Thread 16 - Corona Cohort Year 12, 2021 Zooming through Summer Term

[orangecinnamon]

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Oblomov I think those are solid grades at this point and lots of time to get that Psychology grade up next year. I’ve said it before I think but my friend’s DC just finishing first year at Microsoft after graduating from a non RG university, got ABC for A level and that was with an extra year. Their sibling at same university graduating this summer and landed a really interesting STEM Ph.D for the autumn at one of the universities a fair few of us are thinking of visiting , A level in that subject was a C.

Over the years have seen so many go to good courses with well under what the prospectus asks for and go on to do well after. My two DC are very different and just had a look to see what DD is supposed to have ABB-BBB. She doesn’t. She has half an extended BTEC in a non relative subject , 4 GCSE’s and still not maths. She’s coping fine generally and definitely coming into her own now a bit older. We’ve been a bit caught out financially as really didn’t think university would be on the cards.

I think reading the HE threads here can give a skewed perception of what actually happens and there are a few posters who make it sound like anything less than 3 x A* at Oxbridge and similar means a life time of mediocrity. Luckily most posters on there aren’t like that.

Oblomov I am sorry not sorry for sharing joys of DS2's results. he is also very very nice.

If you had followed the thread a few years ago (waves at a few who know) you would know all about DS1.... CCD at A Level. Spent two days lolloping about at my school this week doing casual admin work and moaning about being bored! Can't get a summer job for love nor money. Bone idle and not always nice! Might scrape a 2:1 at a mid ranking (non RG ! Horror!) uni. Hope that helps balance stuff out...

ps An A in sociology is really good. There is SO much to learn!

Ignore the silly thread which is currently opining that a C in Chemistry is somehow magically more useful.

That thread about the whether to drop Chemistry or Sociology shows just how ignorant people can be and it’s not the OP by the way.

Come the Revolution you all have to die

Oh... and also DS2 is planning said revolution!

@FoolsAssassin

Oblomov I think those are solid grades at this point and lots of time to get that Psychology grade up next year. I’ve said it before I think but my friend’s DC just finishing first year at Microsoft after graduating from a non RG university, got ABC for A level and that was with an extra year. Their sibling at same university graduating this summer and landed a really interesting STEM Ph.D for the autumn at one of the universities a fair few of us are thinking of visiting , A level in that subject was a C.

Over the years have seen so many go to good courses with well under what the prospectus asks for and go on to do well after. My two DC are very different and just had a look to see what DD is supposed to have ABB-BBB. She doesn’t. She has half an extended BTEC in a non relative subject , 4 GCSE’s and still not maths. She’s coping fine generally and definitely coming into her own now a bit older. We’ve been a bit caught out financially as really didn’t think university would be on the cards.

I think reading the HE threads here can give a skewed perception of what actually happens and there are a few posters who make it sound like anything less than 3 x A* at Oxbridge and similar means a life time of mediocrity. Luckily most posters on there aren’t like that.

Actually those posters really get my goat. Up they pop giving the impression that anything less than a degree at Bristol, Durham, LSE or Oxbridge is a waste of time. Every.single.time. Because, naturally our children should only go to uni to do Law or Med or a degree that means you are sought after by the big four or something. I try not to let it wind me up ...but it really isn't how the world works anymore.

Thanks All.
No it's fine Piggy. I didn't say it as I'm not wanting others to share successes. We all share successes and disappointments on this thread. We have lots of both on this thread haven't we? Carry on with the good and the bad.

Joins Piggy's ds2 on starting the third Russian Revolution : 1905, 1917, 2021.

This may be of interest to some DC? A week's virtual work experience next month. jobs.mazars.co.uk/jobs/future-choices/

If they are really keen I would phone up even though deadline has passed. There is a dearth of auditors apparently.

Piggy may remember I had a bit of a confrontation with a well known netter who was aghast my Dd1 dismissed Oxbridge as a choice, as the course they did, that was nearest to the course she wanted to do, she didn’t like. There was an expectation that they was a strict hierarchy of unis and you slotted into the Uni highest on the list, dependent on your grades. Dd didn’t want self catered and wanted a big city (oops!) and within 4-5 hours drive but these reasons were dismissed. In real life, all these things normally factor I would have thought.

