DD 17 devastated - university rejection

[coffeeisnectar]

She has applied to two unis that do the course she wants and heard back from Bristol today that she's been refused a place as her application wasn't strong enough :( her teacher had gone over her application with her and I read her personal statement which was really good.

She's really upset. I've told her to wait until she hears back from the other one until panicking but without a degree she can't do the job she wants.

Help me with words of wisdom please!

[PirateSmile]

Has she looked at Edge Hill University? They do a paramedic course and it's this year's Times University of the Year.

[somewheresomehow]

it may still be possible to be accepted
my DS has a snag with his application, went to college to improve his art portfolio re applied and was accepted and started in the September.
Would having actual work experience help possibly
www.stepintothenhs.nhs.uk/

[IfItsGoodEnough4ShirleyBassey]

Back in the day, I applied to do a postgraduate law conversion course at every single UK institution which offered it (about 6 I think). I recieved the last of the rejection letters on the day I started my finals and I was devastated. It felt like a brick wall had come down in front of my future.

One gap year later (working in a really entertaining and informative job, and with my predicted degree class turned into an actual degree class) I got offers from every single one and just had to take my pick.

There are options, it will work out in the end one way or another.

[Clare1971]

I also suspect it will be the lack of A level science which tripped her up. Might be worth trying to speak to someone at the university to see if that was the case - then maybe cram in an A level next year while working part time? The extra year's maturity won't hurt her at all but she might not want to hear that.

[WildeWoman]

I'd definitely try to get her to do A-level biology next year.
Without it, she will find the course very very tough.

[WildeWoman]

What subjects did she take?
What modules will she be studying in first year at Bristol? Would she be in any way prepared for uni level studying of the content?

I'm thinking for example, if she has studied History, English and French, she would have a very hard time jumping to uni-level Biology, physiology, anatomy etc?

Might be a blessing in disguise, giving her time to be prepared for course content in a year from now, rather than going in this year and feeling utterly swamped.

[coffeeisnectar]

She had no clue what she wanted to do when she did her options for gcses so didn't head down the science/biology route. She took maths, further maths and double sports btech as her A level options but dropped further maths as she was struggling. She's on course for an A in maths and distinction * in sports btech. An awful lot of the work has been on the body, cardio, structure etc.

We talked briefly today, her teacher will see her on Monday to discuss the knock back but dd is thinking of doing biology over the next year while learning to drive (another essential). She's more upbeat today which is good. I think she realises her choices weren't what she needed but of course it was too late.

It's hard because unless you know for sure what you want to do at 13 you can feel the knock on from it for years. I'm still not happy she was forced to take geography in the baccalaureate fiasco when she could have done something she could use.

[mouldycheesefan]

Oh gosh yes the lack of science is the issue and the fact she is doing a b tec. School,should have given her better advice on where to apply and what for. Sounds like she already has a plan though which is brilliant, learning to drive, biology a level and St. John ambulance. But double triple check that she still won't have an issue with 2 a levels and a b tec, will universities count the b tec for a medical degree, especially top tier ones like Bristol. Don't want to end up in same position again.
Good luck to your daughter

[BertrandRussell]

It sounds as if she got seriously crap advice.

Get her to ring the admissions office at Bristol and ask-she needs facts. I'm not sure, of course, but I really think she might need 3 A levels for Bristol.

[mudandmayhem01]

I think people are confusing Bristol university ( Russell group, very high entry requirements) and UWE Bristol, another really good university, great for vocational courses ( ex poly for those old enough to know what that means) These universities are generally ok with Btecs ( maybe with an additional science) but with A levels maths ( which often counts as a science) and the biology content of her science course it might not be the wrong subjects have got her rejected. Poor advice is difficult to quantify, a student can't take every A level subject just in case they change their mind. I advise students and I always try and get them to keep options open but that is only possible to a certain extent. Its the bizarre uk system which allows or forces students to make such narrow choices at 16. Being able to drive is a requirement for some paramedic courses, so that's a good plan. The Biology A level would certainly be an option but find out why she was rejected before jumping into this. Keep going, one of the best students with perfect subjects and a great ps got 4 rejections for nursing first time round, got in the next year same quals more work experience. I think these health courses ate particularly competitive because you are also going up against mature students often with lots of relevant experience. persistence and resilience and qualities she will need to become a successful paramedic. Also don't give up and go for a lesser course.This happens in some schools, a student fails to get into their dream course and they are pushed at exam results time just to take anything available just to show the school or college has got so many students into university. Another year is nothing at your age to get where you want to go.

