Starting Y13 (y12 support thread contd) - number 3

[Littleham]

Thread continued folks...

Thanks littleham I've looked at the link AAB grade is achievable for dd too, I'm going to show her when she gets home. It means she can go to Bath and Bristol to have a nosy as looking on google map they quite near. Just hope shes open to suggestion of adding more uni on to her app. There's nothing to lose as I see it.

Littleham- Bristol has gone down well with dd. She has ordered a prospectus?? I was expecting a resilient no not interested response. To my surprise she was very receptive she had a look at the modules covered and she say looks very interesting. Fingers crossed she might put Bristol down on her app. I just want her to think about the 2 spaces she has left. Plus to be open minded about other uni, after all she might get rejected from UCL and Bath need more back up plans. Do you think Durham is in her reach? She's not considered them but I think maybe she should. Wish we had done more uni open day visits in the summer, didn't do that many as we didn't know her AS grades so what to realistically look at.

Polka - Why not? If she isn't going to use the choice anyway, take a punt. I found this link for you too. Students also seem to highly rate Kings, Manchester and Edinburgh for neuroscience.

I think you are right about adding the last two choices, just in case she gets a rejection from one of her others.

www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2890447&page=8&p=51661641&highlight=neuroscience#post51661641

Omg thanks littleham that student room thread is exactly what I needed!! Didn't know it existed, its so informative and I know exactly now what dd chances are and what to expect, the students are so supportive of each other its like mumsnet for students!! Im going to read all the pages now. Thanks again littleham for pointing me in the direction I really needed to go to :)

I think it's definitely worth her adding two more Dotty.

Offer from Warwick of AAA for DS so he now has two which is very exciting as it means he has a choice!

Good news webwiz and two very good choices he has (so far!)

Well done Webwiz's DS!

Polka, I didn't mean to be negative about the chances of your DD going to Oxbridge, just realistic about chances. Last year DS1 took a gap year because he (unexpectedly!) got AAA. He reapplied for a different course, and included Cambridge, because why not! He got an interview, and then a very nice rejection letter! He hadn't pinned any lifelong ambitions on it, and wasn't really sure it was for him, so was fine about it. He worked at Aldi during his gap year, and this has spurred him on to work his hardest at uni, and he is loving being back studying. He also knows the prices and value in Aldi ! He got 4 other unconditional offers for top unis for his subject. I believe he has had a really valuable experience, and would recommend it to anyone unsure about the next step, or who changes their mind, either for the course or the uni.
One of his best friends also took a gap year because he got fab results, but the A was in the wrong subject! and he felt his insurance was too low for his results. He reapplied, and is now very happy at another top uni, and got his other A after a resit.
My, this is long! I just wanted to say, there's more than one way of doing things, and it's all fine! Best of luck :)

Fantastic webwiz!

mindgone, thanks for that perspective. DD is very lukewarm about her 'safety net' choice and I think if it comes to the crunch with lower-than-exected grades she will not want to go there. So a gap year is very much a possibility.

Meanwhile, I'm having a wobble - she has been invited to interview at Strathclyde and is saying that she is quite happy to fly to Glasgow and back unaccompanied. I think I'm OK with this but can't quite bring myself to book her solo flight. (Interesting aside: the cost of the flight is half that of the train, and the train would involve an overnight stay as well. )

Tell me reassuring stories of your intrepid DCs travelling all over the UK alone!

Hi Muffin just wanted to let you know that my DD did a solo trip to Edinburgh last month. There and back in the day from our local regional airport. Also significantly cheaper than the train. DD negotiated trip into Edinburgh on the new tram but I had given her cash so she had the option of a taxi to the door if she wanted to not worry about finding her way.

She has also done a round trip staying two overnights with relatives home to Nottingham then to Birmingham for overnight then next day to Bristol and Bath then home. The solo travel has given her confidence and, as she says, in a year's time she could be at one of her choices and having to make her own way there etc.

She has prepared for her solo trips by looking at maps of where she is going and also google earth so she has a visual idea of what her destinations look like.
Best of luck to your DD.

Muffin my children have gone by train and plane alone since they were 13. What on earth do you think could happen to someone her age? An airport is about the safest place on earth because nobody could abduct you through all that security, etc.

Abra1d, it's not that I think something would happen, but as she doesn't have your DCs' extensive experience of travelling alone, it seems like quite a leap to me.

