Page 33 | Thread 19 - Corona Cohort, Enrolling on Year 13, hopefully NOT unlucky for some

EssentiallyDisorganised · 17/09/2021 07:40

With regard to personal statements, it is no exaggeration to say that a turning point in DS's life was his y8 parents evening (pupils go with parents at his school). We (I!) had been thinking he was stronger in geography than history but when we sat down with the history teacher his face lit up and said "DS, you must take history when you choose your options!" and proceeded to heap praise on DS. His school have a truly inspirational team of history teachers. Would it be appropriate to mention this? It's particularly poignant as that teacher has since passed away, I feel quite emotional thinking about it.

Delphigirl · 17/09/2021 07:44

I think it can be worth applying for ABB with BBB predictions, not across the board perhaps but for one or two stretch choices, particularly for courses which often appear in clearing. First, they may offer ABB and she may get ABB. everyone is happy. Second, they may offer ABB because actually they know they often/usually take kids with a dropped grade if they otherwise have a good personal statement/ good EPQ. Third, because some of these “standard offers” bear no resemblance to their real requirements and they may be in clearing every year with BCC.

You can get some idea of the grades of the actual admitted cohort on discover uni. Also see what the chat is about leniency for that uni and subject on student room. Or ask on here!

Monkey2001 · 17/09/2021 07:45

@NCTDN it depends on how competitive a course is. For medicine around 20% don't look at predictions or will accept predictions 1 grade below the offer. The Biomed admissions tutor at Newcastle told us they give AAB offers to all applicants predicted at least CCC. It will also vary from course to course whether they will consider applicants who have not achieved the offer on results day. It is always worth asking Admissions at the universities they are considering. Also worth checking whether they meet any contextual criteria as that brings requirements down by 1-3 grades and contextual varies significantly from one university to the next.

Monkey2001 · 17/09/2021 07:55

@EssentiallyDisorganised yes! If universities use the PS they want to see a personal story. Cambridge talk about how they like to see a good trajectory, so if someone found inspiration and changed their game and started to achieve their potential, for whatever reason, that is good. Anything which shows individual character is good. It is worth checking whether the universities being considered have published videos about PS, lots have.

BlueMarigold · 17/09/2021 08:03

DD’s school phoned to say that she can do her assessments when she’s back and they will help her catch up. On the plus side, she’s only missed a few lessons where they learned new things, because it was assessment week.

She hasn’t been able to do anything and can barely eat although she’s drinking water.

Piggywaspushed · 17/09/2021 08:11

[quote NCTDN]@Seeline has your DD done her PS? DD here has but it's 6000 words Because liberal arts covers all sorts of elements, trying to fit everything in is nigh on impossible and now she's working out which bits are not as important.

Predictions: if a child was predicted BBB for example, is there any point applying to places asking for AAB or do unis just reject them straight away? DD hasn't yet got her predictions. [/quote]
It's the same issue for us for HSPS and DS's other choices are also things which combine subjects. It's hard!

Re the offers : they'll still get AAB offers, in all likelihood but you'd have to think about whether it's a wasted application?

I am worried about a girl I teach who has applied to a range of excellent unis for criminology all at AAB to ABB and I am pretty sure she's a BBB/BBC kind of student. Hard not to upset them though!

Piggywaspushed · 17/09/2021 08:14

@EssentiallyDisorganised

With regard to personal statements, it is no exaggeration to say that a turning point in DS's life was his y8 parents evening (pupils go with parents at his school). We (I!) had been thinking he was stronger in geography than history but when we sat down with the history teacher his face lit up and said "DS, you must take history when you choose your options!" and proceeded to heap praise on DS. His school have a truly inspirational team of history teachers. Would it be appropriate to mention this? It's particularly poignant as that teacher has since passed away, I feel quite emotional thinking about it.

Oh, that's really touching. I would mention it although it's more homage to the teacher, I guess. But he can express gratitude, explain that ignited a spark and then move on.

Piggywaspushed · 17/09/2021 08:17

DS does sound absorbed in his subjects, I think, in his PS but doesn't credit anything with igniting him. He likes what he likes : nothing happened to him other than his mother being a rabid socialist

I'm a tad worried he doesn't have that 'spark' story but I suppose that's better than making something up...

stoneysongs · 17/09/2021 08:29

I think that's lovely @EssentiallyDisorganised and definitely worth mentioning.

