DC going back to their old schools to talk about uni.

[Wedgied]

This is just a light-hearted post. I saw the "parents of Oxbridge students thread" and it made me wonder if people's DC have ever gone back to their sixth form/college to talk about "[SUBJECT] at uni". Or to talk about Oxbridge.

That's all. Have your DCs spoken about their higher education experiences at their old school?

@Wedgied Not mine yet, but Ds1 is willing to offer. They do have former students come in and talk about their uni experience. One girl went to MIT (5 A level workload) and came back for a talk but they have them from all universities because not all of them are heading for top 20.

There are 2 streams at Ds's sixth form, the uni track and the job/apprenticeship track. Of those on the uni track 75% are first generation to go to uni so having someone come in and answer questions about it, especially subject specific or unis they are applying to is very helpful. Not everyone can afford to attend an open day or might just be at the considering where to go stage.

One of DH’s personal tutees did this. She was first gen university from a rough area and a star maths student from her comprehensive, then at uni. Her dream was to do a PGCE and then go back to teach at said school. During her final UG year she went back to give a talk and IIRC it was a success. (I know she went on to the PGCE but I don’t know what happened after that.)

I did this in 1998.

My DCs school always have lots of students back every year to talk about their uni experience/specific unis/specific subjects. My 2 haven't done it because they couldn't make the days requested, but they found it really useful when they were looking to apply.

Yes mine is studying Medicine and was asked to go back to talk about his med school application and what it's like once you get there.

Yep. DD1 was asked to do a couple of presentations at DD2's school, so not the school she went to, but her sisters. Came about by DD2 chatting with teachers. She enjoyed it.

Yes my DD did. Standard comp.

I did, back in the 90's, I took an unconventional route but got a good degree. Bog standard comprehensive, top 10 university.

Crap A levels (E,E,U)
HND
BSc entry onto second year

So four years of study after school (although of course no fees then and a maintenance grant from the Local Authority)

I thought it might be useful to the pupils to know that it's not the end of the world if the grades you come out with aren't what you expect

The weirdest this for me was seeing my tutor and calling him Mr Smith and him saying to me - you can't sit there as an adult and call me 'Mr Smith' my name's Paul!

Yes - mine’s been back a few times. Probably because she was the 1st to go to Oxford from her college.

I work in a uni outreach team and when we book activities with local schools we definitely prioritise any of our student workers who went to that school or another local school. Relatable role models are very important

DS1 (Oxford Chemistry) went back and gave a talk about applying to Oxford at his school. He also took part in a panel discussion.

DD (Oxford Medicine) did the same. She also talked to applicants from her school individually and to Medicine applicants to other universities.

Yes mine both have (I work there too). There is a rolling programme of alumni coming back to talk about their course, the application process and life at uni/Oxbridge.

DD1 has done a few sessions, including a day of talking with Oxbridge aspiring y12s and looking at personal statements. She has also talked about NatSci and life at Cambridge.

DD2 was meant to have a year abroad, which, due to Covid was truncated to 4 months, although she was studying online with her foreign university for the entire academic year. Just before she actually went, she was asked to come in to talk about resilience to year 8. They are now y10 and still ask me about her.