University for Middling Achievers

[goosebumps]

Please tell me you plans/or experiences for university for your year 12 kids (either now or in the past) who are not all A star grades and 9's at gcses. But rather 5's and 6's with maybe a single 7 and A level predictions of C's and B's (on a good day). MN is so full of the high achievers (which is obviously great) so it would be nice to hear about the
dc's who still work (reasonably) hard and want/had the uni experience. What are the best places to apply and can they get just as much out of uni as the high flyers?

Anglia Ruskin worth a look for education. As are Winchester, Liverpool John Moores and Nottingham Trent

Probably outing but my husband has the same story. Autistic, all D's in A-Levels, missed offer for Edge Hill Computing but they took him in anyway.
Got onto a graduate scheme for big employer, several jobs later he's a Tech Lead earning £££.

Not that money determines someone's worth. But after being told that he'd never leave home it gives him great pleasure to see how far he's come.

All the large schemes are online applications now and accept people from any uni, the important thing is having his personal projects and work experience. They also make allowance for disability at the interview, so be sure to mention it.

Sorry OP no advice but I recruit lots of grads as well and the best aren't always from RG. I went to one and even I wouldn't be impressed by it alone.

Best of luck to your lad @Ted27

uni frog was really helpful in grading courses, likely grades needed etc. your dc should have access to this or similar via school.

Don't write off B and C kids. Degrees are assessed in different ways from A levels. If you find your thing and do it at the wrote university, you can do well without As and A stars at A levels

100% agree with @fortyfifty. DD2 was at that sort of level (which were good qualifications for the school she was at) and went to NTU. Absolutely loved it, got a good degree, did a lot of partying, played sport for the university etc.

She also discovered that she was very good at lab work (something you are unlikely to really learn at school) and as a result got onto a Masters course at a world-renown university – more highly regarded than Cambridge for her particular field of expertise, which I confess I enjoyed pointing out to the more snobby members of the extended family…

despite the Law/Big4/Medicince/Oxbridge mafia mums on MN

😂

I don't know if I'm relieved or disappointed that this year there isn't the usual thread where the "mafia mums" list which university their DC has firmed, what grades they need and how each exam went. Then the anxious wait for results, discussions about which bag is suitable for uni and the ritual IKEA shopping trip to kit out their offspring for halls.

DD is thinking about MFL at Manchester Met. Anyone got any experience?

My friend's daughter did MFL at Manchester Met, LOVED it, they were great and hugely supportive.

@TheTaylorNation My DS has Man Met on his list for MFL! Other lower tariff unis for MFL are Swansea, Bangor, Aber, Portsmouth and Chester

for education there are St Marys in Twickenham and Roehampton in Richmond, both well thought of for PGCE degrees

Woah, that's a bit bitchy. I was/am on two of those threads. DS is in first year and it was incredibly supportive of everyone. Same for DS1 who got CCD in A levels. No mafiosi on that thread either ! All comers were welcome.

The intense threads tend to be the 'which uni? RG is the best?' threads.

Smart, 3 of mine went to Bristol, 1 to Nottingham and 1 to Reading. The one who isn't a lawyer went to Reading.

I can understand that in a country where I think it is 50% of 16 year olds don't even get A-C GCSEs threads about leading universities for those with all As might seem discouraging but there are plenty of ways to skin a cat and live a life.. I have never said to the 4 of my children who are lawyers that that was what they must do (although I love it as a career so I certainly don't put people off).

Swansea! A little gem.

Did he like Reading? Is he the postman? Is he still a postman?

Woah, that's a bit bitchy

Just a bit of lighthearted teasing - those threads of yesteryear were intense. Haven't seen this years.

I do agree that much of MN HE is horrific. Just not those threads. There are probably several doozies running right now.

My friend's daughter did MFL at Manchester Met, LOVED it, they were great and hugely supportive

That's good to hear. DD wants a city uni and a year in France 🙂

Another vote for Reading here, my daughter has had a great experience there

I see you are looking at Education/teaching and have considered Bishop Grosseteste - so just wanted to say have a look at the Cathedrals Group of universities. They are smaller uni's that were created as teacher training colleges but are now universities in their own rights, and they accept much lower grades. BG is one of them, Winchester is another (that I saw someone suggest), and I recommend Plymouth Marjon (has an excellent reputation for teaching locally - and I'm biased!). Academically they are not the high fliers, but I've had a great experience with several of them.

Yes I don't mind the 'what to pack for uni' type threads as they are helpful for all kids/unis.

It's the 'my life is over if my kid doesn't go to Oxbridge/a RG' ones I find bonkers, but also a bit funny.

Xenia you did used to be a bit 'a person's life is not worth living if you don't go to one of a select handful of North London independent schools/Bristol Uni if not Oxbridge/become a lawyer' so good to see you have mellowed, somewhat with the passing of years 😄, also light hearted teasing and nothing against Law as a profession, of Banking/Big 4, just in recognition that there are others.

@QueenofLouisiana DD firmed Aberystwyth for International Relations too. She's turned down offers from two RG unis (without stellar GCSE's or all A predictions for A level) because Aber felt right. She regrets not sitting the entrance exam but until the offer holder day it was always going to be insurance.
DS is at a RG uni doing law - I'm definitely not one of those Mumsnet mafia mums!

@mummyinbeds its great to know of other students who are excited about Aber. DS really liked looking around, the course sounds so interesting. I’d love to spend my summer social life bbqing on the beach. (And we liked the cost of the accommodation, unlike some of his options!!)

Wishing her every success on getting her results!

Thank you. We will have a look at these two.

Thank you. Another great suggestion which we'll follow up.

The Education team at Plymouth Marjon are great. Just popped on to say Dd thinking along same lines Education/Sociology. She is actually restarting her 1st uni year after gaining a place at Cardiff for Music (ACC the C in Music and I suspect lots of imposter syndrome and a BF near home contributing to her leaving Cardiff, loved Sociology ). Reading has been recommended and Winchester. She is holding out for a Winchester Education Studies offer fingers crossed. It seems quite a small course and I know sometimes that means the courses don't run. She has been working as a Teaching Assistant in Cardiff over the last year so knows she wants to go down the Education route. Also has an offer for Portsmouth Sociology (our nearest city, not ideal).
Anyhow just to say keep an eye out and I'll update you if mine ends up at Winch and it is of interest.

Don't agree "Xenia you did used to be a bit 'a person's life is not worth living if you don't go to one of a select handful of North London independent schools/Bristol Uni if not Oxbridge/become a lawyer' so good to see you have mellowed, somewhat with the passing of years".

Not worth living was never my view. I have never had a different view than that 50% of people in the UK dont' even get 5 decent GCSE grades so of course they will not be heading off to certain types of career. It would be ludicrous had I ever held that view.

However I have always then and now said teenagers should make informed choices - so know what the consequences for life time pay are likely to be if they pick XYZ option. I have always advocated for people choosing their own life. However some teenagers make decisions that lead to low pay that never much matters when you are young but when they are in their 30s might be on MN trying to find out how to buy cheap food and wish they had perhaps chosen a higher paid career. That's all.

One of DS's friends had firmed York St John for degree in primary ed. Another is graduating from there this summer (different course) and he has had a great experience despite being in the Covid cohort.