Dropping EPQ after 6 months

[WombatChocolate]

DS is in Yr 12 and does 3 essay subjects. All is going well and his current targets are 3 A stars.

He has been working on EPQ since September and it is something related to the subject he wants to do at Uni. The research has been going well, but lots of students have dropped it and he’s considering dropping it. This is partly because he was told that of a large cohort in his selective school, only 2 got A star last year and everyone else got A, and he’s concerned about having the A on his CV, as well as wondering if it’s really worth it in times of time and effort required and possible impact on time for other subjects.

He has done lots of reading and note making and knows the argument he would pursue. I feel like he could still refer to this reading and the things he’s gained from it in his UCAS statement. He could still talk about the research skills and the topic itself in an interview if he was called. So, does he need to do the actual EPQ itself? I know some Unis give a 1 grade lower offer if you have an A or above. He will be applying for the really top ones that don’t seem to lower their offer because of it, although he might have an insurance place that considers it.

What do people think? Continue and just press on accepting the big effort required, or drop it?

Really interested to hear from anyone who did/didn’t do it or who also dropped it part way through and was able to use/not use the research they had already done.

Many thanks.

I think there's an argument for doing an EPQ irregardless of whether it helps their university applications. If a student is interested in a subject that is not covered in their A levels, and may even be independent of what course they plan to do, it can be worthwhile in itself simply for the edification of the student.

DD wouldn't agree. Although she did start with 4 A level subjects and struggled to keep on top of the work.

DC1 started an EPQ but didn't see it through as the teacher allocated to oversee their group was new to the school but also to the EPQ and it took forever for the students to be given any input or to get their questions/titles signed off. That teacher left at the Christmas of Y12 and although DC1 had done a lot of research and had a clear direction, the person who took over wanted DC1 to completely change the subject, to the point it wouldn't have really touched the topic they are passionate about. As a result, DC1 dropped the EPQ and none of us thought any more of it...

..until a recent uni interview in which the fairly niche subject was discussed. DC1 talked about the research they'd done and about their interest in that field which is only very, very loosely related to the degree they were being interviewed for. DC has received a standard offer for the course but was pleased to have the chance to discuss it and to be able to talk about something a bit less mainstream.

My DS is in a similar position, in that he’s actually done a lot of the reading and note making. He would be able to write about the topic on his PS or discuss it at interview. In that sense, he has got the benefits of it, apart from having an actual qualification, which as far as I can see, is really only useful for uni applications and for getting a lower offer at a limited range of unis.

The skills of referencing and writing-up will be gained via his NEAs in History and English Lit. He would also be able to write about those in the PS and discuss them at interview.

On one level, not continuing and finishing it will be laziness, because at the moment he’s coping well with workload. A lot of the cohort have dropped out from doing it who started, and I guess those still doing it, wonder if the effort is worth it. Of course he’d kick himself if when it comes to A Level results day, he doesn’t get his grades for an offer and a lower offer related to the EPQ could have made the difference. But I’m not sure that should be the key driver behind it, and he is looking on track for A stars, but Indo know that often predictions are overly generous and not all achieved.

Hmmm. No right answer I’m sure.

It seems a pity that he's done so much and now might choose not to complete it. Not everything done in 6th form has to be beneficial to uni admissions. It brings to mind all the students these days who constantly ask their teachers 'is this in the exam?' and don't want to engage with anything else their teacher delivers in a lesson.

I'd encourage him to complete it simply because he started it. Might it not reflect badly on him if he were to mention in future his epq topic and research, but states he did not complete it?

My DD got a few reduced offers with an A* or A EPQ. Bath and Warwick spring to mind. But it was useful in itself for being able to complete a literature review and reference properly before she got to uni. She's also added it to her CV/job applications when applying for a placement year.

It's not necessary at all but still, I think, has value.