She seems very comfortable with the idea, which is the most important thing, I think. But it will be a long day and I'd like her to be in a good frame of mind for the interview. Also she will be hanging around Glasgow on her own for several hours, so I'm trying to think how best to deal with that.

JWIM, thanks for your advice. I agree that the trip would give her confidence (though she's not the one having a wobble about it!). She went to Cardiff by herself in the summer to a Headstart course so I' sure she can manage this, and as you say, Google means that she can be very well briefed on the journey. I think the main thing that's bothering me is the dead time between the interview and the return flight.

I'm worrying about nothing, I think - force of habit.

For the several hours between the interview and flight, how about looking for coffee shops, shopping centre & tourist attractions that are close by so that she knows ahead of time where to go?

Apparently the Buchanan Galleries (shopping centre) and Cathedral Street are in the vicinity of the university - see Tourist Information site.

www.peoplemakeglasgow.com/

Thanks, Littleham - I'll check out that link. Have also just thought that if she just wants to sit, it would be good to scope out a nice library!

Mumslife- I think I'm addicted to reading threads on student room feel a bit naughty stalking the students :) but im too intrigued and its very informative. Wish I found the sight last year give me head start.
Changing- I think I've managed to talk some sense to my stubborn child. Went the diplomatic route. No harm in adding 2 more choices.
Webwiz- phew ! great news bet your relieved.
Mindgone- you weren't at all being negative you were being honest and realistic and was watching my back which I really appreciate, you've gone through with the experience of a gap year and your points are very valid. Sometimes it takes a outside perspective to make things a bit more clear and realistic. By the sounds of it, taking a gap year can be a positive thing as long as child has his head screwed on and is focussed on the bigger picture. And make the most of the year. I need to bear all this mind. Thanks mindgone :)
Muffin- I would be same as you in the same situation . Think Abra you got wrong end of the stick. Its not that we worried child would get abducted etc, but more the fact its a important date don't want child to end up either missing the plane cos of first time experience nerves, getting confused, delays etc. Then end up huffy puffy for interview. Can Seem a bit too much doing something like that for the first time and on a interview day. It would be different if first trip alone on plane wasn't for a interview otherwise would be happy to let them go on a mini adventure good experience for them.

I get mine to sit by the one of the big monitors beyond security and watch for the gate number. I stay in the airport and they have to text me as they get to the gate and then when they're on the plane. On the way home (or if I can't drive them to the airport), obviously I can't be in the airport but the same thing applies: I know when the plane is taking off and thus roughly when they should be at the gate and they have to text or ring me so I know they're where they ought to be.

If I was worried about them missing the plane on the way home due to a public transport SNAFU I would give them an emergency sum of money for a cab, which they know not to even think about touching for any other reason or they'll be bollocked.

The other thing I have done is found pictures online of various airports and shown them what things look like (it's quite surprising that images are available given the security situation, but quite useful). I show them what airport security and passport control looks like. What the monitor thing with the gates looks like, etc, pictures of the bus station. And they have always found that people in airports are helpful if they do get lost. With the exception of some of the airports round London most British airports are pretty straightforward and not too big. And they usually have quite informative websites you can brief yourself with.

Seriously, it is fun and exciting for them to travel alone. It's about moving to being a grown-up, someone who's ready for higher education. I think the confidence they gain from getting somewhere by plane independently would run over into the interview and be beneficial.

Has anyone's child with a Bristol offer been invited for a post-offer applicant day?

DD just booked herself onto days for Royal Holloway and Leeds (and I bought the train tickets!) and checked all her info from Bristol, but nothing from them. I was a bit surprised that they hadn't. Apart from Oxford, it's between Bristol and Leeds for top choice, and if she doesn't go to Bristol again I think Leeds will be favourite by default.

Polkadotty, you have it exactly right - I don't want DD to be stressed for the interview.

Abra1d, thanks for the tips - that's really helpful. DD is actually very familiar with Stansted so I'm sure she'll be fine. Good idea about emergency cab money. I agree that it will be exciting for her and I'm really pleased that she's so keen to do it. She is much more relaxed about these things than I am!

Have booked the flight.

GOOD LUCK to your daughter, muffin.

My dd2 has just had an offer for History from Bristol! That makes it four out of five, so I am really happy for her that she has this good news before next week. Best possible scenario has happened.