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

Good luck sticker DD !! Does she start back today or tomorrow

Phew for Veiled.

The initial response says that they are not accepting anymore changes, so she is beating herself up. She is going to book a meeting and see if she can argue her case. On the bright side, they had already stopped allowing changes by the time she decided she wanted to switch. We have talked through a few options and ruled out some others.

Thats a pain Sticker

Is there any chance she could dazzle the politics teacher with her knowledge and get them onside too?

The politics teacher has already been helping her by giving her a reading list. The problem is that the college is driven by rules, as it is so huge. I've suggested that she does a politics based EPQ and politics based coursework for English if it ties in with their brief. The current topic they are studying is as dull as dishwater, so I'm hoping that they will move on soon to something more practical.

Thats painful Sticker but the EPQ suggestion is a good one and can show independent thought too.

EllenJane yes, I have been following your various bits of advice about Warwick and Maths. I think ds is also a bit like Abitofastate's ds also.

DS has started looking at STEP and MAT to be prepared - he leans towards Oxford but school are encouraging both. I really liked Warwick - particularly that Maths students can choose modules from other faculties so leading to a bit of breadth.

Sticker if she can’t change, would she buckle down and try and get the best result she can in English as a means to an end. Top unis don’t favour a levels in their subjects and like the mainstream subjects. DD2 got a Cambridge offer in a subject she didn’t do at a level even though it was offered at school. She took the argument that a level didn’t go into depth in the areas she was particularly interested in and it was better prep to do history and english as a good grounding and pursue her interest and future direction via extracurricular and own reading. I know it doesn’t get round the fact that she s got another 18 months in a subject she finds dull but if she views it as a good way of getting where she wants to be ? She was given a mentor at school in the subject she wanted to do who was great and gave her loads of reading and discussion.

That's a shame sticker. Hope she works out what is best to do.

Thanks for the Warwick maths info EllenJane. I don't think that DS has even thought about how where you live in 2nd year affects anything.

Does anyone know about the various taster days/ subject open days/ master classes that Cambridge offer? From what I can see there are maths specific open days, university organised year 12 maths master class, and some colleges also have their own subject taster days. Any ideas as to which are the most worthwhile and how much over lap there is?

DS is also leaning towards Oxford more at the moment Kilash. He says he thinks their course is more flexible, but I have an idea that fact that is gf is at Oxford might have something to do with it

Does anyone know about the various taster days/ subject open days/ master classes that Cambridge offer?

DS2 went to a Y12 subject masterclass and enjoyed it. He is hoping to go to a college open day too. Out of the two, he prefers the structure of the course at Oxford but is not quite yet ready to rule Cambridge out.

@Stickerrocks - my degree is in Politics and I didn't do it as an A level. I don't think it is essential at all.

If your DD can show an interest in politics outside of her A levels it will be enough (an EPQ would be ideal).

What will be helpful is an ability to write and analyse ( History or English A Level). Maths is always helpful (understanding of stats is very helpful for any kind of policy work). Oh and my 3rd A level was Chemistry - which is quite useful if you're interested in the application of science in policy making (something which is woeful in this country). Both the Cambridge and Oxford courses are looking for all round thinkers / analysts as are any if the good universities (LSE, Hull etc).

Same for me, my first degree (did I mention I have three? ) is in Politics. I studied it at the University of Sheffield with A levels in geography, English Lit and economics - so no prior exposure to academic politics.

Our great minds are all thinking alike.

We've been out for lunch and run through a few ideas for EPQ topics. She agrees that although she may be bored rigid at the moment, a couple of topics do spark her interest later on in the course. I think a lot of it stems from being on a slightly different wavelength to others in her class both in terms of her personality and ability. If her great grandparents survived WWII, she can survive 18 months of English Language as a means to an end!

@LimitIsUp - do you still work in/around politics? I'm always surprised by how many of my classmates do! I bump into them on a regular basis!

@Stickerrocks - you can always get input on that EPQ from the 'politicians' on this thread!

No sandybayley, I never did. Went straight from University into the fast track graduate management programme in the NHS. My niece's dh graduated in Politics some twenty years after me and now works for an MP in a research role. Are you working in politics?

Indeed Sticker she can survive one subject that doesn't float her boat for 18 months. That's the spirit!

@LimitIsUp - I am. Have done for the 23 years. Currently a lobbyist but have done stints working for an MP and as a Civil Servant. I love it but get fed up when people just want to talk about politics outside of work. DH is particularly guilty of talking about Brexit just before we go to sleep and it gets me wound up when he just nods off afterwards.

I am soooo tempted to ask how you voted in the referendum, but won't go there

@LimitIsUp - let's not even go there. It would derail the entire thread 😉

Another one who did politics at university. Wasn't offered as an A level at my school. Actually I did Combined Studies at University, which was great, as you could pick any 3 subjects that you wanted to do. Not sure if Universities still offer these courses, but could be good for those students who are still unsure. I have no idea what mine wants to study at university. Currently she is saying she doesn't want to go. Could get tricky as there aren't really any alternatives out here. At least she's a girl and I can still sponsor her.

Ha Ha all for derailments usually and this thread has thrown up some fascinating topics - but that's probably one step too far if we want to stay friends.

Does anyone know about the various taster days/ subject open days/ master classes that Cambridge offer?

Just checked the website and the Spring Masterclass dates are out. I've booekd ds onto the Maths one - it is probably a better experience than an open day and leaves a breathing space between Oxford and Cambridge faculty Open days.

www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/events/masterclasses

Though I should throw in DS interests (though like most, subject to change over the next 6 to 12 months which are sometimes transformatory).

First choice - apprenticeship in computing or techy field, ideally coding and not cyber security.

Considering uni options for CS and possibly maths, with year in industry (but I think mainly because he feels he should rather than because he wants to).

Looking at the likes of Southampton, Bath, Birmingham etc (ie campus and not too far from home - 2 to 3 hours max) but will need some lower in the range as late developer and not yet sure if he's looking at A/A* or A/B. And haven't really looked at courses yet.

Uni of London tasters ore open for applications too - or at least the maths/CS ones are

Also I think I've mentioned this one before as it might be useful for mathsy DC not sure on course

www.cs.ox.ac.uk/FurtherMathsWhatNext/

DS has booked himself on the Cambridge History subject masterclass in March despite the fact he will definitely not apply there. It is just that Oxford only seems to offer "access" courses which rules out my indie attending boy!

His EPQ is well underway on a history topic that would bore me rigid but each to their own. Too outing to say what but will PM if any regular is really interested!

DS enjoyed Cambridge Masterclass on Politics and IR. He is booked onto History one next (?) month.

He is off to a William Blake study day at Oxford with school, but seems to have eliminated Oxford from his choices based purely on their cricket team and one negative comment from an older cousin he worships.

Still no idea which of his 4 he will drop in the summer.