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Original poster

Anyone want to join a year 13 UCAS THREAD?

746 replies

JesusChristOtterStar · 07/11/2009 21:05

We can join in stressing about ucas forms interviews etc?

I am finding it all a very steep learning curve - we could support one another - celebrate and commiserate?

OP posts:
lazymumofteenagesons · 22/11/2009 16:05

Does anyone have any experience of dropping a 4th A level after receiving and accepting offers from university? Does this have any consequence, since the offers are for 3. Do you have to inform the universities and can they withdraw an offer?

selectivememory · 22/11/2009 16:23

I think you would have to inform the universities if you have received an offer on the basis of predicted grades for 4 A levels, even if the offers are for only 3.

I do not know if they would withdraw the offer,but presumably they would have taken into account the fact that 4 A levels were being taken (and the workload that involves) before making the offer. They will see the results of their A levels and will see that the 4th A level has been dropped on results day.

Original poster
JesusChristOtterStar · 22/11/2009 21:06

dont know lazy?

ds did 6 as levels and has decided to keep them on to a2 even though school kindly told him we'd have to pay for the A2 exam

his thoughts were - nothing to lose as one was self taught anyway and he had done well in AS level..

i do agree that lower grades at a2 not good so better 3 a's than 5 bs

however i think most top russell group will look for four A2s even if they only offer based on 3

cambridge colleges are all AAA and some have already stated AA*AA

ds has had two offers AAA from 3 of a levels and one offer of AAA from 4 a levels which feels like a bit of a treat!

OP posts:
lazymumofteenagesons · 22/11/2009 22:03

Standard offer of his first choice (Durham) is AAA but with no specific subjects. He has only just submitted to UCAS so no offers yet. He has got lazy and wants to drop one to maximize chances of 3 As (which he got at AS level anyway). I think he should just keep going with the 4th. It looks like as long as you sit it, even if you don't get a brilliant grade it'll do.

Original poster
JesusChristOtterStar · 22/11/2009 22:24

lazy Durham specified with DS so that despite doing 6 he has to get 3 As from math chem bio...if that happened to your ds then surely he could drop the fourth then??

OP posts:
mumoverseas · 23/11/2009 05:39

JCOS 6 AS and A levels! bloody hell, he must be VERY VERY bright!

Original poster
JesusChristOtterStar · 23/11/2009 11:21

no no no!

They HAVE to do general studies to A2 at his school and he has chosen to do critical thinking which he loves - so no lessons for those two just rock up on the day!

OP posts:
RustyBear · 23/11/2009 12:24

At DS's school (state grammar, usually top 10 or so for A level results) they normally only do 3, doing 4 is strongly discouraged as they say it's better to do 3 well than more mediocrely (is that a word?) They still get offers from top universities though - DS went to Warwick, his offer was AAB.
The only exception to this is if they do Further Maths, but the school is very strong on Maths, about 75-80% take Maths at A level.

On the other hand, DD's 6th form college (which is usually in the top 5 colleges in the country) everyone has to do at least 4 subjects at A2 not just at AS, plus General Studies. If you drop a subject after AS, then you have to take up another at AS for the second year. They do get very good results, despite not being academically selective, (beyond the normal requirements for 6th form entry - they sometimes have waived even those if they think there is good reason to.) DD got A in everything, including General Studies, for which she claims to have done no work whatsoever....

lazymumofteenagesons · 23/11/2009 12:32

I have just checked on 'Student Room' forum and it seems that the best thing to do is check with the admissions tutor after offer has been made as to whether dropping the 4th will affect the offer. Then only drop it if they give the go ahead. They can't hold it against you if you are just making an enquiry.

However, if he doesn't hear from Durham until May he'll just have to stick it out. He tells me he intends to do no work in it. I know this is going to cause problems at school, but not sure if they can actually chuck him out of that subject. Why can't he just do the bloody work?

Original poster
JesusChristOtterStar · 23/11/2009 14:00

because he is a teenager

he will hear before may surely?? my nerves can't last that long i am hoping the whole thing will be sorted by the end of jan latest

ds1 rang a university and enquired about something last year and did not give his name

OP posts:
Lilymaid · 23/11/2009 14:14

DS1's "premier league" independent was also not keen on its students doing more than 3 A Levels, though a number did 4 (e.g. where they were doing a foreign language that was a family language or if they wanted to do Maths as well as 3 sciences). They reasoned that if universities only required 3 A Levels it was better to take 3 and get As rather than 4 or more and risk lower grades. So DS took 6 AS and only 3 A2.
(It is a predominantly boys' school and presumes that boys are lazy and will only do what is necessary and then probably only at the last minute).

