S5/S6 support thread.

[IHaveBrilloHair]

I know I need it this year with Dd.
Everyone welcome to join in.

My DD2 is S5 and has had tests every day this week and some last. As I also have DD1 in S6 with the same I have pretty much given up on keeping track of who is being tested on what when. Working on the principle that a problem shared is a problem doubled here unless anyone has an actual disastrous result to report.

School have started using a HW prompt app for parents. I am resolutely not downloading it.

At least DD2 was gallow humours levels of cheeriness when DD1 pointed out it is just pretty much wall to wall tests between now and June. Think the rationale is that if they have enough testing now they will be less nervous come the real thing.

I've been thru S5 twice already with my DSs and I agree it's worse with my DD. Probably hasn't helped that she has switched to a new school with much more homework and class tests. I also haven't downloaded the homework app for parents.

Ds has been ok and pretty chilled. Tracking report was good.

UCAS button has been pressed here. Now the focus can go back to the actual work and not that damn PS. Now it's the nail biting wait for offers. 😏

Ds is really doing well, head down and working hard. I'm really impressed with his attitude change this year. We're leaving him home alone for a couple of days this week (well, alone apart from the builders!) so it'll be interesting to see how he copes.

First offer in. What a relief. Phew!!

Wow that’s amazing! Glasgow by any chance??x

No it’s not on her list, York. She’s very happy

It’s so lovely when the first offer comes in! Very well done to her!🎉

It's such a wee morale boost. Incidentally, her friend got one from Glasgow today too!

Ofcourse it is! Yes that’s why I thought it might be Glasgow as my son heard from them within 24 hours! Celebrations tonight in your household!x

We are off to Aberdeen Open day on Saturday with DS2. Think we'll need to drive. Public transport not really working for us this weekend.

Congrats to those with offers :)

Hi all - DS in S6 this year for 4 AHs, uni open days all done, UCAS app in & 1 unconditional offer received - yeah ! I didn’t actually realise offers could come in so soon so was pleasantly surprised !! Do all unis confirm offers quickly or does it vary between each ?

Fab! Congrats! Which Uni and course was the unconditional offer for?

My DS's application went in almost two weeks ago for Law and no word yet......

It varies amongst the Unis. Don't know about the English ones but Edinburgh is notorious for being really late.

Strathclyde was quite quick in giving ds an unexpected Unconditional. Aberdeen and Dundee were a bit later (unconditional from Aberdeen, rejection from Dundee - can't remember the order that they came).

I think it also varies by subject (.....except for Edinburgh which apparently doesn't even start looking at the applications until UCAS closes at the end of January )

Glasgow are generally very fast. if you meet the requirements they send an unconditional straight away. I think for DS it went:

Glasgow
Heriot Watt (then heriot watt again with an extra offer)
Strathclyde
Dundee then a long wait
Edinburgh

Might have Dundee and Strath the wrong way round though.

@Prettybird can you remind me what your DS applied for at Dundee? Dundee is on DS2s reasonably good chance list but he doesn't meet the requirements for Strathclyde. I know your DSs results were much better than DS2s so wondering if Dundee is harder than we were thinking it would be. Obvs we know that they are generally applying for similar things

Yes our experience it varies uni to uni. Glasgow offer came within 24 hours and the final one which he accepted was St Andrews at the very end of Feb the others were in between those. Some appear to take the PS into account others don’t appear to give 2 hoots!x

Thx
The unconditional is for Chemistry with maths at Glasgow. He’s also applied for Oxford / St. Andrews / Strathclyde / Edinburgh. Sounds like a long waiting game then for all offers ...

Wax - same course for all the Unis - IR/PIR (most Unis except for St Andrews have the same foundation/1st year course for Politics and International Relations) and IR with Quantitative Methodology for his 2nd Edinburgh application.

He got a rejection from Dundee, which was ok as he already had his Unconditional from Strathclyde (and Aberdeen?)

But it could be that they were looking for different things in the PS. Or didn't like that ds had obviously had a science slant in his exam choices. Who knows?

I believe that Dundee has a particular interest/specialism in Middle Eastern politics - if that's of interest to your ds.

Thanks pb. I've just got him to send a general enquiry to Dundee to see what they are looking for. They don't seem to do an International Relations on it's own or with politics. They are looking for BBBB minimum with AABB typical for any or the Politics/IR/mixed with History or English courses. He obviously doesn't have that at the moment but it is achievable. They don't mention what they accept if done over two years or how they treat the AH. For the AH I've been going on the basis that a C would be equivalent to a B at Higher and a B (a bit hopeful with that one...) would be an A at Higher.

Given that virtually everything he has is very relevant, I'm hoping that might be a bit more positive.

I'm thinking that it might be worth sending the same enquiry to Aberdeen. It may be better to manage expectations now than have him receive a lot of rejections.

I never think there is any harm in the candidate asking for more information from the Admissions people. It shows a positive and pro-active interest from the young person.

It was many many years ago but a couple of friends and I went to see the Admissions people at St Andrews during an Open Day to ask about the likelihood of being admitted from S5. They actually wrote to our school (describing us very complimentarily) and asked if the school thought we were mature enough. I got accepted (Just wanted 4 Bs for a French/Russian degree I did say it was a long time ago , so I knew I would get that) but my friends were told to leave it a year.

I know the plural of anecdote is not data but it wouldn't do any harm to your ds to ask the questions, especially if he can include a pithy reason why he is particularly interested.

Another thought: have you calculated what ds would have (best case/worst predicted scenario) in terms of UCAS tariff points and how that relates to the Uni requirements? Remembering that only the AH will count if he has a H in the same subject.

I had a quick squint over his request for info. he mentioned that he was currently very motivated and studying relevant subjects and was confident of meeting their typical requirements but he wanted to know how they would view his application and how they would treat his AH and he said thank you for your time at the end. It looked fine to me :) It's a big leap for him as he's rather not know if it's a no. As DH said yesterday after taking him out in the car, he views absolutely everything you say as an insult or criticism. It's like walking on eggshells trying to not shatter his self esteem every time you open your mouth.