Continuing Year 13: January 2016

[Needmoresleep]

Only two more terms at school. Let's support each other support our DC in getting through to the end.

still waiting to hear for Birmingham, DD emailed them at the beginning of the week asking when she might hear (so not actually asking for their decision) but no response at all . Almost finished the final-ish draft of her EPQ though, which is something; now just Chemistry coursework and several lots of homework outstanding. Why are Friends repeats and texting so much more important than actual work?

Gloria, one very impressive thing about Bath is their links with employers.

Very late in the day I am planning a road trip with DD. We did not look at Universities pre-UCAS as she was unwell, but now has three interviews in 8 days. It will be interesting. She looked at two London colleges but liked neither, though for different reasons. Her UCAS choices were based on variables contained in a large spreadsheet then matched with her preferences. I am hoping on line research will prove as effective as attending open days.

Those and mocks plus some course work. It will be a busy two weeks.

Good luck to all those trying to sort out choices. One offer will do, but it would be so nice if DD ends up with a choice.

Visions, I was worrying about DD reading up on ethics before her interviews. But then realised that the same ethics are regularly addressed in episodes of Grays Anatomy, House etc. So she has it covered, and her time has been well spent. (I hope.)

It's interesting seeing the different orders people have for firm and insurance. We've only been looking at maths, so Bath would have been a higher offer than Exeter or Southampton, (I think) so having them as insurance wouldn't work for maths. I really liked Bath but it was deemed 'too close to home' for DS.

Warwick for maths is a really high offer, hopefully just within DS's grasp on a good day with a fair wind blowing. I do wonder if he does get in to Warwick, whether he'll struggle with the pace of it all.

Secr3tSquirrels he did MAT (Oxford exam) for Imperial, exam was in November, must have done ok as AAA is a good offer from Imperial! Sometimes they ask for STEP as well & will also sometimes accept it instead of MAT. He is still doing STEP for Warwick anyway.

Hope interviews go well Needmoresleep.

Our poor DC - I vividly recall plumping for university X to study subject Y pretty much at random, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth. It's a continuous stress for them. So here's to fortitude and good strong health, both of which they will need (as will we, the exhausted parents. Honestly I feel like one of those used up salmon who's laid its eggs and is now ready to become one with the river).

DS is losing confidence by the day, and along with that is loss of motivation, and effort. It's a vicious circle - he does less, feels 'what's the point I'm useless' so does less... Currently his view is put Edinburgh first choice with ABB offer (doable, intellectually - but unlikely given DS's abysmal work record) and Sterling as insurance (BBC - on the grounds that Sterling may accept what he views as most likely results, of say BDC).

DD has 3 recalls so far, Rose Bruford, Guildford School of Arts, and RADA, and has 3 more first auditions to go.

STEP sounds awful. Poor kids. Poor parents. !!!

Bucking DS is also having a bit of a crisis of confidence. He got a poor mark for his physics mock - more due, I think, to exam technique than lack of knowledge, but he has always sailed through physics and that was a big shock. He has always worried about maths for no real reason, and what with a massive amount of coursework for computing and finishing his EPQ he just seems completely bogged down. He's worked like a Trojan all half term but feels he hasn't made any progress.

Compared to my A levels all those years ago, the stress they are under seems disproportionately huge. No wonder mental health issues in the teenage years are so much in the news at the moment.

DS's school had Christmas as their deadline for their EPQs, which seemed a bit mean at the time, but in retrospect DS is really glad to have it out of the way so he can concentrate on his A2s.

Morvah I feel for your DS if he's worked hard and got a duff mock result - that must be very demotivating indeed. Poor lad.

I have no idea what hell EPQ represents, and am glad I don't!

Extended project qualification, Morvah. Lots of schools encourage them, they can get UCAS points for them. It's a bit like an A level standard dissertation. DS enjoyed doing his but only one of his offers has included it, Birmingham, which has offered AAA or AAB with an A for his EPQ, so for him it hasn't been worth it for university offers. However, what with doing all maths and science A levels, the chance to do some research and present it in a written form, as well as a presentation, has been good for developing these skills.

