Wanting to go to university but predicted CCU at A level

[elliejjtiny]

The C's are actually merits because he is doing diplomas or btecs, i can never remember which but they are equivalent to 1 a level each. The U is his a level. He really wants to go to university and do music production but the course he wants to do requires CCC. I went to university with CCU grades and ended up with a 2:1 but that was a long time ago and i think they expect much higher grades now. Also worried that if he gets in to university he won't be able to keep up as he is struggling with his a level now.

Maybe a course with foundation year
Look into tutors? Is he lazy or unmotivated? Only he can study and actually do the work
At local theatres and film studios they do sound engineer technician roles and apprenticeships. Maybe a back up plan. I know a few folks who went to uni to do music and ended up doing casual techie work at our local theatre and concert hall.

Universities are so desperate for students at the moment that they will accept much lower grades.A friend’s daughter missed a grade in all her A level results. Warwick still took her. Another friend who teaches at a local uni told me that they have to accept everyone.
He will be offered a place.

What subject is the U, why is the grade low (ask school), what specifically is needed to move from U to E/D/C, can you either get a tutor or support the learning?

What’s the U in and why is it a U? Can’t be arsed or difficult subject?

There are music production courses that will accept 80 points (CCD) - I suspect they’d interview/audition and may make a low offer if impressed. Music grades would also add a few UCAS points.

Are they desperate? Bloody hell.

That is interesting about Warwick. What was her subject?

Ungraded - its like "yeah he took it but he didn't do very well in it" sort of the modern equivalent of an F

DS really struggled with his A-level because of some personal circumstances. He had to do a course with a foundation year so that could be an option.

I guess the important question is, is the U in a subject related to what he wants to do?

There's always been F then U (ungraded) . I was predicted a U in DT (at GCSE) because I resented being made to take the subject so I literally didn't put pen to paper or make anything all year. Thankfully they let me drop it (I got As and A* in everything else)

@elliejjtiny can be get some tutor or something to boost the U? Then apply after A levels with actual grades?
Why is he predicted a U? Is it because he struggles or because he hasn't tried? Either way I would worry he wasn't going to cope at university. It's a lot of debt to take on for something you might not manage.

While it’s true that universities are (not all courses) desperate for students and will often accept lower grades you need to consider just because he can get on a course is it the best thing for him? Only you know him and his motivation and work ethic and can answer that.

i teach on a “competitive “ degree course with a ucas tariff of 128. We have in the past had students come with a tariff as low as 86. Some students who haven’t achieved well in their A levels do well because they work hard and are interested in the subject and totally flourish. Some sink like a stone as they just can’t keep up, sometimes through lack of effort but often through lack of ability. Sadly the university doesn’t care and is happy that all places were filled and tuition fees gained.

What does he think this degree will add to his career that he couldn’t do without spending three years and 50k on it?

Going to sound harsh but... My son was interested in music production degrees and contacted someone who knew about it who said (at the time, a few years ago) that the only course that stood a chance of getting you work at the end was the Tonnmeister degree at Surrey which requires minimum 3 As. Most degrees in this subject, especially not too notch universities are a waste of money, which one lecturer admitted at an open day. There are now many other courses available at other places eg Abbey Road Institute that he could investigate; not sure if they are any good but possibly a better idea than University for your son.

@Maybeitllneverhappen- great advice about the Tonmeiater degree.
My DS was considering music production and 6th form college told him
not to bother, as the industry preferred experience over qualifications. He chose another degree and got very involved in sound production as a hobby, hopping eventually to make a career from it. I’m told he’s very good at sound production but those who know, but he works in a field totally unrelated to sound production or his degree!

For a music production course it will be more about talent and enthusiasm than grades. Also there's plenty of time to uplift those grades and it's his actual grades in summer that count more than current predictions. If he can buck his ideas up in his studies and start working harder he can turn that CCU into BBC by the summer term. If he can't/won't/doesn't want to put in the hours or hard work then maybe university isn't a good idea?

