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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

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Original poster

Do we need to be looking at uni’s now for 2022? Dd confused to what she wants...

36 replies

Lovemusic33 · 15/05/2021 15:05

I’m struggling to communicate with dd at the moment regarding uni and what she wants to do after A level. She’s at the end of her first A level year and is regretting her choices some what. She is taking English lit, computing and maths, when she decided on her A levels she was planning on going to uni to do computing, this is why she chose Maths as she needed it to get onto the uni course, she’s now changed her mind and wants to do English or politics at uni and is witching she took History and philosophy instead of computing and maths.

Dd has been to look at Oxford (before covid) but due to covid restrictions she hasn’t visited any other uni’s. She has her heart set on Exeter.

She’s a bit fed up because maths has always been hard for her ,despite getting a level 8 in GCSE she’s struggling a little in A level but is still working at a B, her predicted grades are AAB which kind of rules out Oxford and only just gets her in to Exeter.

Dd is also autistic and I’m worried she won’t be ready to be away from home without a lot of support so she’s also considering taking a year out or doing open uni.

I just feel like most of her piers are being more active in looking for a uni and planning what courses they want to do when Dd still doesn’t really have a clue and can’t decide.

Should we be looking at uni’s this summer? When does she need to start applying? Sorry, I haven’t got a clue 😬 and Dd doesn’t really talk to me much about it.

OP posts:

namestheyareachanging · 15/05/2021 15:14

My DH is a teacher and he is writing his bit for UCAS statements for his Yr 12s at the moment.

notnowbernadette · 15/05/2021 15:16

This summer is a good time to look as they will apply in the autumn term. You will notice that many universities are still doing virtual open days which give you a fair bit of info but not a feel for the city or campus. In order to try to help ds I'm taking him on a walking tour of a few campuses/cities so he can make a more informed choice.

Piggywaspushed · 15/05/2021 15:29

Exeter is AAA for English OP.

I wouldn't worry too much about her being undecided. Lots of students have very little idea.

What does she now like more about English?

Original poster

Lovemusic33 · 15/05/2021 15:44

English has always been the subject she’s found easy and enjoyable but being autistic and not very sociable she felt going down the computing route would give her more job opportunities, there’s a high chance she will get A* in English lit. The fact she took Maths is now likely to stop her getting into Oxford or Exeter because it’s the only subject she doesn’t hit top grades in.

We have spent a lot of time looking at Exeter as it’s one of the closest uni’s (though still not on our door step), we will probably look at Cardiff at some point during the summer. There also the opportunity of apprenticeship, Microsoft have showed interest in her but obviously this if she goes done the computing route rather than English.

Dd got mainly 9’s in her GCSE but due to not being at school most of this year and struggling with home learning her predicted grades after her first year are slightly lower than expected, she’s now losing confidence in herself with maths in particular. If things go well she could get A*AA but I feel her predicted grades after her first year will be AAB making it hard to get a offer from Oxford or Exeter.

OP posts:

Original poster

Lovemusic33 · 15/05/2021 15:46

If she does English or politics she wants to go on to do journalism. She has looked at doing apprenticeship with the bbc. She just can’t decide on anything.

OP posts:

Standrewsschool · 15/05/2021 15:48

It’s useful to look around a couple in year 12, so you get a feel what it’s all about. Maybe visit a campus one and non-campus, town and city etc. If you can’t visit them officially, a lot of unis are fairly open places so you can still walk around, even if you don’t get to talk to any lecturers etc.

TeenMinusTests · 15/05/2021 15:51

She could take a year out to work, and apply once she has her grades.

What about Bath or Bristol (plotting a route between Exeter and Cardiff).

Does she do any writing eg for school/college blog or similar?

Crocidura · 15/05/2021 15:52

My DS hasn't a clue either, OP. He had a plan that now seems a bit out of reach after a tough Y12. He has AS exams at the moment but once they're done I'm going to get him to do some serious thinking and research, and will take him to wander round a few places in the summer to get an idea. Can't believe some people have UCAS forms under way already, that feels a long way off for us! 😬

titchy · 15/05/2021 15:55

She needs to have applied by Jan 22, applications open this September, so yes, she really does need to be looking at places now. This term is open day season (although virtually at the moment).

Bath I think is autism friendly - offers extra support, and has a similar vibe to Exeter if that's an option. Doesn't offer English but does have politics and placement years.

Crocidura · 15/05/2021 15:56

(Could you get her some maths help from a tutor if you have the money for it - might help her to get the A she needs if you can persuade school to predict an A?)

Original poster

Lovemusic33 · 15/05/2021 16:08

Thank you, I will look at Bath with her as that’s probably one of the closest to us (other than Bournemouth) and I know Bath do a Autism summer camp thing for preparing students thinking of going to uni. I will also look at Southampton with her. I think I just need to push her a little as she’s not really in a rush to make any choice 🤣. She has some mobility issues so getting around and accessibility is important.

