Thoughts on Uni options for a mid performer

[WaxOnFeckOff]

DS2 has gradually got his act together over the last 7/8 months and now does want to apply to Uni, he's interested in History/Modern Studies/Politics/English, has no idea what he wants to do for a job but I've mentioned maybe research type roles in politics and he seemed interested. I think he wants to study something that has some kind of path to a job but he doesn't have the interest or mind for those type of subjects/roles (usually computing/engineering type).

Anyway, now the dilemma. He doesn't have and isn't likely to achieve quite enough for the "top layer" of Uni. He only sat 3 highers and resat his Nat 5 maths in S5 and has ABC at higher A Mods/B English/C Music). He is doing 2 more Highers (History and politics) and AH English this year. He is capable of 2 further As in his highers and who knows in his AH English. He is putting in more effort and enthusiasm than I've ever seen from him. So, best case scenario he has 3 As, a B and C at higher and a pass of some sort in his AH. I think it would be unlikely that he would fail his highers, I think he got an A at Nat 5 in history and obvs he did well in Modern Studies so that would give a good idea of his likely achievement in politics.

Anyway, Edinburgh/Glasgow/Strathclyde etc are likely to be just out of his reach for some type of social science degree as they seem to be looking at AAAA or more. Stirling looks just about in his reach i.e AABBB as does Glasgow Caledonian and then there seems to be a drop to Uni of H&I for example that only looks for BBC.

He is far cleverer than his results would suggest but has suffered with mental health and probably has undiagnosed dyspraxia.

Can anyone suggest any further places that might cater to the level he is likely to get or any thoughts on the quality of the likes of Caledonian? My mind is drawing a blank and UCAS search didn't help. To me he should be going for Stirling but I think he wants the option to move away after 1st year. I've said that currently living within walking distance doesn't mean that he can't still move out... :)

I’ve known people at Caledonian and they’ve done well. I think looking at stats about employability would be useful.

Would sociology fit his degree choice, there are options for that.

What about Napier/Abertay/Queen Margaret/Robert Gordon

I think if AA is possible this year and his teachers would predict that in his reference then I’d use one of the 5 as an aspirational choice (provided he would meet minimum requirements).

Does he want to stay in Scotland? England would offer a lot more options - tuition fees would possibly never have to be repaid depending on earnings.

Stirling is actually a great option - everyone I know that has gone there has done v well.

Thanks, I had a bit more of a search when still not sleeping last night. I put Napier on the list. Abertay requirements were pretty low and Robert Gordon's didn't have anything suitable. I'll look at queen Margaret though. I also think he should put an aspirational option down. I looked again and he could be in the ball park for Dundee and Aberdeen. He did at one point talk about wanting to go further away but I think he's changed his mind. I think his preference now is to stay nearer home at least initially though he would like an option to go abroad for a placement which a few places, including Stirling seem to offer. He often talks a good game but his reality tends to be a safer option....

DS has just started at Aberdeen doing the same sort of subject as your son is interested in and with pretty similar grades (ABBBC for Highers AIRC). DS' conditional offer was for an A in any of the three Adv Highers he was taking this summer. He had an unconditional from Stirling which he was happy to take if he didn't get the A for Aberdeen.

He's been there a fortnight and is loving it - nice people, friendly city, interesting courses, engaging lecturers. He's also hoping for a semester abroad and they seem to have a good system for organising that.

Hope this helps.

DS1s friend did a 2 year Diploma in HE at City of Glasgow college - that new one next to Strathclyde uni - and got direct entry into 3rd year of Strathclyde honours degree. She choose this route despite having offers from other unis - Stirling/Napier . Might be worth looking at as an option.

DD2 has just finished 5 years at Stirling. They were very helpful with the disability stuff (severe dyslexia) and the pastoral care is good. Be aware, though, that AH don't count towards your entrance qualifications. They will be considered more as part of his personal assessment, i.e. looking to push himself, which counts on his personal statement. Highlands and Islands also had a brilliant pastoral care service when we visited before DD2 got her results and had a conditional from them. Their new campus was only being built then, but I believe is finished now and is very good indeed. It is a new, young university, so might be the fit he is looking for.

