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Teenagers

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

Original poster

laugh with me......

21 replies

Tortington · 21/10/2008 09:43

i canlt help but smirk.

ds has a part time job. this isnlt good enough (he is 18) his GF is living with us for various reasons. she works part time too - albeit more hours.

i ws taring my hair out ond on the verge of kicking the gf out when dh and i sat and talked with ds1

the solution

he comes home for 7pm every night until he gets a job

if he wants to live here he has no social life until he has a job.

he is nearly 19.

and grounded ha haa haa haa

ithink i ould have told my mum to feck off - what say you?

OP posts:
Blandmum · 21/10/2008 09:48

I think you have a really nice boy there!

You are also VVV kind to have live in gf, not sure I would have done that one. Am generating a 'Too scary' persona to nip that one in the bud, long before it starts.

Od re your dd doing Law at A level. Does she want to do Law at uni? If so she might be better lookiing at another A level since some Law degree courses don't like kids to have Law A levels, they would rather them have a more conventional A level

Original poster
Tortington · 21/10/2008 09:51

really, i didn't know that. we both thought it was the way to go

this is all v. confusing. the a-level PA - someone said on the other thread, mightn;t be classed as a desirable a-level.

and law a-level wont be counted for a law degree

aaaaaaaargh.

shes only going to sussex afaik

OP posts:
Lurcio · 21/10/2008 09:52

Good for you! I remember your previous post on this, although, if it was me I'd have probably told my parents where to poke it!

Mercy · 21/10/2008 09:53

I was still at school when I was 18, nearly 19 so I had no choice but to abide by my parents rules (similar ones to yours - I was doing quite badly at school, mostly due to laziness tbh)

What's the situation re getting full-time work? Is he not looking?

Original poster
Tortington · 21/10/2008 09:55

level applicants
Most British applicants to Sussex offer a mix of A and AS level qualifications, but there is no set pattern in terms of what we expect. Most applicants will be offering at least three A levels (often combined with additional AS levels), but we treat each application on its individual merits and will be looking at the individual array of qualifications being presented.........

We are pleased to consider applicants offering all A and AS level subjects, including those in applied areas, as well as the Double Award. We also welcome applications from students offering General Studies or Critical Thinking within their qualifications array.

what a double award mb?

what is an applied area?

OP posts:
Blandmum · 21/10/2008 09:58

dunno, and dunno

Talk to someone in their admin dept and find out what they really want. Off the record IYSWIM.

I know that some law depts are quite snooty about law A levels in applicants

(ditto psycology in some places)

Original poster
Tortington · 21/10/2008 10:01

lol re DS i think you are right mercy & lurcio.

he isn't looking hard enough!

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Original poster
Tortington · 21/10/2008 10:04

psychology is made up though innit

OP posts:
RustyBear · 21/10/2008 10:10

DD did Psychology at A level & is now doing it at Exeter, so presumably that kind of thing doesn't put all universities off!(Though she did also do English language, English Lit, History & General studies, so they might have thought she'd clocked up enough 'serious' subjects to outweigh it)

Blandmum · 21/10/2008 10:11

No, it doesn't happen everywhere.

Soem universities have views

Original poster
Tortington · 21/10/2008 10:21

i just had a conversation with dh on the phone and he is also of the opinion that she should do something she enjoys
law a-level isn;t a requirement to do the degree
and she will be a completely diffrent person when she is 18 and migh not want to do it at all

she adores drama so she shouls really do that

english - just cos she should

and maybe we were thinking RE or is is theology at a-level - just becuase she loves debate and this might appeal to her

thanks for being my sounding board and for the advice.

OP posts:
notbloodybranston · 21/10/2008 21:04

Sorry to butt in Custy - but I was a solicitor for a eight years and now teach on the Legal Practice Course (a complusory one year course between doing a degree and becoming a trainee solicitor). Definately agree your DD should do things she enjoys at A level.

However, law firms are old fashioned (whether they are high street or big commercial firms). They wouldn't want to see drama, IT, sociology or even law (daft - but it isn't seen as a very academic A level). They really look for old fashioned academic A levels so unfortunately the poor kids at 16 have to chose carefully.