DD (Y11) has Covid. Apparently her friend was unwell recently but didn't take a test "because he didn't have any". 🤦‍♀️

DS has no symptoms at the moment, so still going to school.

stoneysongs · 17/09/2021 08:34

DS has done his PS and I tidied it up a bit and helped him come up with a final para. A relative who is a teacher / sixth form tutor offered to have a look so I emailed it and haven't heard anything since which is a bit awkward. I don't know if he's been too busy or is so appalled at the quality of the PS that he doesn't know where to start or what to say to us 😬

Piggywaspushed · 17/09/2021 08:34

Hope your DD is OK singing. Both mine weren't especially ill (DS2more ill than 1) although DS2 (this thread DS) still cannot smell anything and fitness levels at about 80% . Leaving that a few more weeks and then notifying GP.

EwwSprouts · 17/09/2021 08:39

BlueM sorry to hear your DD is still so poorly. Great that school have a plan in hand though.

Monkey Head chorister! Congratulations to Monkey junior.

EwwSprouts · 17/09/2021 08:40

Piggy isn't the spark conversations round the kitchen table?

Piggywaspushed · 17/09/2021 08:42

Listening to his mum ranting, maybe! His statement is too long now, anyway! I think he does show that he is very interested in social history throughout so he should be OK. He has a whole bit on Thatcher and the press.

Seeline · 17/09/2021 09:01

@NCTDN she's had several goes at her PS, but still not happy. A couple of teachers have looked at it and suggested different things, but I'm not sure they are really familiar with the nature of a liberal arts course. DD hasn't really got much to put in experience wise - it's the very nature of being able to do stuff that she's never done before that's really appealing to her! I think going to a couple of open days and talking to lecturers and students may have given her a few ideas so we'll sit down and have a re-think in the next few days.

Decorhate · 17/09/2021 09:06

Hi all. I have a UCAS account so if anyone wants me to check historic acceptance grades for a course let me know. It doesn’t cope with a mixture of A Levels & BTECs though & not clear what year it’s taking the data from....

BlueMarigold · 17/09/2021 09:35

That’s brilliant @Decorhate

Could you check acceptance rate at Birmingham, Nottingham and Sheffield for Biology please? With Biology/Psychology/Art A Levels. AAB

Piggywaspushed · 17/09/2021 09:37

seeline are all her choices for Lib Arts?

NCTDN · 17/09/2021 09:38

@Seeline no I don't think many are familiar with liberal arts and I haven't got a clue

NCTDN · 17/09/2021 09:39

@Decorhate thank you - sent you a pm.

Piggywaspushed · 17/09/2021 09:49

Don't know if you have seen this?

blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/liberalarts/2018/07/06/apply-liberal-arts-personal-statements/

Seeline · 17/09/2021 10:02

@Piggywaspushed - yes, all liberal arts. And yes, that Nottingham link is very useful. I think they're looking more for enthusiasm for new things, and a willingness to find links between different subjects, rather than a list of what they have studied/want to study, but teachers don't seem to be seeing it that way 🙄

Alsoplayspiccolo · 17/09/2021 10:26

Funding help, please!

DD is considering doing a course with an integrated foundation year, meaning a total of 4 years undergraduate.
How will that impact on funding?

Really liking the look of Royal Holloway, for either English with film/theatre or liberal arts.

Piggywaspushed · 17/09/2021 10:31

As a teacher myself, I can say quite openly that lots of teachers have no clue (they mostly applied to uni 10+ years ago!) about PSs, and certainly not outside their own subject, in your average school anyway! Some are exceptions, most particularly those who have DCs of the right age, or do extra research,.

I have had to do complete overhauls of some PSs or grit my teeth when a student says 'Mr HOY says it's fine'...for example, when I have tried to remove reams of stuff about working at Tescos...

I think, listen to the advice and then do what you think is right, based on the excellent advice from Nottingham et al. It is sometimes useful to send teachers links like that in an email and then ask if they think the PS fits their guidelines. I wouldn't be offended.

Monkey2001 · 17/09/2021 11:00

@Alsoplayspiccolo

Funding help, please!

DD is considering doing a course with an integrated foundation year, meaning a total of 4 years undergraduate.
How will that impact on funding?

Really liking the look of Royal Holloway, for either English with film/theatre or liberal arts.

Very few graduates will be pay back the full loan, so for most a foundation year will just mean a bigger write off 30 years after graduation. Parents will have an extra year to make up funding, but I think you are Welsh, so may be different?