Year 12 (4): The one where they're pondering what to do next

DD was TOO quite laid back about GCSEs whereas A levels she is treating completely differently - I guess the stakes are higher and more apparent.

Seems odd that she was on her hands and knees in a wood yesterday looking at the chemistry and ecology of bluebells, tonight she is in a very smart suit for a business networking event. It's quite an intense HT very different from previous HT's when they tended to relax and enjoy a of summer events.

I’ve just looked up DS3’s provisional timetable. No clashes and only one exam per day. That’s including the 4 subjects when he’s only going to do 3. Starts 11th May, finishes 17th June.

I hope your DS’s timetable is equally accommodating Kingscote.

The provisional timetables can still be amendes but tend not to be. (CIE isn't out yet for A levels or Pre-Us).

DS's 3 essay subjects fall on consecutive days subject 1,2,3 week space 1,2,3 week space 1, 3 (no third paper for subject 2) starting 18 May ending 11 June 2020. Scary to see actual dates!!!

DD's look to be over a complete month inc HT, most of her exams are 2 x 2.5 hours and the last exam 1.5 hours. Fortunately, they are probably falling just right (if they don't change)- her weakest area of one subject is the first exam which is two weeks before any other exam, her strongest subject expected A* is the last of the exams although it's content heavy Biology.

Just back from a weekend field course and comment was I dont want a career is ecology.

Thanks oneteen, I will investigate. All DS’s are long essay papers - a 3hr essay paper in the afternoon after 3hrs in the morning is quite an ask!

The provisional timetables are out for 2020 which may help.

I know my DD prefers spaced out exams because she likes to "binge" revise. Timetable at the moment looks Ok she has four exams in the same week but these are all after HT so it's not too bad.

DD only took 3 A levels and there wasnt a fourth she was interested in so its worked really well.

Kingscote, the timetables do change from year to year a bit. Physics A level went from being one of the last examined to being one of the first to be completed this year.

I don’t think having 2 exams on the same day is a big problem, so long as they have planned all their revision well in advance. If they are rather inclined to last minute revision it may be more of an issue.

DS3 still hasn’t decided which to drop between chemistry and computer science. I can see more use and crossover for computing but if he does better in chemistry that may take precedence. If he does equally well in both AS levels (no results until August) it’ll be a hard choice. How the exams are timetabled wouldn’t be a consideration for him.

Ok, here’s a question...

DS still struggling to choose between subjects 3 and 4. Having spent yesterday afternoon chatting to some parents of Year 13s, I have realised that, this year, subjects 1, 2, 3 would be nicely spaced over 3 weeks, whereas 1, 2, 4 would produce 2 days with 2 exams.

Does the timetable change much from year to year? Is avoiding double exam days a reason (all other things being equal) for choosing one subject over another?

I think main reasons for drop out will be personal life things: got pregnant, a trauma, Mental Health, just not on a path they could truly want after all. Rarely the course was bad or the people or the Uni itself made the key difference.

I wouldn't call Dd organised & not as enthusiastic as I expected she should be. Her main concern this week is watching every second of Love Island.

KingscoteStaff
This is anecdotal, based on the (admittedly small) sample of friends' children and DS1's friends. The most common reasons I've seen:

1. Physical or mental health issues (most common).
2. Hated the course or very unhappy with the experience of university.
3. Didn't pass the first year (rare).

And what about the comparative drop out rates between students who researched/chose their courses with time to visit and those who chose courses ‘sight unseen’ under time pressure through adjustment or clearing?

Is there any data on the reasons students drop out of their courses? Do they wish they’d researched the actual course better or do they dislike the city/area or do they dislike their accommodation or is it something entirely unconnected to the course - health or family problems?

Everyone sounds very enthusiastic and organised here . Struggling to get ds to go to open days , he thinks they are a waste of time. He says that the couple of visits he has done one with school and one with us don’t give him any real idea and that people just wander around and all the talks are the same 😮

He is a high achiever with very high achieving friends and I am thinking that some of this is just procrastination and the fact that he is daunted at the prospect of leaving school He has always been very focused and driven so this has come as a bit of surprise to me. It feels like pushing an elephant upstairs! And I don’t want to do that .