Think you might have a last minute clearing fest next August Wax. You can pretty much discourage C in Music so your DS is looking at maxing out his two Highers and trying his best with AH.

Abertay is good for Sociology, Criminology type degrees and you've probably read my praise for Dundee as a student city on other threads so won't bore you.

University of WEst of Scotland is another that's not been mentioned. I know it's not uni (well from day one) but Forth Valley College has some really interesting new degrees in conjunction with Stirling Uni. Specifically constructed to meet gaps in employment market the students do year 1 & 2 of BA at Forth Valley then complete 3 & 4 at Stirling uni.

My DD similar S5 results but Bombed S6 opted for City of Glasgow College for Social Sciencey stuff is having a great time and will transfer to Caley, Stirling or the like after her 2nd year- more choice as you progress as they have 2 years of drop outs places. Not the same competition for 1st year entry at all! For DD going to Glasgow in the train having nights out there was a part of her choice not feeling "left behind" if that makes sense?

Thanks for all the updates, I'll have a look through them all and will need to have a proper talk with DS2. He works well when he is happy and interested so that is key and the college into uni is definitely a good option. Forth valley don't do anything in his area of interest though. Good to hear praise for caley and others. This being MN, it seems on many threads that if your DC isn't Oxbridge or st Andrews material then they are a washout. His self esteem is pretty poor so trying to be upbeat, encouraging him to be positive and also to stretch himself and not sell himself short. If he didn't have the ability then it wouldn't be an issue. I guess we just want them to work to the best of their abilities. The key to his improvement has been a slight change in friends to a more academic group overall but I'm wary of him measuring himself against them and finding himself wanting. Thanks again.

Oh and yes, definitely can see us looking at clearance though I think the availability for Scottish applicants wasn't vast this year. Bit of a contrast to DS1 sitting with his 4 unconditionals this year. We don't talk about that though!

Wax Dd (ironically now with having had to defer her place due to health circumstances) got ABBBB after 5th year and at open days was she wouldn't even get into Glasgow Caledonian as at their open day even they were stating AABBB! Although she did get an unconditional from them and then ironically also from Strathy too Aargh. Many of her school colleagues tried for UWS (I think their min is like BBB) Napier also worth a look. Bizarrely she more than met Dundee's minium (I can't remember what they were stating) but was rejected by them. Ironically 30 years ago I came to Glasgow because I couldn't get into Aberdeen with my (rubbish by comparison with dd's highers!)! How times have changed.

What I meant to say was she was worried at the open day that Caledonian was out of reach because they were stating how they were looking for AABBB.

Look at University of highlands and islands they have learning centres that might be better for himDd1 went to Perth. Orhe could maybe do college an HND then onto University which Dd2 is doing she has a specific learning difficulty and wouldn't have coped with University straight from school.

My friends Dd did criminology and sociology at Stirling university apparently the disability provision was excellent friends Dd has Sen and they couldn't fault Stirling.

My niece got a job within a week of graduating from Caley and is now earning on a par with her friends who went to Edinburgh/Glasgow/Aberdeen.

There's an HNC social sciences at Dundee College that leads into second year at lots of Unis but he probably wouldn't need it if he has a good 6th year.

I really don't think you need to worry, he's going to end up with a pretty good set of Highers and will have good choices, I'd swap those results for DS1s two NAT 5s anytime, I've temporarily given up trying to find options for him!

Thanks all, lots of food for thought and I've not looked at too much this evening but will look at more tomorrow. We had a very brief conversation in the car in which he's said that he thinks he would like to live away and apparently Stirling is just for sport anyway... . We will be having a fuller more constructive conversation tomorrow and over the weekend. I said to him that I know it's hard but can he really give a lot of thought to it before we talk again as it would be better not to "waste" applications on something he really doesn't want. I think it would do him good to move away to be honest but it would be silly to discount a course he may prefer just for that and as long as the course had an option to do some study abroad/elsewhere then it would be worth while looking at and also that DH and I wouldn't be averse to him moving out even if he was living locally.

