Thread 14? Corona Cohort Yr 12 2021 - 'Vaccinations and Eliminations'

[orangecinnamon]

Just place marking for the New Thread!

A friend of mine did a law degree and she said it was so boring and dry. She went from being a straight A student to getting a 2:2. I always think it’s better to do something you enjoy.

Am new to the UK so would appreciate some advice. DS is keen on Oxbridge or the LSE for economics and his teachers say he is capable of it. Currently though he is so swamped with work that he has no time to think about it. What should he be doing towards it? Should he be trying to get work experience this summer for instance?

Hi @Frequentflier at DS' school the Oxbridge candidates are identified this term when other people are choosing their pathways and go onto a specialist stream with all the info etc they need - does his school not do that?

Haven’t posted for a while been busy with work and to be honest feeling quite down this lock down. Just wanted to ask my DS is doing A levels maths, further maths, physics and computer science. He is thinking of dropping computer science at end of year 12. He wants to do a maths degree. I just wanted to ask whether further maths was classed as a full A level.

@Christophertracy thanks for the reply. No, they don;t seem to be doing that. I should prob bring it up at the next PTM. The study schedule is very full on and DS barely gets the time to think about his next steps.

@Nard75 for most subjects that is fine. Most medicine courses will only count maths once, but I think most others are fine with it. Fairly sure Cambridge will accept double maths and physics for engineering.

@Frequentflier as far as I can tell, interest in your subject (reading etc) is the key thing. Depending on the subject there may also be an entrance test - the uni websites will give you that information.

@Nard75 this lockdown is particularly depressing isn’t it. I’m not sure about Further Maths, you’re probably best off looking at some Maths degree requirements and contacting them if it’s not clear? Although I’d have thought the school would know too? I suppose the only issue with those 3 A Levels is they’re very narrow, but if the future involves Maths that presumably wouldn’t matter.

DS is doing the same Nard, am going to quickly PM you.

I have friends on the teacher threads who will definitely know the answer to your query nard. Would you like me to ask?

@Piggywaspushed if you could that would be great. It would be good to get some professional insight.

I would be interested in the answer to Piggy just in case DS wants to drop it, thanks.

May to worth double checking on A level subjects with universities. The FM teacher at school was sure that you could count both for all degrees, but I KNOW it is not true for some medicine courses.

Yes definitely check with each of his preferred/possible universities as they all do have different policies.

OK am on it!

This might be a controversial view but I think if you can do four A levels and get top grades it will make you stand out in a crowded field of applicants.

DS1 did 4 for Oxford (chemistry) and I was worried about it but demonstrating you can cope with 4 A levels and still achieve the highest grades does provide some evidence that you'd cope with the pace and workload.

But only consider 4 if they're all going well! Better to do 3 and get top grades than do less well across 4.

Mathematicians on teacher thread have said 3 A levels including further maths is commonplace and fine narg. As someone said upthread, it is only some medical degrees that don't like it.

Thanks @Piggywaspushed that really helps. I think doing the 4 is only wise if you are confident at getting the high grades.

You are welcome. Any other Qs let me know and I will pass them on

DS has been a bit bored now his assessments have gone so he ahs no work to do : he has, bless him, reported to watching German films ,and even a 1927 silent film. And obediently read a ppt I sent him about women in the 1920s!

He is pleased with himself because his sociology teacher asked to use his essay as an exemplar.

resorted toI

to. Fat fingers...

@Frequentflier my DD will also have a ‘punt’ at Oxbridge
That said, she doesn’t think that she falls into the category that is the ‘stereotypical’ Oxbridge candidate and to explain why would be another thread in itself
But at this ‘point in time’, as PP have recommended, I’d encourage your DS to ‘read widely’ around the subject he is passionate about and wants to read at Uni.

As others have said the best approach for Oxbridge is wide reading and to truly love your subject.

If they have to force themselves to do the extra reading as a means to an end it's probably a sign that it's not for them. I worked hard at university (not Oxbridge) but the intensity of what DS1 is doing in his first year is astonishing. He can do it because he loves it. If he didn't it would be a miserable experience.

DD is applying (probably) for Oxford medicine. That will be a double whammy of stress for is both.

@sandybayley that’s another reason why I don’t think it would suit Dd. My brother went to Oxford and he did twice as much work as me!

Twice as much work in 8 week terms. You have to really ant it!

Thanks everyone. He does read around economics. Had a really bad and anxious day yesterday but then DS revealed he has been selected for a 2 week work experience through Springpod. Anyone know anything about this company?