OP posts:

Original poster

Lovemusic33 · 15/05/2021 16:08

@Crocidura

(Could you get her some maths help from a tutor if you have the money for it - might help her to get the A she needs if you can persuade school to predict an A?)

Yes, it is something I mentioned to her today.

OP posts:

Piggywaspushed · 15/05/2021 16:16

Does she actually like English? I'd be really wary of applying to an English degree because it is getting her the best results.

(obviously she must like it a fair amount if she does A Level but I have taught clever people A Level who are doing English because of its apparent cachet rather than love)

Piggywaspushed · 15/05/2021 16:17

You mention mobility issues : Exeter is really hilly, isn't it?

Original poster

Lovemusic33 · 15/05/2021 16:40

@Piggywaspushed

Does she actually like English? I'd be really wary of applying to an English degree because it is getting her the best results.

(obviously she must like it a fair amount if she does A Level but I have taught clever people A Level who are doing English because of its apparent cachet rather than love)

She loves English, always has.

OP posts:

Piggywaspushed · 15/05/2021 16:45

OK, well that's good. It is very unusual to have the A Levels she has and do an English degree (or politics) but it really doesn't matter.

Original poster

Lovemusic33 · 15/05/2021 16:46

@Piggywaspushed

OK, well that's good. It is very unusual to have the A Levels she has and do an English degree (or politics) but it really doesn't matter.

Originally she planned to do Computing or computer programming at uni, mainly because it has better job prospects but really she didn’t think it through and now regrets it (I did tell her she would but she doesn’t listen to me).

OP posts:

Piggywaspushed · 15/05/2021 16:51

I think a lot of young people end up doing A Levels (and even degrees) lured by job prospects chats/statistics/careers advice. Better that she realise now than after embarking on a degree!

Original poster

Lovemusic33 · 15/05/2021 16:59

She feels really silly for making the wrong choice in her A levels, I just hope she doesn’t lose interest as she doing well despite not really enjoying it. The work load for maths is pretty heavy and there’s parts of computing she’s not enjoying, usually her school would have allowed her to switch after the first month but due to her not being in school she wasn’t really given this option.

OP posts:

Middersweekly · 15/05/2021 17:12

She sounds like a very capable student and whichever path she chooses I’m sure she will be just fine. If she’s very much undecided then is it possible that she takes a gap year after A-level to really consider her options? If she’s dead set on going in 2022 and with English as a subject then yes she needs to be considering her options over the summer. My DD is very dithery also and I had a hard time getting her to engage over the summer holidays last year. She just wanted to wallow about and not really think about it too deeply. She then refocused in September and got her P.S. written in early October in order to apply but it was a push. We are not in the UK though and with CV19 we were not able to take any trips to the UK to visit universities so it was purely online open days etc. She’s in a different situation in that her school has been fully open all year and she’s sitting formal exams (exam season is now) so I’m glad we got everything out of the way fairly early on in the year. Your DD has until mid Jan 2022 to submit her application and can visit local universities in person. I would have a look at other universities besides Exeter that she may want to go to. Bournemouth, Southampton, Portsmouth, Surrey, Bath and Bristol. All in reasonable proximity or along a train line.

twentyten · 15/05/2021 17:24

Have a look at taster days- unis may well be offering these on line or in person this year for the subjects that interest her.
And look at open days/ subject talks on line for a range of what interests her.
A year out is not a bad plan- more time to explore her interests. There are also loads of free in line courses with coursera, futurelearn, Google, Microsoft etc she could do in a gap year to boost her application.

Inchagoill · 15/05/2021 17:26

I did a turnabout one year into A-levels too (20 odd years ago). I took Maths, Biology and Chemistry then realised I wasn't going to get the grades I needed in Chemistry and had changed my mind about career so didn't need it anyway. My school allowed me to give up Chemistry and take up French instead. I studied it with the year below so I essentially stayed at school an extra year (I got a part time job and just attended for my French lessons). So I ended up achieving all the grades I needed, in the subjects I wanted, over 3 years. This would give your daughter an extra year to think about what she wants to do and investigate the right university for her. It may help the transition to independent living away from home and reduce any pressure she may be feeling to rush into a decision.

Inchagoill · 15/05/2021 17:29

And far from feeling silly, as a previous poster mentioned, it is far better and easier to do a u-turn now than whilst at uni or some way into a career she hates. I think it shows a maturity, great insight and forward thinking.

PresentingPercy · 15/05/2021 18:12

To be fair, English degrees expect you to have studied English. They won’t stipulate history or politics. In fact politics might not actually ask for politics A level. However you would need to look into that and make a good case in the personal statement. I would also look to see if she likes any courses that appear in clearing for her target universities. This will indicate they might lower grades for entry so not a forlorn hope next year. She might also look at law and international relations with her A levels.

User27aw · 15/05/2021 18:20

@PresentingPercy

Can anyone look at what is available in Clearing? Even if they haven't applied for that year? Do they say what grades you would need?

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