Thread 22 Covid Cohort - Creeping towards the Future - Personal Statements and Interviews

[OrangeCinnamonCocktail]

This is a thread for supporting all young people post GCSEs 2020, regardless of their educational setting. It is respectfully requested that all are supportive and helpful to each other. If you want to start a debate, e.g state vs private, please don't within this thread. Please also be sensitive when responding to threads about grades.

Some of us have been here since first thread back in yr10, some will be new. Everyone has been friendly and helpful in the past. Everyone is welcome. It is hoped this will continue.

Our DS/DD may go down various paths (such as employment, apprenticeships, higher ed) We have decided for anyone interested they will most likely find us within the Further Ed board.

Previous thread
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/further_education/4370509-Thread-21-Corona-Cohort-Nervous-waiting-so-frustrating
Role Call below
@20newnames / DS / Engineering
@Alsoplayspiccolo / DD / English + Film
@AnneofCleavage / DD / gap year? Primary Education
@BlueMarigold / DD / Biology
@crazycrofter / DD / Child (?) + Mental Health Nursing
@Decorhate / DS / Economics + Politics
@Delphigirl / DS / Oceanography
@DoggerelBank / DS / tbc sciencey
@ealingwestmum / DD / Middle Eastern and European Studies
@EerilyDisembodied / DS / History or Environmental Management
@estherfrewen / DS / History
@EwwSprouts / DS / Biology
@Fiddlersgreen / DS / Journalism
@Fruitygal / DD / Biology
@Hattifatteners / DD / Vet Med
@Heifer / DD / Biology
@Hopeful201 / DS / Medicine
@Horace123 / DS / Classics
@icanbewhatiwant / DS / History + Philosophy
@Isthisjustnormal / DS / Comp Sci
@KingscoteStaff / DD / Medicine
@mummabear74 / DD / Environmental Science
@mummyinbeds / DS / Law + French Law
@Nard75 / DS / Maths
@NCTDN / DD / Liberal Arts
@Oblomov21 / DS / Accountancy
@OrangeCinnamonCocktail / DD / Music (uni)
@PaddingtonPaddington / DD / Music (cons)
@Piggywaspushed / DS / Social sciences combo
@ProggyMat / DD / Classics
@SandyBayley / DD / Medicine
@Seeline / DD / Liberal Arts
@singingstones / DS / Neuroscience
@Wheresthebeach / DD / gap year? Marine Biology
@whoamitojudge / DD / Cabin crew training
@Zebracat / DD / Liberal Arts or Anthropology
@ZittiEBuoni / DD / applying next year

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn it is one of the many examples of unfairness our poor DC face. I think the reasoning our school use is that UCAS say predictions should be aspirational but achievable but the school want the DC to know what the teachers ACTUALLY think they are heading for on current trajectory. DS said that in Physics pretty much anyone who wanted an A* prediction just had to commit to extra work if they weren't already on track. At another local school they sent an email asking people what predictions they wanted!

Makes a mockery of using predictions heavily to decide on offers. It is possible that some universities adjust for previous accuracy of predictions from a centre.

Schools also vary massively on PS. I think DS's tutor just said the PS (I had written!) was good and asked him what he wanted on his school ref. Just to clarify I only wrote it because there was no point in labouring over it when neither of the medical schools he can apply to will read it other than for an admin check if he gets an offer. DS1 took his more seriously but I don't remember school making any changes.

I agree @ealingwestmum that it is a great shame to take the character out - it is supposed to be their voice.

It is because the playing field is not level that most medical schools don't use it (following advice of Medical Schools Council on fairness).

DS said that in Physics pretty much anyone who wanted an A prediction just had to commit to extra work if they weren't already on track. At another local school they sent an email asking people what predictions they wanted!*

At the other end of the spectrum, DS's physics teacher is still predicting a C, despite telling me that DS was on course for a B or an A. Now they are trying to tell me that it doesn't matter because he will still get offers. Nope - I have asked Nottingham and they said they wouldn't offer to someone with those predictions. 🤬🤬🤬
If you hear any news reports of a Y13 mother running amok in South Wales, cover for me.

