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Original poster

Help with S6 choices

39 replies

WankersHacksandThieves · 08/03/2017 22:31

Forms now out. DS still can't decide what he wants to do at Uni. 5 columns and his current 5 Highers are one in each column.

He is currently doing Maths, Physics, Engineering, Computing and Graph Comm.

He says he's happy to drop Graph Comm. He can choose Personal Study for one column, he has the option to do Electives (charity/coaching type stuff) for another but he doesn't want to do that.

So the way we look at it he either has to drop Maths or Physics or he has to choose to drop Engineering or Computing. He then has to pick up a 4th subject , that's looking like either Chemistry or Business management.

Essentially what he really needs to do is make up his mind about whether he wants to follow Engineering or Computing which would make it easier. He is doing well in all subjects.

Any thoughts?

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prettybird · 08/03/2017 23:09

Is he wanting to do Advanced Highers? What is his objective for S6? Is he wanting to make his 1st year at Uni easier - if he wants to go to Uni at all? Does he want to go to an English Uni?

The advice that ds was given (as he wants to go to a Scottish Uni and isn't planning on applying for medicine) was to choose what he was interested in and enjoyed - and to take the opportunity, if there weren't subjects he needed to do, to widen his knowledge. As a result, he is doing a crash Higher in Modern Studies and Advanced Highers in Physics and Maths.

As his parents, we never actually saw his column choices (this was about 2 weeks ago); he just told us what he was doing and said he needed us to say it was ok Wink

Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 08/03/2017 23:29

He wants to go to Uni -no idea where so I guess Scotland. Interested in Engineering and computing and Physics/Maths. We thought about something that utilised all skills like Engineering Design or something but I think that is a compromise that isn't really what he wants either. I can't even get out of him whether he wants to live at home while at Uni or wants to live away but close enough to pop home or further away.

I think he was intending to do three AHs but looks like he will have to chuck in a 4th academic subject so possibly crash a higher.

I think his main intention is to do stuff he enjoys and mature a bit :o

In his prelims he got an A for Physics and Bs for the rest but he did literally nothing in terms of study for them, I would expect most of those scores to rise. Computing teacher reckons he will get full marks for his assignment and that his Software Development skills are "exceptional" and reports from all other teachers are enthusiastic - well except Engineering but teacher is quite dour so report reflects that but is still positive.

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Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 08/03/2017 23:44

...and lucky you re the lack of intervention required. We have to go to a meeting to officially collect the forms. It's for parents of S4 and 5 so I'm guessing it's the same meeting I went to last year...yawn...:) We are also "invited" but not necessarily expected to go to the Options interviews!

And on top of that we've also got DS2's form and his columns haven't fallen well and he's got one column that only contains subjects he wants to drop and subjects he doesn't want to start and his 2 top choices only appear once and are in the same column :(

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Groovee · 09/03/2017 07:58

Dd got into a tizz as the first column only had AH English which she doesn't need. But she had a meeting with guidance so she's going for 2 highers in school, 1 at college and then an OU module in Understanding the Autism spectrum which would be more helpful towards getting into primary teaching. They want to have the option for her to do work experience too.

prettybird · 09/03/2017 08:21

Ds isn't being pressured to do more than the 2 x AH and 1 crash H. He's planning on spending some of his "free" time helping with coaching the S2s in the School of Rugby. He might also be able to get a formal coaching qualification from it (technically you have to be 18 but there are some "traineeship" ways around it).

I'm slightly worried about him not doing enough and also suffering with "uncondionalitis" - but he insists he will still be taking his studies seriously as a matter of pride and to make his first year at Uni easier. He's always been a good self-starter (never see homework, has been studying little and often for the last 18 months) so I have faith that he'll be ok.

I hope your ds2 manages to get something sorted. That sounds a more serious issue that facing your ds1, who seems if anything to be suffering from too many options he'd be ok with.

RJnomore1 · 09/03/2017 08:24

3 AH is a ridiculous workload. Are the school advocating that??

Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 09/03/2017 09:05

School are only saying that of the 5 columns, 3 need to be subject choices, only 1 can be self study and he can also do electives. He doesn't want to do electives so that leaves him havine to take 4 subject choices. Aside from crashing Chemistry there is nothing else he wants to do except do AH in subjects he has already done at Higher. And as is said, he has too much choice compared to poor DS2. I'm hoping we can get something sorted out for him even if it means doing nat 5 music with the new 4th years.

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RJnomore1 · 09/03/2017 09:12

I think you need a serious conversation with the school if he's thinking about doing 3. I can't think of anywhere that would recommend it ( I work in education) and from personal experience my very academically able child has struggled this year with two AH and two highers due to workload not ability.

I'd be encouraging higher chemistry, nat5 music, two AHs and a self study which I think he will need for the AHs.

You're right it would be really helpful if he knew what to apply for! But chem will broaden his options a bit more for course applications and if he enjoys music then that would be a good balance.

Poor you having two picking subjects at once!