Yes, my son did computer science degree and does music as a hobby. Has worked a lot of festivals and live music venues through University backstage experience. It's very hard to make a living in music!

Thank you. His a level is in maths. He tries but struggles with both maths and communication. He got mostly 4's and 5's in his gcse's, with a 6 in maths. He loves doing his music production course at college because he enjoys music but hates playing in front of people.

I’m guessing he’s doing a BTec Diploma (equivalent to 2 Alevels) and Maths Alevel? Is he in Y12? If so, there’s loads of time to improve his BTEC grades, which should happen if he loves the subject. Had he been advised to give up the Maths?

Can he not move to an extended BTEC Diploma (equivalent to 3 A Levels)? Or do a different third BTEC?

I often hear about students struggling with Maths and it's usually those who got a 7 at GCSE, so I'm not surprised he's finding it hard with a 6. My friend's son had to give it up in the end which meant he only got 2 A Levels and couldn't get the apprenticeship he wanted. Much better to switch to a more suitable third subject now?

Why do the A level maths if he struggles with it? It's a hard one anyway.
I would drop it and take up something he can achieve a decent grade in which would enable him to get on the course he wants.

Goodness me, his school or college have failed him by allowing him to take A Level maths with a 6 at GCSE in my opinion.

At his current trajectory I'd be looking at a foundation year.

It sounds like he's not particularly academic (and by that I don't mean not smart, I mean possibly not suited to an academic pathway such as A Levels, or potentially even uni) is there a possibility of him getting there via apprenticeship route, or on the job learning?

I never went to university, I'm a chartered accountant so have had to sit a fair few professional exams but on the whole not particularly academic. I learn by doing, rather than via books/lectures. I'm a huge advocate of learning on the job, potentially taking exams a bit later in life, apprenticeships, training schemes etc. Sounds like it might be the same sort of approach your son might need.

Why did they allow him to do Maths A level with a 6 at GCSE? That nuts. That's failing him from the off. He should have been given better advice.

Re music production, it's really really hard to get into. There's few jobs and it's really competitive. University courses are not necessarily the way forward because it's an industry that's all about experience and who you know. It's one to get off your arse and graft. Volunteering to help with anything you possibly can is probably worth more than an A level in maths.

This is definitely one where you need to look in multiple directions. University may be a gateway in terms of opportunities available whilst studying more than the study itself ironically.

I know quite a few people who work in music production. A couple have made it through being quite well known professional musicians then investing the money into their own businesses and using the social network they built up from that. Another was a fan of a large band. He made friends with the band and the crew and went from there. I think he did go to uni to do music production and actually dropped out. He's doing ok, but I know he had to supplement what he was doing for very little or no money working insane and unsociable hours in bars. Then the other one I know was more academic but again it was down to work experience whilst studying and he was one of a tiny number of his course who managed to get the gig straight out of uni as there just aren't the jobs out there.

You essentially have to create the jobs and opportunities.

Honestly if he wants to go into the industry, it needs to be stressed how much he has to fight for it. The decision over maths and then his subsequent attitude to it, makes me raise eyebrows in terms of that. It has to be your life passion and for it to be almost all consuming rather than a course you do at university.

What outside his course is he currently doing related to music?

Why does he want to go to University? What is he hoping to achieve..a Uni degree no longer opens doors in the way it did many years ago so I would suggest he looks at alternatives paths. If he insists in Uni does he have musical grades that could add UCAS points?

Many people are more practical than academic and do better going gaining experience. Uni with foundation could be 4 years so costs around 100k, fees, accomodation and living expenses. Is it worth that investment?

This is simply not true.

Does he know how to use lots of different musical equipment? Does he have a home studio set up?
I know a few people who work in music production and engineering and there's basically not really any work even for experienced people.

A degree probably won't help that much to get into the industry.