Any parents of Y12 DCs up for a support thread?

[cardibach]

to get us through AS and university Open Days etc.?

[BackforGood]

ds and I have been looking at lots of University sites and course details, this evening, to get some open days in the diary. It's quite worrying how many of them demand AAB for everything.
Where to ordinary mortals go these days ?

[bruffin]

DS was thinking the same Backforgood DS is capable of the As and has a couple in the bag from his january exam, but what if the next few weeks go wrong. DS seems to think you have to start looking that the unis that are asking for UCAS points

[mummytime]

Glaurung - Universities may prefer A'levels, but most will look favourably on BTec etc. If they are of a high enough grade, and are in a relevant subject. Which is the real issue often as A'levels are more flexible. But you can always add an A'level later.
There is a Professor at Harvard who left school at 14/15, and got to Harvard via community college.

My DS will be a sixth form drop out too. And unlike your DD is less sure where he is going next.

[Theas18]

Gulp.... submitting/recording composition today.... after getting in at 10.30 from the school senior concert as well! He was up till very late "polishing" and finish his commentary on it. He'll be knackered!

[glaurung]

backforgood, bruffin last year many universities took people with lower grades on results day (quite a bit lower in some cases), so don't be too daunted. They seem to advertise what they would ideally like in the prospectuses, but then take what they can get (which in many cases is a fair bit lower, even for very good courses like Warwick engineering). Also, although it's better if the AS results mirror the predictions and offer requirements, it's not the end of the world if they fall down a grade here and there either - universities know that final results may be better, worse or the same as the AS results.

mummytime, sorry to hear that - school definitely doesn't suit everyone, hopefully they will all find their paths eventually.

[BackforGood]

Thanks Glaurung

[mummytime]

Glaurung - it's okay we had a very frank meeting with the head of year 12, we have a plan of action, he has applied for one course although he doesn't have much enthusiasm for it yet. We are also going to get him to do some work after exams (not totally impossible in this area, even though it will be pretty crappy and low wage), so he has a chance to grow up.

My one relief is, if he had to have a crisis at least we're not paying £9000 for it.

[BackforGood]

I've been having a play around on a site someone on here recommended a while back push.co.uk
I've found it really helpful in narrowing down the massive choice of universities and courses to look at, as you can narrow the choice by all sorts of criteria, unlike on the UCAS website. Obviously by course you want to do, but also by geography, by things like wanting a University in a City or not, by how important cost of accommodation is to you (I think it even gives you the average price of a pint ), it gives you %s of dropout rate, %s of unemployed 6 months after graduating, but, most importantly (for us) you can filter by likely grades, or likely UCAS point score (and it works that out for you) so you don't waste hours filtering through universities that only offer AAB.

Just thought it might be useful if people don't know about it

[Isthiscorrect]

With exams just over a week away, how much revision is your dc doing at the moment, esp on the weekend?

[cardibach]

Mine is not doing much this weekend, Isthis, as she is in a show. She is doing at least an hour a night normally, though, and more on weekends. I hope it is enough.

[secretscwirrels]

Thanks for that BackforGood it looks interesting.
Here is one we have used, you can rank by subject, graduate prospects entry requirements etc.

DS is having a couple of days off, which he needs, he looks worn out. He has been doing 2 or 3 practice papers a day, mainly Maths because he wants to get 90% +. He is very driven, it's not my idea. Two of his Maths exams are actally A level papers because they do Maths and FM sequentially. Core 3 and Core 4.
They did the January Core 4 as a mock in college on Friday and he had high hopes as he's been hitting 90% on the practice ones. Apparently it was a stinker and many of his class left in tears half way through. He says he answered them all but it has demoralised him.

[BackforGood]

Thanks scwirrels
IsThisCorrect ds isn't doing any this weekend, as he's helping on a Scout camp - bit of fresh air and sunshine will do him the world of good, I reckon. That said and I never thought I'd hear myself say this he has been doing hours every evening.

[mummytime]

The drop out rate may become more crucial. I have been reading a book on the state of Higher Education in the US, some,colleges have fewer than 30% graduating within 6 years.

