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!

Oh Littleham, that's annoying. I feel your pain!

Littleham DS used a personal statement checker to count the characters so he didn't have to keep logging into UCAS - its here maccery.com/ps/

I think between us we must have the lowdown on practically every university in the country.
I know what you mean about the PS Littleham - we have had that very issue today but it is all done now and I have paid the fee. Well worth it to see the back of that.

God, that must be a relief when the fee's paid and it's sent off.

Yes. I think her PS is as good as it is going to get now - just wish we knew about the remark. When was yours sent off Horsemad?

About 2 wks ago, DS still at school tonight for Open Evening, so haven't heard if he's had the result today. I think he'd have text if he had, but then again you never know with him...

So what now MissM? Do you sit and wait for offers??

Thanks webwiz - will come in handy for dd3 and ds.

MissMillament. I'm glad my dd2 is not the only one to make this mistake.

Are you talking about leaving a blank line between paragraphs? I didn't (was applying last year) and dd hasn't either. It does look better with a space, and I did some tweaking of mine to make each para's last line not too long, but I think if you've got stuff to say, then that's more important.

Dd's school must have thought so too, because she was told today that they couldn't find anything to make her change, and it's being sent off tonight or tomorrow

Final choices Oxford, Bristol, Glasgow, Leeds, Royal Holloway.

Hi Atia - Nice to know there is consistency in advice across the country! DD2 has been told she must leave a space between paragraphs & has reluctantly taken out precious words. I'll tell her to check again in the morning. Maybe she will be putting them back in. It wouldn't surprise me.

Admissions tutors - what do you all prefer?

Horsemad - once the application form is submitted, you wait...and wait...and wait..... Then around Christmas, everyone starts to check track constantly. It will be the next thing to drive us all mad.

No blank lines between paragraphs here either - the word count is tight enough without making it worse!

DD's sixth form team told her to start each paragraph on a new line but not to worry about spaces, so as she would have been on 48 lines with spaces, she is listening to that advice. They said as long as it's not one big block of text it will be fine hopes they are right.

Looking to send everything off next week as still got 2 more open days. We've been considering only applying to four as there aren't five that DD wants to go to that fit her criteria and do her course! Is that advisable? Should we put 5 down?

It's a rollercoaster isn't it Littleham?!

Was chatting to an acquaintance y'day, her DS has just started Medicine and she was saying the whole of Yr13 is a rollercoaster

No blank lines here. Dd just started each new paragraph on a new line. It is difficult enough to do it within the character count without having all that wasted space!

noworries She can apply to 4 now and get it sent off and then add a 5th any time up till January 15th.

Yes, it is a rollercoaster.

Sounds like a good compromise to go with paragraphs, but no line spaces. Seems to be the majority verdict.

No blank lines here either.
DD has been told her PS is 'too modest'. She needs to sell herself more.
She has just brought home an excellent school report though so I am hoping the comments on it form the basis for her school reference.
Do we get to see the school reference or is it up to the individual school?

hellsbells99 At my DCs school they get shown their reference before its sent off. DS went through his today with the head of sixth form.

Hope your DD feels better soon mumslife there seems to be all sorts going around at the moment.

Hellsbells - My dd hates the way that PS's can sound like bragging. Hers started off as very modest & people kept telling her to make it sound more impressive. Everything you teach them not to do in everyday life!

Hope your dd gets better soon mumslife.

AtiaoftheJulii - Great, thanks!

Well wishes to your DD mumslife :)

Dd has been shown her references (each of the AS teachers do a bit).

noworries I thought that was what dd was going to end up doing!

Mumslife your poor dd, hope she feels much better soon.

Can I just ask (for those NOT applying for early deadline courses) is it the schools pushing for everything to be done so soon, or personal preference?

DD1 won't be getting predicted grades for at least another week, although
CUKAS done (deadline yesterday) caannot see her getting UCAS done before half term. Still a couple more visits and pretty much starting PS again, as no school input on the one she sent.
School don't seem to be chasing, no parents evening till December, and nothing about any UCAS evening - unless its going to be sprung in us last minute.

Hope your DD feeling better soon mumslife

Circular DD1 and DD2 didn't apply early and their UCAS forms went in at the beginning of November. The school dealt with the early entry candidates and then sorted everyone else out after that. If the DD's had been ready earlier then school wouldn't have been ready! They both had most of their offers in before Christmas.