Year 11 GCSE support thread 6 - exams and proms

[HSMMaCM]

Good luck to those still taking exams.

I think my worry is that he has no idea Juggling, so he's doing a Levels not tailored to any degree courses at any particular university. because at this stage that's all he can do IYKWIM.

Hmm, OK. I think many DC are in that position at this stage. Maybe there's something to be said for trying to choose a good cluster of A levels as was the tradition in our and our parents generations (My DF talks about there being a "science sixth" etc)
Although on the other hand I've heard that many Uni's are happier with a more diverse collection these days (depending on the course)
I'm lucky that DD is beginning to have an idea of what she might like to do - in fact I'm a bit concerned the other way as to whether she's keeping a bit of an open mind to be flexible to opportunities and possibilities!

I do understand that knowledge is power etc, but threads like that just make me doubt everything.

I know what you mean Sparkling, it's madness, my parents never had any of this kind of worry about me and my DB.

Sparkling despite both DH and I having been through the uni application process ourselves that thread is an eye opener.

DD1 has just finished a History degree. During her application process she managed to get 5 offers from a mix of RG and non RG unis despite (to my knowledge) not having advice from the school about facilitating subjects. It was more luck that she chose the subjects she did - a combination of subjects she enjoyed and subjects that she thought would be interesting to study.

DD2's choice of degree/career doesn't even register with RG universities BUT she is going to a very academic school for sixth form and they are hot on careers/UCAS advice.

I may also be massively oversimplifying things but if only RG degrees are desirable then how come all the other universities are still going?

How are things going with DS Poppy?

It can be quite daunting trying to make choices when they don't know what they want to do Sparkling. I think at that point it is good to think good spread of traditional options to keep options open - think skill sets - essay writing/analysis, science, maths, language etc and combinations of. If DS gets to 6th form and doesn't have a clue I think I would be pushing 3 of the more traditional subjects to be on the safe side - though whether he would play ball with that idea I have no idea.

One thing that did impressed with DD'S school is they did show a RG film on facilitating subjects when GCSE options were made. A fair few parents didn't go to University so I thought it was a good idea to introduce it early on.

DD is firmly heading down a creative path and I feel quite a bit at sea with it all as was taken aside at O Level option time by the art teacher to make totally sure I had no silly ideas about trying to take Art O Level! My gut instinct is that courses with good work experience will be important for her.

I think RG is lazy shorthand for traditional universities and result is some 6th formers stressing about the idea of applying to places such as St. Andrews and Bath (don't think either are RG), places which have a good solid reputation. Hence Friend's DD asking if her parents would feel she would be letting them down if she opted for Reading instead of Exeter as it comes with paid work experience and we'll paid job at end if she passes. Madness she she ask really but get why she did.

She's needed a fair bit of guidance. First conversation was her saying ti me she might want to do Law so she would need A Level law - she was most surprised when I said if she wanted to do Law she'd be best to avoid it at A Level.

He already has History and English in his choices Sugar. He wants to do Chemistry, and possibly German although he's dithering about that.

If he does those 4 it will keep a lot of doors open. Would Maths be a possibility at all ?

And sometimes it helps a bit if they know things they definitely don't want to do as helps rule some things.

Maths is a very firm no. He hates Maths, he is not a natural at all, he has worked really hard at it but it doesn't come easy. He's going to need it for Chemistry though.

Well I can totally sympathise with him on that front to be honest !

But then you read the other thread and think that if he's not a maths whizz then maybe University isn't for him.

Oh Sparkling, if they don't go to a RG uni, then their life is over dontcha know?

I and the vast majority of my friends went to polytechnics back in the day and we all have successful, fulfilling and reasonably to very well paid careers. In fact, most of the brainiest girls from my grammar school who went on to red-brick unis (as they were known in those days) failed to enjoy their careers, gave up when they had DC and now either don't work or have jobs "way below" the expectations their parents must have had for them.

RG unis are just a bunch of unis who have made themselves out to be the be-all and end-all. And so they take a lot of the top-academically achieving students and get top results, are looked on favourably by traditionally-minded employers, da-de-da. So if you are that way inclined, they're the ones for you. If not, there are LOADS of other options.

So many people aren't good at Maths, drop it at first chance and do really well at University. MN is helpful and makes some excellent points but often focuses on one particular type of child.

I don't know if they are any use to anyone else here but there are some free short online courses from FutureLearn here that are designed for young people making university course decisions. I am doing the Calculus one with DS, he will wipe the floor with me (not that I mind).

Oh, I definitely wouldn't go thinking that Sparkling
I think there's a course worth doing for most DC who like the idea of going
That maybe sounds a bit casual but there's time yet to think what appeals most and where it might take them?

Absolutely Juggling

Sometimes MN messes with my mind when it's supposed to be helpful. I quite like the idea of him going to the local non RG University and living at home at the moment. If he chooses to go that is. He could train as a plumber instead, people need plumbers.

You are so right about MN and the one particular type of child.

Oh good grief just read that whole thread sparkling and feel sick! Ds wants to do pharmacology and seems to know which uni he wants, I think I need to do some serious research myself though as DS can be very single minded once hes decided something he doesn't look at other alternatives.

DD has picked two A level subjects which she enjoys, but are not needed for any degree courses. This is a worry, but they are subjects she loves and although I will guide her and point out other options, I do think it's still her choice.

Sparklingbrook - just to say that DS' school will not let their pupils take only one science A-level; it has to be a minimum of 2. The reasoning is that any science-type degree will always require at least 2 science A-levels, so there's no point doing, say, Chemistry on its own. Is it in any way likely that your DS might be swayed towards a scientific degree? If so, he might be better doing Biology, Physics, Maths (or in some instances Geography) rather than the German.

TBH I'm a bit confused as to why our DCs are all starting with 4 A-level choices (or 5, if you include General Studies). I know it used to be the case that they dropped a subject after AS, but now that not all subjects will be doing ASes how is that going to work? I'm also completely bemused about General Studies, given that most (all?) universities seem to think it's worthless.

DS1 has had his choices signed off switch so school are ok with it, I still think we need to see what results he gets before anything happens. He and I are happy with English and History, it's the other 2 that need thinking about a lot. He didn't do Geography GCSE so assume tha may be off the table? Maths a definite no.

Switch, not all schools insist on more than one science - I know someone whose DD is doing what I did many moons ago - Maths, Chemistry and French! And as not all subjects/schools are dropping AS levels, many still saying 4 and drop one at AS (DD applied to 6 sixth forms, all doing this)

Sparkling, at least one of the sixth forms said they don't have to have done geography at GCSE to do it at A'level as long as they did the other humanities subject, ie history.

He came home this morning after yet another party sugarplumtree, waffling that the weather was crap and no one would be out today. He seemed quite chatty in the car when I picked him up from the bus stop but disappeared up to his room for the rest of the day and has barely spoken since. He did look a bit bleary eyed and in need of sleep. I don't know what's going on and it's so difficult keeping quiet, not asking questions and just letting him be when all I want to do is hug him tightly.

Thank you for asking.