Your thoughts on university

notanewuser

They don't just do 3 A levels. They do AS levels and "general studies" too.

theoretica

[QUOTE=claire21;65240462
How do you get 500 points if you do 3 A levels , or is it that you can't so the people going there have 4 A levels?[/QUOTE]

They keep changing the system, but as I understand it you don't just get points from A levels - you get some from As levels you don't take further, music exams, probaby other stuff. However, many universities don't use points and will be much more specific such as an offer of B in biology and two Ds in any other subjects excluding general studies.

barbarawright

busiscoming2 wrote: »

My opinion:

My experience was the same as your original post OP.
My elder two went to Uni as did most of their school friends. Most aren't working in the field of their degree. Most could have got their respective jobs without their degrees. It also seems anything less than a 2:1 or 1st isn't worth having.
Positively it taught them independence, how to manage their finances and generally improved their self confidence.

I think considering the debt any given person is left with if they aren't going into a profession where a degree is vital it is a bit pointless.

Could they? Are they working with lots of non-graduates who are the same age as them?

Flugelhorn

claire21 wrote: »

Quote :Sort of - take 2 universities, they will have average entry tariffs for the same sort of degree eg History somewhere like Exeter / Durham / oxbridge/ St Andrews has an entry Tariff of over 500 (this is calculated from A levels / IB etc etc ) where an A* A level is 140 points.
Then look at somewhere local to me like Leeds Met where the Tariff is 236.


Quoted from back a bit

How do you get 500 points if you do 3 A levels , or is it that you can't so the people going there have 4 A levels?

Hi - the offer would be based on 3 A levels but the kids who actually go there will have probably taken 4 - also there are lots of other things that add to the total Tariff eg General Studies (which wouldn't be part of the offer conditions), Extended project, freestanding maths etc - hence the total of 500 +.

Flugelhorn

claire21 wrote: »

Am I right in thinking it costs
About 9k a year and it's 3 years normally
About 10k a year from accommodation and living expense

DS gets loan for fees (9k), maintenance loan (about 3.5-4k) which does not cover accommodation so there is a top up from me

CruisingSaver

claire21 wrote: »

Quoted from back a bit

How do you get 500 points if you do 3 A levels , or is it that you can't so the people going there have 4 A levels?

You can also gain UCAS points for extra-curricular activities such as dance and music.

neverdespairgirl

berbastrike wrote: »

Do you think Oscar Pistorius will be found guilty?

No idea, sorry!

System

2:2 doesn't always bar you from grad schemes, my sister was offered one despite getting a 2:2 in an unrelated subject. And my ex had a 3rd but somehow got a decent job out of it :eek:

Pont

About 15 years ago I went down the hard route of getting my degree. Single parent, full-time work and completing my degree at the same time - I gained a 2:1 from an ex poly. In my field I had to have a degree (education) and have managed to secure reasonably paid employment ever since. However, I feel I got into various jobs because I managed to illustrate some grit and determination at interviews rather than my 2:1.

Role on 15 years and both of my daughters are at Russell Group universities studying Law/French and Management/French - I'm very proud of them both. Along with their academic studies, they have become go-getting, focussed, confident (still both caring and kind!) which I believe is a direct result of their university environment.

I've supported them both every inch of the way. However, I dont know how I would have approached it if they had of chosen a 'soft' subject at a 'lower' graded university.

Pont

CH27 wrote: »

I didn't go to uni.
My son is in his 1st year at a Russell Group uni & the difference in him is vast.
He's grown up, he can budget, cook, clean, wash, iron & most importantly it's broadened his horizons.
He's met such a variety of people from all over the world & tried things he would never, ever have got the chance to do at home.
He's learned to manage his time & to motivate himself.

He's also made lots of friends, one or two of whom I suspect will be in his life forever.

Totally echo the above.