A Levels 2023 - Results Day & Beyond: Part 2

[SlightlyJaded]

The previous post is filling up and as i seem to be one of the few still in limbo, I thought I'd start a new thread.

A place to discuss 2023 A level results and navigate our way through clearing/frustrations/questions and anything else.

Previous thread here: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/higher_education/4873934-a-levels-2023-results-day-and-beyond?page=10&reply=128536278

Waiting till the old thread fills up before we hop over here.

Still no accomodation for UWE today. DD is ill, and has spent most of the day in bed. Spoken to accomodation student service. No rooms yet but they sent a list of possible let agencies. Spent most of the day ringing around, there may be one hopeful in a decent area and rate, student share not necessarily first years or a very (twice the rate) expensive city centre room. Her dad was hoping to retire- don't think that will happen too soon. Will probably need to make decision tomorrow and just pay up. Just wish it was a little bit easier and cheaper to sort out.

Any butterflies I had for dd on results day were mostly in case it went wrong for her and we were suddenly stuck having to.find accommodation so I am feeling for those of you in that situation. I hope it resolves itself ok. When my dd1 got into York her friend applied for Bristol and they over offered and ran out of accommodation. Initially her friend was an hour away by bus over the border in Wales. Nightmare. As a few didnt arrive in sept and a few others dropped out then some rooms became available but it was a long few weeks for her..

We have started buying the essentials and dd is excited about moving away and has tickets for freshers events. Her sister is a complete homebody and didnt do any events so it's all new to me. And dd2 is on accommodation and uni chats on SM already which is something else her sister didnt do.

@SlightlyJaded just wanted to say I haven't forgotten about you and I'm reading along. You can make what you want of this: my dd went to uni last year - a brilliant course but too far away from her boyfriend. She jacked it in, came home, and we are now expecting my first grandchild. Maybe it would have always worked out this way. But maybe I should have encouraged her to stay local when she heavily hinted she wanted to. I don't know.

Your dd will need to make her own decision. That accommodation is a nightmare though. I hope you're looking after yourself.

@SlightlyJaded

https://m.spareroom.co.uk/flatshare/manchester ?

As I’ve already said it’s really not a good idea at all to go through Spare Room. Chances are she’ll be sharing with people who she has nothing in common with and don’t appreciate your dd wanting to have a fresher’s experience. It would be incredibly isolating for her. I think it’s far too risky.
Getting the right accommodation is critical. Personally I wouldn’t be touching any university who can’t accommodate their freshers. I’ve heard too many horror stories of long journeys into lectures and feeling isolated from the action.
I can understand why students who don’t get into the big city universities immediately looking for for other universities in those cities, MMU, UWE etc but if they are overlooking some fantastic universities who are just below their preferred choices when they do that. MMU etc are brilliant for some courses and I know a few young people who want to go into particular industries who are there and who want to go there, and that’s right for them. For a student who wants to study law, humanities etc it’s not always right for them. They could be looking at places like Leicester, Hull, UWE, Kent etc which may give them a much better chance of a graduate job.

I agree with everything you said @LaDeeDa123. There is an almost psychological pull towards anything with the same city name in as your first choice (if you were after a 'big city' Uni). So Manchester Met, Leeds Beckett, Nottingham Trent etc - I think it 'feels' like a closer match than, say, UEA or Hull - even though other Unis may have much more to offer. I'm still sad DD didn't go for her curve -ball offer from UEA which had accom on tap, but she didn't, and here we are.

I won't go through spare room as it's true that accom is so much more than a bed. I don't know what we're going to do but we just keep on going.

I'm not sure if Spare Room has fixed term lets? If not it might be an OK choice as many students switch accomodatioin once they have started.

We used to have students living with us in London, typically those who had come in through clearing or late applications, and always made it clear to them that they were free to leave if they found something that suited them better. However most stayed for at least a year, some for all three years, possibly the pull of having a meal left for them in the evening or living with a family? It suits some.

Oh @SlightlyJaded It’s so hard x

My dad used to get the whole family around the table to talk things through when there was a big issue like this to discuss. We worked through a lot of problems like this. Would this work with your dd @SlightlyJaded?

@SlightlyJaded more potential private hall options. Annoyingly the website doesn't show cost and availability but they have rooms with shared bathrooms which would hopefully be cheaper. https://dwellstudent.co.uk/manchester/

@SlightlyJaded is Leeds Beckett still an option ? I can understand your concerns about your daughter being so close to her boyfriend but wondered if its easier to find accomodation there.

We got the recall for one of the exam papers and it looks like it was just a bad paper for ds. There may be some marks here or there but nothing significant.
We thought that might be the case but since recall is free, we figured we may as well check.
Just feels better not to be waiting for something!

Just wanted to hop on and say well done to all of you (never mind your YPs) for showing such support for your YPs and such resilience. @SlightlyJaded your daughter will go far in life. This will be a growing up moment for her (as it was for me 40 years ago except my mother wasn't supportive at all - she was downright embarrassed that she'd lost her bragging rights about her 'clever' daughter). I would definitely leave the decision to her right now because otherwise you risk her blaming you if she finds UEA too far or doesn't like the course/people etc.

FWIW, DS1 and his gf went to the same uni (her choice, not his) and they practically lived together for four years and then split up. I feel he really missed out on making new friends and enjoying the full uni experience but you can't tell them anything because they know best! I would add that I ended up doing the same degree as my (ex) boyfriend albeit in a different university. I have enjoyed my career but I wouldn't advise anyone to choose their degree the way I did (love's young dream - what was I thinking?!)

Does anyone happen to know how long it takes for UCAS to update with a clearing offer? DS has declined his firm choice then added his new offer but it still says waiting to hear. He called the new Uni clearing line and they said it would appear but nothing yet and I’m getting twitchy!

@mrsconradfisher Some are really quick and others are trying to give you a heart-attack...

DD's Clearing offer (MMU) sent the email offer 11am last Thursday and took until Sunday morning to update the Hub. So three days. It should be ok

WE HAVE ACCOMODATION

OFFICIAL MMU ACCOMODATION

Most basic room you can get, but the halls look fun and it's ensuite with a double bed.

Thanks ALL the fucks for that.

OMG @SlightlyJaded I can't believe it - AMAAAAAAZZZIINNNGGGGGGGGGG

@SlightlyJaded that's brilliant news!

@SlightlyJaded fantastic news. Well done to you!!

Yes! Great news @SlightlyJaded . Accommodation is such a key issue.

I actually can't either @tribpot I really feel like an enormous weight has lifted. You have been so consistent checking in on DD and I throughout this - I have noticed you time and again - thank you. Honestly, this thread - and posters like you - has kept me sane.

Tomorrow I breathe and then Thursday it's GCSE results for DS. But I am less stressed about that.

Christ though - what a fucking ordeal. I am going to stick around to see the rest of us through to the end (and obviously update with curveballs that may still come my way).

Thank you all

Oh look at you all shouting at me :)

Thank you thank you to all of you.

@SlightlyJaded that is absolutely brilliant news!! Basic or not, it is accommodation and it is in Manchester, win win! And those in basic accommodation tend to form a tight bond based on the fact the accommodation is less than luxurious. You must feel that a huge weight has lifted! I think it's wine o'clock! 🍾

@SlightlyJaded what a relief!! 😁 No to go shopping!!

Brilliant news @SlightlyJaded

Now relax. Big wine tonight :-)