DD 16 plans for university

[RosiePosie15]

DD is already planning for university and wants to do natural sciences at Cambridge. I’m happy that she knows what she wants to do and that she has chosen the right A-Level subjects to take to get her there. But I’m worried that maybe she’s being too ambitious or that she’ll be sorely disappointed if she doesn’t get in. She was predicted all A’s or above (7-9 Grades) in her GCSE subjects but hasn’t done any work since March, which isn’t really all her fault since her current school has had nearly zero contact with her and so has her new school (she’s moving schools for sixth form since her current school was having a serious affect on her MH) and she barely left her bed the first few weeks because her horse died suddenly. She’s filled a lot of her time helping DS 14 with his work so she hasn’t wasted it but she also hasn’t done anything towards her own education. Will this affect her severely in the future? I know that it’s a couple of years away, but how do I help her if she’s rejected? Any advice would be appreciated x

If she's between schools and hasn't started ALevels yet then what work is there to do??

Tbh I'd work on building her resilience and helping her stay realistic and grounded. Is she getting help for her mental health?

She’s not getting any help at the moment but seems to be doing a lot better since March. She used to have regular panic attacks but now she hasn’t had one since around when her horse passed. She tells me that she’s doing better and she’s shown me these apps she has on her phone that help her to relax, plus she’s taking up yoga. I trust her enough to believe her when she says she’s doing better so I’m waiting to see how she’s doing. However, results day has the potential to bring up some anxieties but she’s found some good coping techniques that I think will help.

Has she got back up plans if she doesn't make cambridge? She needs those.

Sorry to hear about the horse OP, I can imagine how devastated she wasI wouldn't worry too much about her doing no work, I messed around at a levels and did zero work throughout the school holidays after my GCSE exams. I have now graduated university and found a stable job. It's great she knows what she wants to do at such a young age. I would encourage her to at least do some basic work to help her keep up. Good luck!

It's great that she wants to aim high, as long as she has a Plan B if she doesn't get a place.

Could you (enthusiastically) look at other unis for this course with her? Also, go on the Cambridge website if you haven’t already and look at the offer statistics per college. There are interactive graphs. Be realistic that more will be rejected than offered places. Also be realistic that it’s a tough process with additional “super curricular” work required (essay competitions, extended reading, lectures etc) , not to mention the aptitude tests and interviews. Most sciences at Cambridge require AAA at the very least and most will exceed this. She will also need to do an EPQ probably, which is 6,000 to 20,000 words and weighted as worth about two-thirds of an A-level.

Let her know the odds and also that there are loads more brilliant unis for her subject and, even if she wasn’t successful at degree level, she could always go to Cambridge and do a masters, perhaps? There may be some degree courses that offer a year abroad for instance? Try and look at the positives of other options as well.

DS has an offer for this course. I think it's good to approach the application in a balanced way. They should give the application their best effort, but also be aware that 80% of applicants won't get an offer, so it's important not to put all their dreams into one basket. DS found courses at other universities which he is happy to have as a plan B (and has chosen one of these as his insurance offer).

The course workload is one of the highest of any course at Cambridge, so she would be better equipped to start if her health is good.

Hi OP, does her new school have an Oxbridge programme? That would help enormously if it does. Really she needs to be doing extra reading, listening to relevant podcasts, watching online lectures, attending webinars. All the ‘extra’ things (or super curricular) that’s expected for Oxbridge. Cambridge actually has a list of super curricular listed by subject which can be found here: www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/files/publications/super-curricular_suggestions.pdf
Would also suggest she chooses some of her own reading in subjects she’s interested in. I would also highly recommend an EPQ to demonstrate a keen interest in a topic. Hope that helps a little.

I never went to university, could someone please explain what an EPQ is? She’s expressed an interest in Kings College London (but another school that’s difficult to get into) along with Sheffield so she does have a plan B. @MarchionessOfMayhem I’m not sure if her new school does, but it is a small private school so I’m hoping she’ll get support/advice from the staff. And thank you for the link- I’ll make sure to share it with her.

EPQ = Extended Project Qualification.
Some schools offer this as an option for pupils who only take 3 A-levels.
Some courses at some universities will give a slightly lower offer if the applicant has a high grade in the EPQ. Natural Sciences at Cambridge is not one of those courses.

An EPQ can be valuable in itself, as an opportunity to investigate a topic that interests her. But if her school doesn't offer it as an option then she will not be disadvantaged. DS had the option to do one but chose to take Further Maths instead, as a fourth A-level (very useful for physical natural sciences, less relevant for biological natural sciences).

The Cambridge website has up to date information on the application process.

OP also there is a website called Unifrog which she can sign up to (but I think they need some kind of school code - ask her teachers in Sept). You can put in your subject and predicted grades and it will show everywhere you can apply to in the UK for that course in three sections - ie aspirational options, more achievable ones and options for insurance unis. It will tell you the grades needed and the processes for each.

Imperial College London is probably as highly respected as Cambridge - has she looked at any course options there? Also UCL offers loads of flexible courses, inc all kinds of options for joint- honours and international programmes. Both are easily within the top 10 unis in the UK and will require the same entry grades as Cambridge. KCL is also fantastic and may require lower entry grades, I think? All have websites and this info is readily available.