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn

Birmingham said at the open day we went to, that the grades had gone up to A*AA unless you were applying for German or French Law. They were really trying to sell the language option which DS applied for anyway but it's a bit late in the day if you don't have French/German A Level. DS spoke to one of the law tutors who said offers wouldn't be made until January so he was a bit surprised by the early offer.

All the stress of applications is so different to 30 years ago. I don't have a clue what grades my college predicted ( and didn't at the time) and don't remember writing a statement. My parents had left school at 15 and didn't get involved at all apart from driving me to some of the open days. They didn't look round the uni's with me. I don't remember college giving very much advice either so goodness knows how I ended up actually getting offers and my (insurance) place.

@singingstones have you spoken to Head of Year? Refer them to the UCAS page? It says aspirational but achievable.
www.ucas.com/advisers/managing-applications/guidance-and-changes/predicted-grades-what-you-need-know-entry-year

I was thinking the same recently @mummyinbeds, I don't remember knowing my predictions?! But then how would we have known where to apply to? My memory is very vague though.

@singingstones that's terrible that they won't increase his Physics grade. Don't they want their students to get into good universities? Most schools seem to revel in headlines about RG university offers etc, so it makes no sense at all. If they over predict, the worst that can happen is he doesn't make his offer and doesn't get in. But he needs some offers in the first place - and an aspirational offer from Nottingham will help motivate him too and then they can boast about his good grades?

Dd's predicted A grade for history was based on one assessment where she got an A* (and this was completed in lockdown so not timed). All her other assessments were a variety of grades from B down to E, hence she was keen to justify the A! But at least they were willing to predict her an A on what felt like little evidence (although I suppose they were also looking at her GCSE profile).

@Monkey2001 He is trying to sort it at the moment. Apparently the only person who can get the grades changed is the UCAS coordinator but she "can't" do anything until his tutor has written the reference. Hopefully the tutor will stop faffing around with the PS long enough to do that quickly. She is also HoY.

I think it's best if he can sort it out but the minute I find out they have told him no, his predicted grades are staying where they are, I will mobilise. I think I have come to terms with the fact that this will probably take several weeks, so even though he's done everything he needs to do, the form probably won't go in until December at the earliest.

I got one of my DSs Biology predicted moved from a C to a B. He was applying to do an unrelated non science course but they would not consider him with a C. The only time I’ve asked for any of DCs - he got the offers and got into a good course and graduated this year. The teacher gave him original prediction because she thought he would work harder if low?!?! Bonkers. @singingstones it seems crazy to push him down - I would speak with the head of subject and explain the impact this will have on offers

But he needs some offers in the first place - and an aspirational offer from Nottingham will help motivate him too and then they can boast about his good grades?

This is what is driving me demented, crazy. UCAS says that predicted grades should be aspirational because it motivates. DS really struggled in Y12, but he's got his physics grade up from U to A/B since Jan, and according to his teachers he's improving in every subject. (He got 85% in the last Biology test and they are also predicting a C.) He's done so well already. But if they insist on predicting ACC he will have no chance of studying the subject he wants, his motivation and confidence will be trashed again and that's probably what he'll end up getting.
My main hope is the UCAS coordinator who according to DS got an aspiring medic's grades changed from BBC to AAA. Not sure how true that is, and I'm not allowed to contact her directly and she won't do anything until she has seen the reference. My other main hope is that DD chooses to do her A levels elsewhere!

Fruity they are not keen on letting you talk to teachers - I tried that earlier in the year when he got a U and was told by the physics teacher that I had to talk to the year tutor, who then said she would talk to the physics teacher. We did have parents evening the other day (first one since Y11, a 5 minute appt on teams), and that's when the physics teacher said he was on for a B or an A. I asked him whether he wouldn't mind predicting that then, and he said I had to talk to the UCAS coordinator if I had a question about predicted grades. Honestly it's INFURIATING. Most of me of course hopes that they kindly sort it out with DS this week, but there's definitely a part of me that is absolutely raging and more than happy to go nuclear if necessary.

