Languages Applicants for 2021 (and 2022) entry

[Tenpastseven]

For those interested and moving over from the St Andrews thread (that became not about St Andrews)

They're lucky in a way to be doing them online. It takes so much time out of the pre-exams period when they have to do them in person. I think it's 3 days for Oxford, plus travel?

Advice from my older DC at a different university is that joint honours can greatly restrict your module combinations and increase your workload (though they obviously may well just feel personally overworked).

DD came home v upset today, apparently she's received her A Level exam timetable and she has several clashes :(

She's fearing that the only way the clashes will be resolved would still involve her having to sit 2 exams in one day - is that not typical for A Levels these days? (it's been such a long time for me, and she's my first DC through education). Has anyone else heard about exam dates? And how do they sort out clashes? (she has 1 day when 3 of her subjects are scheduled, and she doesn't want to sit 2 different language exams in one day either).

On a positive note, she got an offer through from Durham, quite unexpected, was thinking they would be much later.

Hello, you clever lot. My DS wants to study German at degree level, hopefully with a chance to study in Germany.

His A level expected grades are quite low so the best course we could find was at Bangor Uni. Do you know anything about it? Or anyone who’s ever been there?

Thank you.

Oh no @TottiePlantagenet. If course she’ll be upset. That’s a headache she doesn’t need. Is there a head if 6th form she could speak to tomorrow? I do think this is a result of them delaying the exams. Apparently they are all squeezed now.

Welcome @MacbookHo. I’m afraid I don’t know anything about Bangor other than it’s meant to be close to amazing countryside! Not very helpful I realise.

Two in one day was par for the course when older DC was doing A-levels -- and he had extra time (SEN), so they clashed directly, and he had to be supervised over lunchtime, as far as I remember.

Oh @FlyingSquid. I’m sorry I forgot again on the Oxbridge thread that you were in the MFL gang. What a dufus I am. I’m going to stop name checking as I keep getting it wrong 🙄

Goodness, don't worry about it - I forget my own children's names half the time, and DD distinguished herself today by forgetting Penelope's name when discussing The Penelopiad.

@MacbookHo No experience of Bangor, but perhaps worth mentioning that DS got into Cardiff University for modern languages with A level grades BBC (2019 intake) despite the official offer being ABB.

Welcome @MacbookHo. My dd is also applying for a German, but I’m afraid I don’t know anything about Bangor.

@TottiePlantagenet congratulations to your dd on her Durham offer! Dd has several days of morning and afternoon exams, but no clashes. Has your dd spoken to the exams officer or head of sixth form?

Hello everyone, thanks for your messages. :) No, nobody I know IRL knows anything about Bangor either. Eek. It’s very near some family members on his dad’s side so he won’t be alone, which is good.

I’m wondering if we’ve messed up; his expected grades are low (A, C, D) so we only looked at Unis that would accept those grades. We did look at other courses but DS got really stressed and felt it was pointless as he’d “never get in”. But if the grades really are going to be generous next year, maybe he’d have had a better chance.

Also, after Brexit, do we know if they’ll be able to have time studying abroad as part of the course? Obviously the existing program for that (the name escapes me) might vanish.

Is the A prediction for the language he wants to study, Macbook? I think that's the first thing they'll look for if so. DS got into a good language course with ABC grades after a couple of years out working, so he could consider that.

Every uni he applied to gave him an offer, even the one that had asked for AAA. It's worth a shot!

Swansea's standard offer was BBB, but they said they were flexible - they would probably look kindly on ACD.

Yes, A for German, but his teacher recently told him he’s on track to be their first student ever to get an A* in German. :)

Is it too late to choose his universities?? His UCAS thing is complete abd I think we’re waiting for his school to submit it. Should we add a “dream” choice just for fun?

Final UCAS applications don’t have to be in till mid January, and it’s his choice, not the school’s.

Have you paid and pressed Send yet? Even if you have, I seem to remember a grace period in which you can change your mind - check the website.

@NiamCinnOir yes, she has informed the school and will be hearing from the 6th form Head by the end of the week. DD just doesn't want to be doing 2 exams in one day, in case she confuses language 1 in the morning with language 2 in the afternoon!

@MacbookHo our school advised that they choose 1 or 2 "aspirational" universities (with a grade above their predictions), 1 or 2 universities that require their predicted grades, and 1 or 2 "safe" ones (below their predicted grades). Some combination of those three groups.

However, if your son exceeds his predictions then he could go through adjustment, when all the results are out and look for a place at a "better" university - I'm not saying anything is wrong with Bangor of course! Just to tie in with what you say about a "dream" choice.

And unless your school has submitted his application, then I agree that it's possible to change his choices.

Ah. I think unless there’s actual overlap of timings, she’ll just have to resign herself to a hard day, I’m afraid. I don’t think there’s any leeway in the days they’re on. Standby with the chocolate/gin/hugs!

@DitheringDan @TottiePlantagenet

Thank you! I talked to him and it turns out he’s already added two more universities to the form - Bristol and Nottingham. I’m both impressed with his action on this and secretly annoyed he didn’t mention it!

Where would he like to go, MacBook, and where else has he already applied? A BBB (or even ABB) standard offer might well be within reach if his German is so strong.

Why have they predicted him A if they think he’s capable of A*, do you know?

Crossed posts! Good for him. Has he got five universities listed now?

Why have they predicted him A if they think he’s capable of A, do you know?*

I don’t know. I think he’s really stepped up this year and they’ve just realised it’s a real possibility? I’m honestly not sure.

@FlyingSquid

Ah. I think unless there’s actual overlap of timings, she’ll just have to resign herself to a hard day, I’m afraid. I don’t think there’s any leeway in the days they’re on. Standby with the chocolate/gin/hugs!

Was this for me? If so... DD actually has a couple of days apparently where there are clashes - including one day when she's scheduled for 3 exams at the same time

But yes, obviously if she has to do a morning exam followed by an afternoon one, that's just how it will be. I tried to console her of course, by reminding her that she had almost 30 exams in 4 weeks for her GCSEs... but she found that scant consolation and quite irritated that I would even try . Teens, eh?

I feel like such a Bad Mother for looking forward to my kids leaving home and going to university, looking forward to them Growing Up. But after 18 years of parenting, I think it would be good to have a break from the daily grind of it all. Maybe this should be a separate thread, to have a separate moan!

Does this help at all, from one of the exam boards?

www.ocr.org.uk/blog/supporting-centres-timetable-clashes/

Macbookho I did the virtual open day for Bangor with my DS and we weren't very impressed. I do have a friend whose son is doing computer science there though and he is doing well and enjoying it. Have you looked at Chester? My DS has just got an offer from there - BBC. We both liked their open day a lot. His application only went in last week so waiting on all of the others 😬.

@RainBow725 - No, we haven’t looked at Chester. Thank you hit the suggestion. :) His application is in now and he says he’s happy with his choices so I guess we’ll see. Congrats on your son’s offer and good luck next summer!