OOAOML · 09/03/2017 13:13

Are advanced highers similar to the old CSYS? I did three of those and it was heavy going with all the reading and self-directed study.

celtiethree · 09/03/2017 13:38

If he does't know what he wants to do then Maths/Physics are a good combo for pretty much any engineering/computing course. For the third choose the one that he likes the best. With that combination I don't picking up a crash higher in chemistry is a great choice as he is already pretty loaded. Or go with RJs solution and just choose the 2AH and higher chemistry. It's a shame that you can't do personal study for 2 columns. The elective while not a preference is a good thing to have to round off your overall skill set and he may like it. Nat 5 music would be a good alternative.

Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 09/03/2017 13:47

It's ds2 that's interested in music not ds1. Ds1 isn't interested at all. It is tough and I think he would benefit from electives but he is very socially anxious and says no :(

I'm definitely leaning towards saying to do maths and physics AH and then chemistry higher and then I don't know what else....

Tonight's meeting may help.

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celtiethree · 09/03/2017 14:12

On a separate note does anyone have experience of the Scottish Baccalaureate in Science - it is worth it? Wankers your DS would be able to do this, his subject choices line up for that. It's a shame he won't do the electives.

Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 09/03/2017 17:06

'tis a shame re the electives - the info from school is that they are expected to do them but if that is so then they should have made them compulsory.

Having looked at the details, yes I think he would be eligible to do the Baccalaureate in SCience, but I'm not really sure what the point of it is other than being able to work abroad - I've really no experience in any of this stuff Confused

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RJnomore1 · 09/03/2017 17:51

I don't know anyone who has done the baccalaureate but I will ask.

Sorry I misread about music but is there anything like that dd1 would enjoy? Art or PE? He's probably got his uni entry sorted this year so there's space to unwind a bit if he will let himself!

Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 09/03/2017 17:57

Thanks RJ, he did Art National 5 and didn't want to take it further and he isn't into sport. He likes computers and numbers, doesn't like speaking to people or moving about :o

DS2 still feeling miserable but I'm really hoping that his issue is resolvable. Fingers crossed.

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CountMagnus · 09/03/2017 18:00

Is Mathematics of Mechanics an option for AH?

Three AHs are not too bad if there is a bit of overlap between the subjects, eg Maths and Mathematics of Mechanics. One of DS's friends applying to Oxbridge did 4 AHs, but that was a mad amount of work (Ds did 3 AHs and seemed to have plenty of spare time).

FlippingBottleFlippers · 09/03/2017 18:12

My DS is currently studying AHs in Physics, Maths and Maths of Mechanics and despite getting As for Maths and Physics in his highers he is finding it tough. His school has allowed him to have 2 enhancements (study time). Had they not allowed that, he had talked about doing Nat 5 home economics so he could go off to university knowing how to cook. I think we both underestimated how hard AHs would be and how self directed they are, reflected by one of the universities he applied for offering him direct entry to 2nd year if he manages AB.

Lidlfix · 09/03/2017 18:35

Do you know what AHs are on offer? He does fit the typical AH of Mechanics of Maths student profile.

ttlshiwwya · 09/03/2017 19:11

Does the school allow him to do something at local college for one/two options? Might be something there that he would be interested in and relevant to engineering/computing.

Lidlfix · 09/03/2017 19:30

School my DDs attend offers OU modules in S6 - is that on offer?

Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 09/03/2017 20:55

Just been to the meeting and discussed options. They don't recommend a crash higher in Chemistry but given his lack of subjects he'd be prepared to do, they have said that they would consider 3 AHs and two lots of personal study where normally they would suggest only two AHs and a maximum of 1 lot of personal study. They definitely had candidates doing Mechanics of Mathematics in the recent prelims but it isn't on the form. I'd forgotten about that so didn't ask about it. I'll maybe get him to put a comment on the form.

As far as DS2s column issue is concerned, it's yet to be resolved. If there are enough pupils wanting to do Higher History they may run two classes and that might fit in okay but at the moment they can't say. Option Interviews are monday so might have a clearer idea then.

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RJnomore1 · 09/03/2017 21:25

Oh yes the YASS courses, dd is doing one of those too, they're good.

Salmotrutta · 09/03/2017 21:36

With regard to pupils opting to take 3 Advanced Highers - It's not that unusual to be honest.

Yes, it's a hefty workload but it's achievable - I can think of plenty of pupils I have taught/am teaching who do three.

prettybird · 09/03/2017 23:07

Ds was initially planning on doing 3 x AH but he's lost the luuuurvve for Chemistry so has decided against it (especially as AH Chemistry apparently has one of the greatest amounts of self-directed study) So he's widening his knowledge instead.

If a pupil is planning on going to an English Uni especially Oxbridge I think they need to be prepared to do 3 AHs - or have to do extra study in their 1st year (or even do an extra year?) - to ensure that they have the equivalent of 3 A Levels.

Although as I've mentioned, I believe that Advanced Highers have more UCAS points than A Levels. Ds isn't at that stage yet so I can't vouch for that Grin

Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 09/03/2017 23:20

I don't think Oxbridge is his ambition or suited to his personality. Another reason for being allowed the extra personal study time is that they are finally going to try and support his social anxiety and possible selective mutism issues, otherwise all his work in getting good grades may be wasted as he will struggle to get work if he can't engage in an interview. They are also saying that he needs to be careful not to choose too many subjects where having to work with people/engage with staff is a major part of the course as he finds that stressful and it could effect his performance. We've only been asking for help since he was about 7 or 8.

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