Finishing (not starting) Year 13 support thread (number 5!)

[Littleham]

Exam season starts....

Circular we gave DD1 a hefty book token at the start of the first year for the uni bookshop then she wasn't tempted by the book/drink dilemma. DD2 didn't need one for maths though. I think she has bought 2 books in three years!

We have said we will cover accommodation, and they will have to live off their loans. Our reasoning being that accommodation costs will vary hugely from year to year and from place to place, and other living costs shouldn't vary so much, so it will be fairer that way with four kids.

Not sure book token would be needed here, expecting very little reading to be done. Must tell her to check out recommended books, if any, for at least the compulsory
modules if first choice.

I like the book token idea nice cardigan.

That is a fair way of funding multiple children Atia. Will have to make sure we make it equal.

DD2 has found a new way to create mess. Revision bunting is now strung from corner to corner of her bedroom like some sort of festooned sacrosanct temple. A whole flipping timeline of history has unfolded before my eyes.

For those getting book tokens - you can get a student book token which has two cards. The student keeps one and the parent keeps the other so that you can top it up as and when needed and your dc uses their bit to buy their books.

I like the sound of revision bunting, brilliant idea!

Aaargghhhh!

Help me out here, I think I'm being a bit dim

The maintenance loan, do they get that each year or is it supposed to last over the four years?

You have to reapply each year for both tuition fees and loans (giving new income - if it has gone up or down).

If you only need the tuition fees in year 2 then dc can apply without any input from you. However, the loan is needed then you have to fill forms out as well.

That means she could leave uni with £50,000 debt

Fairenuff, it's not a debt in the normal sense though. They only start paying back once earning over £21,000 I think it is and it does not hold them back from getting mortgages.

It's the way it is, unfortunately.

Yes, it is written off after 30 years I believe.

Dd says that once she graduates she will just get a great job and live off cornflakes for a couple of years and pay back the loan as quickly as possible

The good news is that she is determined to do it with as little help from us as possible

DD1 is paying her loan back at the moment at the grand total of £17 a month. It comes straight out of her salary so she doesn't notice it. No need for the cornflakes at the moment

Phew. Thanks for all your help, you are all brill

Dd and I were having a bit of a panic as the numbers started to stack up.

It will be fine. Back to the present and she has to get the grades yet or she'll be going nowhere

Love the bunting idea here too.

Desperately trying to get DD to complete UCAS decisions well before next weeks deadline. Then student finance. But fighting a losing battle.

Some half-hearted revision getting done bur most of her time and energy spent online, trying to sort out relationship issues. Can see her messing up A2s for both of them but feel powerless to help.

She's always confided in me (sometimes a bit too much). But if I comment / disagree on anything she turns on me.

So I try just to talk about practical things and get told I only care about schoolwork and nit her feelings. Ask about boyfriend and get told to mind my own business. Say nothing at all and get asked what's wrong.

It's hard isn't it circular? Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

circular is she delaying on the UCAS form because she doesn't want to commit to being away from her boyfriend? Must be very hard to make that decision to move away (potentially a long way away) from the one person you really want to be with.

Fairenuff No, firm decided and that's the furthest from his firm AFAIK. Difficulty deciding on insurance choice, one furthest from
hone but lower offer, better Uni. Other Lonfon, and would have to commute as halls won't be affordable. Both courses have their own advantages / disadvantages.

Good luck persuading her to make a decision circular. Teens! I think the offers can get withdrawn if they don't choose Firm / Insurance.

DD has finished all coursework & EPQ now, but one or two have yet to start (with a week to go). Imagine.

New stress on the horizon. My road to school is being shut (completely shut) for resurfacing during the busiest exam week. This will involve a 5 mile detour plus probably traffic jams down a teeny tiny country lane with grass growing out the middle of it. Most of the exams in that week are 9am starts.

Why? Just why? Do planners in LA not have children?