Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Further education

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

Original poster

DDs dreams in tatters

142 replies

OneHandFlapping · 07/09/2015 12:50

She's been predicted AAA based on her AS results, so the unis she most wanted are out of reach. I don't know what to advise her to do.

  1. Accept her limitations, and apply to the 2nd tier unis - and to be fair, I'm not sure to what extent her problems are academic or motivational
  2. Work her socks off, get kickass grades and apply next year - she may not exceed her predictions, and a year would be wasted, except she could do with growing up a bit
  3. ??

Has anyone got any advice? The school don't seem to.

OP posts:
LaContessaDiPlump · 07/09/2015 13:28

Their website says 3 As will get you a BSc, A*AA with get you an MEng. I'm very confident that you can upgrade your degree programme somewhere along the line if you have an excellent work record, you know.

DriverSurpriseMe · 07/09/2015 13:28

I guess I'm out of touch (I started university in 1999!) but it does sound rather strange to me that three A grades at A level amounts to dreams in tatters, accept [her] limitations, apply to second class institutions... I mean, really?

Not wishing to have a go at you OP, but you need a bit of perspective here.

If three A's really won't get her onto her dream course, I refuse to believe that those grades won't open doors to another great course at a great university.

LaContessaDiPlump · 07/09/2015 13:28

As in, if she does well during a BSc course they may allow her to change to MEng mid-degree.

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 07/09/2015 13:29

Oh, looking at that just apply for the Bachelors - you might be able to extend it to the Masters once you get there, as long as your early year marks are good enough.

Original poster
OneHandFlapping · 07/09/2015 13:29

Grade inflation means that many unis now ask for AAA Lacontessa*.

She got AABD for her ASs. The D was in further maths partly because they put the best results towards the maths.

OP posts:
PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 07/09/2015 13:29

X-post La Contessa.

IKnowRight · 07/09/2015 13:30

Wow. Dreams in tatters? Really? It sounds to me as though your dd is going to do incredibly well and I think it's a terrible shame that AAA is no longer seen as good enough (fwiw I never understood the whole A* thing anyway, it didn't exist in my day)

Have the school said why she isn't being given A*'s? You say the school isn't being helpful but have you asked the specific question, they must be able to give you a reason, surely? If it's academic then she needs to think again about what she wants to do, if it's motivational then she gets the kick up the arse she needs. If she doesn't get the offer she wants then are resits an option? Not sure whether having to resit to get the grade will count against her if there is fierce competition for places. Of course the best scenario is that she will exceed her AAA prediction and can reapply next year based on her actual grades. As far as I know you're not compelled to accept any offer your given?

What does she want to study and where? Might it not be worth putting some time and effort to expand her CV to set her apart from other academically gifted pupils?

What do you consider a second tier uni?

Is she as upset about this as you are?

You know, I wanted to study medicine. I didn't get any offers and didn't get the grades, at the end of the day I wasn't bright/motivated enough. My life is not in tatters, i've gone on to be successful anyway. It really isn't the end of the world if she has to change her plans.

Original poster
OneHandFlapping · 07/09/2015 13:33

Could I also just say, to all the very unhelpful posters we are talking about HER dreams here - not mine. And for a variety of reasons she is taking it hard.

I was going to show her the thread to help her get a grip, but some of you have been so spectacularly unhelpful, I can't really.

OP posts:
bonzo77 · 07/09/2015 13:34

The fact is that all A's is not good enough for some very competitive or academic courses. It needs to be A*s. No point getting arsey about that.

You need an honest appraisal of why she didn't get the grades expected, and whether or not they are achievable and make a decision based on that. Also, has she changed her mind about what she wanted to do, or could this be subconscious self sabotage as a reaction to not actually wanting to do what she was originally lined up for? . Time for an honest discussion.

A year off is not a waste of time at all if used productively. In fact it's an asset. Especially if it means she gets to the course and uni she really wants.

Pneumometer · 07/09/2015 13:34

CS at Warwick with AAA predictions? Of course she'd get an offer.

IKnowRight · 07/09/2015 13:34

Sorry x posted

Why not apply for the BSc and do a masters afterwards?

Do you know which unis would accept AAA for the MEng or equivalent? Is there anything about any of those places that would specifically put you off?