Very interesting variations between schools. I went to a lot of schools and somehow pitched up in a prestigious grammar school for vi form. Theydid not let me apply for university, said I’d ruin their reputation. It was demotivating, but probably fair as I did very little work and didn’t know how to write an essay. I took the exams then I got a deadly job with the DHSS. When I got 3 passes , I got a place through clearing.
40 years later, I’m finally able to see their point!

I wonder if teachers are affected by their historic view of a student? So if he didn’t work last year/ was perhaps seen as lacking motivation in GCSE years, they find it hard to adjust their expectations, despite evidence to the contrary in @singingstones ds’ case.

I’ve said this to ds, when he complains that he gets behaviour points for things other boys don’t. And I worry that it’s true academically for him too - if it goes to teacher grades, will they under grade him because he was a lazy pain in the backside up until year 10?! He’s going to be going somewhere new for sixth form anyway as we’re moving but I think he needs a fresh start

He did well at GCSE (2 x B and the rest A or A*) and had a good reputation then, but Y12 is definitely casting a long shadow. I wouldn't mind if they were saying, due to his poor performance in Y12 we know he is going to do badly next summer. But they seem to be saying, we know he can get an A but due to his poor performance in Y12 we have decided that he doesn't deserve an offer from Nottingham. Quite the antithesis of the (Welsh) govt's approach of trying to ensure that those who struggled with lockdown and online school are not penalised for it.

Anyway I will try to stop getting wound up about it and keep my fingers crossed that it all turns out ok.
More importantly, good luck to all those doing tests this week!

I am feeling angry on your behalf @singingstones!

What other unis has he applied for? Can he apply for Nottingham’s science with a foundation year and get in that way? As in get an offer and then change to the course he wants as he will get the grades for the real thing?

That's a good thought Blue and I will bear it in mind. He hasn't applied anywhere yet as the tutor is still correcting the bit of the PS that she has written, and he is waiting until the grades decision is made as he will need a big rethink if they don't change them. I imagine he just wouldn't apply this year, as all the doors he is interested in would be shut. But the hoped for plan is Nottingham, Exeter, QMUL, Sussex, Aston. Notts is AAB, Aston BBB, the others ABB. I think Aston do a foundation year but it's already a 4 yr course for BSc and it's not his favourite.

Sorry Blue just reread and that is a v good idea to try and slip on to the BSc that way, thank you.

Just checked and also looks possible for Sussex and QMUL, genius idea.

I wonder if it’s time to revive the previous discussion about the continental method of getting offers once results are in. I did think that it would be a rush, but it might also be fairer.

That is fairer but only if you can also choose your unis after you get the results. DD had to adjust her list based on the predicted grades.

You'd think it would be possible to come up with a better system.

We have new Covid advice in Wales - 5-17 yr olds have to isolate until they get a -ve PCR if someone in their household tests positive or has symptoms. Previously they could go into school unless / until they developed symptoms themselves.
Same rule for fully vaccinated over 18s. Non vaccinated over 18s have to isolate for 10 days, testing on day 2 and day 8.

Quick Q - character count for PS. Does the 4000 include spaces? Because DS is covering two subjects his is too long.

Interesting that for med schools they don't really look at them. The unis we are looking at, which are much lower ranked are all saying they do definitely read them and take them into account as part of the whole application. We have decided to be upfront about looking at two subjects and saying why.

I don’t know the answer, but we have a similarr issue , in that the PS was within the count, but too many lines?

Yep 4000 with all spaces - pop it in the ucas PS page and it will show you how many over you are - it will take 2-3 drafts minimum and then heavy cutting etc to get it to fit snd for DC to be happy. Helpful to get someone who has never seen it while being developed to do the cutting. So if you are providing some support for DC at the writing stage then get a DH or grandparent with English skills to do the harsh cuts to make it fit . Get DC to save every version so if they want to retrieve cut bits later they have them.