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... :)

It's amazing how other people telling our dcs exactly the same thing we have already been saying get listened to

When ds was still cycle racing, I used to get one of the other parents to tell him that he needed to put his saddle up

Worth taking into account 3 years rather than 4 as not just one year less living costs but also an extra year earning - that's what we were thinking when DH was throwing English Unis in the mix. That said DD2 is thinking about Engineering (DH is struggling to find an English Uni to compete with Scottish options) which could end up with 5 rather than 4 years and DD1 would ideally like a year abroad. On the upside looking very likely DD2 will decide to stay at home, at least to start with, especially if her big sister decides to go further afield. Definitely glad we started saving ahead of time for our 2.

I had to help DS2 quite a lot with the PS, he hates talking about himself and wasn't really able to put himself in the shoes of the admissions tutor ( putting himself into others heads is hard because of his ASD). I gave him an opening line as he was really stuck with that and reminded him of relevant experiences, edited out a couple of clichés, and got him to vary some phrases he used several times over. I basically sub- edited it and then he showed it to a neighbour who is a History teacher who's dept had had a visit and talk from the admissions dept of the uni he wanted to go to. It took loads of drafts and was sent off rather last minute...

The other thing to consider with a more technical degree is that there are more opportunities for degree apprenticeships and decent paid internships in holidays as well. So, that route could be less expensive. I'm a bit concerned about the PS too as he doesn't have a lot of confidence so I've been reminding him of all his achievements and interests and have set up the introduction of the one that prettybird kindly sent on as an example. He joined a political party at age 14 so whilst he is somewhat disillusioned with party politics now it does show that he has had an enduring interest in the subject. He is definitely now thinking Politics or similar and maybe joined with History. After being grumpy for the last few days he's perked up and is glad I he made the effort today. The talk we went to at school gave good information on the plagerising of PS and how they are all run through a database now which searches for levels of copying. A certain amount is allowed/expected as people will reference to the same things (DofE/certain hobbies/particular periods of history they are interested in/significant influences in their life etc etc) but above that they would be looking at investigating and taking action/cancelling applications etc. It really has to be their own work but getting ideas and help with layout from other good ones is definitely a good thing.

Struggling to find any info on how Highers would be treated for applying to Ulster . They are looking for A levels so i suppose I could see if I can find something that does a comparison of those and get a ball park figure and just assume that A levels in NI are exactly the same as E&W. Showing my ignorance here in not knowing.

One of DS2s schoolmates has just started History and politics at Dundee...
We read quite a lot of History PSs on TSR, it was quite illuminating, they weren't all from successful applicants. The main thing we got from it was subject, subject, subject, which made DS feel better about having virtually no extra curriculars. We also decided not to mention Horrible Histories! DS did find ways to link in the reading he did over and above the curriculum, and podcasts and museum visits etc., Basically showing he studied History for fun outside of school. He also put in a slightly lame joke!

wax the individual courses on Ulster's website give requirements in terms of Scottish qualifications.

All the English minimum requirement comparisons we looked at for DD1 tended to discriminate against Highers but I think that is because she is looking at a school subject course and seems fair enough as they effectively start at 2nd year (that said when I asked DH he reckoned they repeated a lot of A level material in his 1st year to level the playing field)

Thanks wiggly. going by the brochures he's brought home, he's ignored Dundee and Stirling....he's come back with Edinburgh. Glasgow and Heriot Watt, the latter having no courses he might be remotely interested in. he went round with a friend who was looking at IT/Media & Film-making type stuff so maybe hasn't done the best job, but it was better than I was expecting so I can prod him in the right direction for looking. I think Dundee (or Stirling) could be an excellent fit for him.

Do they howabout?

I think i'm either thick or looking in the wrong place - this is where I am looking and I can't see anything.

www.ulster.ac.uk/courses/201920/politics-15281

No - you're right - when you click on Entry Conditions, they don't include Scottish qualifications. Why not email them and ask?

i'll get DS to do that if he is still interested, I just wanted to check if he was in the right ballpark. If I convert it into UCAS points then he should have more than they are looking for but that's not really a comparison as he has more subjects. Maybe if I just add up the top 3 grades into points and compare that to the 3 A levels they are looking for?

