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!

@Engley - hello - I went to LSE many years ago. I can’t help on the current accommodation offered but as far as it being a choice for your DS, I highly recommend it. The experience was brilliant and I had a great time both academically and socially.

Thank you Parker231,
That’s very reassuring,both mine and my husband background is not social Sciences so it has been difficult to guide him on degree and university choices.

Bend and quest1on that seems very harsh, particularly as some other schools/teachers will not be taking the same approach. It's the lack of consistency I think that increases the perceived unfairness - and yes, I know education isn't 'fair' anyway, some are more advantaged than others etc but you'd hope the individual school would have the students' best interests at heart, not be trying to 'catch them out' or being unduly harsh.

Is there any central standardisation or algorithm being applied to assessed grades for A levels or is it entirely what the teacher decides?

No algorithm

Central standardisation - apparently but in the normal way coursework etc is standardised. Random sample I think

An A grade in one school may not match an A grade in another in my opinion . Happy to be corrected though

So some schools will just give everyone A* in everything?

We have an algorithm like last year. But basically seems to be all students in school have to be ranked and the bell curve is applied regardless of how strong a particular class/school is.

I hope you are right *@Pumpkintopf Dd is particularly worried about RS - she's been working at borderline A/A standard over the 2 years but didn't feel the assessments were done to the best of her ability and apparently that is a subject where no previous work is taken into account! I've had a brief email discussion with the school and I think they're implying they will still take a holistic approach though.

Dd has had a terrible exam today. She’s feeling really low . She messed up a question and then ran out of time . She’s very low this evening .. fretting she won’t get the required grades. It’s going to be a long three months til results day .
Without knowing the ratio of coursework :assessments I can’t reassure her much tbh.

Sorry to hear that @Longtimenewsee . It's worth remembering if you are a "perfectionist" you will always remember your short comings. Unless I could answer every single question with confidence, the exam wouldn't have gone well. Whereas DH is able to gauge that he answered enough questions well to get a good mark despite messing up one or two. So she may have done better than she thinks

@ChimneyPot

So some schools will just give everyone A* in everything?

We have an algorithm like last year. But basically seems to be all students in school have to be ranked and the bell curve is applied regardless of how strong a particular class/school is.

No they won't be able to give everyone an A*. Even without an actual algorithm the schools are being asked to compare their grades allocation with their historic grade percentages and will need to have a valid explanation if they differ wildly, as well as be subject to moderation.

Thanks @chopc. She IS a perfectionist.. so that rings very true.
It’s done now anyway.. hopefully it will be ok

Dd just had confirmation of a no from Edinburgh. All I can say is that I'm relieved the wait is over.

Best wishes to anyone still waiting to hear of theirs.

@Longtimenewsee Sorry to hear about your DD's exam experience today. I hope she's just being hard on herself and hasn't messed up as much as she thinks she has.

DD starts her mini exams next week and is currently on study leave.

So many different practices and perspectives for our poor Y13 - goodness only knows how things will turn out.

Thank you @SeasonFinale, I find your comments somewhat reassuring amongst all the uncertainty.

DD is still waiting for St Andrews.... the wait isn't causing her anxiety as she has decided to firm Durham. If she gets an offer, it will be her insurance.

I'm really disappointed and saddened to hear that Edinburgh hasn't offered after such a long wait maggie.

What a miserable time to find out - in the middle of mini exam season and rotten weather. I hope she's bearing up.

Will she be firming Bristol now?

@jano69
I almost feel relieved that she wasn’t offered by them - it’s really shabby how they have left young people hanging whilst having to cope with exams etc

She has Bristol, Nottingham and Manchester and I think Bristol will be the front runner.

She just said she’s ok about it but I’m not sure....

Sorry to hear about Edinburgh Maggie. Hope your DD is happy with her other choices

On Bristol, Nottingham, Manchester of my children went to Bristol and loved it (Bristol and Durham rejected me in my day as my school seriously under predicted my grades on what was then called the UCCA (now UCAS) form although I loved Manchester and did very well there) One of my daughters went to Nottingham. I would have them in that order - Bristol, then Nottingham, then Manchester these days although obviously all 3 are good universities.

@chopc
Thank you. I’ve told her that she has some good options - just needs to focus on assessments. I have to help to restore her confidence which will have been bruised by this protracted process.

@Xenia
Bristol and Nottingham have been very good at contacting her and including her in events. That may be the order at the moment.

@maggiethecat sorry to hear about Edinburgh.. and I also understand how the process has sullied their standing for you. It’s been too long and too difficult a process this year ( of all years!) .
I hope your Dd can put it behind her enough to concentrate on the assessments and the other great offers that she has

Thanks @Longtimenewsee

I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see clearing places at Edinburgh and St Andrews come July/August.

My gut feel is that they've been too economical in the number of offers they've given this year.

DD has just been rejected by St Andrews for history, no tears just relief she can now firm Durham and insure with Exeter.

I always quite fancied the idea of a beautiful Uni on the beach but DD was always put off by how far away it was. So all seems to be well.

@jano69 sorry to hear about St Andrews but pleased your daughter is not upset

@jano69 - at least your DD can now move forward with planning her Uni days with good options available to her.
DD was offered a place at St Andrews but turned it down for York (graduated last summer) as she thought St Andrews was too remote. She wanted easy access to pubs and nightclubs.

Sorry to hear about the rejections coming through today. Terrible to leave them so long and then reject them.

I suspect DD will get a rejection from St Andrews eventually.