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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

Corona Cohort: Statements Scripted, Grades Predicted

997 replies

Monkey2001 · 20/09/2021 23:04

This is a thread for supporting all young people post GCSEs 2020, regardless of their educational setting. It is respectfully requested that all are supportive and helpful to each other. If you want to start a debate, e.g state vs private, please don't within this thread. Please also be sensitive when responding to threads about grades.

Some of us have been here since first thread back in yr10, some will be new. Everyone has been friendly and helpful in the past. Everyone is welcome. It is hoped this will continue.

From OrangeCinnamonCocktail:

Our DS/DD may go down various paths (such as employment, apprenticeships, higher ed) We have decided for anyone interested they will most likely find us within the Further Ed board.

Previous thread - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/further_education/4339233-Thread-19-Corona-Cohort-Enrolling-on-Year-13-hopefully-NOT-unlucky-for-some?pg=1

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
JustHereWithMyPopcorn · 23/09/2021 07:28

@Piggywaspushed

Is this mainly sciences?
DS is looking at Law.
Original poster
Monkey2001 · 23/09/2021 01:03

UCAS has AAB for Southampton and AAA-ABB for Bristol (range is for contextual).
digital.ucas.com/coursedisplay/courses/4bf1a440-dab9-5308-9d0e-cdd5b72854c2?academicYearId=2022

I guess Bristol has a particular problem as. AAB with BBB contextual would have been open to 68% of UCAS applicants in 2021 (2019 - 46%). Grade inflation dumped on admissions processes developed over many years.

OP posts:
Heifer · 23/09/2021 00:13

Southampton doesn't mention what year the course is for at all (Biology)

Heifer · 22/09/2021 23:59

It was Swansea I noticed - it doesn't mention anything about being 2022 and is still showing start date of Sept 2021 on all their courses (that I looked at) so I guess sometime very soon they will amend that info and could well change the requirement grades (or not)....

Don't assume what you are looking at is for 2022 I guess.

Heifer · 22/09/2021 23:49

I "think" that when Bristol upped the grades needed the 2022 hadn't origiinally been on there so it was 2021 grades that were AAB but now it's showing 2022 grades as AAA so technically they haven't done anything wrong - just late to add 2022. I can't remember which uni I saw the other day but it still only had 2021 requirements so I'm guessing they could change once 2022 is added.

EssentiallyDisorganised · 22/09/2021 22:51

Thanks all for the info re personal statements. DS is STILL undecided between history and countryside management courses, we are working on a hybrid PS but have been worried that if we try and cover both subject areas it might not be strong enough for either. However in his favour is that he's not an A grade student aiming for top unis, all the courses he's shortlisted were in clearing suggesting they aren't oversubscribed and hopefully the PS isn't of such high importance.

I will probably contact his unis to check though as suggested. He does have relevant experience and positive stuff to write about both, school have said its also worth mentioning his sporting activities but that is likely to be one sentence at the end if there's space.

Reading have announced in-person open days today - 23rd and 30th October. That was the last one we were wating for.

Piggywaspushed · 22/09/2021 21:58

Oh goodness.

Shimy · 22/09/2021 21:30

DS is 'Management'.

Piggywaspushed · 22/09/2021 21:29

Is this mainly sciences?

crazycrofter · 22/09/2021 21:25

@ZittiEBuoni dd had telephone CBT during lockdown but it was rubbish - in fact, getting through the weekly sessions just added stress! In the end we found a therapist privately who was great plus she was able to access some CBT at school. Hope you can find the right support.

Shimy · 22/09/2021 21:23

Sorry to hear that JustHere but at least you know now.

JustHereWithMyPopcorn · 22/09/2021 21:17

After being relived that Notts hadn’t put up grades it seems several others that DS had put on his list have upped the requirements to A*AA. I’m sure they were AAA when we looked. God I feel sorry for this years kids.

Shimy · 22/09/2021 20:55

At risk of 'banging on' about this BUT, just noticed another one of ds's choices, Birmingham, has upped its GCSE requirement for Maths by a grade. Not a problem but can everyone please keep an eye on both A'levels and GCSE requirements before they submit their UCAS forms.

Shimy · 22/09/2021 20:41

@ZittiEBuoni

Applause to the new drivers!

Shimy she was offered CBT during the first lockdown...over the phone. Really didn't work for her as she struggles just to have a casual conversation over the phone due to processing issues, and she bailed. I'm hoping she'll get the chance to do it face to face, as I think it would help her.

I really hope for you that she gets face to face too. My DS had also been having CBT virtually, but when school broke up he got the chance to have everything face to face. Could you ask them if this will be possible in the half-term break?
OrangeCinnamonCocktail · 22/09/2021 20:12

Dd lovely singing teacher, who graduated with a BMus from Cardiff, just spent an extra half hour going through her personal statement with her. She'll then go over it again with her college personal tutor who is a Southampton Music graduate. Both are her top two choices for Music. I really don't need to get involved here. I'm sitting on my fingers. What makes it worse is for the first time EVER Dd has actually asked me to help. Confused

icanbewhatiwant · 22/09/2021 19:33

@EssentiallyDisorganised ah...I see what you mean now.

ProggyMat · 22/09/2021 19:20

*Hers

ProggyMat · 22/09/2021 19:07

Bristol is on DDs shortlist.
I’ve just checked and for her subject the PS would be looked at if ‘there are lots of candidates with the same grade predictions.
Looking at what they expect in the personal statement I’m a bit worried - in DDs case- about extra curricular activities Shock
Here’s are unashamedly ‘socialising’ Grin

crazycrofter · 22/09/2021 18:59

I’m guessing Bristol were waiting to see whether exams went ahead, knowing there might be grade inflation if not?

Piggywaspushed · 22/09/2021 18:53

If Bristol don't read PSs how on earth did it take them so notoriously long to make offers for loads of subjects last year??

Shimy · 22/09/2021 18:49

@OrangeCinnamonCocktail You’ve hit the nail on the head, this is what my concern in. Good idea to take a screenshot of the entry requirements just before application submission.

OrangeCinnamonCocktail · 22/09/2021 18:35

I don't think the Office for Students would take a positive view of Universities changing entrance requirements AFTER UCAS has opened for 2022 entry. Take screenshots!

Zebracat · 22/09/2021 17:29

Thanks monkey. That is really helpful.

Original poster
Monkey2001 · 22/09/2021 17:22

@EssentiallyDisorganised may be easier to write a standard email with your DC and send it to admissions@ the ones they are interested in. Something like "would you please tell me how you use the UCAS personal statement in the application process for ......."

OP posts:
Delphigirl · 22/09/2021 17:19

@essentiallydisorganised it depends. Many unis do admissions by department so it is a departmental decision how much attention the pay to PSs. Others unis offer centrally on the basis only of predictions and compliance with conditions (eg must have Biology A level, must have a 5 in GCSE maths). Courses that are always in clearing rarely pay attention to PSs, they just offer to everyone who applies who meets the application criteria whose predictions are within a grade or so of the standard/contextual offer (as appropriate)