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College or Sixth Form?
Comments
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Young people opting to study dramatic arts always worry me a little as it is so wildly competitive but if she does actually intend to try to make a career of it then perhaps this would be a good choice for her. At least she can always still do A levels later if she wants but be careful of drifting past the age at which the Government is happy to fund courses (19 I think normally). It is not great when as yong person, you feel choices are made for you. I still strongly regret not studying art further than O level as my parents did not consider a proper choice of A level. I think I may well have ended up on a different career path if I had."'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
Try to make ends meet
You're a slave to money then you die"0 -
Thanks for all the feedback! I think it is a bit harsh to say the college course is 'a bunch of cool older kids doing a glorified Drama class' - the Diploma is (supposed to be, at least) equivalent to 3 A-levels and covers a range of different areas, so it's not as if she is proposing to drop out completely. The local colleges don't offer separate A-level courses.
How is the Diploma respected by the universities and conservatiores etc which she might want to study at; look at the universities' information - not the publicity put out by the diploma organiser! What are the A level options she might choose? - How well taught is the A level in drama for instance.But a banker, engaged at enormous expense,Had the whole of their cash in his care.
Lewis Carroll0 -
I did A levels and later on life did full and part time courses at various HE and FE colleges. The big difference is A levels at school is still school with the same teachers and the same routines.
College is a lot more 'grown up', the lecturers had a working knowledge of the areas I was studying, many were part time, doing lecturing as well as working, rather than teachers who have learnt from books.
This enabled them to give a real world experience as well as the stuff from books, they also had contacts in industry which was great for job opportunities. I wish I'd missed A levels completely.0 -
I went to college after doing AS for a year.
Really struggled with AS Levels but it was the expected thing to do in my school hence why I did them.
Went to college, wow it was amazing. So much better and I thrived and now I am working in the same industry doing a job I love and couldn't be happier.
I think people think A Levels have this high expectation that it will help them succeed but tbh a D in A Levels is not as good as a Merit in college and I would definitely stick to something you love.
I haven't found college to hinder me at all in terms of actual job seeking and I think even if I couldn't find something in my industry and had to cross over that I would be alright finding a job due to my experience and transferable skills.Don't forget you can always study again if it doesn't work out (at your own cost obviously).
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I went a different route again so did A levels but at a sixth form college! Good to get out of school and led to a place at a Russell group Uni.0
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P.S Re Performing Arts - my sister went to the same sixth form college as me and did A levels including Performing Arts and Music. So that is another thing to consider. (She then went to another Russell Group Uni, did history and is now a teacher!)0
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My niece went to local college which admittedly has great rep, did a diploma and 2 A levels and then carried on with a degree at the college from local uni this yr.
If the college and course are good I think college is a good option to give young ppl more independence and responsibility. They have to organise themselves to get in for classes and it's a more 'grown-up' atmosphere. They get to make new friends and be away from teachers who've known them since 11 or 13 (depending on previous school). It can be a fresh start which makes them more confident abt handling uni if they decide to go.0 -
I think it is a bit harsh to say the college course is 'a bunch of cool older kids doing a glorified Drama class' - the Diploma is (supposed to be, at least) equivalent to 3 A-levels and covers a range of different areas, so it's not as if she is proposing to drop out completely. The local colleges don't offer separate A-level courses.
- it's difficult because obviously that's a tough profession to get into, but maybe if she heads off in that direction there are other related jobs that might become an option, so a blanket no from us at this stage might cut her off from career options that would work for her.0 -
I find generally speaking that in Sixth Form you get treated like a kid, as it is really an extension of school.
A college however is a much more adult environment and you get treated as such.0 -
Thanks again to everyone! When I started to look at options I assumed that sixth form college would be one of the options, but there are none in sensible travelling distance from here, and as far as I can see, nowadays it seems to be Diplomas at college and A levels at school Sixth Forms, so doing A levels in a college environment doesn't seem to be offered, in this area at least.0
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