Lancaster offers a very flexible NatSci course, with a study abroad option.

@Ironoaks Ah, I understand now. I think her new school does offer this. @Capr1 For the courses DD has looked into the entry requirements are lower (I think AAB) but still quite a good university. I’ll have a look at Imperial and UCL with her since she’s going to need a few options and Lancaster too @MarchingFrogs

Don't stress about EPQs, they aren't something that will impact a natsci offer or degree especially

Reading outside your a level courses, definitely. But you don't need a full project in it.

I know things have changed since I did my a levels (when they were modular) but mainly the most useful thing for matscis I know was more maths - either at least an AS, preferably an A level even for bio natscis or further maths where possible for Phys natscis. maths is mandatory in first year, and it looks like they've got rid of the elementary maths course for biologists without a level maths and have switched it for extra work in first year and pre course work.

I was really struggling in first year as it was (though I was also I'll), I don't think I could have done extra on top.

Is she interested in bio or phys NatSci? If it’s phys NatSci, Bristol do Chemical Physics which my DD put as her insurance for Cam as she liked the look of that course more than some of the other NatSci courses. It was a slightly lower offer than Cam. Just saying that there are some good combinations on courses that might not be called natural sciences. Worth a look as it opens up more unis.

Durham also offers Natsci

Is her ambition important enough for her to want to take exams in the autumn if she is unlucky in her awarded science related GCSE grades?

Worth asking her because if so she could start a routine of revision and consolidating since she has had such a long break. If she is not motivated or well enough to do that then she will recognise that other factors take precedence this summer. You can continue to reinforce that ambitions for the future can be achieved by interesting science degrees other than Cambridge.

York does NatSci too.

I would strongly recommend looking at the online courses in science offered by open university and other reputable education bodies. If she could pass a short course in something supplementary to her studies that shows commitment to learning and gives her some new things to think about/discuss in interview, then that would definitely be of benefit.

@sendsummer DH isn’t keen on her resitting exams but since we’re sending her to a private school they’re much more lenient on what gcse grades she needs for a levels but we’re hoping that she’ll receive the grades she needs as she has done in the past. Thanks for all the uni suggestions- I’ll pass them on to DD and we can look through them together. @Nagsnovalballs what about coursera? She already has an account for that and has completed their learning how to learn course.

I don’t know that one. But from an academic’s perspective, albeit in the arts and hums, I am interested in any reputable course that focuses on expanding knowledge of a field. Learning to learn is good for lower level universities, and I’m sure actually offers a lot for your DD on a personal level, but I would be looking for extra modules in (for instance) marine biology or similar. (Sorry, not a nat sci bod!). Or look at the course content for the universities to which she wants to apply and seek online courses that lean into that kind of content - And the universities’ own academics’ specialisms.

See for eg here: www.conted.ox.ac.uk/about/natural-sciences

On the one hand, they are a money spinner for the university. On the other, it shows real use of lockdown time.

Some free ones here
www.mooc-list.com/categories/science

Firstly, it is great that she knows what she wants to do and is coming at this early enough.

Here is the admissions page for NatSci at Cambridge, (this is a marathon, not a sprint) and MN is here to help you with any questions you have. They want A A A in 3 science/maths options, details are on the admissions page and you have to sit an entrance exam too.

www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/natural-sciences

Here is the information on "supra" or Super-curriculars from Cambridge Christ's college.

www.christs.cam.ac.uk/sites/www.christs.cam.ac.uk/files/inline-files/Supra%20Curricular%20Enrichment%20Guide%202018-19_0.pdf

Basically, for any top uni, Oxbridge or RG etc some ask for A A A or A* AA and pretty much every student applying has those grades. More students apply than there are places so it means it comes down to admissions tests and demonstrating your love of a subject. One of the admissions people at Cambridge said, we want a student to want to get out of bed, walk through the pouring rain to come to a lecture and want to do the work we set.

It isn't enough to say how much you like a subject, your DD needs to show how much she likes it. What has she read or seen on her chosen subject? What courses has she taken? This then leads onto what has she learned from this? Did something specific catch her interest, where did this lead her, more from the same area or a look into something else.

In the summer of year 12 (usually) she can look to attend a summer school or a masterclass in her subject. Look at Sutton Trust. If she is the first person in the family to look at university then this gives her a leg up the criteria to get onto these summer courses.

She's 16. Very young. I'd be worried she's being very rigid in what she has decided she wants to do. She hasn't even started her A-levels yet and already she's decided on her Uni course.
Once the new term begins and she gets into her A-levels she may find she enjoys other subjects to a greater degree. She may feel differently. She needs to be more flexible and open to new and differing options.
She has a very narrow outlook and I'd be worried that if she continues like this that she will end up unhappy and disappointed.
It's great having a goal but she seems blinkered.
Will she be choosing the Uni because it will be good for her all round and is a place she will thrive and it has the best course for her needs/future or will she be choosing the Uni because of the prestige?