but he'll get there!

Here's to a year full of adventure for all our young ones: their youth continues to inspire me!

[Eightytwenty]

That’s a win on many counts!

[doubleshotcappuccino]

Ahhhh thank you .. that’s lovely .. Happy New Year @Eightytwenty @TangoWhiskyAlphaTango and to everyone. That’s great news on the Exeter offer and fingers crossed for the others -an amazing opportunity with William@Mary. We are back to year 1 of A levels for DS2 but Bath is a firm favourite for him next year as well
as London uni. Our other boy has SEN and is exploring a path away from academics and training to become a chef - I must say it’s a blessed relief and joy to dip into that world away from the dreaded “ there has been an update to your UCAS application” plus I’m having some lovely meals cooked for me!

[Eightytwenty]

Happy New Year all.

i hope that @TangoWhiskyAlphaTango and @doubleshotcappuccino your first Christmas had happy as well as the inevitability sad parts.

Feels another big year ahead here. DS2 has one offer for Exeter but he’s hoping out for Bath or St A. I’m hoping for Glasgow or St A as it feels bonkers to pay tuition fees when you don’t have to.

DS1 is going to be at William & Mary for a year. Will be an expensive business but he was keen on the joint St A / W&M program before he realised it was only eligible to international fee paying applicants.

[Eightytwenty]

I hear her. Still have FOMO at 50. Then find myself overcommitted to things I’ve organised & want to do!

[Stockpot]

Either uni is well regarded and I am sure he would have a fantastic experience.

Year two is feeling a little more pressured. For DD it is in part because she had committed to so many things. When she gets overwhelmed, I advise her to set boundaries for herself and to edit. She has FOMO which is probably pretty common.

I am sorry to hear that their are DC having more than just a bit of stress or nerves. It’s easy to forget how hard growing up is.

[Eightytwenty]

Still up in the air. William and Mary / Uni of Penn possibles I think.

Glad your DD is having a good time. DS still enjoying it but has had a few friends with mental health issues which he’s been rightly concerned about. Feels like second year has been a bit more adulting than first year.

[Stockpot]

Where is your son applying to in the US @Eightytwenty ?

We went up to St A’s to see DD last weekend. She seemed happy and well settled. Her grades may drop this term. I think she is having a bit too much fun!
All a part of the experience, I suppose!

[Eightytwenty]

@Piggywaspushed sounds stressful! In so many ways I’m glad DS is only an hour away. We also had the luxury of him joining us for a week up north as reading week coinicided with half term. He is now thinking of applying for a year in the US next year (any of the St A crew doing similar?). Meantime DS2 is considering Bath and Exeter which feels like a logistical and mental stretch especially since he won’t be 18 till the Christmas after he starts. Though I keep thinking of those of you with kids at a distance (Italy!). And of course DS1 is surrounded by kids who’ve travelled internationally so he feels quite blasé about the thought of going abroad (at least in theory). Mean time I am already worried about gun crime (& he’s not even been accepted!).

Who else has kids applying this year? Can’t believe our kids had already submitted their applications 2 years ago. Been a much more painful and drawn out exercise to get DS2 to think about / work on his PS.

[Piggywaspushed]

I read that as if you had been in Prezzo since Wednesday!

DS is now back at Birmingham. Was all a bit of a palaver since DH's car broke down twice (on two separate days- neither time with DS) so DS went on the train with just a few bits ad bobs and didn't get all his stuff for another 4 days (after one attempt left DH stranded on M1...)

It's lucky Brum isn't too far from us really. I was trying to imagine if this had been Bath, or Durham , or Aberystwyth...

