Starting Y13 (y12 support thread contd)

[AtiaoftheJulii]

Well, I filled up the other one, so here's a nice new one to get us through dropping subjects, Uni open days, personal statement writing, and UCAS applications

Plenty of and and (nicely-intentioned) s available!

Dd wants self catered as she might want to eat dinner in her pj's with no hair or makeup done

Missmillament - it's a good job they all haven't different likes and needs, otherwise they would all want the same uni! Just said to DH that the one I would like DD to apply to (Nottingham) has slipped to number 6 on the list.
I think DD wants self-catered for the same reasons as Fairenuff's DD!

Waitingaround - DD really liked Birmingham. I felt the accommodation we saw was a bit of a trek. Course and facilities were excellent though.

lol! My dd1 wants self-catered I think, but she would have zero qualms about going to a dining room in her pyjamas :) And being clean is generally as far as hair/make up goes.

There's a lot of difference though between catered = big dining room in halls, social occasion, etc; and catered = charge card to go and eat in various canteens around campus. My girls don't really see the point of the latter, but would think the former was worth paying extra for.

I know some are thinking of putting a well respected uni on the form blind as it were ie not visiting it. then if lucky enough to get an offer visit it on offer open days

Yeah, my dd1 likes the look of Glasgow and St Andrews, and will apply to at least one if not both, but we're a long way south, and will only go up if she gets an offer and is still interested.

Might be worth warning your dc's to choose the Insurance options carefully with regard to accommodation, as they will get the last pick at what is left if they end up at Insurance or clearing. Look at the worst accommodation & how far away it is & ask if the uni guarantee accommodation to ALL freshers, to check out whether they would be happy. They might not get a choice about catered or self catered for Insurance or clearing.

It worked out fine for my dd1 (Insurance / Bristol) as it guarantees accommodation for all first years & she isn't too fussy, so didn't mind being in the more basic accommodation.

Yes, Littleham, that is certainly a consideration re the insurance offer. I don't think DD is too bothered about accommodation but she hasn't yet considered the potential implications of all of the options -eg the having to vacate in between each term or being restricted to set meal times or potentially distance from campus of some of the halls.

MrsM The problems DD had with the Nottigham catered halls 1) Vast discrepancies in room sizes (from en-suites where an adult couldn't fit in the shower to full sized baths with shower) and all the same price, but no choice; and 2) No kitchen and she loves to cook. much prefers the catered card option.

Spreadsheet not going too well here, wish I'd done it bit by bit after each visit.

circular I love that you are doing a spreadsheet

Can we help, what are the headings?

Mumslife /Attila thinking the same about York. Just checked train fares, and will be £160 + even with DD's railcard. Not convinced she would ever go that far either.

Fairenuff I have the Unis as column headings with criteria/qualities as row headings. Quite a few specific to music, but headings I have that are not are:
Course
Entry requirements
Interview/audition
Course league - guardian, complete, times
Uni league - ditto
Allows electives
Course flexibility
Study abroad options
Work placement options
Campus / City
Catered accom
Self catered accom
Accom guarantee
Accom cost in 2nd yr
train time from London
Distance / Drive time from home

That's really useful as a list of headings, Circular. I will make a similar spreadsheet to help DD figure out her options.
We will be in York next week so if anyone has any specific questions they want an answer to, let me know and I will try to find out.

Wow you do have your work cut out there circular but seem to be covering all bases.

Have about 5 music course related headings too. Just wish I'd recorded the info fresh when we got the answers. Having to trawl through DDs emails that she has forwarded to me for some of those.
Thankfully only have 8 Unis on the list
Planning to use a colour coding to shade in cells anything she particularly liked or disliked.

It's going to be a work of art

MissM (got your marital status right this time) we are booked for York next week, but think it depends on DDs predictions whether its worth us going.

The points made by Littleham and others around accommodation is a very salient point, so worth checking whether accommodation guaranteed or not if the insurance, rathe than firm selection - and also the latter, some Unis don't guarantee accommodation for those who have firmed them.

Possibly worth being clear on what is guaranteed as well. For a small percentage of Bristol Freshers some challenges as reported here www.epigram.org.uk/news/item/2758-freshers-accommodation-shared-rooms
but at least the problem is recognised, a temporary solution is in place, and a decent discount given on standard accommodation charges.

Please, PLEASE, can someone help me understand how the following scenario has come about?

DD2 got A in her Yr12 Eng Lit coursework (AQA). Somehow she got a U (??!!) in her AS exam, overall mark was an E. Paper has been remarked, no change. How has she managed to only get a U in the exam? I would have thought she only wrote her name, but she assures me she incorporated all elements that she was supposed to etc. (No reason to think otherwise either).

Apparently Friday was the last day for requesting her paper back, but she only found out after school had finished .....

I am seriously falling out with her school at the mo!

Thankfully, we were one of the lucky ones at Bristol this year boys3! She has her own room.

So sorry to hear that TongueBiter. It seems to have happened to loads of people at my dc's school as well. I spoke to the English teacher who said the results / marking were shocking.

Is it too late to get the paper back? Could you e mail the school tonight? At least she could ask what she has done wrong to help with a re-sit. Or is she intending dropping it?

Tonguebiter - we have had this issue as well - school has requested remarks for quite a few pupils including DD as there were some really surprising results. Did the school not request a copy of the script? You can still do this and you can also appeal the remark - info is here aqa.

She's carrying on with it in y13. Apparently they will incorporate revision sessions in this year's lessons. I will email head of 6th form tonight and ask for the script - there had been zero contact with parents so far about it/options ahead etc. it just seems too much of a difference to be real!