Corona Cohort Y12 into Y13, braving the storm of the third wave

[Monkey2001]

Supportive thread for parents of Y12 students going into Y13.

Previous thread - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/4240252-Thread-16-Corona-Cohort-Year-12-2021-Zooming-through-Summer-Term

Very good news @Seeline - nice to end the year on a high.

@Piggywaspushed - I'm in transit at the moment in a work trip so didn't answer you properly earlier.

I'm very conscious that when I talk about my 3 DC here a lot if the stuff I reveal is personal to them. They know I post on MN and think it's hilarious. But I try not to post anything which leads an immediate trail back to them. If I talked about DS1's Oxford college anyone who attends that college would know exactly who I was talking about - hence the need for a slight guardedness.

I think it's Cambridge college insight you want? I'd just post on the Oxbridge 2022 thread and ask. Someone will come along and they may just DM you with insight. I'll pop on and bump for you if needed.

Thanks sandy.

@Shimy: ds was impressed with the Warwick open day for his subject (comp sci) - my dad taught at Warwick uni so I used to know the campus well from days when I was sent to work with him in the hols!

Dd is feeling a bit overwhelmed thinking about Uni? Anyone else's? She is worried about being lonely and 'spiralling' mental health. Her BF was supposed to be following her to wherever she applied but may not go back to college after the summer...and is now looking at apprenticeships.
I've tried to say there is no use worrying about it now. She keeps looking so sad.

On the list so far Cardiff, Notts, Southampton, Surrey and Lincoln.

Southampton is near and a great, well respected music course but Cardiff is fave ...she is very wobbly about it all.

Wow, just spotted your dd's results @Seeline: fantastic and huge congratulations! How's your dd doing @crazycrofter: how did her other exams go?

@crazycrofter thanks. He’s really pleased it’s turned out better than expected. I think I’ve missed a few posts, shall I guess he’s just passed his driving test and awaiting his licence? If so, I’m sure it will appear soon.
@Seeline amazing results, more so in this time of online learning.

@estherfrewen
That’s good to know. It’s ds’s top choice at the moment, DH is also just completing a DBA there so will chuffed to bits if DS got in.

*Decorate It’s got a fab rep for ds’s subject too (Business). I think this is where in person visits really come into their. They really do need to see the university so it feels more real and they can imagine themselves there, otherwise there’s the risk of crossing it off on the assumption it is ‘far away’ therefore, not my taste.
I’m having this same issue with ‘York’ DS not really into simply because it’s ‘up there!’ and Loughborough is closer.

@AndwhenyougetthereFoffsomemore Thanks for the recommendation again. Lucky you’ve got more insight into the place. Maybe we’ll all meet in the summer when they doing their face to face visit.

@Orangecinnamon21 So sorry about your DD’s worry about MH issues. It does weight heavily on the mind but just reassure her, that’s all you can do. I don’t know her MH history and whether this is just anxiousness or an established issue but there was a thread some months ago where quite a few were discussing what to do for their dc with MH issues in preparation for uni and it was quite insightful. I can’t for the life of me remember the title, I don’t think it was something obvious. There was advice about applying for disability ??? When applying to uni, questions to ask the universiy etc so if anyone remembers please.

For what it’s worth, DS1 is at Cardiff and it’s been perfect for him. It has a very good reputation although I know some on MN like to point out it’s ranked low on the RG table , and not top 10 or whatever. one wonders how far up the table one needs to go really.

Anyway, of the party reputation it has, ds1 who is the most introverted person, has continued keeping his head down, has a quiet pint at the pub with 1 or 2 others occasionally. He has had no problems with anyone and doing brilliantly on his course, so it’s a very good option. He has had more face to face than some I’ve heard of here.

I do start worrying a bit when I see so many people's kids on here going to open days, working on personal statements, seeking advice from people... and we have none of that going on

BUT a little breakthrough today - DD2 suddenly announced she's booked for the Leeds open day. Progress!

Thanks @shimy that's really helpful. She admits Cardiff is the best fit for her...the good thing about Music is that they all get to know each other so well, she loves the city and as well as the music ensembles has even identified a few societies she wishes to join. She is desperate to go there. The distance worries her a bit though and I'd hate to see her pass it over just based on that .

