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Higher education

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Original poster

Didn't get grade for nursing

27 replies

Laceybean · 25/08/2016 21:47

My daughter had a conditional offer based on her achieving a B grade in he CACHE childcare and education but got a C.

She declined an alternative of mental health nursing and doesn't want to go through clearing as only wants to study locally.

She is 40 UCAS points below at 240 and needs 280 to get onto nursing.

I don't know what to suggest as a booster so she can reapply again with the grades she needs, thought I'd found a Btec 90 credit course but apparently the credits don't equate to UCAS points.

An access course has been suggested which I thought was for 19+ but one college we've approached said they will take her at 18. I'm not sure how the fees will work though as it says £3k + and couldn't afford this.

Can anyone help please ??

OP posts:
NerrSnerr · 25/08/2016 22:16

Why does she only want to study locally? Could she explore the clearing idea? It's not like she has to take up an offer but there might be somewhere amazing that could offer a place.

Original poster
Laceybean · 25/08/2016 22:29

She doesn't want to move out of home and away. She's quite independent but likes her home comforts.

OP posts:
Akire · 25/08/2016 22:37

Can she resit the year? The OPen University do course for 60 points in health and social care she could do it over a year usually run Oct or Feb start for 9months. Then try next year?

In England it's about £2500 for a 60p course but around 16hours a week of study so could in theory get care work for experience and to pay for it?

Imnotaslimjim · 25/08/2016 22:44

She might be entitled to a bursary due to her age. If the college has a website there will be something on there explaining fees. If she isn't entitled to help, they'll allow payment in instalments throughout the year.

GRW · 26/08/2016 07:12

If she did get a place for 2017 NHS bursaries will no longer be available, and student nurses will have to get a loan for tuition fees like other students. It seems unfair when they have to effectively work full time when on placement. I think it will deter many mature students from going into nursing.

NorfolkEnchantsToday · 26/08/2016 07:47

She can get a learning loan I believe for the access course

goodenoughmum88 · 26/08/2016 08:43

Can she start on the mental health nursing course and then transfer once in? There's usually quite a few people who end up not enrolling/not showing up/dropping out in the first term once the reality of the course kicks in (full time work plus academic learning). Usually happens during first clinical placement. She may need to catch up a bit afterwards but could manage if determind?
Without the nursery after this year it's going to be tougher for her, it's crap as we need more nurses not less! X

Original poster
Laceybean · 26/08/2016 12:42

I thought she could start in the mental health nursing and look to transfer but the place she had was living away from home - she flatly said that she would go to take up her nursing place even if she didn't really want to live away but won't live away AND do a course that she hadn't applied for too.

I think a classroom based course will be better for her rather than OU. I've just finished an OU degree and loved it but she'll relish the opportunity to make new friends etc

OP posts:
hellsbells99 · 26/08/2016 13:25

Op, I think if she is under 19 on the first of September then she probably won't have to pay tuition fees for further education.
The downside is that if she doesn't start a nursing course this year, then the NHS bursaries will no longer be applicable.

Original poster
Laceybean · 26/08/2016 13:41

She's not too worried about the course fees situation as if she can live at home she will save money on accommodation. Whereas with her conditional she wouldn't have had fees but 3 years of accommodation and maintenance etc x

OP posts:
InternationalHouseofToast · 26/08/2016 13:44

She's very unlikely to get a nursing place through clearing. I work at a university who does adult / child / mental health nursing and we could fill places 4 times over. If she's looking at staying locally she needs to contact local universities / colleges that run degrees and see what they offer which interests her, but she needs to be quick as the better courses will be full already.

titchy · 26/08/2016 14:09

What makes her so sure she'll get a place at your local university next year? Even if she does an Access course she might not get the requied grades next year. Although the lack of bursary might put a few applicants off, nursing will still be massively over-subscribed.

Original poster
Laceybean · 26/08/2016 14:41

Well she was offered a place for mental health nursing and know ppl that secured nursing places through clearing.
I don't think she is 'so sure' she'll get a place next time, but this is what she's set her heart on so is going to keep trying.

OP posts:
Original poster
Laceybean · 26/08/2016 14:41

She got an offer last time with further study and some voluntary work why wouldn't she ?

OP posts:
titchy · 26/08/2016 14:51

Yeah but she didn't meet the offer...

She could spend another year doing an access course, get another offer based on that and still not meet the offer...

Personally I'd advise to look further afield than just your local university.

Heartonmysleeve1 · 26/08/2016 15:02

I've done the nursing course tell her to accept the mental health to get onto the course the first year its the common foundation programme before it goes into branches in the second year meaning all lectures and seminars are taken together which child, adult, learning disabilities and mental health nursing.It will be easier for her to swap onto adult in her second year as there will be some adult students who drop out of the course. That way she wont have to wait a year and she will qualify for the bursary.

Original poster
Laceybean · 26/08/2016 15:23

I did tell her to accept this on this basis but she declined it.

In another year with a bit more hard work and maturity she may well be wanting to look further afield, if not hopefully she'll get a place, our local uni has a March intake also x

OP posts:
hellsbells99 · 26/08/2016 15:34

Op, is there anyway she can do any qualification that would give the desired points before the March intake? Can she contact her local university course and ask them?The burseries are still available for any course starting before the end of July I think.

Original poster
Laceybean · 26/08/2016 15:59

I can't find anything that would act as s booster - I was thinking hnc in health and social care but isn't available locally - still waiting on our local uni to get back to us X

OP posts:
Original poster
Laceybean · 26/08/2016 16:00

If we could find something for a March application that will be great but no luck so far

OP posts:
MrsJayy · 26/08/2016 16:03

Could she do a health and social care course that counts ucas points in scotland we dont have Btecs here but an NC course wil give ucas points

MrsJayy · 26/08/2016 16:04

Urgh sorry you tried the HNC what about a re sit of her exam?

Coconutty · 26/08/2016 16:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Laceybean · 26/08/2016 16:35

I'll look into that MrsJay.

There isn't an exam in the diploma she's done and she was getting mainly A's and B's in her assignments but she struggled with an externally assessed assignment and scored much less on this thus bringing her mark down to a C.
I thought I'd found s suitable btec which said 90 credits but the credits didn't convert to ucas points

OP posts:
titchy · 26/08/2016 16:38

A qualification needs to be at Level 3 in order to have UCAS points.