[SoIinvictus]

Afternoon all. I am in Prezzo feeding DD up before leaving her tomorrow. Been here since Wednesday. Fun people watching in the hotel. As we sit here DD is looking out of the window saying "oh there's so and so" One of her course friends walked past her new bedroom window this morning, I think the street she's on is mainly student houses. Judging by the gardens. 😳 DD says she's going to do some gardening so maybe theirs will soon look like ordinary humans live there.
They have a washer/dryer, dishwasher and 2 fridge freezers for the £650 a month each without bills. 😳
I'm leaving tomorrow and spending a few days with friends (and in M&S) 😂
Happy birthday to MiniTango and more hugs for those who have suffered losses this year. ❤️

[doubleshotcappuccino]

@TangoWhiskyAlphaTango it's so hard isn't it .. the milestones ..big hugs and so grateful we trudge this path with support and knowing these Year 2s and soaring .. although I'm still get messages about liquitabs so not sure we're done with the full next exit yet xx

Love seeing all your messages - they're all doing so well ..I must go back and see the first thread sometime - we've come so far and so have they x x

[Eightytwenty]

@TangoWhiskyAlphaTango those milestones are super hard. Sending hugs. Hope start of second year goes well!

@So1invictus yes dropped at the start of the month and now looking forward to reading week in 3 weeks. Nicely it coincides with school half term. DS rent is £900 a month for a fairly average flat. But they do have a dishwasher and air fryer. 🤦‍♀️

[TangoWhiskyAlphaTango]

Sorry I missed this.

@Eightytwenty Much love it is so damned hard. It was his 70th a few weeks back and their 50th wedding anniversary next week, it was going to be a big year of celebrations and now there is just this hole where he used to be. I feel so sad, he was so special, we miss him so much.

@So1invictus Good luck with your forthcoming trip I hope you have a lovely time. I took DD back last week and she stayed a few nights then headed back to Manchester and is off to Rome today as it is her 20th Birthday today. Back to Bath next week to kick off second year. I had a lovely day moving her in and took her and her housemate out for some lunch, twas very nice. The house is in walking distance to the City and I always love visiting Bath, so pretty. The house is nice but on a very residential road and i feel very sorry for their neighbours!! She is applying for placements at the mo and is looking at communications and political affairs roles for a couple of big companies, soooo competitive though I have told her not to get her hopes up but you have to in it to win it I guess.

@doubleshotcappuccino We are old hats at it now aren't we? I am excited for her rather than sad, the summer has been long and tough for DD so I hope a new term will help focus her brain again.

Good luck to all of our rejects for the year ahead 🤗

[doubleshotcappuccino]

@SoIinvictus

Hello lovely rejects!

How are we all? Have our St Andrews students already gone? My friend's daughter is starting in Edinburgh at the weekend but my other friend's child didn't get the grades to go anywhere poor thing.

DD has just landed in Budapest and will be gone for 9 days, then all speed ahead for Y2. One of her housemates moved into the house yesterday and blimeyheck I could go and live there! Looks really really nice and so unlike the student houses I was used to! Mind you at £650 a month without bills so it should.

Don't know if you've been following the 1st year's chats on here, seems like lots of Bath kids have ended up with city centre this year, or nothing at all. Maybe we were lucky with our prison cells!
@TangoWhiskyAlphaTango

Budapest sounds lovely ! Dropped DD back in London last weekend .. not as bad as last year when I cried all the way home !

[SoIinvictus]

Hello lovely rejects!

How are we all? Have our St Andrews students already gone? My friend's daughter is starting in Edinburgh at the weekend but my other friend's child didn't get the grades to go anywhere poor thing.

DD has just landed in Budapest and will be gone for 9 days, then all speed ahead for Y2. One of her housemates moved into the house yesterday and blimeyheck I could go and live there! Looks really really nice and so unlike the student houses I was used to! Mind you at £650 a month without bills so it should.

Don't know if you've been following the 1st year's chats on here, seems like lots of Bath kids have ended up with city centre this year, or nothing at all. Maybe we were lucky with our prison cells!
@TangoWhiskyAlphaTango

[Eightytwenty]

@TangoWhiskyAlphaTango I lost my Dad in an accident 20 years ago. Seeing my mother grieve was one of the hardest things about it. It was the main reason we ended up in Scotland.

@Puffalicious camp america sounds great. A few of DS’ friends did it this year too.