Definitely see that there are good options out there (and great to hear about all these young people doing so well!), including doing the college route first, depending on his results. He's optimistically said he thinks he should pass everything...

Thanks wiggly - maybe you need to let him find his own path now? easier said than done i know .

I just get a bit frustrated as he should be a straight A student, he is cleverer than DS1 in lots of ways, just not the ways that mean he does well in his exams without trying and has the type of mind that will get qualifications that should have a job at the end.

That's the plan Wax, I can so relate to a child whose results don't reflect their potential and it is tough for them when they have a sibling who can produce results or go to a school with a " swotty" cohort. I just wish I hadn't fretted so much about both of mine and been more chilled about the " journey"

Wax, I have just seen this and I am knackered but I can look at this properly tomorrow if you are still looking for ideas. Has his guidance teacher been any use? This sort of stuff is out bread and butter

Indeed wiggly I think if we can set them up with the ability to like themselves, support themselves, look after themselves, be kind and have the ability to love then anything else is just decoration on the cake.

passme that would be really appreciated. I suggested he go see the careers adviser but I don't think he has, he's not keen on meeting new people and has lost a lot of his confidence due to the scarring on his face (acne). It's not been helped by the consultant he was due to have treatment with retiring and him being flung off the queue and told to come back in a year's time. As he is still only just 17, lots of places that could offer some treatment that may improve it (less invasive than the treatment he should be getting) won't treat him until he is 18.

I'm also heading to bed to lie awake for a few hours only to get into a lovely sleep just before the alarm rings.... Also shattered but accidentally dropped off for about 3 seconds an hour ago so that's me fucked for sleep now...:(

Wax saw this advertised yesterday on our school app and thought of you. No idea if it will be any good. My 2 tend to mill about aimlessly at big corporate events but their school ran a smaller scale event last year with just a limited selection from various sectors and DD1 found it really helpful and actually went and chatted with reps.

www.ucas.com/events/glasgow-higher-education-exhibition-308521

Thanks how he's booked on the more local one next week.

I have just had another read through this wax

My first thoughts were
Stirling
Dundee
Napier

His results are good and likely to be very good by the end of school. It is hard to see our own children in context but actually he will, if he perform above average.

Generally speaking I advise to use the five choices strategically.

One aspirational
One challenging
Two good bets
One definiate

With those results he could make Strathclyde as a possible aspirational choice.
His challenging could be Aberdeen for something like international relations
Likely Stirling and Dundee
Definiate maybe queen Margaret/Napier

I say all of those loosely - it changes very year

With his previous medical history I would be recommending a campus based environment with high levels of pastoral support. I know he doesn’t want it but Stirling really does come out tops on this front. I am also in walking distance of it and I know you don’t appreciate what’s on the doorstep but maybe a visit to the admissions offices and a tour would help him here?

All universities will arrange for personal visits if need be. Maybe that would help focus him a little bit. Dundee is not campus based but also very good with pastoral support.

I wouldn’t worry about his longer term plans right now. He has made a big step with considering university. Once he finds his place the job market will make itself clear.

Has his school been much use at all?

Thanks pass me that is brilliant! I'm currently trying to talk him into the Stirling open day today. Your list more or less mirrors mine :) I've also got Caledonian and uni of H&I for him to go and at least see what is on their program. DH being unhelpful and just keeps saying " he needs to think about which job he wants first" and 'does he seriously think he's ready to live away from home" .

School are completely unhelpful. They ride on their academic success but I can see that going down the swaney soon. He gets to type his exams but even then I have to keep reminding them. They talk a good game (sometimes) but spectacularly fail to deliver. That's my experience anyway. The saving grace are the pupils.