Any parents of Y12 DCs up for a support thread?

Purple DS has looked at length at studying in the USA but rejected it because of the nature of study. They do a broad based curriculum for at least the first two years before focusing more on their "major" and all courses are at least 4 years.
He wants to specialise in Maths and never wants to write another essay

DS is considering a gap year to help/intern for the upcoming general election and then going to Georgetown in the US. Depends on his grades this summer for his AS levels.

Thanks BackforGood. And thanks everyone for the info on personal statements. I guess that's the next thing to think about once exams finish (one more on Monday for DS). We're also trying to narrow down the long list of possible open days.

Is anyone here considering any universities outside of the UK?

Hiya! (It's me from the 2012 GCSE thread). Great to catch up again.

My daughter has her final 1:1 assessment for year 1 tomorrow and x fingers it all goes well for her.

Our first University open day visit is on 22nd June! We, currently, have a list of about 6!

DD had mechanics today. The last question was very tricky apparently. SS I'm glad core 3 went ok. It's next week for DD. Can't quite relax yet.

LoveMyTeens I tried to help DD with Chemistry too and I really found it hard and so confusing. I only have an O level which was so long ago I knew literally nothing. I'm just glad it's over too.

Core 3 today and he came home smiling . They have started A2 lessons today as well.

Wish I'd found this thread earlier - could have done with the comments about Chemistry. Tried to help DS with revision but difficult when I'd no idea what I was reading out. Glad it's over now.

Our previous head of 6th, did have people start drawing up a list of bullet points to prompt some reflection of past activities, responsibilities, books read etc. However our new one seems demented. It isnt as though we have loads of applicants to medicine, vet school or Oxbridge, so no real need to threaten everyone with the October deadline. IMHO. Although student room suggest many drafts are required and leaving it and coming back to it. Of course DC like yours Cardibach who have something special to include will need to be at the top of the pile.
No open days for us, we/DS cant make them, although he does have another 3 to visit in the summer holidays.
Just remember now (for most posters) is the time to breathe before results day, gulp. [biscuits]

Thanks SS, gillviola, and cardibach - ds has never been the best communicator of messages / information from school, {possible understatement of the century there} so I like to check

DD thought physics was ok today, although was remembering 1 question that she thinks she got wrong. Hopefully she's forgotten about all the right ones! She was a bit miffed because it was the last AS exam and most people are now having a couple of days off. Unfortunately she has mechanics tomorrow, but is fairly confident about that and then core 3 next week and core 4 the week after. However, they are back at school on Monday.
She is at a selective independent school but doesn't have to do her personal statement until early next term. I was getting worried reading these posts!

secretscwirrels the point about writing to the universities is that DD wants to do an Erasmus year. These seem to be far less common for sciences and DD wants to ask if her preferred 'forrin' university/course is possible.

I wasnt including that as necessarily a point for everybody but is certainly a point for DD (who is currently conspicuous only by her absence!).

I have found a great site on the Student Room where they give examples of personal statements complete with feedback. It was really useful for my ds who has just changed what he wants to do. Reading the example of a personal statement confirmed that he has lots to offer and that is the right choice for him whereas he would have been struggling to write anything anywhere near as good about his original choice.

BackforGood No PS at DS 6th form yet but it's not a private school or a grammar. Potential Oxbridge and medics are told to make a start when they get results in August as theirs have to be in before the rest. (October rather than January IIRC)
DS has a bit of a start on his PS from some applications to summer schools he did. I keep telling him to make notes but he says it's all in his head.

Oh the poor DC who collapsed in an exam

Hello PurplePotato - you're very welcome

Are you guys posting on here specifically to worry me ??

I'e heard nothing about personal statements this year - only time they've been mentioned was at the open evening in the Summer of Yr11, when they said they need to be done in Sept/Oct of Yr13. Is anyone else under that impression, or is it just me?

OCR Physics today - son was confident and finished early! Me worried.

Also had a 40 min interruption while someone collapsed and was taken into hospital. Have asked school to tell board. How much do they take that into account?

Hello, may I join you? Really wish I had spotted this thread a few weeks ago! DS has two more exams and we're right in the middle of trying to organise open days. Feel as though we are very disorganised compared to the rest of Y12.

Oh yes the dreaded personal statement. Our head of 6th form has told parents that any student who doesnt have a perfect PS on her desk before they skive off leave for the summer, will be put on the bottom of her pile and may or may not be dealt with in September. DH was furious, not that DS is relaxing skiving off, in fact he will be in school. But really not every student knows what they want to do and August results will have a big part to play. However DS is on a mission and knows what he wants and what he has to do, including hopefully, what he has to write, so we feel very fortunate but still very very .

Not dancing yet here!
Physics today,went well. Tomorrow and Monday the two big important ones. PC3 and PC4. He wants to do Maths at a top university for which he will need to average at least 90% UMS on each Maths paper.
Roll on Monday.
WorrySighWorrySigh write to said universities with specific questions what do you mean? Have I missed something I should be worrying about he should be doing?