GCSEs 2018 (15) The Reckoning

[mmzz]

thread 14
The next step of the all new GCSE journey.

Hi all!!
Checking in from the other side of the pond - 9 more days of our visit left.
DDs school don't release the IGCSE results until GCSE results day - not sure whether that's a good or bad thing?!?! Knowing they have the results vs going through 2 sets of results days....
DD has accepted 2 offers - one from existing Inde which has high grade requirements and the backup local SFC which would take her even if the 'i have failed them all' doomsday scenario comes to pass. Interestingly the SFC encourages students to accept even if they aren't 100% committed to their choice.
University visits in the US have been really interesting and have helped to crystallise some of her choices and aspirations. She def likes the non specialisation and non linear approach and even I am 'sold' on the concept
.....only spanner in the works is that she's now questioning whether she wants to go to university or whether she wants an apprenticeship/join the forces after A Levels.

I would also vote for gcse class of 2018 as the next title.....in theory with that name we could continue through DCs engagements, marriages and offspring.....although I hope we will need a lot of new threads before it gets used to discuss these life stages!!

DS only has the one offer at his current school as refused to look elsewhere, luckily its low and if he doesn't meet it then he wouldn't get in anywhere else so he would have to forget A levels.......

CBlue I think I would definitely prefer two sets of results days over the not knowing especially when you hear others that know their results but I'm just impatient and would hate the fact the school knew and I didn't.....glad your enjoying America, it sounds like a great option are there fees more expensive than here?

Oddsocks I often found that DD would open up to me when we were away from home and as soon as we got back she would revert to her normal self

DH and I went to a presentation from one of the US universities outreach programs two years ago. I think it was Harvard.
They are all campus universities but although the fees are high, the bursaries are extremely good. Also, it's typical to get campus jobs eg helping in the library with the result that you leave without any debt at all, unlike Oxford where £100k debt is to be expect.
They make no adjustment for coming from a comp. they have a phrase for it - something like "background blind" when making offers. However, once you have an offer, they look at your family's finances and have a sliding scale for assistance that goes up really high.
You have to sit the SATS to get in. You need to practice regularly for a long time and you are competing globally, including with the best in Asia.
US Degrees are 4 years, unlike England's 3 (Scotland does 4 too) and you study a broad range of subjects.
TBH I wondered how well it would sit with the A level system which is the point of specialism in England. (Again Scotland is different as all students have to continue with English and Maths at this stage).

DH and I found the US system really appealing. It's broad base would have suited DS. It's just so far....

And the little, selfish voice in my head that asks "What if he goes there to study and never comes back?"

I've just reread my post. Is £100k debt to be expected at Oxford? It seems a bit high, but I'm sure that was the number that was bandied about that night.

Cblue - yes our school will be doing all results on 23rd even though they'll have had the CIE ones in hand from the 14th.

Why would the debt be more at Oxford (Ie. £100k not £50k). Th terms are shorter, they usually only have to pay for accommodation whilst they are in it (and often have first and last years in halls if not all 3). If anything it should be less surely? I suspect that may be the case for US students attending Oxford because they will not be charged £9,250 for tuition but a higher rate. So possibly Harvard are being a bit disingenuous by saying that the debt would be £100K (which it might be for US students) or they may not appreciate that tuition is lower for UK/EU students.

Re Oxford debt: not quite that high I dont think... if you count tuition fees and 4 year course: 9k x 4 years 36k, plus full maintenance loan 8.7k x4 years 34k ish - 70k. I know not everyone gets full maintenance by a long chalk, but it gives a ballpark figure. DS is hopefully off to Cambridge in September, I know his accommodation costs (including utilities but not food) will be about 4k, pa, before he even starts to eat, buy any books or clothes, or have the odd pint!

Do you have to pick up. iGCSE results in person if you want them on the 14th, or is it school dependent?

PandaG a four year course?? I thought all degrees in England were 3 years? Except medicine,

Sorry - DS is doing a 4 year course - he has applied direct for a masters. Languages courses are 4 years, including year abroad.

Lots of courses can be 4 years. At Warwick you can either do a year abroad in a foreign uni in the third year (even for maths) or convert to (or start with) a Master's. Pretty much all language degrees will need a year abroad, or anything to do with international relations etc.

