Parents of Year 12s - exam time again! (oh no!)

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Just noticed we were running out of thread!

At DD's school it was on points. (GCSE grade A*=10, A=8, B=6 . . Etc) DC with total points over a certain number (can't remember what it was) were allowed to start with 4 A-levels.
DC with less than that number (but with 5 C grades inc English and maths) had to start with 3.

Even the highest achieving students have been "strongly advised and encouraged" to drop down to 3 A-levels for year 13, with only really those doing maths and further maths being allowed to continue with 4.

DD did initially think she'd like to continue with all 4, but with an EPQ plus all the extra curricular stuff she didn't want to give up, she has found Year 12 tough just with the sheer volume of work.
So she's dropped down to 3, finished the EPQ and is suddenly feeling much better about Year 13.
I just hope only doing 3 won't have a negative impact on university applications.

Most DC only do 3 now. Dd's school encourage everyone to do 3, but are ok with people starting 4 then dropping down at some point in y12. My school encouraged 4 for y12, then drop down to 3 for y13, but are happy for kids to drop one earlier than that of they need to. This coming year we're encouraging just 3 from the start, with the exception of people doing maths and FM, but there are only 7 of them so they're not a huge exception. We also offer core maths which is equivalent to an AS, but very different to maths A level, much more real life maths. And we offer EPQ and an introductory Latin course if anybody wants to do more than the 3 A levels.

"I just hope only doing 3 won't have a negative impact on university applications."

Why would it? Universities are only interested in the best three A levels. If taking 4 means that the grades drop then it is pointless taking 4. Far better to get 3 As than 1 A and 2 Bs

dds college start them all off on four. They drop one after the AS exams and then take up an EPQ if they want.
The local large college only allows four under exceptional circumstances.
All of the unis dd has looked at ask for just 3 a levels. Maths and Further Maths count separately towards those three.

I know that's what they say officially, but what if they were comparing 2 students, one with 3As and one with 5As.
Which one would get a place? It seems like a no brainer to me.

It sounds like schools are moving towards a more uniform approach of 3 Alevels per student, at all schools, which will make things much more fair.
This year, with it's mish mash of linear and non linear subjects, with some schools doing AS levels in all subjects and others no AS levels at all, doesn't feel like a very even playing field for our dc.

As the mother of a DD who has been through the most appalling anxiety and depression issues (you don't want to know about some of the phone calls I've had), may I just sound a note of caution? Don't forget to balance results with good mental health. My daughter will "only" leave college with 2 full BTECs and a one year course, but she hasn't self-harmed whilst at college and she loves her part-time job. Clearly I don't know any of your DCs, and it isn't any of my business, but I don't want anyone to go through what I've been through, so just keep it in the back of your minds if your DC is talking about dropping from 5 to 4, or 4 to 3. I mean this with love - not in any negative way - so I hope noone is offended xx

I second what chocolateworshipper said.

This is one of the reasons that DD is dropping psychology now, instead of continuing with it until the end of term. I have tiptoed in your shoes chocolateworshipper and know where you are coming from. for both of you.

Oh Chocolate, I'm so sorry that your DD (and you) have been through such an awful time.
I completely agree that there are far more important things than grades.

I'm so sorry if my comments about A level numbers seemed insensitive, I was just rambling without thinking.

It makes your DD's distinctions this year even more of an achievement, knowing the extra battles she's had to face, you must be extremely proud.

Chocolate I am with you completely and didn't want DD to do this.

She is definitely dropping 2, probably maths and Further Maths, but they aren't allowed to do this until September.

Really sorry if any of my comments have been insensitive. Totally agree that mental health and wellbeing are so much more important than grades. Chocolate so well done to your DD.

Is anyone's DC having major wobbles about UCAS and university in general?

DD was in tears last night because her school have insisted that their personal statements have to be completed by the end of next week. She isn't even sure what subject she wants to do and is worried about applying for something that she regrets.

We did one open day last week, have two this weekend and one next weekend. How are the kids able to know now exactly what they want to do?

Do these statements have do be done now?
When do they get sent off to universities?

She is on medication for anxiety already and her anxiety levels are rising again. She feels steamrollered into stuff she isn't ready for. She isn't yet 17 and IMO isn't emotionally mature enough for all of this just yet.

Panda and Lobster - please don't apologise. It wasn't my intention at all to make anyone feel guilty, and your comments weren't at all insensitive. DD and I are both keen to see some good come out of what she went through. If people just have it at the back of their minds, they can watch out for the signs of anxiety and encourage their DCs to balance goals with mental health.

