Starting Year 13 - September 2015

[hellsbells99]

Welcome to Year 13!
Their final year of school;
Applying for university/college/work/apprenticeships;
A year of 18th birthday parties;
Going to their first nightclub (unless they already have fake ID!);
The year they turn into adults!

DD2 has been back at school for 3 days and has lots of work already.

Needmoresleep - exactly!! It really is so difficult to gauge where they will fly when they get the wings (they haven't had before) to fly with!

And hard for Universities to tell who will be able to take the next step up, and who not. I hear it is not uncommon from people to transfer out of maths degrees at even the best Universities.

Maths must be one of the worst subjects in which to feel out of your depth.

Some of the 'instinctive' mathematicians find it difficult to demonstrate advanced proofs of their work and therefore also struggle at university level.

Triage that's so interesting. Several of DS's teachers have described him as an instinctive mathematician. He gets answers and then has to work back and fill in the middle bit. Sometimes the middle bit isn't right and then he loses marks! He has very little confidence with maths as the result of a truly dreadful teacher in Year 7 who basically told him he was rubbish at it. He got A*s in both maths and statistics at GCSE but still doesn't think he's any good!

We absolutely loved Bath. It seemed to have a great atmosphere, the open day was the best organised one we went to, and the course is great for DS. Admittedly the sun was shining so it was looking at its best! I really don't like the sound of the accommodation issue though. That would throw DS, who is a major worrier and needs his space. He could never share a room.

TalkinPeece Southampton is DS's favourite. He absolutely loved the course and will be completely gutted if he doesn't get an offer!

UKAS form nearly ready to go. I can't wait to get rid of the bloody thing!

UCAS with a 'c' I mean . . . . . . . DS is not applying to the United Kingdom Accreditation Service. I hope.

Many of ds's friends, in spite of living close by, have to admit that Southampton is their favourite for Maths and Engineering. They wanted to like other places, but found them often to be a bit manky.

Morvah, if your ds is concerned about accommodation, may I recommend Glen Eyre hall. Spacious and leafy. That is recent advice, too, not just my 1980s experience!

MorvahRising DS1 was exactly as you describe when he was younger. His biggest challenge was learning how to show the way he got to his answer. He did get over that hurdle though, partly as a result of self teaching some maths modules, also teaching maths to others. He's now thriving doing a Maths degree and trying to find a career that will allow him to do maths forever .

No sign of UCAS form going in here. DS is prevaricating.

Rhoda DS is applying for electronic engineering and the Southampton facilities are amazing. It's an hour or so from home so an ideal distance; it's tricky when the best course is actually nearby. Our local university is another top one for electronic engineering and DS dickered for ages about putting it down as he feels the leaving home experience is important for him. He did in the end though, as it seemed silly not to for such a good course, but I really hope he gets Southampton.

One of my schoolfriends was at Glen Eyre - also in the 80s! I visited a couple of times and do remember it having a good atmosphere. Have made a note - thank you.

SeekretSquirrels glad your DS has done so well - he sounds impressive!

DS was also prevaricating on the UCAS form but when his best mate got an offer from Bath almost as soon as he sent his form in it spurred him on a bit luckily.

Racks brain to remember if Rhoda and I were in the same blocks in Glen at the same time!

Anybody applying to Southampton : YYY to the Glen Eyre complex - its much bigger than in our day but still the best location for the main campus.

I loved my time at Southampton - which is why I never moved back to London - and the only reason DD cannot consider applying is that she knows the campus and the professors so well that it would not be "new" and "hers" IYSWIM

Southampton has been near the top of the heap for engineering for a very, very long time. Their STEM stuff is award winning not that I'm biased mind

Just taking a seat here, will see what happens!

DD1 has had one invitation to interview/audition from one of her uni choices (on a date she can't do but luckily they have alternate dates) and one audition date from one of her conservatoire choices. It's getting very real.

It certainly is, Uhtred! My DD got her first offer yesterday.

What vintage are you, TalkinPeece?

I escaped back to London but was sucked back again!

Good luck to your dd for her auditions Uhtred Well done to your dd Leeds2.

I discovered a sheet about BA Musical Theatre at (Royal) Central - the drama school in ds's room yesterday and am just wondering what is going through his head. He's been so adamant that he wanted a straight uni degree and not to go to drama school. Was rude to me about making him go to the open day at Surrey uni to see their GSA drama school so he was making informed decisions. Teenage boys who don't know what they want!!!

Uhtred
Fingers and toes crossed for her.

I have three acknowledgements so definite proof that the form has been processed .... edge of seat waiting.
Interspersed with driving practice for DD

DS has an interview at his third choice - hoping it will be good practice for if he gets interviews a his first & second

Good Luck to your DS, MrsUltra. What does he want to do?

Well done to young Leeds Uhtred and ultra

Thanks - Is Imperial - don't wan to say the actual course yet as is a bit niche
Good luck to everyone - is does suddenly seem real now - I have a feeling that by next summer we on this thread will all know each other better than many of our RL friends!

Good luck to DC with interviews and auditions. Brilliant news about offers.

DS has interviews at his joint first, 3rd and 4th unis!

is there any single link to look at taster days like the open day one? We know London offer some , ds has one booked at Kent but wondered how you might find out about any others.

Uni Taster Days is one DDs school gave them, not sure of they have all or not. Googling "uni taster days" brings up lots of individual uni links though.

school phone the college to complain about their data protection fail - apparently they'd already had several complaints and are going to email to apologise. Wonder if they've managed to work out BCCing this time .

Why DD couldn't have done it herself I don't know, she seems to have the 6th form team wrapped round her little finger.

phoneD - fingers going faster than brain here atm