JustGettingByMum · 23/11/2009 14:21

This deate is really interesting, but very confusing.
Previous ops hae said that Russell group Unis prefer candidates with 4 A2s even though offers are based on 3, now others are saying that many "good" schools (state & private) are encouraging students to take only 3 A2s.How does this make sense?
Please can someone explain (retires to kitchen for tea and choccie biscuits)?

JustGettingByMum · 23/11/2009 14:22

Sorry that should read debate - keyboard gone into meltdown in sympathy with me

snorkie · 23/11/2009 14:30

It doesn't completely make sense really. I think we are at the point where 4 A2s is beginning to be expected at least from independent schools where it is more usual to sit them. I don't think if a school makes it clear on their part of UCAS that they don't normally allow children to sit more than 3 A2s that they will be disadvantaged by not doing 4 though.

At a Cambridge open day a friend attended recently with her dd they were told that 4 were 'normally' expected from applicants from independent schools and 3 from state applicants. Where state grammars fit in there I don't know.

Original poster
JesusChristOtterStar · 23/11/2009 14:34

i think maybe now the A* is in things will clarify a little and 3 may again become the norm -
ds school is a good school boys grammar (state) and he is not alone in doing 6 at leat one is doing 7

churchill college cambridge want A A AA for law and although that is obviously the minority by a long chalk - you need not apply if you only have 3 A2s

i agree it is all very unclear - its a guessing game for ds

school told him to drop critical thinking at A2 but he enjoys it and will take it in january - no lessons so he thinks nothing much to lose

OP posts:
Original poster
JesusChristOtterStar · 23/11/2009 14:35

very interesting snorkie - you are right bout the state grammar thing - who knows?

OP posts:
ajandjjmum · 23/11/2009 14:55

Glad I've come across this thread - ds has received offers from Warwick and Sheffield, and has an interview at UCL in January.

This UCAS business has really been a learning curve for us, but will stand us in good stead for dd next year - we've already started looking at unis for her!

Exciting times!

Original poster
JesusChristOtterStar · 23/11/2009 14:59

welcome ajj and jj mum

i dont know whether to laugh or cry at your last statement

dd and ds are 2 yrs 5 weeks apart but he is end of august and she is october 1 so that makes three school years ( wipes brow!)

well done to your ds on his offers - what does he hope to read?

OP posts:
mumoverseas · 23/11/2009 15:06

JCOS sods law, DS wants to go to Churchill and read law!

ajanjjmum also scary times

ajandjjmum · 23/11/2009 15:18

True - we had a few butterflies when all of his friends seemed to be getting offers and interviews, and he heard nothing. Then it all happened within a week!

He's hoping to read Physics.

Can't believe that little baby is about to go and make his own way in the world.

Lilymaid · 23/11/2009 15:19

I'm not surprised that universities are starting to expect 4 A2s as there are so many prospective students with 3As. With 4 A2s is General Studies or Critical Thinking (can you do this for A2?) a viable option or would you need to do 4 "proper" A2s? Certainly, DS1 was not remotely stretched by doing 3 A2s. I would have thought that a good if not better alternative to a 4th A2 would be an advanced extension award in one subject (I think these are what replaced the old S Levels).

webwiz · 23/11/2009 15:31

I think its very confusing out there Lilymaid - at DD2's school the most able students are offered Advanced Extension Awards and/or Open University courses rather than taking their fourth AS onto A2.

Original poster
JesusChristOtterStar · 23/11/2009 16:35

yes i wish our schools did aea

ds did some open university thing as well - not sure what that was

OP posts:
ajandjjmum · 23/11/2009 16:56

My ds did the OU Astronomy module - not sure how he did though! He was going to do 4 A2's including Further Maths, but was advised not to, as only three are taken into account. He hasn't applied to Oxbridge though.

lazymumofteenagesons · 23/11/2009 18:20

4 A2s is the norm at son's school. They don't expect them to drop one and quite a few are doing 5. Some who did French AS in year 11 take the A2 in year 12 and continue with 4 more. Others do Art 'out of block' which is unbelievably time consuming as it means it is not timetabled and you are doing it in lunch hours. With 4 A2s he's only got 3 study (free) periods a week and moan, moan, moan is all I ever hear.

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