Another Path - part IV

[321zyx]

Apologies if I've done this wrong! I seemed to have filled up the last thread, hopefully the abbreviated title is ok!

I have lived abroad for many years and have attended talks on home status in the UK so I do know about it. Each institution makes its own decision. There is no blanket rule. However you can certainly appeal the decision

Each institution can make its own decision but there's a 'reality' here and where the decision of one is significantly our of kilter with several others then the presumption is that there will be good grounds for appeal/ that that uni has called it wrong. Someone competent reading the evidence would be nice, for starters, because the decision sounds a bit knee jerk/ lazy from what OP says.

Also why can't people be straight. I bet these people gaming the system with utility bill fraud are those most able to afford to stump up the correct fees.

This is an example goodbye where I feel you are just arguing a point to have the last word. As Mango said the same info was given to all the Unis and they have already gone through the appeal process. One institution doesn't have to change their view just because another has thought differently

However there is no harm in pursuing it further with the admissions tutor or the person in charge of appeals - not just the admin who answers the phone

Oh my goodness chopc there is no argument. You seem to be on a quest for arguments. I'm giving advice which the OP asked for and am at least reasonably qualified to give this sort of advice.

Hmm thought you said you know almost nothing about international fees - so how are you qualified to give this advise goodbye?

The advice is about appeals in an educational setting chopc and the specific subject matter is of little consequence. It's an appeals process like any other and much of what I've said is simply common sense, rather than anything more legal. Perhaps let mangoguava decide if everything I've said is useless. I'm quite sure she's able to filter for herself, without assistance.

I suppose beyond that - just wondering to myself what if any value I do ever add - I have had eight DC apply through UCAS in the past twelve years, so that's quite a level of parental exposure to UCAS, and not inconsistent with sometimes being able to offer some half way experienced advice.

But you know, I'm not the competitive one here :)

The gaming the system issues (not this poster's daughter) are interesting. and it can be a huge difference. I am about to pay over £30k (for two added together) of fees for my twins - last year ever of any fees so I don't mind but still expensive. I started paying when the oldest child went to her nursery school in the mornings in 1987 so making that last payment this summer 34 years on with continuous school or university fees since then will be a happy day... end in sight... (and no I am not paying for the grandchildren one of whom is already at school)

Xenia do you think that you supported your DC more than those who didn't pay fees but whose DC achieved at least the same outcomes? I'm slightly horrified at the implication of chopc's post, that money = support. But perhaps this is a fee paying back slapping club. It's slightly distasteful however.

I'd go further: it's seriously distasteful.

Parental support has nothing whatsoever to do with shelling out fees.

Fortunately my state educated DC have won scholarships for their TCs/ PhD/ the Bar etc etc. I wonder what they would have to say to chopc about parental support. I suspect they give her fairly short shrift.

*they would

Also what does chopc mean about work Xenia, out of curiosity? I thought the twins were finishing their conversion course; surely they have to do the LPC before doing any legal work?

Everyone ignores my advice in this family, don't worry, laughing as I type..... The wise child would have applied for law jobs at university and as 3 of them did not, muggins mother is left holding the baby, enabling them etc etc

The twins have indeed just completed their conversion course which for BPP ends a bit earlier this year in April results out this month I think.... and are doing the LPC full time for a year from September in London.

Although not everybody is in the same fortunate financial position that Xenia has earned for herself personally I have found she gives useful and solid advice actually.

I agree SeasonFinale. My DC tend to ignore me too. I was dimly objecting to the over the top fanfare given by chocp in salute of fee paying parents, with the clear implication (possibly unintended, if I’m being generous), that fee paying parents support their DC in a superior way to non fee parents, which of course doesn’t follow at all.
If that was unintended then it was certainly very clumsy, bordering on offensive.

And also yes absolutely all credit to Xenia for what she does for her DC. That’s definitely not my quarrel.

That should read I was simply, not dimly. That was an autocorrect. Obviously I do heaps of things dimly, but unusually this wasn't one of them.

Can I beg your indulgence wise ones for some advice for my year 11 DD? Honestly, having been through all this with DS I still feel completely clueless- and I think some of you on here probably know a lot more than her school do. Asking here so as to reach those wise heads who frequent this thread.

Re A - level choices - she doesn't know what she wants to study at university yet but maybe Philosophy/something of that ilk. Her favourite subject at GCSE by a country mile was RS. She's thinking RS, Eng Lit, Psychology and History at A level initially, with a plan to drop one - probably either Psychology or History.

So my questions are -
How's that mix of subjects?
Any advantage to doing four rather than three?
Should she do an EPQ?

She attended a Cambridge webinar this morning on subject choices and was told -
Fine, history may help more with analytical skills than psychology but more important to do what you enjoy
No
Some unis may give a reduced offer with a strong EPQ.

What do you all think?

Thanks all

I am the non Oxbridge person on this thread. I didn't try nor did my 5 children although both my siblings went. So with that caveat....

RS, Eng Lit, Psychology and History
That looks fine particularly as it has 3 of the 4 being traditional old- school strong subjects - English Lit and History (which I did plus German so I had 3 in that sense). Try to keep up history and English lit into upper sixth so the resulting A levels have 2 "facilitating" subjects - even though universities say they do not use those terms. The reason I say that is employers can be a lot more biased and old fashioned than universities.

My sons did not do an EPQ (one started but decided after a week he did not need it - but if you can cope with the work load do one, but I have yet to be convinced they are essential and if someone is very busy or just wants more time to relax or sleep just concentrate on the A levels themselves).

Someone more in the know about Oxbridge will be along I am sure to help.

My friend DD has a place at Cambridge with psychology, maths, and chemistry A levels and no EPQ. Lots of reading and MOOC courses.
I think the A'level requirements for Philosophy are quite open as long as one essay writing one.

Was the webinar that she attended run by Cambridge University? If it was and those are the answers that they gave to her questions, then I would listen to them. On these threads there will always be some who think that four A levels gives you an advantage/some who the in that it doesn't; some who would stick with more traditional A levels/some who wouldn't; some who value an EPQ/some who prefer an extra A level/some who say do work experience and they will all be right in some ways as there will be lots of examples of students who have got in with a variety of different qualifications.