Countdown to A level results day - 2023

[HereWeGo2023]

Following on from the A level support thread I thought I would create one for results day.
Hopefully you will all join me for the long nail biting wait and the big day at the end of it!

To be fair to Durham its proportion of international undergrads is just under 23%. Its figure back in 14/15 was 17% so it has seen an increase, but is some way removed from the likes of Manchester or Edinburgh, both just under 33%, Kings 38%, St,Andrews 42%, Imperial 47%, and the LSE or UCL both over 50%.

at undergrad level Durham has added 2750 UK undergrads since 14/15 as opposed to 1775 internationals. The latter of course from a much lower starting base. In contrast Bristol added almost 5,000 UK undergrads vs 2100 extra internationals. Exeter over 6,000 more from UK vs 1200 international.

as @Bigfatsquirrel points out though the mix at specific course level will show much more variation, with a number well above that 23%.

I am fairly certain that the 2 unis in NI have caps on the amount of home students they can accept. NI students studying at QUB or UU pay £4500 (or thereabouts) in fees so a lot choose to stay at home rather than travel over the water because it’s simply much more affordable. I am sure though that there are limits on the number of home students they can take, and yes - it IS about fees because the universities need the higher fees from rUK students to be able to run in the same way that all unis need the fees from International students to be able to function .

Given the uncertainty, perhaps a level of smoke and mirrors, and not helped by constant click-bait headlines in the some of the former broadsheets, I’m glad all mine have been through the system.

very best wishes to all the DCs - and parents! - waiting to see what Thursday brings.

I work at a large University.
We had a meeting quite recently and as I understand from that we break even on a number of degrees but on many courses, costs far outway the tuition fees.

@MarchingFrogs it is difficult to fill Overseas places with Hone students because the finances aren’t there. It might take 3 Home students to bring in the money of one Overseas. It is more typical to go into Overseas Clearing, or just to lower your standards some before Thursday. But the 3 for 1 trade is not unheard of.

Much easier the other way round when you have a strong Overseas pool. Yes, it’s unfair

@AfingeroffudgeisNOTenough yes quite right on NI. I had not fully appreciated that.

2000 fewer UK undergrads at QUB as compared with 14/15, and 1000 more internationals, so an overall fall in undergrads, though offset by the increase in postgrads.

Ulster also saw a fall in UK numbers at undergrad level, but almost 4.5k more internationals. With a similar increase in internationals at postgrad. Around 9,000 more international students as compared with 14/15, a figure only surpassed by UCL and Glasgow. An impressive recruitment effort.

God it's getting really close now isn't it? I've got a permanent knot in my stomach at the moment. I want it to come and I don't.

Same... luckily very busy tomorrow. DD1 has the second MenB vaccine and then working all day until the evening... dh away with work and I have also a busy day at work..really want it over and done with !!

DD home from her trip away with friends - absolutely exhausted and a tad grumpy! I suspect mainly due to a significant lack of sleep over the last week, but I do wonder if the imminence of results is also playing a part. Have encouraged her to start sorting through her room, more to give her something to do than anything else. Tomorrow could be a very long day!!!

DS & GF still on their travels, and will be on Thursday. I know they are nervous, but really hoping they are distracted enough for it not to be too bad.

I have the unenviable task of collecting the results and passing on the news to DS, although he'll have already checked UCAS by then.

I've been quite calm about it, but am getting very nervous for him now.

Gosh my stomach is in knots too and I just wish it was all over, I was never very good at waiting for things and the constant media 'doom-and-gloom' coverage is killing me. I had a dream last night that I went into my A-level Physics exam and couldn't answer a single question (actually, maybe that was a memory!)

Off to comfort eat - just wish I was one of those folk who can't eat when they are nervous but I go the other way 🍫🍪🍰

I can't stop eating today either.
I started making Bolognese at 8 am & was craving toast only to find irritatingly all the butter has been consumed by the nocturnal inhabitants.
DD will be absent on Thursday as she is in London with her boyfriend. At least we think she is as she took her passport! I've asked her about clearing & she said they've been told what to do.
She knows she's already got 2×A, so just needs a B in Maths.

I'm glad I'm not the only one stuffing my face. Some midweek drinking taking place as well, which I try to avoid normally.

We seem to be gearing up for DS2 and his girlfriend (also getting her results) AND DS1 and his girlfriend all being here on Thursday morning, plus me and DP and my ex (sons' dad). It will either be a party or a wake...

Oh god the MenB vaccine @Travelban we talked about that on the last thread and I've not done anything about it. I will go back to re-read to find out why.

I have just started the Diabetes Prevention Programme so can't start stuffing my face yet but all bets are off tomorrow evening when Ocado deliver our 'cheat day' supplies for Thursday. No drinking though as I am sober. I definitely have the knot in my stomach every time I think about it, really wish it was tomorrow so we can get it over with.

I just dealt with the stress by ensuring I got my 10,000 steps in via a walk to the local shop to pick up some chocolate 😬

Is the Men B vac the one they would have in Y9?

Super frustrating that Mumsnet search is so basic, I know we've talked about it on either this thread or the previous one. What I can find from googling MN threads @toomuchlaundry is that if DC had the MenACWY age 15 or so there's no need - but this cohort were in lockdown age 15?

No.
Tetanus booster and Men ACWY given in year 9/10.
Men B is only given to under 2's on the NHS programme. It's an optional private vaccine for teens. Two doses, about £80-100 each.

I'm so nervous. DC is abroad due home early hours Friday. If clearing is needed he literally can't call them. I doubt I can for him. So please let him get in!!

DS had the Men ACWY at school, must have been Y9 or just before lockdown

Yes this is the MenB, not available on thr NHS for our children, so 160 pounds from Boots for each shot. Pricey but has to be done. We rang our GP practice just to be sure. Shipped around but up here they were all about that price.... they need to be 4 weeks apart so there is still time to book in!

Correction! It was 110 pounds a shot, not 160!!!!

It really is getting close now isn't it?
God I will be so glad when it's over.

Dd has been grumpy too. I know it's because she's worried she phoned me today from work to tell me there is a course in clearing that she would actually like to do at a uni she would be happy to go to so that's good.

Are your dc going to pick up their results on their own? Or are you going too?

I'm allowed to go but not allowed in with her! Which I undersatand she said she wants to open them in her own.

We'll be driving ds up to school @troppibambini6 , obvs can't go in with him so a nervewracking wait.

DS can get his results online at 8am.

He sleeps like the proverbial log usually and is at work from 3 to 11pm tomorrow, so will be interesting to see if he wakes himself up for 7.45 or whether DH and I will have to do it.