I'll try and seek out that thread!

I should add it really isn't that far not as far as it could be ... Probably a good 2 1/2 hours drive .

What excellent results Shimy, a huge well done to him.

OrangeCinnamon, I’m sorry DD is struggling. My DD is at Cardiff and loves it. She is not a party animal and has a lovely group of friends she made at a society and on her course which is pretty small. She is hoping to stay for a bit after graduating as doesn’t feel ready to leave. Difficult year as was on her year out but the University have gone the extra mile and sorted something this summer to help them catch up.

For those looking at Bath, S1 is there so happy to answer any questions. Such a beautiful city. Just wish we had been able to visit more often. Hopefully next year.

Also have Dd just finishing at Leeds.

@Seeline well done to your DD for her end of Yr12 exams and UCAS predictions
@Piggywaspushed the Bath ‘Tour and stay’ looks fabulous value and even more so for DC that qualify for WP- it’s free for them!

Fabulous marks @Seeline!

DS got Biology back, he was a couple of marks off an A but he’s delighted, he thought he would end up with a C or lower. I do think the school grade boundaries are a bit ridiculous when I look at actual grade boundaries online. Anyway, he is hoping they will predict an A based on this result. I have told him to let his teachers know what grades he ‘needs’ in the hope that they might get the hint! 😀

Good news on driving test, I was finally quick enough today to book an earlier test for him, only 5.5 weeks but that’s £175 saved right there in driving lessons!

@AndwhenyougetthereFoffsomemore thankfully the one she cried in was her last and the other two went well! She’s out at an end of exams party tonight so hopefully she’ll enjoy that.

@Orangecinnamon21 would she benefit from a year out and a chance to work or something? I’m worried about DD’s mental health away from home to be honest. She definitely won’t be lonely as she makes hundreds of friends instantly, but she overthinks social interactions and gets very anxious.

Reading have just emailed out about some on-campus open days in a couple of weeks time. Sadly we can't do them but hope for some more later.

Well, I jinxed myself by saying DD's school haven't had a Covid case yet. Guess who got told to self-isolate this afternoon . The person in question developed symptoms so there's a good chance pcr will be positive.

Ds is still showing no interest in university open days. All he says is that he wants to do a degree apprenticeship. I have no idea about them. How often they come up, how many apply or whether accommodation can be provided. There won't be anything locally anyway.

He says he might apply to Sussex university as a back up plan.

Well done to those dc's with good grades. Ds has had exams this week and has more next week, last one Thursday.

@Monkey2001 we are thinking it will be a 2 year process as well. I have told my DS he can get a job in the hospital for the year if he really wants to go down the medical route.

Like a few of you here I have the GCSE year next year too, I think I will be an alcoholic by the end of 2022.

Fferny1 DD would have done just the same and has done so on many occasions. I always say to DD to never give any more than you can afford but she's so sweet and kind so I don't want to put too much of a downer on it.

seeline wow! Awesome grades and predictions.

EversoDelighted Just checked DD's emails and yes she had one June 4th too and nothing since. We'll do the virtual day next Friday 4-6pm and hope we can actually go up on the Saturday. Time slots are 9-12, 11-2 and 1-4 so still an overlap so wonder if it will go ahead. Did you do the virtual campus tour and webinars last week? Think it was 15th? I did them as DD at school.

Looking to book Bath but the date I wanted has gone. It’s says if you’re coming with a parent you can do any date but I’m not sure I want to go when all the unaccompanied DC will be there? Not sure DS would want to go with me there then too. Especially as I’m short and spotty and often get mistaken for a teenager myself
Had anyone else booked for those dates?

I booked for the 23 August. Not sure what that means in terms of who else will be there...

😁 Fiddlers Green.
My dd also thinks I'm not cool enough for her.

orange, has she considered York? Because it's collegiate it's less intimidating than lots of unis, I think.

@Piggywaspushed you’re ok with that date, we are away that week.
I was trying to avoid taking time off work but I’ve had to book it for the first week and I’ll have to use leave.

@Fferny1 DS wants me to go as he thinks he won’t take all the important info in without me there to take it all in 🙄
But no, he doesn’t want me to go when there are others there without parents 😂