Year 12 #3: Open Days and Predicted Grades beckon

[whistl]

Yikes! The title has just hit me! It's too soon! I'm not ready!!

Thread number 2 link: https://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/further_education/3443840-Year-12-2-Carols-commutes-a-few-stocking-fillers

Good work @whistl

Thank you for new thread Whistl

Me neither, and unless he changes his mind this time next year DS will be looking for jobs and all that goes with it - car, flat and looking after himself without the comfort of campus and catered hall option - help !!!

I also echo what Peggy says and hope posters aren't put off by DC seemingly 'flying though'. As she says most aren't, including many of are own other DC.

Morning!

Thank you for the new thread!

Thanks for new thread!

I'm so enjoying the support and camaraderie here - our dc are all different and make us face different challenges parenting them, but we have wisdom and humour to offer each other.
DD doesn't seem to have started to think about open days yet!

Thank you for the new thread!

Yes - I love that there is so little competition and one-up-man-ship on this thread. Instead there is genuine concern and offers of support; we celebrate and commiserate together. In a world of trolls and negative attacks by keyboard warriors, this is a rare oasis. You are so lovely, ladies!

Ekkk! Thread title has hit me too... Sorry for all the questions but DD is first child

When do Open Days start? How do DC decide on which ones to visit? When are predicted grades given? What is the parent protocol for Open Days?!

@Twinplusone - I think all schools have slightly different approaches. DS1 has exams in June and I think we'll get an initial prediction after that. He has an interview with his tutor (who happens to lead on admissions) this week and I think we'll get a steer after that. We also have a 'talk coming up for parents.

We've already done a couple of open days but I think the bulk will be in June. Has anyone tried Unifrog yet? A friend recommended it.

Checking in, thanks whistl

Most open days are June and September twin so some time yet. Most schools/colleges also run information evenings - ours is in March. I remember the first time too and how it seems daunting at the start but it sort of unfolds over time and seems to fall into place in stages so don’t worry too much about the end point

sandy what is unifrog?!

Thanks oratory college has been so hands off, I just don't think I'm going to get any guidance from them... thank goodness for this thread 😊

Google year 12 summer schools and university open days. They kick off from June to Sept for UCAS applications in the autumn. If there are particular universities which DC are keen on, just go direct to their websites.

You usually have to book a place. The DC do their own thing and parents, if they go, are either ushered to parent only events or trot off to enjoy a day out elsewhere.

We have our Higher Education Evening this Thursday and we have already been sent a timetable for how it all works from now until A level results day 2020!! It includes UCAS fairs, supervisor sessions to discuss uni applications, when draft Personal statements need to be completed, when final statement does, Oxbridge, med, vet med and dentistry deadlines, other deadlines etc. For a bit of a control freak like me it's a double-edged sword.

We live in the "arse-end of nowhere" to coin a phrase and DS's top choice unis are at opposite ends of the country so we have already attended 2 East Coast uni open days last Sept/Oct (and ruled out what seemed like a top contender on paper as DS hated it) and have 2 West Country ones planned for June and September to spread them out both travel and cost wise!

Summer exams will give final predicted grades, although parents evening gave an on course for a x grade for each subject. Our school also gives them a chance to retake Summer exams the day before yr 13 starts to persuade subject teachers to give a higher predicted, if the retake proves this can be achieved with work.

Amongst all this DS is planning an interail type trip with 4 friends (although the places they want to go they have worked out it is cheaper to buy individual train tickets. You can tell there are Economics and Maths students amongst them!

Looking forward to half term already for a breather!

Phew Shalom I'm exhausted just reading that. Ironically, I ruled out the 2 you're looking at 30 years ago for being too close to home, but then couldn't look any further ooop north than Warwick for travel reasons!

Twin I can't add anything useful to what has been said but didn't want to leave it without expressing solidarity. I hope it all comes good in the end

I saw Art GCSE mentioned and Loose is right that it is quite an academic process now with a lot of the marking scheme weighted towards reflection and recording the process of how you arrived at your final piece, rather than simply marking the art output itself. It is heavy on the coursework.

Speaking of coursework dd is now doing Art A level and she was up until 3 am this morning finishing off her final response (which makes up 40% of her predicted grade). They were only given two weeks notice, and her canvass and supporting work in her workbook probably comprised 40 - 60 hours. Mental.

Lovely job, whistl!

LimitIsUp That was me and DS2 re: the Art GCSE. Thank you all so much for the warning about weightage on written reflection etc - it's definitely given us food for thought. Spoke to DS2 this evening and he said he was never sure about Art and would like to do Business Studies, really.

He was toying with the idea of Architecture for uni and career hence the GCSE Art (possibly even A level). Just the thought of the 5 years' course is enough to put me off - knowing DS2, he'd never finish. So here we are, veering off towards Materials Engineering and Product Design now. I know he's only Year 9 but I like to have a plan!

I may be being stupid, but why would Philosophy and Politics be a BA at Durham and a BSc at Bristol?

Just checking in to the new thread.

Dds further maths mock didn't go too well this morning. She said they all found it hard.

Sorry I haven't been keeping up with the thread but I hope you are ok twin. I also have the problem of dd not communicating when she has problems. It's so hard when you can't do anything to help

Kingscote - I may be being stupid, but why would Philosophy and Politics be a BA at Durham and a BSc at Bristol?

I am guessing there are more quantitative elements to their politics modules than at Durham. Some Geography degrees are BSc rather than BA too. I think Bristol requires a minimum B at GCSE for Maths too.

@ShalomJackie is right. Politics degrees differ in how science based they are. If it has a high political theory content (verging on philosophy) it will be an art. If the degree included psephology or economics it would be a science. Most degrees are a mix of course!

Found you all thank goodness! Thanks for new thread whistl
Hope everyone OK. All the best to all am currently looking after pup who was spayed today and still recovering after operation. She's so doped up she doesn't know where she is! Be back soon.

sandy so why is PPE a BA then? That must have shedloads of Economics in it!

Sostenueto love to Pup! hope she feels better this morning!
DS is making the pragmatic decision to cut from 4 AS levels to three. He was disappearing under all the work and music, sadly, is the one that will have to go. However, he will still be very busy with his bands and lessons and is very much enjoying his subjects, which is great.