Only 4 more "sleeps" until the A level results come out - not that I will be doing much sleeping...
Eldest son wants to study medicine. 3 "A's" required no slip ups allowed. Have just checked and most medical schools don't accept re-sits. How can I face looking at the cold hard facts at some point on Thursday. I'm sure it will be difficult for my son too! When I tried to talk to him about it today instead of a response he said he would do an "impression of a tree". It wasn't even a very good impression. What does this mean?
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A Level Anxiety
895 replies
Toffee22 · 14/08/2011 22:42
OP posts:
lostmymind ·
15/08/2011 00:16
Toffee - I'm on the seat next to you, no paddle here either. I take it he has a 3 A offer, does he have an insurance? (DS doesn't...). Some will accept resits but for 'extenuating circs' only, I would expect it will be a matter of contacting each med school to see how they might view a second application. Post grad entry via a biochem or similar degree is another route in, the limiting factor may be the poss level of debt incurred.
Impression of a tree most likely means he'll branch out and look at other options. Trouble for our two is that this year there will be little choice in clearing (thanks for that Dave), and they'll have to look at alternatives for 2012 application. Mine's fairly sanguine about it, or at least he is to me anyway. For myself, am trying depserately hard not to worry, and can only say I'm immensely proud of my ds for the young man he has become, not for the achievements in his life (much as I want him to be 'rewarded' for his hard work). We've talked, he says the only 'failure' would be in not making the most of what he does have, and that not making the grade for med may open other doors he would not otherwise have considered.
Have some 
, it's going to be a difficult week, for all hopeful students and their families.
mrswoodentop ·
15/08/2011 09:45
Oh dear my heart goes out to you all,we are only at the AS level stage and am having the heebeejeebies.There is so much pressure on them,ds said yesterday aout an open day visit he has planned for September that there was no point in thinking baout it until thursday was over because if AS weren't good enough that would be the end anyway
carpwidow ·
15/08/2011 11:56
I just went to open a new thread called "A" level anxiety, but found you all here already! It's a horrible few days. Last year DS got a D in his English AS paper - school got the paper recalled - all agreed it was very harshly marked - he re-sat in Jan and got an A. It seems very subjective and where an exam has no "right or wrong answer", such as an English essay, which is very subjective, it is dependent very much on who marks the paper. What do you all think? Will we all be here for each other on Thursday (please)
mycatsaysach ·
15/08/2011 12:01
budge up 
another nervous one here waiting for as on thursday
ds says he will look at his results on line first and only go to college to collect them if they are worth having...........
funnyperson ·
15/08/2011 22:43
We have been through the following diversionary tactics:
Camping in the rain with a Halfords family tent pack bought in the sale ("epic")
Driving theory test (passed)
Royal Academy summer exhibition (fabulous)
Discussing nightmares in the morning (laughter and groans)
Buying the Independent as advised by the school to check what clearing places there are (wrong newspaper;wrong day)
Pool party at local millionaire's sons house (tears as DD 'too fat' in swimsuit)
The proms- this is good as it takes up 2-3 hours of queuing time then standing time then everyone gets home very late
The washing up -this is good as the dishwasher is currently broken and no one wants to wash up so lots of time arguing detracts from exam concerns
Planning the inter rail holiday
Clearing out the cupboard under the stairs with handwriting practice from nursery finally getting thrown out.
Discussing whether jack wills/abercrombie/hollister/hillfigger are essential/affordable (ans= no but the discussion takes time)
Watching old James Bond movies
Cooking with Granny.
But now we are nearly running out of diversionary tactics.........so the Chinese paper lanterns are going up late on Wednesday night-you know the ones I mean? The ones that float into the sky- because I dont mind what grades DD gets anymore. I want to celebrate her life, and that of DS. I might be missing the point here but I feel all the anxiety and angst has happened in the interview and exam stage, now we are gathering strength for whatever comes on Thursday.
funnyperson ·
15/08/2011 23:10
Hello carpwidow- dont be; there is discussion but every so often there have been tears as DD trembles with fear, poor thing. On Wednesday I am keeping her away from her hysterical female peers and we are going to hear the cello at the Roundhouse.
Last year with DS we had grunts and silence and occasionally bouts of male 'banter' and hollow laughter very similar to Baron Cohen, together with serious timetabling of 'after results' parties. 
FellatioNelson ·
15/08/2011 23:15
Pulling my hair out with stress here too. My DS has already decided (misguidedly I think) that his first choice of course and uni is the only one for him, and if he misses it he'd rather do re-sits than take something else at clearing. Even though it means paying three times as much next year. 
There is just no reasoning with him.
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