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

242, I went to Leicester uni back in the day and had quite a few medic friends. They all seemed so much cleverer than the rest of us. I don’t think a review from 35 years ago will be much use, though I think TheFirst’s DS1 is there ATM.

University of Leicester in a nutshell:

Smallish university in terms of number of students. Academic campus is in the city, next to a big park. The city of Leicester is not the prettiest.

Accommodation: Nearly all first years live in a spacious, leafy student village in the suburbs, a 25 minute bus journey from the academic campus. Arriva buses run every 10-15 minutes and the SU also runs a bus.

Student population: ethnically and socially diverse; plenty of students from state schools, more BAME students than you might find at other non-London universities.

Teaching staff: enthusiastic and helpful.
Student support: very helpful and supportive.

Interesting, Ellen and TheFirst. Good news about supportive staff and students. Will see what DS1 thinks after his taster day.

I've had a look at Imperial's accommodation costs. The halls that they showed us at last year's open day - closest to medical teaching block - is £240/wk for a single ensuite (DS1 has issues with sharing bathrooms with non-family; I think he's scarred from a dirty toilet incident in primary school). That would set us back almost £9,000 per year (assuming 38 weeks) before living expenses! I don't think we qualify for much help. Yikes.

TheFirst it hasn’t changed much, then! I was in Gilbert Murray first and second year, then off Clarendon Park in 3rd year. Very diverse student mix and we loved celebrating Diwali!

EllenJanesthickerknickers
Gilbert Murray now includes a group of halls; DS1 lives in one of these.
Oadby Student Village is great; lots of trees and green spaces. There's a student hub and they put on a range of activities every week.

The other thing I forgot to say about Leicester is the cost of living is very reasonable. DS1 is paying less for accommodation than any of his friends at other universities.

A single ensuite in Oadby student village is around £125 to £150 per week (depending on size of room).

Southampton Mayflower Halls cost between £175 to an eye watering £247 per week. Basing my information on the bus queue outside each morning, only overseas students can afford them. The only UK students who seem to go in have Deliveroo bags on their backs. (Cheaper accommodation is available)

DD2 pays £115 a week in Birmingham. Not en suite and small room but huge kitchen with sofas which she loves and 10 minute walk to lectures. Will be paying similar in second year for 6 bed house 30 min walk from campus

The other good thing we discovered in Birmingham (tho others may have it too) is pastoral and welfare support is located and embedded in academic departments rather than annorrsonnal central hub or in accomidation. Even tho a small department there is a dedicated and highly visible welfare officer in the department with links to tutors. Clearly they refer upwards for central support if needed. DD thinks this is a good thing and more likely to access support this way

DD went to Birmingham at the start of this week and loved it - it will almost certainly be on her top 5.
Has anyone's DC not 100% firmed up on their subject? DD is torn - all options are variants on history (eg ancient history, history and classics, history modern & ancient, history & English) but I can't see how she is going to write a PS without narrowing it down to one choice? Anyone else having this problem?
Also is everyone else writing their EPQ on a subject specific to their degree choice?
......a spreadsheet is great until you a faced with "I like this course at this Uni but if I go to that Uni then I prefer the look of that course". It makes the GCSE and A Level decisions look positively easy!!!!

It’s still early days though bpisock and I think views firm up over the next few months. And unless it’s an I bridge choice they have too Jan. I think once the school sessions kick in they start talking to friends and teachers too and comparing notes which adds to the picture

I think they mature a lot in sixth form too which makes discussion and decision making a bit easier. At least in my experience. And we seemed to get over that - if a parent or teacher suggests it it must be rubbish phase

Bpisok don't worry - still undecided here - law or philosophy or some combination with politics now starting to get mentioned! It took him long enough to choose A levels so I'm not holding my breath!

DS knows he wants to do maths now, but he really has no idea of the wide variety of maths courses available.
He thinks he wants to do pure maths. However, I suspect he thinks it's unadulterated maths, rather than knowing what it actually is. I really believe that he will not like it and will struggle with it and he should do some kind of applied maths instead. So, I'm going to make sure that he finds out what he'd be getting into and makes an informed decision.

