DDs dreams in tatters

I don't mean to be unhelpful. But she can't be allowed to drift into a 'dreams in tatters' scenario with those results. Bolster her confidence, don't agree with her and sink into a pit of despair!

People are being unhelpful because you're being ridiculous, as I posted, Warwick want 3 A's for the Computer Science degree...so what exactly is the issue?

You also said about "accepting her limitations" and "second tier universities" when she could get into a top 10/20 uni with 3 A's no problem.

It's a bit like saying "I only earn 100k, how will I feed my children?"

If you had come on here and said "DD couldn't cope with her AS's, got 4 D's when we thought she was top 10 uni bound, shes really disappointed, how can I help her" you would have gotten a very different result.

This is a non issue and it comes across that you/your DD have created an environment of perfectionist standards and that isn't healthy for anyone. With the right level of work and dedication she can push at least one to an A*, take a gap year with her results in hand and then apply in that gap year, or just apply when ucas opens this year, 3 A's gives you a world of options, no dream is in tatters with 3 A's, hence the bad reaction on this thread.

Listen to the to the interview with a tennis star's mind coach this morning, on Chris Evans radio show. .its good advice when facing challenges.

Why doesn't she apply to the Warwick course and other uni's? If things don't work out, she can always reapply next year. a prediction is just that, a prediction. She may get the necessary a* and be fine.

Why not apply for the BSc and do a masters afterwards?

You don't even need to do that: there might be a course, somewhere, that doesn't permit students whose progress is such that they would pass the MEng to transfer from the BSc to the integrated masters, but I've never heard of one. Transferring from three to four year programmes, and vice versa, is absolutely standard practice some students do it several times, so much do they enjoy the paperwork.

Sorry x posted

Why not apply for the BSc and do a masters afterwards?

Do you know which unis would accept AAA for the MEng or equivalent? Is there anything about any of those places that would specifically put you off?

In all honesty if she gets a decent set of A level results and a good degree at pretty much any uni followed by a Masters and/or a Doctorate then I think her dreams will be safely tatter-free.

CS at Warwick with AAA predictions? Of course she'd get an offer.

The fact is that all A's is not good enough for some very competitive or academic courses. It needs to be A*s. No point getting arsey about that.

You need an honest appraisal of why she didn't get the grades expected, and whether or not they are achievable and make a decision based on that. Also, has she changed her mind about what she wanted to do, or could this be subconscious self sabotage as a reaction to not actually wanting to do what she was originally lined up for? . Time for an honest discussion.

A year off is not a waste of time at all if used productively. In fact it's an asset. Especially if it means she gets to the course and uni she really wants.

Wow. Dreams in tatters? Really? It sounds to me as though your dd is going to do incredibly well and I think it's a terrible shame that AAA is no longer seen as good enough (fwiw I never understood the whole A* thing anyway, it didn't exist in my day)

Have the school said why she isn't being given A*'s? You say the school isn't being helpful but have you asked the specific question, they must be able to give you a reason, surely? If it's academic then she needs to think again about what she wants to do, if it's motivational then she gets the kick up the arse she needs. If she doesn't get the offer she wants then are resits an option? Not sure whether having to resit to get the grade will count against her if there is fierce competition for places. Of course the best scenario is that she will exceed her AAA prediction and can reapply next year based on her actual grades. As far as I know you're not compelled to accept any offer your given?

What does she want to study and where? Might it not be worth putting some time and effort to expand her CV to set her apart from other academically gifted pupils?

What do you consider a second tier uni?

Is she as upset about this as you are?

You know, I wanted to study medicine. I didn't get any offers and didn't get the grades, at the end of the day I wasn't bright/motivated enough. My life is not in tatters, i've gone on to be successful anyway. It really isn't the end of the world if she has to change her plans.

X-post La Contessa.

Oh, looking at that just apply for the Bachelors - you might be able to extend it to the Masters once you get there, as long as your early year marks are good enough.

As in, if she does well during a BSc course they may allow her to change to MEng mid-degree.

I guess I'm out of touch (I started university in 1999!) but it does sound rather strange to me that three A grades at A level amounts to dreams in tatters, accept [her] limitations, apply to second class institutions... I mean, really?

Not wishing to have a go at you OP, but you need a bit of perspective here.

If three A's really won't get her onto her dream course, I refuse to believe that those grades won't open doors to another great course at a great university.

Their website says 3 As will get you a BSc, A*AA with get you an MEng. I'm very confident that you can upgrade your degree programme somewhere along the line if you have an excellent work record, you know.

I would have thought she is well placed to do computer science at a good Uni. I think I'd question slightly why she has her heart set on one particular Uni. (No offense Warwick!) Maybe a few more visits to others on open days might help?

Why not apply for a mixture of A and AAA courses? And ask if any of the teachers would be willing to predict an A- some teachers just won't predict A*s (it's much less reliable than an A) so if they know there's an actual reason she 'needs' one they might?

That's a mixture of 1 and 2 I suppose - the only thing I would say is that is she gets an A* offer for her firm choice, put an AAA in as her second choice in case she slips. If she doesn't get offers from her preferred universities she could always choose to take a year out at that point anyway.

AAA is fine for most good universities anyway (and I thought Oxford still set their top offer at AAA anyway?).

Frome the Warwick Computer Science page:

Our typical A-level offer is AAA (MEng) / AAA (BSc) including an A in Mathematics.*

Grip, get one, please.

3 predicated As and you are using words like "accept her limitations"?
Jesus.

What do Warwick require?

What? My son is actually AT Oxford and he got 2 A's and an A in his A2, he got similar at AS (but maybe not A's, I forget) . Don't be so ridiculous and hysterical. She can still get into pretty much any university with those grades. They are also only predicted grades. She can go to Oxbridge, Bristol, Durham, LSE, UCL and on and on and on. Christ.

"Second tier", "her problems" "dreams in tatters", get a grip, seriously. I really hope you aren't talking like this around your daughter, this will give her huge self esteem problems.

I don't understand. Is 3 As not good now?

I got AAB and was allowed into my first choice of uni in 2000