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Further education

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

Original poster

New Year 12 starters parent support thread (snappy title eh?)

999 replies

OhYouBadBadKitten · 31/08/2016 19:19

here we are.

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NoHaudinMaWheest · 14/09/2016 18:16

Ds knew what he wanted to study and we knew it couldn't be too far from home because of his disablities. We discounted a couple because they had very high offers then looked at everywhere else. It was always very uncertain what results he would get so we had to have a good range of typical offers.
Dd knows what she wants to do and there are only a couple of places where she can do the combination she wants so we are virtually sorted already.
Not sure how you would go about it if the dc has no idea what they want to do though.

FantasyAndHope · 14/09/2016 18:20

need
DD has had him for 2 years they nearly didn't finish the course for GCSE because he would do the same topic for 3 or 4 lessons. If she hadn't had these issues at GCSE I would say lets see how it goes but there the same issues she had at GCSE

raspberryrippleicecream · 14/09/2016 18:21

Opendays.com has a calendar of all the open days, still lots left this term if anyone is inspired!

As said, DD is doing it different to DS. She is pretty certain she wants Ancient History so I have suggested she starts looking at courses and locations.

DS found by looking at a couple early on he knew what kind of location he wanted, then he drew up a list of possibilities. I think he visited 7 in total, though Oxford and Cambridge were with school.

I went on one, and on that one we did a thorough exploration of accommodation so he had a good idea of what it was about. DH took him to others, but kept in the background.

Most of DSs uni choices interviewed (MPhys) but it was kind of an offer holders day too, he spent the day there, had lunch with students, did a sample lecture. One, I think it was York, ran a parents programme but DH declined.

Personal Statement is a huge stress, get it started over the summer!

Don't forget Uniq/Sutton Trust applications for summer school next summer. Think Uniq was January.

needastrongone · 14/09/2016 18:31

And Headstart/EDT for those considering engineering and science based degrees.

cloudyday99 · 14/09/2016 18:32

I think most schools recommend they decide subject first, and then look at where is best to study it.

I wouldn't get into serious visiting just yet though. This autumn's open days are really meant for Y13s. Best to have a term or so of ALevels then start thinking about subject and start visiting in the summer with a view to maybe visiting one or two more next autumn once they have their predicted grades can look at likely grade offers to make sure they apply to places they might get in. DSS got most of his predicted grades in June, and had them finalised this week, with the one he'd done public exams in added on

littledrummergirl · 14/09/2016 18:34

Ds1 has looked into his choices Shock, it's not just chance. I asked him if he was interested in Liverpool and he said yes so he's gone to book for the open day next month.
Omg this is getting real isn't it!

cloudyday99 · 14/09/2016 18:35

What's headstart/EDT needa?

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 14/09/2016 20:07

this is all valuable info, thank you :)

dd is certain about her subject, so for her it will be about finding the place that best suits her interests.

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MsMermaid · 14/09/2016 20:53

Dd knows she wants to do physics. Possibly joint honours with Maths. She's already got herself a list of the 10 best physics departments in the country (surprisingly not all Russell group, and one of the best is only an hour away from us). She's pretty much ruled out Oxbridge as being too far away, although she is the type of kid we'd be recommending to look at Oxbridge at my school. Her school do organise trips down to Oxford for those who would stand a chance of getting in, so I'll encourage her to go on that even if she ultimately decides against it. It is an awful long way away from us, but then again there aren't many universities close to us. I will take her to a few open days in the summer term, but if they aren't at a weekend she'll have to go on her own or with her grandparents who are even more embarrassing than me Grin

When I was young I went to a couple of open days. We were told about them in careers lessons and just turned up on the day. I didn't go to uni at 18 though, I didn't get in for my chosen courses so decided to take a gap year to decide what else to do. I finally applied for uni when I was 8 months pg with dd and started when she was 1. I went to interviews when she was a tiny baby. Not the typical student experience really. Hopefully dd will have a more conventional student experience.