Iam - that sounds worrying. Do you think she would be better off considering a year out after college to take the pressure off making decisions now? It's probably worth talking to her tutor too - I doubt that the deadline they are setting is a "real" deadline. Hopefully if you tell the tutor they can back off your DD.

She is considering taking a year out. She is one of the youngest in her year, and like your DD has had anxiety and depression issues (for which she is on medication). She has friends who have part time jobs and have passed thier driving test.

She is exhausted from studying 4 A level subjects and doesn't have the energy to work (in my opinion as well as hers), and isn't 17 until next month and is showing no inclination to learn to drive. She is way behind her peers in some aspects, but not academically.

Iam The deadlines for UCAS are on their website, colleges/sixth forms will have their internal deadlines to make sure that they meet the external ones. The general external deadline is January 15th for most courses with October 15th for Oxbridge, medivets and dentists.

Your establishment seems very early, I looked at our timetable and the "personal statement plan deadline" is mid September. I don't know whether that is the thing finished or the plan for the thing. I know that so far here DS has started his application, they've done the name and address bit, qualifications and he's "thinking about" his personal statement. I think in your shoes I'd be telling them that due to extenuating circumstances she'll be returning with it completed in September.

Thank you. That's very helpful Icould

Iam Someone on here suggested that taking a year out after college reduces the anxiety of worrying about grades being enough for a university offer. If she took a year out, she could apply to uni knowing what her grades are. It would also give her a chance to work during that year (without the pressure of studying at the same time). I'm an August birthday, so I do know what it's like to be younger than everyone else - and I do think it makes a difference.

DD is an October child and the difference throughout school between her and her summer born classmates has at times been quite startling.

We had a UCAS evening at school last night. The main point of interest to me was a website the school has signed up to called Unifrog. Looked to be a very useful tool for helping to choose courses and unis, at least it did from what I could see from the back row with the lights left on.

The difference is more marked now than it was at primary school. She is academically bright and got mostly A*s and As at GCSE, but emotionally she is behind her peers. Being not able to do things because of her age - learning to drive, work experience etc makes quite a difference to her confidence (which is extremely lacking anyway).

I found out this morning that there is a higher education parents evening the week after next, so I should be able to talk to the school then.

The school have distributed information about UCAS and are asking the students to start a first draft of the personal statement.

DS1 doesn't seem ready for the UCAS process. He did not want to go to any open days this term, and when I bring up the subject, he says he doesn't want to make any decisions yet.

It doesn't help that the teacher responsible for UCAS stuff has a very low opinion of DS1's capabilities. When DS1 was absent due to chronic illness, this teacher made several comments to other students about DS1's lack of ability.

DS1 has been well for a few months now, but only increased to a full timetable in the last couple of weeks, so I don't want to pressure him.

I think he might apply this winter, to see if he gets any offers based on his predicted grades.

dds first draft has to be in next week, so that tutors can go through it with then in the week. Second draft is mid september, ready for oxbridge candidates to submit applications early october.

One thing that was made very clear was that their personal statement should be very tightly framed around their subject choice. If you know what you want to do, then that works well. If you haven't a scooby, then that surely makes writing your PS impossible at this point?

The whole system is ridiculous. How are the majority of students able to go from doing their gcses a year ago, to suddenly being expected to know what degree and potentially careeer path they are going to follow now? They've done less than a year at their specialised subjects.

I don't think DD has to have a draft in until September. Just as well as she is still deciding.

On the other hand she has some Latin vocab to learn, if she and her friend show demonstrate keenness and aptitude before the end of term they are being allowed to do Latin AS next year.

She is doing a self-guided tour of Liverpool uni today.

"If you haven't a scooby, then that surely makes writing your PS impossible at this point?"

Exactly

DD has to have a draft personal statement in week after next. Her sixth form have been a bit vague about number of A levels so far, only saying that "most" drop a subject after AS results.

They have been making noises about the EPQ though. I don't know how much difference it can make. We visited Oxford yesterday and asked one of the tutors about EPQ (thinking it might help if she did it on an area of interest in the subject it might help) and he said he didn't even know what an EPQ was, never mind care if they did it or not. He wasn't the admissions tutor though, so goodness knows. It may be academic anyway, because they want 2 x A* and an A, and DD doesn't feel too confident of that at the moment. She really liked one of the colleges though, so maybe.

From what I can gather, EPQs are good for personal development - learning how to manage a long term project, write a report, reference properly etc, but don't seem to especially matter in terms of offers.

dd can't even fit hers into her personal statement, so unless there is a special EPQ place Im not sure if her uni application places are even going to know she's doing one??