What universities are these GCSEs good enough for?

[lawlawlaw]

Hello all,

We are very happy with our dd who did very well (imo) at her gcses and couldnt be more thrilled or proud of her.
She really wants to study history at uni,
DH and I were wondering what sort of university are they good enough for?

Oh, almost forgot to add what she had lol! She got 6a* and 6a from a comp.

Thanks:-)

Actually her A levels are most important, very few Unis will use GCSE grades as a deciding factor between applicants (subject to minimum requirements usually in Eng and Maths). You must know that with those grades your daughter has very good prospects wherever she wishes to go. Nice stealth boast though

@homebythesea

Yes we understand that, both hubby and I went to uni but it was such a long time ago so we don't really understand how the whole thing works these days-don't make me feel so ancient!:$ haha
Thank you for your kind words,
It takes great skill ;)
No honestly now that really wasnt my aim whatsoever! Just an old mum trying to get her head round things !

It's A levels that count and it doesn't matter where they are from. There are lots of things to consider when choosing a university. She needs to like the place she will be living in for 3 or 4 years. One of mine wanted a campus setting two wanted a big city. Book some open days this autumn. Lots are on Saturdays.

Well done to your DD.

Might depends on the subjects too. If its sciences, maths, languages, latin then those are good grades. if it's needlework and childcare not so good.

I was wondering where DD might go with her 10 A* ;)

You also need to seriously consider finances - London is a very expensive way to go about being a student. There's loads of threads on the Higher Education boards that you might want to peruse to inform yourself what is involved. Your DD's 6th form if it's worth its salt will also give them lots of guidance over the next 2 years. Presumably she has already chosen her A level subjects? As long as none of them are the sort of subject not considered by RG universities (Google RG facilitating subjects) then she will be fine for History. Also important for Uni application is work experience and a demonstrable "passion" for the subject so she might want to start thinking about that aspect and not panic last minute like my DS

As others have said it will be the A2s that really matter but with those GCSEs everywhere could be ruled in at the moment.

For History, unlike med or vet, though would not agree that work experience will have any influence on a Uni application. DS1 is reading history at a fairly well known institution just off the M11, he made no mention of work experience, and just a single line on extra curriculars in his application. Clearly did not phase them in the slightest, nor the four other Unis who gave him offers. However the need to demonstrate "passion" or being "serious" about the subject absolutely agree.

With those grades, any university is still in play - she should seriously consider Oxbridge in the mix.

boys3 at my DS school they did an info evening for parents on the whole process and the takeaway from that was that work experience- either subject related, potential career related or just shelf stacking for some extra pocket money- was vital to show that the applicant has something about themselves. This was particularly the case for those who had little else to put in the PS ie not sporty, musical etc. of course for many subjects it will be difficult to do subject specific experience but for History something like a few days in a local museum or NT propery for example might be useful. Membership of a Historical society (is there an equivalent to the Royal Geographival society?) might also be good. It will support the assertion that this is something the applicant has thought about a bit and really wants to do as opposed to being chosen just because it's the highest predicted grade!

I went to that Uni off the M11 too and I suspect their criteria are somewhat different on that score

home I do think that there are some very different messages being given out by schools, by university websites and by admission tutors (who often seem to completely contradict the general info on their Uni's website). That said whether it ends up on the application or not there are a whole raft of positives from having some paid work whilst doing A levels - from time management to reduced demand on the bank of mum & dad, although I'd struggle to find clear and unequivocal evidence on the latter point :)

Those are great results OP. I'd say her options were wide open. Three of my DC are reading history and between them, with not strikingly dissimilar grades, applied to Bristol (2), Durham (3), Edinburgh (1), Manchester (1), Oxford (3), St Andrews (1), UCL (1), Warwick (1), York (2) with a 93% hit rate (one rejection from Durham with 7A*5A). All had quite a bit of history related work experience and worked in paid work and had obviously read well beyond the curriculum.

London ones are fine but pick carefully. London Met - you might as well leave school at 14. LSE, King's, UCL very hard to get into and very good. Queen Mary next teir down etc etc

KCL easier Janet.

DD's friend is volunteering at American History Museum in Bath because he loves American History.

I know she likes history but with those results she'd even more than make the minimum entry requirement for Cardiff medical school:

"As a guide we advise applicants that you will need to achieve four to five A* in 9 GCSEs for your application to meet the minimum threshold, which is set each year once all applications are received. Please remember that we have to include your Maths, English Language and Sciences grades in those 9, even if you have higher grades in other subjects. Once we have looked at our required subjects, we will then look at your top grades from your remaining GCSEs. Our maximum score possible is 27."

Chilly I know kids with far more than that who haven't had an offer. The minimum is just that. Cardiff doesn't say it = offer. Also, what's medicine got to do with it? .

lawlawlaw
Don't have Molio's experience but when DS (starting history at Oxford this October) , asked the admissions person about his GCSEs she stopped him after 8As and just said "that's plenty" in a way which would make me think your daughter's grades as Molio and others say leaves all options on the table. How could they not, really? However it is only an entry point and not a guide to an offer. He got offers from UCL and Kings (agree King's is easier) , turned down by LSE.

• Good job she did as he was running out of results. He has a fair fewer than your Dd. I realise my stealth boast fails in the light of Gin's post .

With 5 options on the UCAS I think she should consider anything is open to her.

UCAS form I meant.

Molio - I didn't make myself clear.

I was trying to think of something that would definitely be off the table with those grades as there can't be many things. Locally Cardiff medical school is famously demanding at GCSE so I just checked out of curiousity and OP's DD would make the minimum.

However your point is well made and the stated grades are just the minimum. Like you I have seen many able young people not get an offer/interview.

Yes that sounded a bit sharp Chilly - it's just that so many people seem to think medicine is some kind of a Mecca and has an intrinsic value higher than everything else!

Gloria pretty much any A levels are ok for history; it's not like some sciences.

I disagree with the comments that it's the A levels that matter. I don't actually think that was ever the case, but since OP's DD won't necessarily have ASs, or a full hand of ASs, GCSEs are bound to be key.

One of my history DC also took a non facilitating subject and she got five offers out of five, including Durham and Oxford - I say that because it's worth not getting put off by some of the MN lore :)

I'd say all, or at least most, options are open with those grades. All to play for .

And, like molio I do think GCSEs matter for some very competitive courses. They inform a part of the offer making process. And yes, with the demise of some AS, they may form a greater part. Universities don't seem to have quite worked through this yet (or are remaining cagey).

Molio Just interested in what your DC did for history-related
work experience. I have a DC who wants to apply for history at a number of the institutions that yours applied to (although heading towards the Fens rather than the Cotswolds) and is reading around the subject as much as they can but hasn't been able to come up with much in the way of work experience.

This isn't a direct answer LadyPeter but can I ask what year is your DC in and are you urban or even very urban?