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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

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Original poster

Does anyone want to join me on a Year 11, GCSE exams fretting, A level choices, gap year plans and sheer expense support thread?

21 replies

Get0rf · 14/12/2011 18:49

My dd is 16 and in year 11, and we have endless chats about what she is planning to do.

She has a choice of 3 sixth forms and 2 FE colleges, and the open evenings are starting after Christmas.

She used to want to join the armed forces at 18, now she has decided she wants a gap year (doing football coaching in America and/or chalet girl) after A levels and to go to university.

A level choices change every five minutes, degree choices ditto.

She is my only daughter so is the first time have been through this palaver.

OP posts:

WelshCerys · 14/12/2011 19:02

Excellent idea, this thread. DS is in year 11 - so many choices the kind of which he's never had to face before. Been through it before with other DSs but with each child it's so different.

Wouldn't worry about degree choices - especially with a possible gap year coming up. Also, I don't think the A level courses that students do nowadays marks them for particular degree courses - there are foundation degrees, chances a plenty to change course during the sixth form years etc.

DS is thinking of becoming a vet so your mention of expense meant a lot.
Dutch Unis? I think there's a thread in Further Education about them.

Original poster

Get0rf · 14/12/2011 19:09

Blimey, vet. You must be very proud of him, that is hugely academic and competitive, isn't it. Is it 5 years at university as well?

DD's changes all the time, from physiotherapy, sports science, history, mental health nursing. And because she is unsure she is all over the place with A level choices as well, she knows she definitely wants to do History and geography, and a science, but is completely undecided.

I am hoping that the open evenings at sixth forms will help.

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Original poster

Get0rf · 14/12/2011 19:10

Dutch universoties sound interesting, I will look at that thread.

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SecretSantaSquirrels · 14/12/2011 19:12

Yes I'll join.
DS1 is just doing his mocks. We've done the open evenings and he was bowled over by the sixth form college where we were able to have long discussions with the tutors. He wants to do maths, further maths, physics, chemistry A levels and geography AS. He can't wait to get there and drop all the "boring" stuff like English, French etc.
He wants to do physics at university and then work on the Hadron Collider thingy
He's happy to revise for hours for his mocks in his favourite subjects but English is another matter....

Original poster

Get0rf · 14/12/2011 19:15

Good luck to your son secret.

I work in particle physics research at the particle accelerator facilities in the UK (I am not a physicist, am an engineer) and it is utterly fascinating, and I work with some wonderful (and fiendishly clever) people.

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SecretSantaSquirrels · 14/12/2011 19:16

There has been a lot on TV about Dutch unis but despite living on the East coast and having some great holidays in Holland he's not interested at the moment.
He says he wants to apply to Cambridge. He seems to accept that he is likely to meet stiff competition and swears he won't mind if he doesn't get in/
I think he sees himself living as a character in the Big Bang Theory.

WelshCerys · 14/12/2011 19:17

[http://www.studyinholland.co.uk/index.html]]

good site - loads of info including fees and course search.

Though perhaps by the time our DCs reach 18, the fees will have dropped? Forlorn hope, I guess.

WelshCerys · 14/12/2011 19:18

www.studyinholland.co.uk/index.htm

sorry

SecretSantaSquirrels · 14/12/2011 19:20

GetOrf - particle physics research at the particle accelerator facilities in the UK!
DS would be seriously impressed. (I think he thinks MN is about swapping recipes and I haven't enlightened him.)

bruffin · 14/12/2011 19:26

Ds has applied to one other 6th form and his own school.
He did his mocks recently and they will be given their results as if they were the real thing on Friday.
He wants to do maths,physics,chemistry and biology for A level. Hoping to take medicine but may end up taking engineering. He is looking at Edinburgh. I will have a look at the Dutch universities as we have spent a few holidays there.

Original poster

Get0rf · 14/12/2011 19:33

Santa if he would like to visit one of the facilities (there is one in Oxfordshire, one near Warrington) have a look here www.stfc.ac.uk/Public+and+Schools/1286.aspx for open days, the facilities are fascinating.

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Original poster

Get0rf · 14/12/2011 19:33

DD thinks I talk about recipes and general boring nonsense on MN as well!

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LEttletownofBOFlehem · 14/12/2011 19:38

My dd wants to do the same A levels as your son, Santa, and is thinking about Engineering at University- may she pick your brains about your work, GetOrf, at some point, if that's ok?

Original poster

Get0rf · 14/12/2011 19:41

Yes, of course Bof. Like I say I am not a particle physicist but can help with engineering (aeronautical) if need be, and also can pick people's brains at my work re physics (they have a really good educational and outreach department).

My dd thinks my work is a load of bollocks. She can't wait to wave goodbye to GCSE maths and physics!

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SecretSantaSquirrels · 14/12/2011 19:43

Thanks for that link. I had no idea that existed, I'll definitely look into that.

scaryteacher · 14/12/2011 23:14

Sixth form sorted - open evenings and interviews happened in October. A level choices sorted as well; now I just have to detach the apron strings as he is off to board in UK, whilst we remain abroad.

Think your dd is wise to do a degree GerOrf, especially as there are still redundancy tranches to come for HM Forces. There may be a better idea of the shape of the Forces and numbers needed by 2017/18 when she will have got her degree.

IdontknowwhyIcare · 15/12/2011 09:16

Can I join please? DS didnt have the option to choose a 6th form, there is only 1 (at the school he currently attends, we live abroad). Mocks finished yesterday and he has some marks and did well enough. His A level choices change all the time. In fact I have a thread on here about helping him with his choices. He wants to study PPE or International relations preferably at LSE . A gap year always used to be part of his plan but now, he just wants to get stuck in.

scaryteacher · 15/12/2011 10:07

There is only one sixth from where we are abroad as well, but have got ds into board in UK, where there is more choice of subjects, so off he goes.

TheSecondComing · 17/12/2011 23:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mycatsaysach · 17/12/2011 23:08

ds leaves college next summer - it has been really tough for the whole time he has been there re subject choices and level of work,uni choices etc etc

inkyfingers · 21/12/2011 17:17

My DS in year 11 mercifully is a tad geeky and just wants to do maths, chem, physics sort of thing, so not thinking that widely. But uni choices will be harder - mentioned chemistry last week. I'm suggesting maybe keeping languages in the mix to help with either studying or working abroad as jobs so dire here, but mainly because I'm livid about the fees. If there's now a market in HE then students will take their business elsewhere and the govt can bloody well rethink the policy when applications drop because everyone's gone to Holland - or wherever!

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