Starting year 13 2016

[HSMMaCM]

Continuing from the year 12 - 13 thread.

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

Good luck to HSM's and TETA's DDs today.

I enjoyed the little drama show tonight. The person who had t been to rehearsals in DD's group stood out like a sore thumb, but I think dd shone in a good way.

The other groups were interesting too. All wired styles that I normally wouldn't watch!

Glad to hear it went well HSM!

DS is putting on a little something tomorrow, so looking forward to seeing him in that.

Juggling - there was a lot of swearing tonight - luckily not dd, but a bit odd from teenagers who've always seemed perfectly well balanced in my home. Suddenly they're swearing, torturing, raping and goodness only knows what else in the name of drama !

All we've heard about tonight's performance is it's possibly pantomime related and DS took his unicycle in so that may feature. It's the first time we've had either on stage since secondary school - and since DS opted for GCSE drama. I hope it will be the first of many, and hopefully not too shocking HSM for our first night!

The last drama piece we saw was a very gentle babes in the wood story, followed by a piece which seemed to involve mostly face paint and made no sense to me.

I'll post my review later

STOP PRESS morning review ..... a quirky yet festive double bill featured a light pantomime inspired first half with an especially strong performance from the uni-cycling clown The more challenging second half presented a modern nativity narrative exploring teenage pregnancy, through political Donald Trump satire, to infant murder. Overall the interesting if sometimes challenging programme was much appreciated by a full house in strong festive spirit

Excellent juggling. I love how their drama always has to have a sinister twist.

Dd is practically dancing on air now that drama is down to theory from now on.

Help needed here for what DS can buy his girlfriend for Christmas. I've told him NOT to ask DH as he will probably suggest a coffee maker or iron (still haven't let him forget those gems 25 years on!). Having only had boys I have no idea what 18 year old girls like and I'm bound to get it wrong. Help!

Urban Decay Make up especially the Naked palettes or Mac make up .Or pretty gold necklaces ( vermeille or plated),silver necklaces or earrings.He would have to get a hint of what she's into first ,preferably though.
Liverpool interview went ok ( I think).The crypt in the Catholic cathedral was a bit spooky ( where the interview was held).The Adelphi Hotel was absolutely terrible -' Poshed-up Care Home ' was dd's review.Liverpool shopping was fantastic ( especially the Urban Decay shop) and Wagamama.
Now we're just waiting for an Offer.......any offer.Interviewing doesn't seem to be dd's forte .It's fatal hanging out on the student room as everyone appears to be getting offers .

The crypt of the catholic cathedral?why?

ono - well,some 18 yr old girls like some of the same things as boys ... come to think, mine would probably very much like her own cafetière and would make no use at all of makeup or jewellery. Not an iron though for sure!

DD (17) silver earrings, concert tickets, fluffy pyjamas, dinner at Nando's, ummmm.

Still not competed the UCAS form. She's having a study day today, but is still in bed

I know Dragon.Its a bit of a strange place to hold MMI's.Though I was rather tempted to go up top and pray for dd ( am a bit of a lapsed catholic) to get an offer .....but instead went to Starbucks.

Dd also relaxing in her bed on Netflix binge HSMM.Dd2 usually joins her and they cuddle up together and paint their nails.Unfortunately the dog normally jumps in too and as he currently stinks of either fox or badger poo I've had to change the sheets.

Love the interview in the crypt. Added drama.

Can this parent of a year 12 gate crash to ask a question please?

dd has started looking at open days. Any advice for her? So many of the dates clash, she has places up and down the country she wants to go and see. How on earth do you contain it all to a manageable amount? And when do AS levels actually finish as one or two dates seem to be mid June.
When do colleges frown at the number of places attended?

She definitely needs help as she is now applying decision maths to the process to map out the most efficient routing

and one more question!? With oxbridge do people go to college, department and uni open days? How on earth would you know which colleges to go to, these visits could get out of hand!

There will often be more than one open day. Look here to see when they are. Ds had a spreadsheet 16 columns and 25 rows

oh that is so helpful - thank you!! dd started her spreadsheet tonight. I do hope she doesn't input them all

They don't have to visit every place before applying. If they make offers, the department's then invite them to come to offer holders days or applicant days.

For my dd, she was certain about two of her choices and is only visiting now that she has received the offers.

Rogue apostrophe there, should be departments

somehow I wouldn't expect anything less from a child of yours, oybbk.

Some of the AS dates probably are mid-june - IRRC my DD was straight out of her last fm maths paper into car to get down to first open day last summer.

Opinions vary on how many open days to go to - my DD (aided and abetted by DH) probably overdid it...

IIRC her school reckoned they shouldn't take more than 3 days off school for them, but of course a lot are on weekends. You simply cant go to them all, so its a good idea to get some parameters for where to prioritise. Some questions - does she know which course she wants to do, or is part of going to open days to get a better feel for the options? Does she have a realistic idea of what A level grades she might get (this is of course clearer after AS, and gives more info for the sept/oct open days). That can eliminate quite a lot one way or the other. Does she have any idea whether she likes large cities or more out of town campuses - if she doesnt know then maybe a mix in the june/july set. Mine was able to simplify by deciding no London.

I would assume you can find the online sources of info, the other thing we found quite good was the Times Good university guide.

Re oxbridge - DD read info on various of the Cambridge colleges and identified a few she liked the sound of. There was, as far as I know, only one open day, during which she visited the department and these colleges.

TMD I don't know what you mean

She's very clear about her subject thank goodness and on the face on the end of term exams has a realistic chance of her target grades, so she has it easier than most in terms of an easy starting point. I think that she has no preference over campus or city based places at the moment. But the cost of accommodation in somewhere like London is scary.

Cambridge seem to be listing quite a few separate subject specific college
open days.

Rather handy to know that applicant open days are useful for choosing. one of her potential places had those, so that could spread the burden if she got an offer from them.

Realistically, is it helpful if I go with her? She's happy to go by herself or with friends.

Perhaps the Times Good University guide should be in her stocking