So, they are looking for BCC - BBC (104-112 ucas points), a C at AH and 2 As at Higher would give 106 points. Would be worth asking then I think, if he is still interested.

He's busy this evening writing up a justification to get one of only two places to visit Auschwitz, 10 people want to go so they've to write up why they think it should be them. He'd need to give a presentation at school afterwards but he says he's up for that!

Have you tried converting Highers to UCAS tariff points and seeing how that compares Wax?

Thanks Lidl - see above :)

There is very wide variation in the content of history modules at the different unis, from what I remember Dundee's modules had more of a emphasis on Modern, infact covering a lot of the sort of areas found in the Modern Studies curriculum, not DS1s cup of tea, he likes ancient Rome and The Dark Ages but a good complement to politics.

DS2 probably has similar historical interests to yours wiggly, he's all about the Byzantine empire and Alexander the great etc.

How funny, that's exactly what DS is into, I just assumed because your DS was interested in politics etc. he'd like more current stuff, just shows you you cant assume!

Aye, he's a weirdo! he got into that I think through computer games and found himself actually reading the bits from the story they usually scroll through and enjoying it so he's read loads and also did Alexander the great as one of his topics for his English essay as they didn't cover it in History Nat 5. He likes more now to be fair but he doesn't buy history books outside that period. He really does like anything about how the world works and what happened to make it like this and the people and stories. It's funny as DS1 only cares about computers and tech (so mainly the future) and has no interest in the world, people or animals.

Turns out we're both right wax. They don't give it for Politics but do for eg History

www.ulster.ac.uk/courses/201920/history-15280

How very strange! Anyhoo, looking at the History and what they want for A level which is BBB - BBC and they want BBCCC at Higher (and doesn't say anything about one sitting) as an equivalent, then the requirement at A level of BBC - BCC for Politics should be in reach for his Highers. He already has ABC. I'm looking at all this and he's up in his room probably having completely changed his mind! His friend was getting the speil about it being a great option for film as they have loads going on in Ireland at the moment, I think DS was caught up in it. I need to make it clear that he needs to apply for what he wants, not for where his mate might not even apply to, much less get a place and choose it.

I had to spend ages tonight trying to help ds to source a set text for ds' "20th Century European History" which is out of print and unavailable - and which he needs to have read for a tutorial next week

He could have got a Kindle version but that's not what he wanted

On a completely different track wax have you considered the universities in Dublin? Obviously a lot depends on brexit and I haven't looked at whether fees will be held at the same level as EU students. But I looked at it for DC1 and as long as international fees didn't kick in it looked like a good option. From what I was able to work out it is a points based system and if you meet the points cut-off which varies each year depending on number of applicants and actual results.

From your best case scenario your DC2 would have enough points to study a Social Science at UCD. Obviously this is my interpretation of a slightly alien system but there is a lot of info on the websites.

Hi Wax, have you looked at the University of the West of Scotland? They have four campus accross Scotland. Ayr and Lanarkshire are very new and quite impressive. Many of the subjects you have mentioned are covered on their courses. Good luck to you both.

Dd isn't going to apply this year, she's very able but her health (physical to a degree, but mainly menta), just isn't up to it.
She's talking college for more Highers, plus part time job and voluntary work with animals.
I think it's the right choice for her.

Would taking a year before applying be an option for your DS, he could then maybe go and do something he really wants at one of the better Unis?
(Not criticising any Unis btw but if a top one is what he wants it may be achievable in time)

Garrhh, just typed a reply and lost it!

the gist was that we haven't ruled out anywhere and that they need to do what's best for them and life isn't a race (@Brillo). DS isn't minded for any particular level of uni, he just needs the best fit without selling himself short. I think he will probably be ready this time next year but I wouldn't have said that this time last year. We will look at all options. Funny I thought about Dublin today as I had very briefly looked at something that was for Bass Players and it was based in dublin and certainly pre brexit the fees were not an issue. I wonder what will happen post brexit?