I know some lovely Oxbridge mum posters but a little warning if any of your children are going for Oxbridge, I hope the thread that will develop for our year will be nicer, more sane and as genial as this one.

Dd2 will join any revolution that smashes the patriarchy.

I remember it well zanda

Oblomov, DD has spent the entire run up to exams and exam week itself saying she will be heartbroken if she gets Cs, and what she HAS to get is an A in English.
I’ve told her that she needs to find some perspective - Cs at the end of year 12 are very good, and I refuse to believe that these exams are a reliable indicator for next summer, given the last year they’ve been through.
She seems to think she’s the only person she knows to get Bs on their reports for “working at” grades, which is nonsense. Yes, I’m sure some of her peers are predicted all As and A*s, but that’s because she’s at a selective private school (I have to remind her that she too was selected!!)
There is a lot of talk among her friends about RG universities, which isn’t terribly helpful either.

Back in the day, I got A,B,E for my A levels, and it’s never made the slightest difference to how well or not I’ve done since, since I’m a pro musician; DD wants to go into the creative arts too, which isn’t measured by A level results or even degrees.

Any opinions/knowledge for Lincoln Uni?

DS1 goes there! What do you want to know?

ican, UEA is really well liked, and actually doing well on MN atm! It's a super uni in a lovely place.

Another classic MN thread is the Cardiff vs UEA for economics thread. People with actual economics knowledge (and the evidence of league tables!) being pooh poohed simply because Cardiff is RG. They are both excellent unis after all, so what people who know about economics and/or studying in the two places would be the most relevant thing!

Today someone called Lancaster uni (always top 12 in league tables) Lancashire and placed in down in the 'third tier'. These people literally do not know what they are talking about.

Thanks @Piggywaspushed Dd considering for her insurance. Our impression is friendly, supportive up and coming institution in a easily accessible city. Would you agree? I've never been to that area before. She likes the look of the course and the city (likes walking and pootling around both shops and countryside). Obviously, the music scene would be nothing like Cardiff but I can see opportunities.

Lincoln is really nice and a very safe and easy place to be a student. The shops are very good for pootling and there are soem nice independent shops, bars, cafes in amongst the chain stuff - and a Christmas market (normally). The castle area is lovely - if you can huff and puff up the hill!

The university is definitely quite small scale and compact - although the shared medical school ahs expanded it.

Accessible does depend where you are - it has a train station and trains direct from London have just been upped. It can be several changes of train to get anywhere meaningful , although it is easy to get to Nottingham.

The only thing I would say is Lincoln is a jewel in a backwater. Lincs itself is flat and unappealing and a bit isolated. But it hasn't bothered DS. DS was quite and insular when he started uni and now seems very sociable and used to getting around by himself.

Most of the accommodation is really nice , especially the newer stuff. The rental house market is variable.

Lancaster is a really good university I agree. Through work we have dealings with the business/leadership/management dept and they are very good.

My sister is the other side of Notts @piggywaspushed . Great to know all that ...thank you!

My nephew is starting Lancs for Maths in September. It looks great!

DD is looking at Lancaster for English.

My DF used to do work with Lancaster for marketing for which is it acclaimed.

DS has had a look at Lancaster for economics and isn't sold on it at present but I think he would like a college uni. He seem s to be leaning towards Loughborough.

I was just coming on to say there are lots of Covid + at Bristol uni at the moment. Seems to have been a sudden explosion. But I see @Monkey got there first.

Lancaster increasingly popular - the current First Year Uni thread seems to be almost entirely mums with Lancaster DC!

We've been to an open day at Royal Holloway this afternoon. It was well organised, beautiful buildings, everyone said all the right things and yet it left me a bit cold. DS hasn't ventured much in the way of opinions yet but he's feeling rough after his second jab.

With regard to starting a new thread, do you think we should move ourselves to FE now instead of Secondary Ed? It's where people
would naturally look for a y12/13 thread and some may have hidden secondary by now (I know I hid primary ed as soon as my youngest was through).