Year 12 preparing for AS levels

[HSMMaCM]

Here we are everyone.

Ewww at the thought of a shared toothbrush!

Without telling you Draylon?

Oh dear Draylon, that doesn't sound so good. However, maybe it's not all bad, I mean if he's struggling with it then maybe no grade because he didn't take it is better than a bad grade that has to be shared with universities?

Oh Draylon

How many does that leave him with Draylon?
I can see why dropping one at this stage might not be so bad

Liney to answer your earlier questions. To hit the ground running, students need to do some preparation which could be reading ahead in the textbook or even just revising the key parts of GCSE. We give our students holiday homework which is to work through a "head start to alevel" book.

I do think students are taking on a lot, science A-levels are more demanding. I also think that this cohort are used to the old gcse which is less rigorous than the new specifications coming in and they've had a bit of a shock. I don't know what the answer is. We're now considering raising our entry requirements to make sure students can cope.

DD was recommended the head start books when she was considering sciences.

Ds is muttering about doing science A levels. I've told him I'm not letting him do it without As at GCSE. Dd is finding them tough even with A * at GCSE.

Taking 3 teens to Move It today, to see if dance college is what they want to do next.

Very wise dingit. It seems that possibly Biology is more manageable, but even then, definitely an A.

Sorry to hear that Draylon. Sounds like you're in the position of trying to get him to see the BTEC next year as a fresh start and to put everything from this year behind him.

These disorganised teen stories are making me DD has a new pair of pjs as managed to go away without packing hers recently.

Friend's DD very stressed about personal statement as has older sister who had stacks of work experience on hers and she has social anxiety so doesn't feel confident enough to get a job. Big sister really rubbing it in as they do so open warfare broken out. She wants to do Biochemistry. Told friend not to worry, admissions tutor will be looking fir evidence of interest in subject as much as anything so suggested they subscribe to New Scientist to see what interests her . She's got some things she's been chosen to do for school she can put in too . Have told her to tell DD to stop worrying and look at it in summer and she will be able to pull a decent personal statement together. Am I on the right track or talking bollocks again?

Sugarplum, the personal statements sound a minefield. At the end of the day they are school kids just starting out, there is only so much that you can write. Dd has a Saturday job in a bakers, helps at brownies, and has been picked for a couple of science related stuff at school. I will be looking at dh to help her write it, he's good at writing a load of flowery bollocks for his job

dingit DD also got an A in biology and she's finding the AS level hard compared to her other 3, she's dropping it at the end of the year. I do think that As are essential. Hats off to the students who are doing triple science at AS level.

Yes dingit, I hope both DH and I can help DD with writing her personal statement when the time comes - if she'll take on board any suggestions from us. He's good at writing flowery bollocks for his job too - and I've been honing my talents in this area for many years here on Mumsnet Just this morning I came up with a great opening line that I reckon is just right for her subject! They also have a week working on it at school after the AS exams so I'm fairly sure she'll be able to come up with something. She is concerned too though that she hasn't enough to put in it - but I can just remind her of more things I reckon - I think she's done quite a lot over the years

Dd had a job and had joined different society type clubs at college so she had quite a bit to put on her personal statement. She'd also won/been entered into some competitions through school so they went on too. She was an ambassador for exchange students, had lots of 'merit' type awards and was a general swotty mcswot so no had no trouble bigging herself up.

Ds on the other hand is sociable but doesn't go to any clubs, athletic but doesn't do any sports, academically capable but only does bare minimum so he will also be going down the flowery bollocks route

Been through two lots of personal statement nonsense now. This is how we approach it. Tell them not to think about writing it all at once. Get them to break it into paragraphs and it is much more manageable. Look on studentroom website for example personal statements but don't copy as they will find out!

Paragraph 1 - introduction / why they are interested in subject.

Paragraph 2 & 3 & 4 - demonstrate what they have read or done to extend knowledge of subject - for example work experience, further reading, trips, lectures, building something. If they don't have anything to write about then plan the summer holiday around some trips and lectures.

Paragraph 5 - extracurricular (trying to link them to the subject)
Paragraph 6 - Conclusion

Don't leave a blank line between paragraphs as every space counts and get lots of people to check for errors. They hate statements such as.....'I am passionate about Physics because....' At one Open Day a member of staff told me that they play personal statement bingo for obvious openings / gaffs and that they can spot which schools some of them come from, so he advised making it individual and written by the student!

Ds had to apply to be a prefect and write a piece on why he should be considered. He wrote a few paragraphs, I made him do it in his own words, then checked it. He was concerned that he hadn't filled the second sheet. I reassured him that he had covered what they were looking for, unless he wanted to fill the rest with 'pick me, pick me, pick me'

We are now working through the aftermath of a grumbling appendix, to cap a not good week of viruses and school changes, so my participation in a weekend away with friends has gone for a burton and I remain at home with DS. I think I shall light the fire and catch up on last week's Night Manager!

We're dreading the personal statement as well, I mean DD has done voluntary work as a sports coach but she's wanting to do English at university so making that connection is going to be hard. She did do a term mentoring the year 7s at her school with their reading though.
I think we're going to be going down the flowery bollocks route as well.

DD thinks she is good at writing flowery bollocks She doesn't seem to want much input from me.

She says the school expect them to hand in the first draft of their personal statement when they start back in September. She is more likely to listen to advice from her tutor than from her parents, so it's probably for the best.

Oh Cressetmama, poor DS and poor you

That's all very helpful, I'm going to print off Littleham's post for her. Neither parent are used to doing the flowery bollocks and I think the DD is panicking as feels she has done very little compared to her out going older sister who's being extremely vocal about her sister's lack of things on CV.

Combined with school flapping majorly about the chemistry and family illness I think she's struggling a bit. Hasn't thought of lectures, they're a good idea and will have a look to see what's around. Great practice for me for when I get to DS who 'wants to be a scientist'.

There are teenage girls in my bathroom changing the colour of DD's hair, again.

Oh no Cresset

I am a bit about Personal Statements as one of my BFF's is a VIP in a RG uni and she says her department don't look at them - it's the exam grades that they are interested in. It is Maths though

My DD is good at writing. She had to write a letter of application for the Sixth Form, so has that to start with. She helped her bf perfect his and he has got 3 offers so far so I think I'll just leave her to get on with it!

I need to talk to her about planning in a/some uni visits this summer though...

dd2 was applying for history and she filled a whole paragraph on her favourite aspect of history. Over the summer holidays we took her to the museum and part of the country where this history took place. She did some voluntary work for a while in a tiny local museum.

You could do a similar thing with English Camborican. Pick her favourite UK author and visit the area which inspired a book. Do some extra reading around that book, visit the site, maybe find the original work in a library. The mentoring reading with year 7's is perfect. Ta da - you will have most of the Personal Statement with no need for flowery bollocks.

Cresset - think they are getting a bit run down now. Poor you. The Night Manager is good though.