Year 12 #2: Carols, commutes & a few stocking fillers

[Stickerrocks]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/further_education/3410431-year-12-1-gcses-are-sooo-last-year

For dd all the application stuff happened last year. At the carol service I wS talking to the mum of a year 9 who is choosing her GCSE options and she was horrified when I said she needed to stRt thinking about applications this time next year.

Realistically applications need to be in by October of the year you apply and you need references & audition pieces sorted. A handful of places are through UCAS. Dd’s first auditions were October and November although most are January/February time. If you don’t apply by Christmas audition slots fill up and you won’t be seen.

And...
Unis shortlisted = none
Unis visited = none (except Oxford and Cambridge with school)
Unis planned to visit = undecided

Aaaarrrrggghhhhhh

I looked at the computing courses too and yes they are all high - I suppose based on the maths requirements. I think most top courses are almost totally maths based - it may be worth looking at some of the more niche/applied courses but still with good industry reputations.

Had a chat with ds just now and he has moved further towards apprenticeship route espevlcually given the knowledge that he can apply to uni the year after on a gap year if he does change his mind. I confirmed to him that nothing to be lost by that I don’t think. He is such a late developer too we will have more of an idea then what he s capable of - of course he may be forced down that route if he doesn’t get an apprenticeship ?!?

will pm you in a bit Jackie

Course: Engineering (with integrated Master)
Back-up: Bsc Engineering

Wants to apply to: Bristol. He went to an open day last year with a friend and loved everything about the campus and the course. Other options are still open.

Planned open days: Birmingham, Bristol, Southhampton, Leeds

Shalom that's a good idea - that we pool our knowledge and experiences.
Maybe something in Google sheets that we can all add to?

Also older DC currently at Birmingham (humanities) and Exeter (Medical Science final year) if anyone wants any insider info. Probably outing myself if I haven't already but hey ho.

Excellent appraisal of the girl in questions motives 242Mummy

Thanks for the term by term timeline for planning next steps. Suddenly Sixth form seems really short and over too fast!

Took my eldest 2 years to get there. And really it's been the best thing. Travelled with her cousin around South America in her first year off. Did a lot more growing up in her second year off. End of May baby though, and we really didn't mind. Takes all kinds of ways to string a cat. She's happy. We're happy. Best thing ever.

So DS1 thinking is...

1. Chemistry, did talk about Chemical Engineering but seems set on Chemistry now.

2. Aspirational - Oxford. Doesn't like the course at Cambridge as it's not enough Chemistry.

3. Has visited Oxford, Cambridge and KCL. Has applied to do residential at Manchester in summer and will also apply for work experience at York. Likes the idea of Durham, Bristol and Bath. Options to play cricket are a factor and wants to be 2/3 hours from London. Doesn't want to go to London or Scotland.

4. No predictions on grades yet but last report was very good so I suspect a mixture of A star and A.

good reminder veiled, thanks. Gap year was best thing DD2 did, even though she did very little that could be recorded in the year. But she was so much more rested and ready to go than she would have been straight after results. DD1 however wanted to get straight there and get started.

Thanks for what i can say to Ds about the girl 242Mummy.

I think many of us look back and remember the teen years as some sort of halcyon time, but, I'd forgotten how complicated they can be. I don't envy DS.

sandybayley Chemistry at Cambridge doesn't have enough Chemistry in it??

I remember having to do two forms. One for polytechnics, and one for Universities. Don't think we were allowed to do Polytechnic forms at school. Now it's all one form. First 5 I think? It's a mind field. But having had the eldest in at the Maudsley Clinic in year 13, I am so happy that she is happy, and loving her course, having never lived in England.

Chemistry at Cambridge doesn't have enough Chemistry in it??

Because of the structure of the Natural Sciences course. DS2 looked at the possibility of applying to study Physics there and has similar reservations.

Soomaa I'm glad there's someone else on here whose DC is looking at a course with an integrated Masters.

The grade requirements are very high, but all four years would be covered by the student loan (compared to having to self-fund a separate Masters course upfront).

DS2 has aspirations of becoming a chartered Physicist.

@whistl - yes@TheFirstOHN is right. NatSci at Cambridge includes chemistry but would require you to carry on with other sciences. DS1 would be OK with a bit of physics but would rather not do it, biology he hates with a passion!

I think DS1 would also like a masters - I think many of the Chemistry courses include a year in industry. I think this would be great for him.

DS1 : Medicine

Aspirational: Cambridge

Open days already attended: Subject Taster Day in Cambridge (really enjoyed it and liked the tutors though he won't be applying to same college - centre of town, too popular), B'ham (liked it especially with offer of grant for non-Music students to continue studying their instrument but won't be applying as he got 2x7s for Eng Lang and Lit which the uni uses as a interview shortlist criteria), Imperial (he liked and very near Albert Hall for concerts)

Open days planning to attend: Leicester (subject day booked for April). Would like to visit some in London - Queen Mary, St Georges, Kings and further away Hull York, Norwich/UEA, possibly Southampton. A mix of RG and non-RG. In the end, it won't matter as everyone who graduates is a doctor.

No predicted grades yet but looks on track for A*s and As if his hard work continues.

In the meantime, filling up his CV with work experience, hospital volunteering, job shadowing etc. Not touched his UKCAT or BMAT books yet which is slightly worrying!

He is determined to be a doctor and understands that it will be competitive. There is absolutely no alternative for him; it might well be a 2-year process for us!

TheFirstOHN
Student loan is one of the reasons why he wants to apply for a integrated master degree, too! I can't help him with funding for a master degree or any living costs. It would be great to have all four years covered by the loan!
His favourite course also has a one year placement in industry. I think the course would really suit him
He hopes for a contextual offer with lower requirements (standard offer is A*AA).
We will see

Took the lights off the Christmas tree tonight. Full on row. Happy days!

I've been meaning to ask about the medical school = competitive thing, I spent last week with MIL who was adamant that graduate nurses are able to get places at medical school and drop the first couple of years.

I've heard the same said elsewhere too.

Does anyone know if there is any truth in it?

I find it a bit odd as i imagine the entrance qualifications for a nursing degree would be a lot lower than those required to get into medical school, not to mention that it's hard to get into medical school, even with the right grades. I'm not saying a nursing degree isn't hard, its just how can trainee nurses compete academically with those who got into medical school?
What am I missing?

@whist - there is a graduate route into medicine. Our former nanny did a biomed degree (got a 1st) and then went straight into 3rd Year medicine. She missed her medicine offer but got there in the end. She's qualified now. Don't know about nursing degrees but I think it's the same (look up St George's Medical School in London).

I haven’t heard if that but I guess they could apply for graduate entry medicine - don’t know if a nursing degree qualifies. And graduate entry medicine is v competitive too.

242mummy presume your dc is looking at entry requirements and assessment criteria at uni s for medicine and picking those that play to his strengths. I understand they vary considerable and you can pick courses most likely to give you interviews/offers over those that you like the look of - after all if you are desperate to be a doctor you will do it anywhere - and you only need one offer - good luck with it ! I guess he knows that already tho