I am currently facing a bunch of fed up 22 year olds at work every day who did law, sociology and business studies for A level and even though have great degrees can't get a training contract. Have just barged onto this thread so don't know where your daughter is up to but if you need a chat will check back on this thread later.

bagsforlife · 21/10/2008 21:13

Yes, I agree, too, re Law A level. Sorry. Am butting in too, but feel it is really important for people not 'in the know' to be informed. Lots of university websites say they will accept lots of different qualifications but in reality, if oversubscribed, will only accept those with what they really want, ie proper 'academic' A levels. Really don't want to put your daughter off but is better to know now than when it is too late!!!!

Just be careful that you are not ill-advised by people who don't know what they are talking about. Speak/email to Sussex directly to find out exactly what they want. (By the way my son looked at Sussex, really liked it).

Hope she is successful in whatever she decides to do though. Its really hard to have to decide before they've even taken their GCSES!!

NannyNanny · 21/10/2008 23:47

I have never heard of Law A-Level being an easier option. I did Law at A-Level. It was much harder than English literature and Language.

Original poster
Tortington · 22/10/2008 05:41

please but away.

what is an 'academic' subject then. not inc maths science - or is that hat they really mean eng, maths science?

OP posts:
bagsforlife · 22/10/2008 08:47

Generally, but don't take my absolute word for it, 'academic' subjects at A level = English Lit, History, Maths, any science (chemistry, biology, physics), any foreign language, poss also Geography, Psychology, Economics. Less academic ones tend to be Drama, Business Studies, Media Studies, Design that sort of thing.

Look on the websites of the universities and under the courses your daughter is thinking of applying to, they will probably state any specific subjects she may need to have done or whatever. You just need to check that she is doing the right A levels so she doesn't rule herself out before she's even started! It would be such a shame if she really does want to do Law at university. However, if she's not that certain then it's not a problem!

It's just that Law is a very popular and over subscribed degree and so even though they suggest the minimum requirement for students to have, they will, in reality, have a lot of students applying with over and above the minimum requirements.

Hope this helps. Am really not trying to put your daughter off but I feel really strongly about people not knowing the 'ins and outs' of the reality of applying to university and losing out on places they deserve just as much as anyone else!!

notbloodybranston · 22/10/2008 14:39

butting on

Don't know much about university requirements for entrance onto a law degree (I did a history degree and then a one year conversion course at a different uni into law called the GDL).

I'm trying to get law graduates onto jobs (as well as teach the little blighters property law and how to sit up straight). The sifting at CV stage is fairly brutal for the bigger law firms. So anyone who hasn't got a 2:1 or a 1st won't get through (for medium and small firms 2:2s are ok). They then look to see if you have good grades at A level and if so, whether they are A levels that they value. I totally agree with bagsforlife on her definition of what is "academic" A level.

When it comes to her degree she has two choices. The first option may be to do a degree she likes (History, Politics, RE, Theology) and during her third year apply for a training contract with her fab A level results. Then go on and do the GDL then the LPC (if she gets a training contract the law firm will pay for these two courses).

Alternatively, go straight to a law degree, apply for a training contract whilst in her second year and go straight to the LPC course (again - funded by the law firm she has a contract with).

The big problem is when students don't get contracts and have to self fund....LPC costs £10K alone.

love nbb

sunnydelight · 27/10/2008 01:39

Don't forget the University of Brighton also does law custy (I did the post-grad CPE course there). The law dept at Brighton is definitely less up it's own ass than Sussex, though some of the lecturers work at both; I guess as an ex-poly it's a bit more used to dealing with people in the real world!

Original poster
Tortington · 27/10/2008 17:38

thanks for that, i am going to go to the college open day and talk to someone

cheeeeeeers

OP posts:
lazymumofteenagesons · 28/10/2008 15:51

In whichever school or college your daughter is going to do her a levels there should be someone who advises on what is what re further aducation. This is the person to see and make sure she doesn't close off any options. Websites of universities can be a bit general and in anycase ahe will probably change her mind a fair few times on the way. Good luck!

Original poster
Tortington · 28/10/2008 18:37

cheeeeeeers

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