HesMyLobster · 14/09/2016 22:18

Thankyou for all the fantastic advice and suggestions.
The open day website is exactly what we needed, thankyou Raspberry.
Although all your words of wisdom have helped me to stop panicking quite so much. Autumn open days for y13, summer for y12 makes a lot of sense, thankyou, I was horrified to think we'd missed them!
How involved do you expect school to be in the process?
DD went on a couple of school trips to Oxford and Cambridge in yrs 9/10, and school are encouraging her to apply for Sutton Trust and Pathways, although she doesn't think she ticks enough criteria boxes really.
Does anybody know when they will be told predicted grades? It's difficult to know where to aim for without them.

DD is torn between 2 subject areas, but tonight has come up with an EPQ idea which combines the 2 so she's happy with that for now at least.

raspberryrippleicecream · 15/09/2016 00:00

Indeed they are not all Russell Group. MsMermaid, DS's is not.

needastrongone · 15/09/2016 08:05

www.etrust.org.uk/

Have a look at the Headstart courses Cloudy, if you have a DC that may go into a STEM based degree area.

I've told DS he needs to narrow down course choices that interest him and look at a draft application this weekend, as DD and me are away competing.

I have one DC that will need prodding and pushing into action, and one that I will cast a cursory glance at, but know they have it all sorted. Smile

Full day of lessons for DS here today, triple Physics and Maths.

needastrongone · 15/09/2016 08:08

But, to be fair to DS, he's not fully sure of specific subject areas for degree yet, and there's still no rush/pressure to decide. He can get a term or two under his belt at Y12 and a feel for what he's good at and enjoys at A Level too. I remember being SO sure of my degree choice, then not doing it ha!

needastrongone · 15/09/2016 08:13

Although, fair play to those that do know, and some of DS's mates do know already. Smile

cloudyday99 · 15/09/2016 09:18

Thanks for those links - will have a look :)

ExitPursuedBySpartacus · 15/09/2016 11:06

All this talk of University is giving me a headache.

We've only just got over the trauma of GCSEs and starting sixth form.

needastrongone · 15/09/2016 13:02

There's loads of time Exit, I suspect the vast majority of Y12 pupils have not decided their life path. Grin I'm happy to let DS have a term or 2 to see what floats his boat at A Level.

I've bought a few more files and dividers today, having found some letters from the Chemistry Dept, that DS hasn't passed me........... Also some text books and notes they recommend.

ExitPursuedBySpartacus · 15/09/2016 13:32

DD and I have already fallen out over her Psychology.

She was trying to tell me that male and female brains are different and I saw red. Or should that be pink?

She stormed upstairs telling me that I am wrong and she is right because her teacher told her so. At which point do they teach them critical thinking?

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 15/09/2016 13:39

sorry Blush it was me that started it he uni talk guv. If you ever need a long term thing worrying about, Im your person!

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ExitPursuedBySpartacus · 15/09/2016 13:47

What's that saying - don't borrow tomorrow's troubles today?

NoHaudinMaWheest · 15/09/2016 14:12

DD's old school have just phoned to ask for permission to submit her RS GCSE for a remark. I knew she was only 1 mark off an A* but it didn't seem worth paying for a remark. However if school is willing to do it....

Icouldbeknitting · 15/09/2016 14:56

NoHaudin we had an email last week from exschool asking if they could put in additional science for a remark. As the candidate said when asked "meh, they can if they want". (It is very close to an A so unlikely to end up as a C). It makes no difference to DS whether it's a B or an A, he's not taking science at A level and he is done with GCSEs.

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 15/09/2016 14:59

I could learn from that Exit Grin trouble is, I juggle so many balls, that if I don't look ahead I drop them all.
It's a pretty stressful way to live though.

dd asked for a remark a couple of weeks ago. Not heard anything yet.

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BitOutOfPractice · 15/09/2016 14:59

Help! I'm in a flap!

DD has texted me to say she wants to talk about dropping one subject - from 4 to 3. Is this a disaster?

She's moved to a grammar school, it's pretty intense and she's already stressing about the amount and standard of work

Talk me down!

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 15/09/2016 15:03

which subjects does she want to retain? can she decide over the weekend?

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