Not sitting highers - what now?

cazziebo

My daughter is very bright but wasted the first half of her fifth year (Scottish) by skipping school and generally not applying herself. In general her grades were good - but not as good as they could have been. She did knuckle down as the year went on.

She is now ill with viral meningitis -thankfully not in danger - but is in hospital now so missing today's English higher, and will probably miss her four other highers over the next three weeks. There are obviously special circumstances and she will still get awards - probably passes - but they will be based on an average of what hasn't been great work. Definitely won't be strong enough to get her into law which is what she wants.

Anyone have any idea on what the options might be?

(Might be a strange thing to be focussing on when a few days ago I thought I might lose her completely but lack of sleep has scrambled my brain...)

The_One_Who

She dies have special circumstances which could be explained. She'll need to do a lot of work in sixth year if she wants to do law, but it can be done. If she could get some work experience in the field too that'd be good for her.

Voyager2002

I think she needs to tqke a year to repeat her exams and get good grades in the ordinary way. There are good reasons why universities demand high grades for Law: it is a tough course and so she would need good study habits and self-discipline in order to cope, and it sounds as if she has only just started to develop these.

Could she spend a year doing the English A2s? She would then have access to universities in England and Wales as well as those in Scotland?

The_One_Who

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Could she spend a year doing the English A2s? She would then have access to universities in England and Wales as well as those in Scotland?

Unless you go to a private school they are almost impossible to find in Scotland. The majority of colleges don't provide them and schools are much more likely to use the Scottish system.

Also, for law, if you want to continue living in Scotland then it'd be best to do your degree in Scotland rather than have to do a conversion from English to Scots law.

dieselhead

Have you spoken to her teachers, as it may not be as bad as you or she thinks? Is it worth waiting for her results and explaining the problem to her first choice university and asking whether they would accept her?

nesssie1702

Was she planning on doing 6th year anyway, or hoping to get into Uni after sitting her Highers?

Probably best to speak to the school and see what they advise.

Her other option is considering doing a Legal Studies course at college that will then give her access to a LLB course at Uni - maybe worth exploring?

cazziebo

Thanks everyone.

The school have said it's not a problem. Her marks have been good enough for the important assessments throughout the year and she had planned to do 6th year anyway. (more because it seemed like non stop party when her sister was in 6th!)

(I did look into the Legal Studies courses before but they don't get you entry to Uni unless as a mature student.)

juno

When she applies, she needs to get her referee to mention this in her reference. Unis may be more lenient, because it's not her fault that she's ill and missed her exams.

Xpennyxlanex_2

hey,
which uni is your daughter hoping to go to?
I ended up leaving school with only 2 highers and was pretty much in the same position as your daughter and worried sick I wouldn't get into uni.
However, I managed to get a place on an Access Summer School course at my uni (Dundee) and have just finished my first year
One of my best friends did summer school too and she managed to get a place doing law.
Providing you have a good excuse that prevents you from getting the grades (i.e. illness, death in the family etc.), you attend the summer school course for 10 weeks and providing you pass the coursework/exams during that period you are guaranteed a place at Dundee uni. It's one of the best things I have ever done tbh, I had a great time, met so many new friends and it really did prepare me for uni (which I wouldn't have gotten into without!).


Not sure if any of this is relevant if you obviously don't live near there or your daughter intends to go to a different uni, but I'm sure there are a couple of other places that have similar options.

Hope this helps, good luck!



(sorry just noticed you are in Scotland....if Dundee is an option I'd highly recommend it. It doesn't matter which grades your daughter has currently, aslong as she explains that she was ill etc. and attends the informal interview she will probably gain a place. you also get a non-means tested bursary for attending aswell and there are really fun party nights n stuff too. It's soo worth looking into - sorry it's not letting me post the link as I am a new member but if you google it you'll get more information. Feel free to message me if you want more info!)

cazziebo

Thanks for this. I think Dundee is a good option for law because apparently it's the only place in the UK where they do Scots and English law together? She wants to go to Glasgow and then do grad school in the US (She went to an international school for a while). She doesn't quite realise yet that she doesn't have all the power in her hands!

Thanks very much for taking the time to respond - that's really appreciated.

Xpennyxlanex wrote: »

hey,
which uni is your daughter hoping to go to?
I ended up leaving school with only 2 highers and was pretty much in the same position as your daughter and worried sick I wouldn't get into uni.
However, I managed to get a place on an Access Summer School course at my uni (Dundee) and have just finished my first year
One of my best friends did summer school too and she managed to get a place doing law.
Providing you have a good excuse that prevents you from getting the grades (i.e. illness, death in the family etc.), you attend the summer school course for 10 weeks and providing you pass the coursework/exams during that period you are guaranteed a place at Dundee uni. It's one of the best things I have ever done tbh, I had a great time, met so many new friends and it really did prepare me for uni (which I wouldn't have gotten into without!).


Not sure if any of this is relevant if you obviously don't live near there or your daughter intends to go to a different uni, but I'm sure there are a couple of other places that have similar options.

Hope this helps, good luck!



(sorry just noticed you are in Scotland....if Dundee is an option I'd highly recommend it. It doesn't matter which grades your daughter has currently, aslong as she explains that she was ill etc. and attends the informal interview she will probably gain a place. you also get a non-means tested bursary for attending aswell and there are really fun party nights n stuff too. It's soo worth looking into - sorry it's not letting me post the link as I am a new member but if you google it you'll get more information. Feel free to message me if you want more info!)