Starting year 13 2016

I don't think DD is planning to go to any more, but she may go to stay with students she knows already at possible unis - it's all about the social life!

No idea whether her PS is done or not - I think she was asking a relevant teacher to look at it...

dd has Open day-itus too. She has decided not to go to any more and is taking a guess for the last two choices by using the internet.

She is still having to alter bits of the PS but her heart isn't in it. I don't think they even pay too much attention to PS's for Physics.

Good luck for DoE for your ds.

How is everyone? Work has been mad crazy so I've had no time to pop in.

I think DS is suffering from open day-itis. He has said he is not going to any more because they are basically all the same and with history, most places have flexible option modules so it is hard to compare courses

He is off to do Duke of Ed gold expedition tomorrow (shudders at weather forecast in Brecon Beacons). He is very grumpy about this having heard that most universities don't bother to read personal statements so to his mind it is a waste of time.

Dh could give them a lift there at 10 pm but then had to go on to the airport.No lift home at 1.30 because of various issues with dad's and families.Bearing in mind there are no taxis as these party's are always in the middle of nowhere and none of them drive yet ( not that we would let them).They had no way of getting home.

Mirabelle I think its before the end of October.Her school want it handed in by the end of September though.
Dd is just grumpy - does there have to be a reason?
Though the fact she couldn't go to Young Farmers on Saturday night did not help .Especially as dd2 spent an hour curling dd1's hair in preparation..This hair is very long,very thick and very straight and a major job.

4 hours
Mind you, I think DD had a bit to do - for some test I think she said!
And she has been working on her English coursework

Me neither. Apart from inducing a discussion about statistical analyses, they were nothing more than a mild irritation.

I think they must have been Errol.But I didn't take much notice because the teachers were pretty dismissive about it.

Teta - was that low prediction the ALPs targets? They're the official thing used to work out added value, I think, which probably are valid only for the whole population not individuals. It takes some average of all gcse grades so will typically underscore if you are really good at one type of subject (the ones you'll actually be doing at a level) and weaker on the others. Also doesn't allow for how many subjects. If I've understood my DDs explanation, 9A would predict higher than 9A and 3Bs.

I don't know about the biology, but for the physics AS most of DDs pals thought they'd done badly but actually got good grades, in line with the schools predictions (not the alps nonsense) i.e it was a harder paper than they were expecting but evidently compensated for in the marking and/or grade boundaries.

It is interesting to see the different approaches by various schools. I tell myself I'll know what I'm doing with DS in 5 years time but it will probably be all different then!

Teta that does ramp up the stress for you both but I guess you know where you stand with it. Is the closing date the end of October ?

PeaceandLOve I've messaged you back .Thank you.

I think with vet. Science you're lucky to get any offer.Apparently only 50% get in first time.So I guess there is absolutely no point in worrying about Accommodation.
Dd got an A in her Biology exam and is forecast an A*.But her school didn't do the stand-alone As exams.But the school also got the pupils to do some sort of test which predicted their future results ( where you also type in their GCSE grades).Dd's were BBB only - these were then totally discounted by her teachers who know she's good at studying.That would be a possibility if predicted scores seemed low ( and teachers didn't know the pupils well).

I think your are right HSM about the stats. I also think this school had its fingers burned in the past witb predictions and is a bit wary of the A level changes.

I like the approach your DD's school takes Errol, seems sensible to me.

The girl concerned has a sibling who went last week after having to resit having been somewhat over optimistic so she wants to be realistic which I get. And she learned the importance of having an insurance you're happy with - that fell on deaf ears with her sibling despite best efforts at the time!

I've read that not getting your firm can affect accommodation and know of someone locally who deferred after getting their insurance but no accommodation. I think I read on one prospectus that even if you put them as your insurance you still applied for accommodation pre results which caused issues as sibling mentioned above didn't seem to have read that bit ! All came good in the end though.

I think my DD's school goes for a 'realistically achievable by this student if they carry on applying themselves' rather than a statistical probability iyswim. They encourage the girls to aim high - eg applying to Oxbridge or medicine if they're in with a shot, but then support those who try but don't get an offer. It may be that with girls there is more of a tendency to be cautious and less confident and so need a bit more of a push towards the more competitive courses.

Yes, it certainly can affect your accommodation options if you don't get your first choice - I'd got the impression it was the norm but I could be completely wrong!

I wonder if schools are sometimes a bit mindful of their stats Mirabelle?

Being rather solidly realistic with predictions so that they'll be able to say 85% (or whatever) of our students got into their first choice Uni?

I hope not. I hope they are always acting first and foremost in the student's best interests.

To me though, no harm in being a bit aspirational with first choice - and setting out on Y13 hoping to do better than last year - and also making full use of your insurance offer as somewhere you'd be almost equally happy with?

Even though I gathered from one Open Day that it might affect accommodation options (ie. being offered a place in halls of residence) if where you end up going wasn't your first choice? (Something else to maybe bear in mind depending on the Uni and what they can offer accommodation wise) All very tricky!

Teta, my DD was applying for vet med this time last year. I have PM'd you.

Thanks Jugglimg. I'm helping someone with their UCAS application and she is a little sad she wasn't predicted an A, they didn't take the AS. I guess in the long run it is better to be realistic.

Yes pretty much Mirabelle - dd got a B for AS and is predicted a B for A2, they seem keen to be accurate at her school, which tbh is a tadge frustrating at this stage

Can I ask if everyone taking biology have been predicted pretty what they expected?

Hope Warwick goes well LittleHoHum.

dd is off to Warwick Open Day tomorrow. Anyone else going?

That's good Errol.
As DD was doing 4 essay subjects and is now doing 3, she should find it a breeze!