Although maybe he is focused in that he sees no point in visiting endless places on a speculative basis ?

He is sure he wants to go but is ambivalent about what subject and where . The only place he really lit up was St Andrews.

I think we are heading for a year off and I am fine with that , I certainly have no worries about him taking his foot of the pedal and school are happy to continue to support if they want to apply seventh term. But I do think he should look know and do some comparisons . Am feeling a little stumped by his negativity to be honest .

Kingscote we went to Exeter on Friday, and me and my DS were very impressed. The campus is lovely, quite compact (yes it is hilly!) and felt very safe. My DS doesn’t yet know what he wants to do 🤨 apart from along the lines of maths/science so he attended a sample maths lecture, and went on a natural sciences tour.
Both were well presented and the lecturers were really friendly and approachable. In fact, there were loads of student ambassadors on campus and without exception they were all helpful, enthusiastic and friendly.
We attended a sports talk too which was extremely impressive, in fact I got the impression Exeter were big on sport, which impressed my DS even more.
I must say I didn’t specifically notice a certain “type” attending, but then I wasn’t really looking tbh - I guess if the demographic had been anything radically different to what I’m used to, I would have done, we’re in a medium sized city and DS attends a state academy.
Although we didn’t have time to visit the centre, (which is about a 15 to 20 walk from Streatham campus), we visited last year when we were on holiday. The city itself is lovely too, small but quite lively-looking, there were quite a lot of higher-end shops actually which was interesting.

Oneteen do you mind telling me which forum the Exeter info you have seen is on? I’d like to see other parents’ take on the day.

@Kingscote - We didn't go to Exeter but I'm on a forum where quite a few parents and DC attended. There seemed to be mixed reviews which you would expect, some moans about accommodation costs, but I think overall most rated the campus (Streatham) said St Lukes was small and maybe too cut off. Most DC liked the courses but quite a few of them felt uncomfortable - usual comments about Exeter - in terms of the vibe and the feeling that the student population was not diverse enough.

DD has been to a few events (arranged by her school) at the Cavendish Laboratory and really enjoyed the lectures, I am sure the Dc attending the Isaac Physics residential will find it beneficial.

I haven't visited Exeter (too far for DS2's liking) but I've heard that it's a nice campus (if you don't mind hills).

Any reports back from Exeter?

Marching those sound great for me!

Lots for accompanying parents to do at Birmingham while the 'index visitor' is attending taster lectures etc. Winterbourne House and gardens just over Edgbaston Park Road worth a visit ( or for both / all together at the end of the open day activities), plus the Barber Institute of Fine Arts and the Lapworth Museum of Geology actually on campus.

millicent - they were allowed to drop one quite early on but not later in the year. So anyone who has taken 4 now has to wait until results day. Can be a good thing but as you say a slog if there's a definite one to drop!
Just had an email from Birmingham with an impressively packed open day!

Gosh, I now ‘know’ 2 students on the Isaac Physics residential! Just goes to show MN isn’t representative of the general public. Fantastic, gospa and TheFirst!

Still not sure of the logic of DS’s sixth form doing AS levels. I think when they were first decoupled the school thought most places would carry on with them anyway to help justify UCAS predictions. It’s expensive for them, though. It has meant DS had to take the exams seriously, but also they will appear on his UCAS form so any disasters will be public.

Slightly different to Loose’s DS’s school, his school requires Y12 to take 4 subjects to AS and they can only drop one after results or continue with 4. No dropping before unless extenuating circumstances. They will get a qualification for the subject they drop, and don’t have to decide until after results, so unexpected results allow for a change of heart without losing that qualification.

I think those students who are certain which subject they want to drop must find it a hard slog keeping up the enthusiasm until results day. DS still doesn’t know which of chemistry or computer science to drop, though so is still working equally hard on both.

gospa
Congratulations to your DS on getting a place!
DS2 is really looking forward to it, particularly the lectures and time in the Cavendish Laboratory. I'm also hoping he'll meet some like-minded people.

I'm not entirely sure, but they like them! They are happy for students to take 4 AS levels and then wait to see which one to drop (if any) after the results come out. In fact DS cut to 3 quite quickly because the workload of 4 essay subjects was too much. He does have the option to do an EPQ.