"Straight As but no university place"

Oldernotwiser

Pont wrote: »

I haven't read the original post - just flicking through. However, thought I had to comment on your post ONW. In my experience, combined Lit/Lang is way tougher than single Lit. My daughter has just completed her Lit/Lang, I looked at the spec and thought good grief! I used to teach A level Lit and without doubt (IMO) the combined is way harder.

Having said this my daughter is now waiting for her results. She took French, German, Lit/Lang and Law, which to the best of knowledge are not 'soft' subjects. However, whilst she has been anticipated to get As, she is not at all confident in getting into her first choice university as there are a greater number than usual applicants.

I don't think that looking at the spec for a subject is any indicator of how tough the subject is; they're always written up to sound so much harder than they actually are. I can remember invigilating an English Language A level a few years ago and I was so stunned by how easy the paper was that I took it back to my staff room where everybody I showed it to agreed that it was virtually identical to the English Language O level that we had taken years before!

I can only go by my careers experience but I really have found that traditional universities much prefer the pure Literature A level compared to the Language or combined exam. As an example, from St Catherine's Cambridge English Department,


"We prefer students to have taken English Literature rather than English Language at A2, although we have had a number of successful applicants in recent years who have taken Language rather than Literature. Our concern is that the English Language course is not sufficiently literary in its emphasis, and thus that it does not prepare students as well as the Literature course for the Cambridge English degree, which has a heavy reading load. Whatever subjects they are taking, however, we are interested in what our prospective applicants are reading; we expect successful applicants to show evidence of wide, thoughtful, independent reading. We consider that there is no particular advantage in students taking both English Language and English Literature for A-level."

missjadeykins

I disagree with the point that this is to do with his choice of subjects. For one at A-Level Theatre Studies and Religious Studies are viewed in an equal light in regards to status by Universities, and both contain essay writing and analytical skills which would aid you in studying English, so I don't think these would particularly phase Universities. Similarly, Drama is not usually practical based at all during A-Level - I did it and it was 80% analysing plays and other texts, which is essentially what you do in an English based degree: analyse written works. Also, many Russell group Universities offer joint honours courses between English and Drama, so I'm pretty sure that they would value the relationship between the two subjects and not reject someone on the basis of taking theatre studies over something else.

It sounds a lot more likely that his rejections have been due to his personal statements rather than anything else. Competition for English is tough so you do need to sell yourself, and it doesn't sound like he got that quite down in his previous two.

(p.s. I hope I don't annoy anyone with this post, I'm new to the forums! )

Pont

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I don't think that looking at the spec for a subject is any indicator of how tough the subject is; they're always written up to sound so much harder than they actually are. I can remember invigilating an English Language A level a few years ago and I was so stunned by how easy the paper was that I took it back to my staff room where everybody I showed it to agreed that it was virtually identical to the English Language O level that we had taken years before!

I read the spec but of course I was following the course as well (nosey mum!). English Language A level, I agree, is at about the same level as the old English Language O level (alas the same for just about all subjects).

I can only go by my careers experience but I really have found that traditional universities much prefer the pure Literature A level compared to the Language or combined exam. As an example, from St Catherine's Cambridge English Department,

I would also agree that English Literature is 'weightier' compared to English Language

"We prefer students to have taken English Literature rather than English Language at A2, although we have had a number of successful applicants in recent years who have taken Language rather than Literature. Our concern is that the English Language course is not sufficiently literary in its emphasis, and thus that it does not prepare students as well as the Literature course for the Cambridge English degree, which has a heavy reading load. Whatever subjects they are taking, however, we are interested in what our prospective applicants are reading; we expect successful applicants to show evidence of wide, thoughtful, independent reading. We consider that there is no particular advantage in students taking both English Language and English Literature for A-level."

Interesting reading but this statement doesn't support your assertion that 'combined' is less valued than English Literature! What this statement says is:-

a) Literature is valued more than Language - agreed.
b) There is little value in taking Lang for 1 A level, and Lit for a 2nd A level - agreed.

Nowhere in the above quote does it suggest combined is frowned upon.

Unfortunately, my daughter's college is now dropping the combined as it's proving 'too hard' in favour of offering only English Literature.

Anyway, long time no hear ONW - hope all is good with you.

southoftheriver

His subject choice may have put him at a disadvantage for certain universities, but a strong personal statement would have balanced that out somewhat.

Articles like this give a false impression that anyone with all A's automatically deserves a place at the university of their choosing, and this is not the case. Luckily there are other non academic criteria that are considered important when choosing who should be offered a place.

The_One_Who

It probably didn't help matters that he was applying for perhaps the most oversubscribed course in the country, all at universities no doubt asking for at least straight As, although I haven't checked so could be wrong. When it comes to a course like English lit the larger universities can pick and choose, and having As isn't really going to help since every other person will as well. A strong personal statement is key.

minerva_windsong

I got accepted at York, Leeds and Sheffield to study English and History with A levels in English Literature, History, Politics and Film Studies, and I would say those last two are definitely more vocational than Theatre Studies (though I did have 'extras' which might have helped as well). So my guess is that the personal statement is working against him somehow.

He might have been better off to go for universities where there are opportunities to mix English and drama and play up that side of it, or an English and Education/Journalism joint honours of some kind. He also seems to have a bit of a thing about going for a 'name' university, so it may be worth looking further afield.

poet123

The_One_Who wrote: »

It probably didn't help matters that he was applying for perhaps the most oversubscribed course in the country, all at universities no doubt asking for at least straight As, although I haven't checked so could be wrong. When it comes to a course like English lit the larger universities can pick and choose, and having As isn't really going to help since every other person will as well. A strong personal statement is key.

That carries on, when my son applied to do Secondary Teacher Training in English there were 1500 applicants for 30 places. Again a strong personal statement and work/volunteering experience in a relevent field is the separator.

olly300

poet123 wrote: »

That carries on, when my son applied to do Secondary Teacher Training in English there were 1500 applicants for 30 places. Again a strong personal statement and work/volunteering experience in a relevent field is the separator.

Don't worry in the next month we are going to hear about the students who got 6 As at A1/A2 level with 12 A* at GCSE who couldn't get university places to be doctors.

olly300

minerva_windsong wrote: »

He might have been better off to go for universities where there are opportunities to mix English and drama and play up that side of it, or an English and Education/Journalism joint honours of some kind.

I agree with that as he could if he found himself hating the one of the subjects he could drop it.

minerva_windsong wrote: »

He also seems to have a bit of a thing about going for a 'name' university, so it may be worth looking further afield.

He wants to make life easier for himself once he leaves university and thinks that is the way to do it.

However if he really did he would be spending some of his time now doing a journalism intern-ship or some work experience on a local paper/radio station. He's had the advantage this year that ( if he still lives at home) that he was available when other students where not.

poet123

olly300 wrote: »

Don't worry in the next month we are going to hear about the students who got 6 As at A1/A2 level with 12 A* at GCSE who couldn't get university places to be doctors.

I am not worried.....he got a place!;)