[Isthiscorrect]

Oh I agree scwirrls, the vast majority of our 6th formers look exhausted. It seem ridiculous and so very different to when I took mine a hundred years ago. DS has been working over the weekend for maybe 6 hours a day, my worried side wants to say, do more but my sensible side says, well if you feel you've done enough (gulp).
He did go sailing on Thursday afternoon which was lovely for fresh air and a complete change, and I did encourage him to go.
Thanks for the links I had heard of Push but forgotten all about it, and the other one is new to me. Deffo agree retention/ graduation rates are a key factor.

[Isthiscorrect]

Sorry Cardibach, forgot to ask how did the show go? Ours was last week and it was fab. Ds was helping but behind the scenes thank goodness. Parents who think drama, music and art are easy options know nothing! I felt so much for all those students who spend so much time but gosh it was worth it (IMHO) not sure how the parents would feel.

Sqwirrls at a paper making them cry, your poor ds and his friends, how awful for them.

[cardibach]

The show was really good, Isthis, but it has meant she hasn't done much work at all this weekend - she did some practice papers yesterday but is too tired and emotional today after the last night and then a party (here - I had over excited teenagers staying over, so I am a bit knackered myself). I hope she can catch up. the papers she did were good though.
How can you possibly wonder whether 6 hours a day is enough? I would have thought any more than that would be counter productive - the brain does need rest. Hope he can get his confidence back after that difficult paper.

[Isthiscorrect]

Gulp it's really here. First exam in less than a week. Chin up everyone.
Theas does your son have a student rail card? It makes a huge difference to the cost. Ds got his free with a bank account (not sure which bank, maybe nat west?) but it has been really worth it, something like 30% or more of the cost. Iif he had paid it would have covered its cost on the first trip.
And yes cardi 6 hours a day is probably more than adequate

[bruffin]

I think if you get a UCAS or Student card you get a discount as well.

I said above ds had a wobbly bit earlier this year. Teachervsaid he was heading for Us. This was before he got his jan result.
However got a lovely email from his teacher who said she was really pleased with him and now thinks he will do well.
He has 35 past papers and is now getting really good marks. He finds Core2 easier than Core 1 strange boy.

[Isthiscorrect]

Well done to your ds Bruffin, you and he must both be pleased. at 35 past papers. He obviously has every intention of doing well if he has that many to practice with. Good luck to him. I see the maths student swirling together in the library and I have no idea what they are talking about but then maths was never my forte.

[cardibach]

DD has had a run of good grades on past papers until one yesterday when she did two and got Us on both :(
I hope it was just a blip. She is working hard, so should be OK. She gave blood for the first time today, so I am even more proud than usual.

[bruffin]

She had a good excuse then you are right to be proud.
DS has been fast asleep i our bed since 7.30. He went up to chat to DH who was in hospital today (he is ok). Dh came down for his tea and said ds was playing a game on his ipod. Went up to talk to hom a few minutes later and found ds fast asleep . Left him as he obviously needs it.

[secretscwirrels]

Are other DCs doing mocks? DS has been having mocks in every subject. He's had Chemistry and decision this week, Stats today and core 4 last week. Next week core 3, physics and biology and probably more but I forget.
The good news is that he did really well in the horrible paper they did last week so his confidence has bounced back.
He is fast running out of past maths papers and has been doing at least two a day. He has a flow chart of progress .
Well done cardiback DD for giving blood, quite unusual in a teenager I would guess? What prompted that? DS is so pale and tired looking I think they would give him some rather than take it.

[monikar]

Yes, my DD has been doing mocks in every subject too. Maths mechanics, Chemistry and Physics last week and Biology this week. She has had mocks on and off throughout year 12 (the first one in November), rather than a formal 'mock week' which some schools favour. It seems rather late in the school year to schedule these mocks, as her first two AS exams are on Monday - core 1 and mechanics.

[secretscwirrels]

Yes DS has had "mocks" throughout the year. I agree it seems a bit late now if they don't do well in the mock there is hardly time to remedy it so I'm not sure what is achieved? Revision perhaps? He has done well in them all so far so I suppose it's been a morale booster if nothing else.
He has the real Statistics paper next week as well as mocks in other subjects.

[monikar]

Yes, I'm not sure what is achieved by these late mocks either, only that it does make them revise, and as you say, gives them confidence if they do well. However, DD gets frustrated as she wants to concentrate her revision on the more imminent exams occurring in the next couple of weeks, whereas the Biology mock this week was for unit 2, which is not until after half term.