In all honesty if she gets a decent set of A level results and a good degree at pretty much any uni followed by a Masters and/or a Doctorate then I think her dreams will be safely tatter-free.

Original poster
OneHandFlapping · 07/09/2015 13:37

Why do you think that pneunometer,bits not what they said at the open day.

OP posts:
Pneumometer · 07/09/2015 13:37

Why not apply for the BSc and do a masters afterwards?

You don't even need to do that: there might be a course, somewhere, that doesn't permit students whose progress is such that they would pass the MEng to transfer from the BSc to the integrated masters, but I've never heard of one. Transferring from three to four year programmes, and vice versa, is absolutely standard practice some students do it several times, so much do they enjoy the paperwork.

Rivercam · 07/09/2015 13:38

Listen to the to the interview with a tennis star's mind coach this morning, on Chris Evans radio show. .its good advice when facing challenges.

Why doesn't she apply to the Warwick course and other uni's? If things don't work out, she can always reapply next year. a prediction is just that, a prediction. She may get the necessary a* and be fine.

RachelZoe · 07/09/2015 13:38

People are being unhelpful because you're being ridiculous, as I posted, Warwick want 3 A's for the Computer Science degree...so what exactly is the issue?

You also said about "accepting her limitations" and "second tier universities" when she could get into a top 10/20 uni with 3 A's no problem.

It's a bit like saying "I only earn 100k, how will I feed my children?"

If you had come on here and said "DD couldn't cope with her AS's, got 4 D's when we thought she was top 10 uni bound, shes really disappointed, how can I help her" you would have gotten a very different result.

This is a non issue and it comes across that you/your DD have created an environment of perfectionist standards and that isn't healthy for anyone. With the right level of work and dedication she can push at least one to an A*, take a gap year with her results in hand and then apply in that gap year, or just apply when ucas opens this year, 3 A's gives you a world of options, no dream is in tatters with 3 A's, hence the bad reaction on this thread.

MrsBalustradeLanyard · 07/09/2015 13:39

I don't mean to be unhelpful. But she can't be allowed to drift into a 'dreams in tatters' scenario with those results. Bolster her confidence, don't agree with her and sink into a pit of despair!

Original poster
OneHandFlapping · 07/09/2015 13:40

Oops no - just checked. It's AAA for BSc

OP posts:
Pneumometer · 07/09/2015 13:40

Why do you think that pneunometer

Because their published admission requirement for their BSc is AAA. Are you saying that their central admissions will reject out of hand students whose predictions meet the published requirements?

And as I say above, it's highly unlikely that you can't transfer from the three to the four year programme given decent first year, or possibly second year, results.

IKnowRight · 07/09/2015 13:44

Sorry you feel got at OP but really, she needs to take a deep breath and get on with things. It really is OK to feel upset if things don't go your way but "Dreams in tatters" when there are still so many options open is overdramatic. Maybe your dd needs a gentle reminder that her life isn't over.

NerrSnerr · 07/09/2015 13:45

People are being what you describe as unhelpful because your language is crazy. Are her dreams really in tatters? If your talking to her about second rate universities then maybe she's getting the impression she's not good at.

My advice is that you both need to stop being dramatic and think practically what to do. Personally I'd still apply and work like a bastard.

titchy · 07/09/2015 13:46

FFS don't be so melodramatic - wonder where your dd gets it from Hmm

You could both do with developing a bit of resilience.

As others have said AAA should be fine for Warwick. But even if she was predicted 3 x A*s there's no guarantee they'd offer anyway. And there are other universities, just as good.

NerrSnerr · 07/09/2015 13:46

'Not good enough'

Original poster
OneHandFlapping · 07/09/2015 13:48

I don't subscribe to the "my life is over scenario". I just want to give her the best advice.

OP posts:
itsraininginbaltimore · 07/09/2015 13:48

Accept her limitations, and apply to the 2nd tier unis

Yes, I'd say that's probably best. You can't turn a sow's ear into a silk purse after all and it wouldn't be right to sit back and watch her flog herself into the ground trying.

ssd · 07/09/2015 13:49

AAA predicted?

jesus, thats awful..no wonder you are upset