I'm not sure about the next thread being 'GCSEs 2018.' I think it would put new posters off joining for the sixth form or college or at the start of university or apprenticeships etc. It might make them think we're a bit cliquey. And we're not like that at all. Y12 first term would be my preference.

Some music degrees can be 4 years too. When dh did his degree the BA(hons) was 3 years but the BMus(hons) was 4 years.

mmzz - no, the debt for a UK student shouldn't be anywhere near £100k. If anything, it will be lower than for other UK universities as living in college with subsidised meals can work out a lot cheaper than the 3d party cafeteria-style restaurants on a lot of campuses.

DS is holding two offers for 6th form - his current academic independent school and the local sixth form college. His current school is assuming he is coming back, but informally they will be expecting him to get a minimum of 4As & 4Bs (and nothing less than a C) in his GCSEs, and in the past, they have withdrawn offers if GCSEs were poor, so we're keeping the 6th Form college as an insurance, but will release it the minute we know his results.

Y12 first term would be accurate and all encompassing but there's been an advantage to having it in two parts:
eg GCSEs 2018 (15) The Reckoning
The first part "GCSEs 2018 (15)" shows the continuity, so people recognise it and can find the latest one even when they don't often come back to post and then "The Reckoning" describes (or maybe doesn't describe) what's happening now.
I was trying to find something short for the first part. A levels 2020 would have been it, if there weren't BTECs and other things too. Then I thought maybe A Levels etc 2020. But that's too dismissive of the non-A levels. Then AH pointed out that 2020 isn't even the relevant year for her DD, so it was back to the drawing board!
We need:

• inclusive of all abilities and dates
• non-cliquey
• allows continuity
• shortish
• differentiates from those doing GCSEs in other years

.....and I'm stuck for ideas! However, Stickerrocks always has good ideas. (Hint, hint!)

www.harvard-ukadmissions.co.uk/ this link should be useful for anyone who is interested in having their DC apply to any of the US universities

No, debt at Oxford is nothing like £100k. The Oxford Opportunity Bursary scheme is enormously generous and covers a relatively broad range on incomes and there are additional scholarships like the Moritz-Heyman too. £100k is entirely wrong.

Don't let me be the spanner in the works. Dd will be taking two A levels in 2020 but she will then take her diploma in 2021.

'Post-GCSE: new beginnings?' Bit vague though!

DS is due to attend a sixth form college in the NW. They are very positive about helping their pupils to apply for Oxbridge and have already given talks to some of the kids about applying. They said in no uncertain terms Oxbridge is no more expensive than anywhere else. I think they feel this misconception has put kids off who are from poorer backgrounds. Obviously the idea Oxbridge is expensive has worked very well in the past for certain schools because it takes out a lot of the opposition.

Oxbridge has more financial support for students from lower income backgrounds than any other university LARLARLAND and even if you're well off, it's no more expensive - arguably cheaper, because of rents - than any other uni. Some of the costs of uni halls at eg Bristol and Durham are eye-watering and that's before one even gets on to London. Oxbridge is a very good deal.

That's my understanding too goodbyestranger. Interestingly at the Oxbridge talk, the sixth form were very scathing about other universities and how they are rubbish value for money. DS was really surprised they said this.

Just looked at DD's choice of Uni (oh yes she's decided already) and the halls are £129 a week for an en suite room, We will be paying for accommodation and food whilst she takes the fees on her student loan. Am thinking I will need to get another part time job!

DS1 was very proud that he lived in the cheapest halls for a Russell Group university! They were £84 a week and for only 34 weeks self catering. (So had to move out over Easter as they used them for conferences etc, but didn't have to pay for Easter.) Admittedly small rooms, narrow corridors, 16 sharing a kitchen, whole corridor sharing a bathroom with 3 showers and toilets, but they were all like minded (cheapskate!) students who really benefited from the big numbers sharing as it gave them lots of people to make friends with. There are advantages, I'm sure to kitchens of 4, but what if you don't get on with the other 3? If they are all party animals and you're not, or vice versa? They all stay in their rooms and you have no one to talk to? At least with 16, there's always someone like minded.

There's a minimum maintenance loan of around £4000 which most take, Jufus not dependent on your income.