Starting year 13 2016

[HSMMaCM]

Continuing from the year 12 - 13 thread.

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

Hi Horsemad, DD has almost settled on firming Sheffield, with lovely Swansea as her insurance, liking them both almost equally.
She is more hopeful of getting Swansea but feels it's worth a shot at Sheffield too.

I'd probably play it a bit safer and go straight for Swansea, with interesting course at Uni of South Wales as insurance. DD is hoping she might be able to pick them (USW) up through Clearing if needed as the course she likes there was available in Clearing last year.

So since she's thought it all through nearly as much as I have 😉 I guess I have to leave it to her, hoping it all works out well!

Sounds as though she's thought it through well. Making an 'aspirational' choice will presumably add motivation to her revision, and she's got a good backup plan - 'nothing ventured, nothing gained'.

DD had a lovely time at Murray Edwards. So I'm pretty sure she'll firm Cambridge with Southampton as insurance - they're both great opportunities just different so we'll be delighted whichever fork in the road she ends up taking.

Sounds like your DD has given it a lot of thought Juggling.

Newcastle visit was very good, not sure what DS will do re firm/insure. He is now mulling things over.

Two great choices there for your DD, Errol!

Thanks all, such a lovely supportive group here ☺

Just wondering Needmoresleep if you meant to withdraw all three messages? Sorry, just being nosey!

All the best to the mullers over, hope you can settle on something you're all happy with.

I'm just off out now to pick up some ingredients for a little cookery course I'm doing tonight with DD at our local college. Since we never seem to get round to cooking together at home I thought it might be a nice thing to do before she sets sail on independent living (even in self-catered halls) ☺

Needmoresleep posted in error and then posted twice saying they would ask for the post to be removed

Cookery sounds great, I do wonder what DS2 will eat at uni as he shows no interest at all in learning how to cook!

Juggling, I posted on the wrong thread, apologised and then posted again whilst trying to contact MNHQ.

It all became a bit random.

Enjoy the cooking course. DD did one and learnt a huge amount. DH and I are now tempted to do the same ourselves, now we can break free from the tried and tested food routine we had with the kids. It might be just us two oldies, with a load on 18 year olds

Last week's recipe was slightly odd involving industrial quantities of potatoes so I'm hoping I'll get on better with it all tonight ☺

DD and I think we might do one between us and then it might feel more relaxed too! lazy

What a great idea! I had no idea colleges ran that sort of thing... though whether I could persuade DD to do one I'm not sure. The other thing I'd wondered about was some sort of self-defence thing - her school was supposed to be doing one in about yr 11 but it didn't happen.

DD has her black belt in karate, along with standard 6 in ballet - you can't pigeon hole my girl!

I expect it's possible to persue either once at Uni too Errol?

Any time for sports will almost certainly involve water, one way or the other. she did karate all through primary, got as far as brown belt - still all non-contact - but then was too tired in the evenings when she started secondary. I can't see her wanting to start again with that.

Ah well I bet she still has a mean fighting attitude when necessary Errol, I think that does help.

Water sports at Cambridge or Southampton should be good!

Our spinach and mushroom stroganoff turned out well BTW, nice to have a go at something different, even just adding cream to our mushrooms. Spotting the tagliatelle strands we'd made amongst the rest of the linguine I added was like spotting Where's Wally though we decided!

We travelled to Birmingham yesterday for the accommodation open day (us and several hundred Arsenal supporters drinking at 9am), it made it all very real and very soon! DS was surprised to see students in their rooms working (maybe he thought they'd be down the pub?) But by heck, some of the accommodation was expensive (>£8k). Glad the cookery course is going well Juggling, your DD will be in demand as a flatmate!

Dd went to her uni visit yesterday and was a bit shocked to see an actual real life students room and the guy in the kitchen whipping up an omelette in his pyjamas . She loved the lecture session though.

HSM

Love that they were shocked to see RL students!

How is everyone? Is it just me or is it all becoming scarily close? One more week of school before the Easter hols and four weeks left when they go back. Time to stock up on

Yep, it seems to gather momentum like a giant snowball from here on in!!

PS, at least you have the relief of the unconditional...

Dd's last ever school concert last night.It was a touch emotional especially as the programme featured many heart-rending songs and pieces of music.And she played brilliantly and with a confidence I haven't seen before.It was interesting seeing how poised the girls are now and the difference between previous years.

I feel sorry for the pyjama'd student being gawked at by prospective students Hsmm.Love the fact your dd was a bit shocked!

The pressure is on now.I think dd1 is happier with this and has started getting into exam mode.I think she lost motivation for a while in Jan./Feb. and it took a while to pick herself up again.But I can't believe there's only a few more weeks of school.

The vet schools are now saying they will try snd get the offers out by mid to late April - seems to be getting later and later!

A little nervous about choosing our firm and insurance but possibly we might go for it this weekend if we get a moment.
Sheffield/Swansea is looking like the combo - I think I said about a million times already! 😀

Weekend is too busy really with DS doing music rehearsals both days and DD and I off to something with our Quaker community tomorrow as well.
The logistics of it all are a bit complicated and DH is very put out that there's no car for birdwatching.
He would know if he ever looked at the calendar! I think he's now moderately resigned to going out on his bike.

Dd would like to firm the long shot (with high grade requirements), but would then lose her unconditional offer. I think she's going to firm the unconditional, but we won't know until after the applicant day on 11th April.

I wish it was like school applications where you put them in order of preference and then they get knocked out one by one until you get the one you've qualified for.