[TheFairyCaravan]

Is it too late for her to apply for this at UEA, Coffee. It's a pilot scheme where 30 students who want to do Paramedic Science work as support workers with the East of England Ambulance Service for 6 months, and get paid, before starting their degree.

DS2 is at UEA doing Adult Nursing. He absolutely loves it there. Norwich is a nice city as it's quite small, easy to get around and every things accessible on public transport.

[TheFairyCaravan]

Oh, bugger I've just read it all. She can't do it, you have to have had a driving license for 2 years. Sorry.

[carltonscroop]

Has she been on studentroom to find out what grades those joining the course actually have?

There is sometimes a discrepancy between what the basic requirements are, and what qualifications the typical students actually have.

[Lucy90]

If the next uni also say no, she can make a further application through I as extra to one more uni. There is also clearing on results day. Not all is lost!

[Boogers]

There's some great advice on here, and though it won't make your daughter feel better right now it really isn't the end of the world. That course will be a tough one in terms of structure and content, and your daughter will be applying against people who already have degrees who are changing career direction, people who have the work experience and want to become qualified, and people with straight As in maths and the sciences. It's a hard course to get on and it will be very heavily over subscribed, which gives your DD the opportunity to re-evaluate her career direction in the meantime. The StJohn's Ambulance route looks appealing when she turns 18, and she's making the right moves to doing things that will help her in the long run, like learning to drive. If she decides to get some work experience for a few years there's nothing stopping her from going down the route of an Access to H.E. Science and Technology course when she's 21, only when she applies to university then she'll have the advantage of work experience and a commitment to why she definitely wants to do that course! And you never know, she might decide it's not for her after all. A friend of mine applied to that same course 20 years ago and was rejected, so she took a year out, worked in a school, realised she wanted to work with children but not as a teacher, and she's now a children's nurse. It's not the end of the world that she's not been accepted this time round but that's easy for me to say and not much use to you. How's your daughter feeling now that she's had time for it to sink in?

[coffeeisnectar]

You have all given amazing advice and I'm so grateful you've taken the time to reply.

Course of action now is:

Talk to teacher on Monday
Get feedback from uni
Wait for response from other uni
Book a course of driving lessons starting after exams finish
Investigate biology for next year
Sign up for st John's and find out about first responder positions

The course you mention fairy looks brilliant and may be an option in a couple of years so she will have had her license 2 years and also obtained further qualifications and experience.

She's not 18 until July so she years to get sorted and get where she wants.

[HellzA75]

Bristol can cherry pick their candidates I'm afraid. They will have been inundated with applications from students with strong science A Levels. I don't think your DD's BTEC in Sports Science can really compare I'm afraid.

She could use her year out to do a science A Level to improve her chance next year.

[Pleasemrstweedie]

Anything here that might help?

www.coventry.ac.uk/study-at-coventry/course-search/?searchText=Paramedic&pageSize=10&page=1&showAll=false

[mudandmayhem01]

Hellz, this isn't Bristol university.

[blueemerald]

I'm pretty sure Bristol don't do paramedic science. Only UWE Bristol.

[PurpleWithRed]

Paramedic science is very oversubscribed and has a lot of applications from more mature people with years of transferrable skills, life experience and voluntary experience that means they understand what they're letting themselves in for and have the maturity to cope. Without a science A level she will struggle against other A level candidates.

She needs a good bit of relevant experience and another go in a year or so - care work is excellent, tees you up for the realities of the job (lots of elderly patients) and shows you're serious. Being a community first responder helps in that you get to see the job as it happens (but most places will want two years' driving experience before she can do that, and may not be so keen on someone who's going to disappear off to uni as soon as she can). St John or Red Cross can be helpful. Getting her C1 before she applies might be an idea too.

She could also join UKAmbulanceForum and 'so you want to be a paramedic' Facebook groups, they are full of useful hints and tips.

My sympathies to you and to her. i know it's inevitable sometimes but I hate it when my kids get knocked back. Chocolate and sympathy for a few days then she needs to Woman Up.

[mudandmayhem01]

They also accept btec and she has maths which counts as science. I think like everyone says she need to speak to admissions. Btecs are not as bad as a lot of people think. Btec extended diploma in sports and exercise science is accepted by Sheffield Hallam for physiotherapy as as an alternative to A levels for example.