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

I've done it again. Totally ignore my last paragraph, as it reappeared from nowhere.

just in case anyone wants to do it: you don't need Latin to do classics at Cambridge - you do a 4 year course. The downside would be the extra tuition, though.My friend's dd went this route from her comprehensive and had to do Latin boot camp in the Summer before she started. She has absolutely loved it - now in her final year. She did an EPQ on an ancient history topic.

DS is feeling that the odds are against him being a white British male with two educated parents (and not on free school meals).
The truth is we don't have the money to just buy his way through things.
So, last night he was wondering whether work experience and masterclasses might become more available if he were to identify as transgender? Suddenly, he'd help fill quotas. he can't do anything about his ethnicity or his parents's degrees, but he could start ticking the female box.

Hmmm, absolutely no takers for Classics in our house, but how quickly would you see a return on the investment in the extra year of tuition fees & living costs? Presumably you would need to spend time & energy on something alongside an EPQ to prove the "passion" they so desire.

Whistl one of the highest state school % Oxbridge degree courses are Computer Sciences. However, you could simply get DS to dump the maths and take up Greek instead! Alternatively, do what the vast majority do. Head for a nice university with a decent course, bumble along for 3 years having fun and get exactly the same type of job in the city/law/IT etc as all the rest. This time next year we will al be fretting about whether our DC will get the ABC required to do just that.

But whistl, as well as intelligence and work ethic, he has what has been proven to one of the biggest advantages - supportive parents. And with a committed, knowledgeable ninja mum he will be fine.

Good point Sticker - we fret about our dc but most are heading for good courses at decent uni s even they don’t reach their aspirational heights.

I'm kind of relieved that we don't need to worry about the Oxbridge process

Dd is pleased and relieved. Got her grade back for the Art project she has been working on for some time and will make up half her predicted grade - a comfortable A. Phew!

I'm not worrying about the Oxbridge process either, Limit! Maths is a particularly difficult subject to get into Oxbridge with and even 3 A isn't enough without STEP or MAT. Anecdotally MAT is easier than STEP, though. DS3 won't be getting 3 A so no need to consider it. He'll probably have a go at STEP as it's great preparation for A levels and uni maths.

Yep the process can be quite brutal, extra stages compared with just completing UCAS and PS - entrance tests, additional info and often 3 interviews not just the one. But DD2 actually enjoyed it even though it was stressful and she didn't take up the place. It gave her a chance to stretch herself and see what she could do at the highest level and also forced her to really consider her subject and read around it (one that she wasn't doing for A level) so at the end of the process even though she rejected Cambridge she was completely sure what course she wanted to do. I think some DC do tend to drift into subjects and courses and then regret it when they get there.

But I we won't be going that route will DS either. Like you Ellen if DS does apply to uni it will be for Maths/CS where all the top courses are two A, A or A AA requirement and we think he's probably heading for A/B.

I am just impressed Oratory that you managed to put two * in a sentence and not have it go haywire with boldness!

Ha ha and thankyou got ignoring all my typos - due to fat fingers typing on a phone !!

Something the trick is to leave some gaps and/or punctuation around them. I've given up trying to type 3A in a row! AAA vs A A A*

Oratory, I agree there is definitely a lot of being swept along with potential rather than necessarily rational options at the moment. DD's college starts their careers and university programme for year 12s in earnest next week. They have had around 300 (around 15%)attend the initial "Are you interested in Oxbridge as this is what is involved" meetings this week. They have had 62 offers for year 13, so you can see how it drop down.

The MAT is easier than the STEP (DS can do MAT questions but STEP leave him ), but that may be because STEP is taken much later.

DH has his heart set on DS going to Oxford / Cambridge. I know (i know, I know, I know!) that it isn't about what DH wants but right now that's what is driving things. We've had the setting DS up for a fall chat (me) and the "you've got to aim high" chat (DH). I'm hoping that the open days will clarify things for DS and then he'll take over the goal-setting.

They say you need all the A level content to do STEP which is why its taken after A levels.

Have to confess I had to stifle a brief whistfull thought of ,well that would have ben nice, when DD2 turned down her place. But as you say it is her decision and she had very rational reasons. (still would have been nice from a visiting parent pov tho !!)

My future in laws refused to visit DH and I in our sea front location, but made regular trips to York, Oxford & Cambridge for the other two. From our perspective, we missed out on treats, but we lived in such a lovely location that they didn't know that they were the ones missing out really.

Ha ha my parents were the opposite, enjoyed visiting my siblings in Bradford and Newcastle as they said it gave them a chance to explore and discover places they wouldn’t never normally have gone too

DS1 going to attempt Medicine at Cambridge so steeling myself now for a double whammy of anxiety. It's what he really wants (the other unis have become a secondary blur of 'whichever, I don't mind') - scared for him and the disappointment he might face.

Meanwhile just had an emotional chat with DS2 who is completely unplugged. His violin teacher texted to say he hadn't turned up for his lesson (2 absences out of 3 lesson this term). He's not completing homework and is fixated with xbox, computer and phone all the time. I think I made a little breakthrough - let's see how long it lasts.

Ds has signed up to "further maths what's next" at Oxford plus their maths open day and a maths master class at Cambridge. I'm hoping that it helps him to see which course he likes best rather than just picking where his gf is! But I try to say in a not too discouraging way that loads of really good people don't get in. I think he is looking forward to some days off school!

He has been doing the senior team maths challenge today and I am sitting in Sainsbury's cafe waiting for him to get back to school. I've had a couple of journey update texts but nothing telling me how they did!

Nothing to report here. School was closed on Tuesday for the Pope's visit, as it's right next to the Catholic Church. Today was sport's day, which she declined to participate in. And tomorrow is year 12 team building day and she's not showing much enthusiasm for that either. Next week they have Tuesday - Thursday off for half term. Considering school is not her favourite place this is all good as far as she is concerned.

abitofastate snap! Ds signed up for Cambridge Maths masterclass and Oxford faculty open day on 27 April. We have been to Warwick which I liked, particularly the ability to take courses from other faculties without compromising the Maths.

Veiled I did do a double take at the pictures of the Pope in your country.

Anyone off the the Politics & IR masterclass at Cambridge?

DS has an email today confirming he has passed all 5 rounds of online testing for PwC summer placement and now has to do an online interview by laptop which will be for about an hour!! Seriously for a week's work experience. I do hope that if he goes this route for summer internships etc during uni he gets some form of exemption.

Congrats to your DS something

It sounds one hell of a selection process - not sure my DD would have the commitment.
Nothing exciting here to report. I am ill DD is ill and the dog has thrown up!