Winchester Entrance 2015

[abear]

Anyone else on the countdown to next Tuesday's exams? We are and I am not sure how it is going really, fine I think, but this if all new to us and we will certainly be pleased when it is done. I think DS would have happily sat the exams a week ago and is feeling a need to get it over with.

My sympathies.

But, realistically there are going to be about 30/40 years between any one generation and the next taking this or similar exams - during which the knowledge and skills required will have changed in innumerable ways - so it's always going to be "new" for families (unless there are siblings or close friends a few years ahead.)

Is your DS boarding or day? Think it's easier if they're not at home for you to worry over.

Day at the moment Zero, you are right, probably feels new every time as like you say things always change. I suppose the moving to boarding just creates a different set of challenges.

I take it your DS is sitting the election I'm also assuming that he already has a place in a boarding house. Good luck. It is a stressful time, a long count down to the actual exams, let's face it it's likely that Win Coll has been on your radar since your DS was quite young and the final days seem to drag by slowly. The worrying thing is that suddenly it's all over your going for the new boys lunch and now my DS only has 14 months to go and I'm not sure where the intervening years have gone.

Thanks happygardeing. Yes, as you know it has been a long process, and all your assumptions are correct. I have read many of your posts with great interest over the past couple of years and your advice is always helpful. I am sure one day I will also be wondering where the years went. I am sure moving on from Win Coll as you are, as well as starting there raises many questions too.

abear just think how much worse it is for those boys who have to wait until normal CE. Once your DS gets his first exam out of the way he (and you) will be fine. The exams go really quickly and then they are free to have a good time.

Zero is right, it is much less stressful when they are boarding so you will have that advantage for GCSEs etc.

Hello abear, Yup Im sitting anxiously waiting for Tues to come round. DS (like your son) just wants it over with now.
Best of luck to all of us!

Summer, yes, you are right, at least we don't have to wait as long as the CE candidates, Barbara, yes, good luck to all, just one more weekend.

happygardening I have read many of your posts regarding WC and find them very helpful

Where is your DS heading after WC?
I've heard many are thinking of the USA, is that true?

Sorry OP, I don't mean to high jack

No problem Mel, all contributions are great

Thank you abear

The number going to the US is increasing, the school also has links with ?the Universitty of Toronto including a bursary fund to enable it's boys to go apparently Canadian universities particularly like the rigour of the Pre U. But after lots of thinking about uni's DS wants to study a specific subject rather than a broad mix of subjects (which I slightly think is a shame) so will stay in the UK.
My DS struggled to choose a subject and I wonder if the wonderful broad curriculum Win Coll offers leaves the non math/physics obsessed struggling to decide exactly which subject interests them the most. I'm only thinking out loud and others may disagree. DS certainly struggled to choose his Pre U's because he liked so many subjects.

HG I think from DS's experience being well taught and therefore more likely to be enthused in most subjects does make choices harder, particularly for the all rounders or those who find useful subjects such as maths or MFLs easy but actually prefer other ones.
Scientists / mathematicians have the advantage of continuing with the humanities via daily Div in the sixth form though.

It is good to hear how the broad curriculum and div produces boys with such broad ranging interests. Being so enthused by so many things that you then have difficulty deciding which path to take has to be a much better problem than having been pigeon holed early in life and having your options limited. Summerends and happygardening your comments make me so pleased we have chosen this path - let's just hope nothing goes wrong at this final stage. I keep trying to remember this is unlikely but did have a very strange dream last night where DS found out that he needed to be able to recite a number of French nursery rhymes in his French oral, which surprisingly he didn't know!