Starting year 13 2016

[HSMMaCM]

Continuing from the year 12 - 13 thread.

Good luck with continuing studies, uni open days, driving tests, etc.

Just had an argument with a very dramatic drama teacher. He was not listening to dd at all and I could see she was fighting back the tears, so I took over. He obviously doesn't know how to bully parents and started stuttering.

Her predicted grades have slipped a bit, but thankfully that has just made her more determined.

So glad she's not doing an EPQ

Dds grades are a little slippery too.

Reading this I'm very glad dd's school made them complete their Epq last year.Even though the writing up in 2.5 days wasn't fun.
Dd1 is very apprehensive about her Surrey Interview next week It lasts 3.5 hours and includes lunch at the start apparently.We have to go down the night before and that day Involves several logistical issues with all 4 kids having different pick-ups.Hence I've to co-opt my parents into ds1 parents evening with several crucial questions,cancel the piano lesson ( for all 4).This required much discussion as two of them have an exam in two weeks and ensure dh picks up dd2 from Speech and Drama.Dh will not serve any useful purpose at parents evening for various reasons!

Huge respect for those with multiple kids to juggle!

I reckon DD's school had the epq timing sussed well - most were finished last academic year but some given extensions so they could work on it over the summer and then complete before the last halfterm. I think they can be good if, as in DD's case, they fill in a gap which can't be covered by A levels.

Yes Errol one child is enough for me, although maybe I'd know what I was doing if I had a second and could do a practice run with the first one? Four!

God teta, that sounds very tricky juggling - sending good luck to your DD.

So glad DD opted to not do EPQ!

HSM, I had the practice run with DD and thought things would be less stressful with DS - wasn't planning on him developing a serious illness at the start of Y11! However, he is very slowly getting better and I am hoping that he can get back on track.

teta Sounds like me about three years ago. It gets easier - well apart from the emergency dash up to the University of York which took six hours. We only get the occasional clash with our four now.

Glad your ds has finally decided on his subject Horsemad.

I hate epq's. I know how valuable they are but they suck up all the time.

DD has had her appointment with the Uni application teacher at school, and had a glance at her references, so all set to go (finally getting it sent off) hopefully at the beginning of next week.

I hope we get some nice offers back!

Plenty of juggling here with just two

DS has had another offer from Leeds for History, AAB with A in EPQ and A in History. The damned EPQ is done at last but it's been worth it for the Leeds offer if nothing else. How is everyone?

What's the matter with your DS BTM?

Thats good, ono! All well here - DD had an inset day, spent a lot of it doing physics while listening to Christmassy music, she said.And another inset on monday so she's got time to come out for a decent walk with us tomorrow which is nice, spending too much time inside working tbh. Interviews tues and wed, Cambridge and Sheffield.

Fine here.Dd's Surrey interview seemed to go ok.I'm recovering from the journey there and back.12.40 arrival at travel lodge the night before due to the original one being full ( even though we had paid for it ),and a 6 hour journey home with a diversion through the Oxford colleges.

Nice to see things moving along for everybody. Ds has had offers from Southampton, Liverpool, Cardiff and Bangor. He has been invited to an interview at Sheffield to 'discuss the terms of his offer'.
He was offered an interview next Tuesday but it clashes with his driving test date and as there is a 3 month wait for a test he has rescheduled the interview. Unfortunately, that means waiting until February but he doesn't seem too perturbed. Sods law that Sheffield is his top choice.
Sounds like a tiring trip Teta.

DS has had an unconditional offer from Birmingham which was his first choice so he is very pleased. His girlfriend has also had an unconditional for biomedical science of some sort. It seems they are being very generous this year with the unconditionals as we also know of at least another 6 at his school (although some of these are Oxbridge candidates). So now I just need to keep the pressure up about the need to maintain good grades for future employment!

Excellent news about the unconditional ono

DS has just sent his PS to his mentor (who I emailed to say 'please give him a shove') so maybe his application will be in soon.

I've just mentioned B'ham and unconditionals and as it's one he is applying to that piqued his interest! Might spur him on...

Ono, do you think they give out a lot of unconditionals? DD got one too It isn't her first/insurance choice but she said that if she is struggling with her A'levels by May, she will put it first!

I don't want to say what's wrong with DS as it is personal to him, but it has basically meant a lost term. So far

Teta, glad your DD's interview went OK

Bebumba, glad to see Sheff is his favourite

So sorry about your DS, Tilly.

B'ham does seem keen on unconditionals for some subjects. I don't know what it's like now but I got 2 degrees and a DH there. That was somewhat over 3 decades ago though.

Tillymint I'm sorry to hear about your DS.It must be so stressful for you as well .
I'm very envious of all these unconditional offer .
We are still waiting for any offers.I've come off the offer thread as its absolutely pointless me being there.Two interviews so far and one coming up in Liverpool.I've booked the Adelphi the night before the interview ,as I used to think it was the height of sophistication as a student (only to find out it's considered very old fashioned, dated and a bit of a knocking shop!)
Oh well it was cheap.
Still waiting to hear from Bristol .Lots of people havn't heard yet apparently.They interview until March so hopefully we will get one soon.Bristol only allow you to retake one module apparently .Dd wanted to redo 2 in her Maths ( one a low A ,the other a B) although she got an overall A she wants to ensure the highest marks possible.She now has to wait until Easter to make that decision.
Piano exams × 2 today ,Violin exam next week.

Gosh, protocol varies so much for different courses - some courses in some uni's tell you immediately, others make you wait for ages.

Teta, eek - she really pushes herself, doesn't she?!

Sorry to hear about your DS BTM, I wasn't meaning to pry but my DS has had this sore throat/relapsing fever thing for well over a year now and I wanted a bit of hand holding (most un-MNetty!). He is ill again at the minute and has his EPQ presentation tomorrow but can barely speak. One of the reasons he chose Birmingham is because he said he could come home easily when he's ill. I hope your DS manages to make up what he's missed over the holidays

Oh, poor lad ono. Is it one of these recurring viral type things but they can't tell what and/or not really any treatment?

Ono40 I hope your D's feels better tomorrow and is well enough to talk and answer a couple of questions .I love the fact he's sensible enough to plan ahead .
Tillymint only one was Dd1s and she fell to pieces and played Shostakovich (unintentionally ).Too much going on .
10 year old D's was so laid back.... came out full of the joy of a 10 year old that knows its over until the following year.

Kind thoughts to all those feeling unwell x

Hey, it's off in the post ..... or flying through the internet ether!
DD got to press "send" on her Uni application at school today ..... Hooray!

I'm so pleased and relieved to finally have it done Especially as it went with a lovely reference from her teachers which made me quite proud.

Fingers crossed now for some nice responses - hoping for something before Christmas?

Hurray, you must be delighted juggling!. ** Some places do get offers/interview out quickly.

Teta - have you any idea how awesomely impressive 'playing Shostakovich unintentionally' sounds? I know it must be disappointing for her to have messed it up but heck, that sounds like doing it with style.

Thanks Dragon!

You know we were hoping for an offer or two by Christmas, well, we got two today ....

Zoology at Swansea, or International Wildlife Biology at Uni of South Wales (just outside Cardiff). Two very nice offers

A bit of a trek over there via Birmingham but such a lovely part of the world. So exciting!
DD is very happy too