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Post by tyrednexited on Aug 16, 2018 10:29:08 GMT
I realise it might be a bit of a contentious subject, but has your lad got what he wanted/needed, Humph?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2018 13:47:23 GMT
My 18yo also got his results today but did not get what he wanted. Very upset as he worked hard, although he rejected all offers of help from us to get him a tutor (he can be very stubborn). He did spend a fair bit of time as a leader in the local youth club. Whilst this may have affected his results, I think the experience of leadership and youth work is equally valuable.
So, we did not panic; we visited school who gave great advice and as he is taking a gap year, he has managed to get himself a place on a course for 2019. Not the university of his choice, but a reasonable course and he has worked out he can improve a Maths grade very easily by retaking one module he did badly in. Moving the module up from E to C will move the overal grade from B to A. So he will apply again for 2019 with the benefit of the current grades and the hope for better this time next year.
Its a terrible way to make progress in life, and as per usual, us Brits seem to have found the worst way of doing it. There is so much pressure to choose subjects at age 16, to choose a career aged 18, when really, you are only just finding out about yourself and life. I was lucky and was able to change career aged 23 from Polymer Science to Surveying, but not everyone has that opportunity and parents with finances to support it.
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Alanović
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Post by Alanović on Aug 16, 2018 13:57:10 GMT
Hope it all pans out for the laddo, EIII. Sounds exactly the situation a niece of mine went through a few years ago. With my eldest now 13 going on 14 it is something which is racing up on us and I'm out of touch with the current systems and grading systems and all that. Gulp.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2018 14:40:17 GMT
It depends on what they want to do. There are some careers which require a particular degree, and prefer them from certain universities, but business does not.
Life is easier with a degree to the extent that it is easier to get interviews, or to fulfil minimum requirements. But beyond on that, learning and experiencing life and people, as well as yourself, is far more important in my mind.
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Post by tyrednexited on Aug 16, 2018 15:34:36 GMT
Apologies, Esp, I'd overlooked the fact that you had one at the same stage. Such experience can be a knock-back at an early age. Number 1 son didn't get the grades he required for his first choice, but in retrospect and by correspondence with others who ended up where he wanted, he thinks he was lucky. Now in his second year as a Graduate Engineer with Airbus. It's funny looking back from so far, and things have changed an awful lot. I abandoned my degree course after two years as definitely not for me (though I did at least hedge my bets and secure the option of a year out). I'm still slightly miffed at not having a degree (the other three in the family have 5 between them) but I can't say that the experience held me back unduly. What it did do was spark an interest in IT which, with a lot of application and an equal amount of luck led me to a (largely) enjoyable future career with an awful lot of variety. Most of my friends at University (mainly Science or Applied Science degrees) ended up pursuing careers not even remotely associated with their studies, and I progressed career-wise somewhat more than all but one of them. (My best friend at Uni owns and has recently retired as Managing Director of Europe's leading leadless wheel balancing weight manufacturers - I suppose there is a tenuous connection with his Mining Engineering degree ) OTOH, my best friend at School did poorly in his A'levels, stayed on an extra year, went to a decent University, had to retake exams one year, and also a further year out having failed end-of year exams. He is now a Chartered Civil Engineer (I admire his perseverance, though the highlight of his career was responsibility for Barnsley Council's roads ). I know it doesn't help to say "chin up!" but there is an awful amount of opportunity out there.
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Post by Humph on Aug 16, 2018 15:54:01 GMT
Thanks for asking, yes all good, he got what he needed and has a confirmed place at his first choice ( Keele )
Going there on Sunday to sort a few things. He’s doing a joint degree in Psychology and Music. ( no I don’t know why either ) but he’s already had airtime for his music on the radio this summer as an “emerging artist” so maybe he’s on the way to one of his dreams. Who knows, many a slip twixt cup and lip etc.
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Post by tyrednexited on Aug 16, 2018 16:02:40 GMT
...almost commutable from you, then.
I hope that isn't the intention (though, of course, this is sometimes driven by financial necessity - supporting a student nowadays is far from cheap).
IMO, both as a direct participant and a father, one of the most important facets is the experience The University of Life (good learning, but expensive courses) can bring in that first move away from home.
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Post by Humph on Aug 16, 2018 16:04:04 GMT
I think he’s planning on living in halls to start with. Campus set up there.
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Post by tyrednexited on Aug 16, 2018 16:28:19 GMT
....so, you'll get quite a bit more freedom for a few years............but have no money to enjoy it...
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2018 17:29:59 GMT
Son wanted to do Architectural Engineering but has initially settled for Civil Engineering. However, I suspect he will end up as an accountant with one of the Big Four. He has done work experience with PwC and he really enjoyed it and they liked him, but my friend who is a partner there suggested a broader education than a degree in Accounting and Finance.
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Post by Humph on Aug 16, 2018 19:25:27 GMT
Here's an example of J's stuff. He writes the lyrics and music, plays the instruments, sings the vocals and mixes it all himself...of course I'm biased but his college gave him a distinction in music and his A level result seems to confirm that opinion. This is the track he's been getting radio time with. Anyway, here 'tis... soundcloud.com/jamie_a_anderson/the-flag
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Aug 16, 2018 23:13:58 GMT
Sounds good to me.... There's a lot more out there not as good. Not sure it's my thing. But there you go. I am so glad I ended up at Manchester for university from an academic perspective. Glad I didn't get the offer from Cambridge but did get straight A's in everything. Before I got the 'not accepted' from Cambridge I was wondering what you should do when you didn't think you wanted to go if you had an offer. Problem solved. Then worried until results day since I set the grades for my offer and thought best not to ask for 3 E's.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Aug 17, 2018 7:41:16 GMT
Congratulations to Humphling for the results, and to Espadillo for the flexible thinking. As T&E says, the important thing is to find a way — which needn’t necessarily be the way. That willingness and ability to address an imperfect situation and find a workable solution will be useful in many aspects of adult life, not just work. I hope it works out well.
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Alanović
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Post by Alanović on Aug 17, 2018 8:57:28 GMT
So what car are they all going to need? Eh? EH? Sounds like Humph Jr is going to need a band van. C1 be damned.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2018 10:07:25 GMT
From the Espada family perspective its interesting.
Son #1 has his 2004 Punto with 21,000 miles. Bashed all panels but mechanically its good. He wants to keep it.
However the Captur which I bought for the company fleet ends its 0% interest deal in April and frankly I would like Son #1 to have it, but he is reluctant to part from 'Raul' (our nickname for the Punto). And I reckon it won't cost more than £300 to get it though the MoT in November. He doesn't want the Captur.. though cannot give a good reason other than he does want a 1-series which of course he is not going to get!
So I might decide to keep the Captur pending Son #2's return from gap year and let him have it for university, at which point it will be 4.5 years old and a respectable car for a student to have.
Friends have an Audi A1 and a BMW X1, so I have suggested their daughter gets a Citroen C1 for university...
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