Starting Year 13 (number 4!)

[Mindgone]

I just thought I'd get us started up again!

Whoops - www.theguardian.com/education/2014/jul/02/how-much-does-university-cost-students-parents

littleham still waiting on Bath so it will be either Bath (if she gets a offer) or Bristol as her firm and Nottingham as her insurance.

Hello Polka, sorry UCL didn't give your DD an offer but very pleased to hear that Bristol have!
Bristol does look an amazing place to study

we haven't heard about applicant days from 2 unis yet. Is that usual?

Thanks horsemad dd has been on a fast learning curve on how to deal with rejection. Its been hard as she has never really suffered any sort of rejection in her life that have meant so much. Its a valuable lesson for her to try and learn getting a rejection will be normal part of life especially when applying for jobs etc we've been trying to say to her, have to try and stay strong. Never know rejection from UCL might have been a blessing in disguise not the be all and end all. Bristol looks so beautiful and idyllic can't wait to take her there for open days.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for Bath polka. Looks like she will be heading to the South West.

Did she fill up all five choices on the Ucas in the end?

Accommodation will be so much cheaper polka. London is so expensive!

Sorry haven't replied been unwell for few days! Feeling better today! Thank you mumslife, Littleham, Gypsyfloss, Horsemad, Cathyandclaire and Fairenuff

MrsBartlet, thank you, DD still not sure but it's between Bristol and Durham as firm and york as insurance

HocusUcas,her offer for Durham is 37 points IB 6,6,6 in high, she is predicted 42 points 7,7,7 in high. We thought this was low for Durham however DD is happy cause less pressure!

Polkadottyme, sorry to hear your DD didn't get a offer from UCL but so please to hear about Bristol, i totally understand about the rejection! My DD got rejected by cambridge she was devastated cause cambridge was everything to her however she has realised that she can go on and still do equally as good even better But this is a valuable lesson for them to learn cause it will help them become stronger in order to deal with the outside world in the future

littleham my silly dd didnt put down a 5th choice I had suggested Warwick. She stuck her heels down said she would not go there as she doesn't want to go to a campus style uni. Didnt want to waste a place that another student would have wanted more than her. We've already booked open day for Bristol in mid April. Really looking forward to it :) I really think Bristol would suit her more than London as she isn't a very confident girl. I think bath is campus style we haven't seen it yet, but I'm 2nd guesing that if she does get a offer I bet she would prefer Bristol.

If you get time after seeing the department and university, wander down Park Street & cross the road towards the harbour. Lots to see there.

The Bristol Guild is a nice shop half way down Park Street (with a café upstairs) if the university cafes are busy.

Bath is campus style but very beautiful so I'm told. It always sticks in my mind 'cause their new accommodation had remote controlled mood lighting from the bed!!! I was convinced DS would apply purely based on this alone!!

bluebellz - maybe email the unis to see what they have planned?

hassom97 I feel your pain, completely understand where your coming from. I suspect my dd is like yours pushes herself to the limit to achieve her very best. But when things don't go to plan they blame themselves, they start to doubt their academic abilities and feel that everything they have achieved suddenly becomes worthless. My dd blamed herself because UCL admission said it was her PS that let her down. so in way she felt she was totally at fault should have wrote a better one. Its a vicious cycle. When she got the Bristol offer it made her see some sense in that just because one admission tutor at UCL wasn't impressed with her PS doesn't mean others would automatically feel the same way. Its ucl's loss somebody elses gain ( have to have a fighting spirit )

littleham thanks for tips I'm going to write it all down. When we booked the open day, only allowed 1 guest, poor DH is going to be doing a lot of wandering around. The open day talks are from 9pm- 4pm on the bright side it sounds like Bristol will have lots of things for him to see and nice tea room for him to pass the time. horsemadgetting Bath would be the icing on the cake, it maybe the hardest decision she will have to make if she likes them both.

If poor DH gets really bored, Bristol Museum is free and right next to the university (also has a café). He could also go and see the SS Great Britain at the harbour.

Polkadottyme, your DD definality sounds like my DD, they give 110% however life is not as simple and it's better to learn it now than in the future, she blamed herself as well, she started to question her abilities however I gave her time to go through the emotions, it was hard to see her like that but she needed to express the way she was feeling, I told my DD everything happens for a reason, one window shuts but a big door has open, I told her these people opinions doesnt matter and it does not define your abilities. UCL has lost out! your DD sounds like such an amazing daughter, you must be so proud of her, they will go on and achieve her goals cause they have that inner strength, also they have us!

Hi polka. Is it a whole uni open day or offer holders day at bristol?? We went to both last year and despite numbers restrictions no one was counting??so instead of wandering off I attended all sessions along with dd/ dh. If you get a chance go on the accommodation tour early- gets v busy later.

So the bad news is that one of my daughter's teachers is apparently doing lessons that are below acceptable standard and is being 'supervised' by school to raise standards or else

Lots of teenagers sitting on bad grades. The good news is that dd realised what was going on before Christmas & has been getting her own information. She is currently managing a high grade & giving friends her notes. I have been designated chief photocopier.

Well done to your DD Littleham. We were in a similar position last year with 1 subject being taught very slowly and DD and her friends realised they needed to self-study if they wanted to complete the syllabus - we got her the revision books quickly!
Polka and HasSO - well done on your DCs getting very good offers. Hopefully they will realise they will be just as happy there (if not happier) as they would have been at their first choices.
DD still has Manchester as her first choice. She has an applicant day at Birmingham next week - not sure if parents are welcome or not? She hasn't got any other applicant days as all her others had interview days. I think her insurance choice will be either Cardiff or Birmingham.

twentyten thanks for the info, its worth taking the risk sneek dh in by the sounds of it :). The open day is for post offers only she had to register via Bristol portal there was a choice of either march or april date, apparently there was a choice of tour by bus or on foot and she chose by foot?? Hope I don't end up with blisters??
hellsbells thanks :) the Bristol offer has really lifted her spirits, funnily enough we bought her some tickets to see her idol derren brown the shows in march for her b day next week And ironically she found out he went to Bristol uni.
littleham, mumslife you won't believe my dd has similar problem too her teacher for one of her sciences has had to have emergency surgery last week. Has signed off sick for 2 months The school says they can't find a replacement teacher so will have to self teach as best they can they only got a non science teacher to supervise the lesson. Dd like yours has used own initiative gone into auto pilot, thank goodness they live in the era of google and you tube otherwise they quite stumped as we don't have a local library.