Birmingham was a favourite with DS1 too, particular as non-Music degree students were eligible for a music bursary to continue to study their instrument. But he's not going to apply there as their Medicine shortlist criteria includes a GCSE count of both Eng Lang and Lit (for which DS1 got 7s; 9s in everything else). With Medicine being so competitive, 2x7s will be cutting it close, I think.

Any DC started/written their personal statements yet? Did school help/guide? Nothing yet at DS1's school.

I can't see how she is going to write a PS without narrowing it down to one choice? Anyone else having this problem?

bpisok DS2 might have this issue with Physics and Natural Sciences. One way to get around it might be to refer to individual topics of interest that are relevant to all the courses they are applying for, e.g. biophysics for DS2, ancient Mycenae or whatever for your DD.

Any DC started/written their personal statements yet?

DS2 has written an initial draft; I don't understand why he insisted on doing this so early.

For Oxbridge / vet / med applicants with an early deadline, it's reasonable to start planning / drafting the PS in the July of Y12.

For other applicants, there's no need to start doing this before September.

DS1 started his initial draft in late November (the evening before the school's deadline) and a friend's son (applying after A-levels) started writing his PS in January.

DS school have PS guidance sessions in June with the expectation it will be written over the summer. In Tutor sessions tho they have been filling a sort of spread sheet with what they want to do and why, what they like and why and what they have done etc etc. It actually looks really helpful, tho a pain to complete.

TheFirst is the Natural Sciences for Cambridge? They said they know that the PS has to suit a different range of degrees, so the UCAS one is for everyone & includes all the normal activity surrounding music, sport etc, topped up with their Supplementary Statement due in by the end of October, which is subject specific. They were very clear that the PS will need to open doors for your other 4 choices without being obviously Cambridge focused.

Hmm not sure about that sticker, I would be wary of a ps not fully focused in Cambridge. I think a Cambridge ps has to be virtually all academic with very little extracurricular. DD2 s ended up being more a less an academic essay on the topics she loved. You don’t actually get many words to get across what you know. Needs some super curricular but oxbridge and other academic unis aren’t interested in d of e sport or music unless related to your course. DD2s gold d of e didn’t even get a mention in the final version. Although she had the advantage of her other course were recruiting and she knew she was likely to get an offer from them and could write a ‘Cambridge ps’. The suggestion of writing about the specific topics you are interested in is a very good one.

This was from the Admissions team last week. They said that they know the PS cannot be Cambridge focused because it has to suit your 4 other choices as well eg. Physics rather than Natural Sciences. That was why the Supplementary Statement is so crucial, as it doesn't repeat the PS but is everything selling your passion for the Cambridge course you are applying for. That was due in 2 weeks later.

We have an Oxbridge potential evening at college this week, so I'll ask again then. They must know what they need to do in which statement.

Yes, PS prep has started at her school. Apparently many Unis want super curricular and a demonstration that they are genuinely interested in the subject, that they have attended talks/MOOCs/read about the subject. They have some kind of database that they log everything on (it also includes work experience, volunteering and extra curricular) and the careers guidance tutor (or whatever her title is) monitors them. The idea is to get as much done before Oct and then focus 100% on A Levels. All a bit strategic for my liking but that's what's expected of them.
Her problem is that she's a typical all rounder with an interest in anything and everything - except music, dance and languages. Her total ineptitude for each is astonishing. I sometimes wonder what will happen if she ever goes clubbing - she def won't be a boy magnet hahahaha

This may of course have to give a bit depending on your other options and how competitive those courses are

242Mummy that's very interesting about the music bursary at Birmingham. It's good they are thinking of the non-music degree students!

Oratory1 You're right - we hosted a Camb admissions tutor to lunch the other day (shd is a friend!) and we did ask a few questions about the application process. She says when she interviews, she is looking for a passion for the subject (hers being History), a spark, evidence to show thst the candidate has gone beyond school textbooks. She was genuinely puzzled as to why applicants think she should know that they have grade 6 ballet and a swimming certificate.