A levels 2023 - Results day and beyond

[HereWeGo2023]

Hi all. I thought I’d make a new thread as the countdown one is filling up.
Results day is here and I’m sure we will all value each others support, today and for the next stage of their journeys.

Thank you both. That’s what I thought. Just seems cruel and awful on mental health. His insurance offer is still offering places ( teaching degree). I just wish they woukd reject him instead of keeping us hanging on. Then we could move on and put plan xyz in operation!! They said ring back again tomorrow if it doesn’t change, but I’m not hopeful

Hi again, @moshmoshi -

A gap year now is a fine idea. Longer is also fine: he shouldn’t start further study until he feels ready to dedicate himself. When he does begin, if he starts with Access or an FY I would urge him to consider applying to uni during that year. His skills will be sharpest. He will have momentum. This translates to self confidence, a key ingredient for success. Admissions tutors recognise this.

My uni has a formal relationship with a certain Access programme, in addition to our own FYs. OB may have something similar and if they do not I hope they will have some ideas for your DS.

Are there any options he could look at in clearing? I'm guessing not if a B. Ed. as those don't usually go into clearing- but a worth a look, and he can choose to be released from his offers too.

For those who have achieved the grades and got their first (or second) choice today, well done!

For those who have had a challenging day - I commiserate and empathise.

My dc are both through university now but we certainly had our ups and downs. They both are both bright and motivated and have good friendship groups. But nearly every one of those young adults have had a blip at some point in their higher education career. Whether it was flunking a set of exams (A level or uni exams), not liking and swapping their courses, health issues needing time out of studies ... the list goes on.

My point is, that nearly everyone needs a Plan B, or C at some point and the road is almost always bumpy. Keep on championing your dc because they still need it despite being young adults.

Its a BA with QTS, thing is his insurance is in clearing. So I guess it’s not full? So I guess tomorrow it’s getting his firm offer to be released? Thank you for the advice. My first experience of all this and it’s horrible to watch the toll on him.

Chester is amazing, he'll have a grand time!

I agree with Reboot, everyone has ups and downs in life. This year is 20 years since my oldest got A level results and this year is when the youngest of my children's 9 cousins on my side of the family got his. So I have certainly seen a lot of results days. It always seems so important at the time but they all usually find somewhere they want to go and things continue, even if there are disappointments at the time.

I think the best thing to do would be to ring his insurance and ask if they will accept him if his firm rejects him- does he have the grades? And then if he would be happy with his insurance, he should be able to release himself from his firm offer on UCAS.

On a thread that has been overwhelmingly supportive you bring "poly" and "stabby to the table. AND responding to someone who has had a shit of a day.

As ma granny would say, awa an boil yer heed.

Which courses out of interest?

On my phone so can't copy and paste but loads of "proper" academic couses at Uni of Nottm. DD firmed with them for languages and history (ABB), didn't get the grades but got her place.

She's thrilled because it's an excellent uni with beautiful campus and amazing nightlife!

@travelban just to say my DS is in year 12 and a great linguist with AAA predicted - and he is VERY interested in Portsmouth’s Applied Languages course, rather than the more traditional courses. It is pretty unique and highly regarded. So congrats on the place and all best xx

I wasn't going to reply as I am feeling a bit emotional...but.. hopefully Portsmouth isn't more.stabby than other large cities and fingers crossed DD will enjoy her time there.

Nowhere is perfect and we are just grateful she is somewhere she is.enthusiastic.about and hopefully will do well at. Good to know that they have a decent reputation for languages!!

It WAS a Poly when it became "good for languages" - and what have you got against Polys, anyway - inherent snobbery?

Also: "Compared to the national crime rate, Portsmouth's is at 122%" - official figures.

Dd did her A levels last year and got into her insurance choice. She decided to defer it a year due to a family member’s terminal illness as much as anything.
During that year she has completely changed her mind about what she wants to study and has gone from law because she was good at it to primary teaching. She is much much happier with this choice.
I honestly think she would have left law part way through but the joy she showed when she did some work experience in a school was amazing.

If your dc haven’t got what they want where they want a year out may be a good idea to really think about what they want. Obviously some dc are 100% sure about their course, but if not I recommend a year out exploring options.

Portsmouth is great for students and Southsea is fabulous.....she'll have a great time (slightly biased 😉)

@Travelban I had no idea what Applied languages was so looked out of interest and it looks like a fantastic course with lots of opportunities and choice of several languages which seems a massive positive to me. Great she’s sorted and enthusiastic .
https://www.port.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-applied-languages
Link in case anyone curious like I was.

Thank you all for the words of encouragement! Dd really likes the course too, as do I and the admissions tutor has already called her to talk her through the course, welcome her and take questions. I thought that was a lovely touch!

I have two really good work friends that went to Portsmouth. They had a great time there and are doing really well in their careers.

I didn't go to uni at all (my school just wasn't cut out for getting us to uni - they'd only JUST opened a sixth form and i was the only person doing A Level French. Plus our English teacher spent one whole term teaching us the wrong Shakespeare...)

I'm frankly in awe of everyone who goes and gets to do the subject they love. I hope your daughter has a brilliant time.

I have never heard of Portsmouth being more stabby than anywhere else.
some excellent languages staff there. Well done to your DD.

Portsmouth hasn't been a Poly for over 30 years! But yes, it's a good university for Modern Languages,

Bloody hell, today just isn't our day. University of Liverpool were considering DD in clearing (much to our surprise). Now on their portal where she made the clearing application it says "a decision has been made - please check your email box". This was posted two hours ago on the portal but despite refreshing and checking junk mail - nothing there. Of course the clearing offices are now closed. We know that they have the right email as the 'thank you for applying' email landed in the right place.

I mean.... it's almost certainly a no based on the grades she got, but it would be nice to know and move on. FFS

@SlightlyJaded 3 at my DS school (highly academic private school), had shocks with their results. All 3 went to different universities than planned, doing similar courses, all are happy and enjoying themselves. I think it’s the shock of it really and you’re right it can happen to anyone. Fingers crossed.
@Travelban our bf taught at Portsmouth for many years, it is a great place. It is not stabby, it is nice and you’re by the coast. I had many a great night out in Portsmouth.

You're the snob and you know it. Despicable response to someone and you know it.

DD had applied here as well and also no.answer either way!!

Portsmouth hasn’t been a Poly for over 30 years.

And as for crime rates - would you tell people that LSE or UCL or KCL are ”a bit stabby” given that they have higher crime rates than Portsmouth?