Apparently it's worth half an A level in UCAS points! That's more than I expected, so rather like an AS level.

well blow me down! I had no idea whatsoever about this. I can see that the research and long written piece would actually be very valuable experience when they get to Uni. Must ask my DD (who is head girl and will Know These Things) why her school doesn't do them - possibly because their school is very average.

All v emotional in our house tonight over the abominable lack of work that has gone on this half term.

It's very difficult, as my DP believes we need to simply hold the DC's together, carry on 'as normal' and not stress them by asking them to load the dishwasher after dinner any further than they are, while I, far less nobly, believe that life must go on, dirty dishes loaded, and washing brought down from bedrooms, despite them being in A level year.

buckingfrolicks Neither of my DS's did the EPQ. It didn't affect their applications as both got offers for where they wanted to go. A small minority of the 2000 6th formers do them. DS2 was supremely relieved he had chosen not to do one when he saw the stress his friends got into but then he prefers the path of least resistance at all times .
Personally I think it might have been good for them to do something that wasn't maths or science for a bit of a contrast.

Bucking:

1. No EPQ here either. I can see the advantages of undertaking an extended piece of research/writing, but am relieved DD was not interested.

1. What is it with these 17 year old girls? I can see emotions running high till June.

EPQ is compulsory at DS's school. Some of them really enjoy it but others feel it's time they would rather be spending on their A-levels. DS has an amazing ability to not get stressed but he got in a real state when the deadline was looming just before Christmas & he & several others ended up giving it up at the last minute. Tbh though I don't think school manage it very well.

Some courses at some unis will make a lower offer if they have EPQ but many don't & we found that for Maths they weren't interested at all & DS is already doing 4 A-levels so there wasn't really any advantage.

EPQ also compulsory at the DD's school. It fosters independent learning which can only be a good thing...so the theory goes. I know DD1 really enjoyed doing her EPQ. We shall see if that translates into the resultapparently her presentation was superb though, so there's that.

It was optional at DS's school and those doing 'only' 3 A2s (like DS) were 'encouraged' to do one, but as others up thread, it hasn't translated into university offers. I believe some arts and social science courses like them but maths and science don't seem bothered. They just want good grades in maths and science. Which seems a bit narrow minded, but I guess they know what's needed to do well in maths and science degrees.

I still think the independence and discipline required will hold DS in good stead, (and actually having to write something) but it's not that valuable, especially if it causes stress and takes too much time from the A2s. DS enjoyed it, finished it before Christmas and wasn't stressed, though, so all good.

Well, DS1 liked Exeter today. He prefers the course over Southampton, but preferred the campus at Southampton. So now I've told him to do a pros and cons list, and decide from that. Then if he feels disappointed by the result, I'll let him change his mind!

Good way to deal with it, Ellen! Are his offers from both the same?

Like it Ellen! Hope he makes right decision.

They are almost the same. Exeter is a straight AAA, and Southampton AAA or AAB if he gets a grade 2 in STEP.

The decision thing is from a trick I learnt when you can't decide on a 50:50. Toss a coin and if the answer is disappointing, swap!

I haven't posted here for ages, but have been reading! Dd2 has now firmed hers, and it changed to the promised unconditional confirmed place within 36 hours, so now she's just waiting for accommodation applications to open.

Anyway, she told me something interesting today - someone at her school was rejected by Loughborough, asked for feedback and was told that they didn't think he'd get his predicted grades/the standard offer grades. After his mocks, he emailed Loughborough to say he'd done well, and he really thought he would get the necessary grades - the other kids at school thought he was being naive/cheeky, but instead Loughborough asked him for his UCAS number and the contact details of a teacher who could confirm the exam results and provide an up-to-date reference, which he did, and this week Loughborough offered him a place!