In January 2009 I was critically ill and not far from death. Turned out it was type 1 diabetes, off school for around 2-3 months. School refused to allow me to do GCSE Sciences even though I know with enough work I could have done them.
Choosing A Levels
- Thread starter Chives
- Start date
That's utterly stupid, did you not fight your case?
No. At the time me and my family where so bogged down in the diabetes we weren't really thinking of anything else. I chose GCSE Sciences, but was dragged in by head of department and told I can't do them, they where very nice about it, Forcing me to do entry level sciences which is an utter waste of my time.
That sounds terrible Chives mate. Sorry to hear. 
Thanks for that excellent advice though Danneh, really appreciate it. Any ideas on whether an extended project would be worth it or whether I could just use the time to study more. *cough*
Thanks for that excellent advice though Danneh, really appreciate it. Any ideas on whether an extended project would be worth it or whether I could just use the time to study more. *cough*
EPQ is worthless unless it's directly related to what you are going to study at uni; and in that case it's only real use is to be referenced in your personal statement. I talked to a couple of high ranked unis and none of them really appreciated the value of the EPQ. Another worthless qualification.
Indeed, I now suffer the consequences with 3 less GCSE's than everyone else which is sure not to help in the future. Still a nice positive interim report yesterday with 4 B's and 1 C, despite 75% attendance in year 10 and 85% this year. Things are improving and I am currently going from strength to strength.That sounds terrible Chives mate. Sorry to hear.
I am not, just would be good if I could go there as I could save a lot of money.
It's also the only chance you have in your life to move somewhere completely new, where you don't know anyone and establish a new life for yourself. Gaining that sort of independence and perspective is a huge part of university imo
Deleted member 11679
Deleted member 11679
In your last post you said you did not need to work outside lesson? I can say with absolute confidence the ONLY students who have done well in Computing have been the ones who have worked outside of lessons.
Maybe I haven't been clear enough in distinguishing between AS and A2. When producing your A2 coursework you are limited to the grade you can achieve if your programming solution does not demonstrate Mathematics of complexity greater than GCSE. Obviously it is dependent on what type of solution you choose to produce, but in nearly all the A2 coursework i have seen in the last three years this is a key point. There are also several topics at A2 which are beyond GCSE level Maths.
EDIT: The subject is not about becoming a good programmer, it is about ticking boxes for the exam marker. If you tell me that all the students are aiming to become programmers you should not be teaching.[/QUOTE]
Deleted member 11679
Deleted member 11679
In your last post you said you did not need to work outside lesson? I can say with absolute confidence the ONLY students who have done well in Computing have been the ones who have worked outside of lessons.
Maybe I haven't been clear enough in distinguishing between AS and A2. When producing your A2 coursework you are limited to the grade you can achieve if your programming solution does not demonstrate Mathematics of complexity greater than GCSE. Obviously it is dependent on what type of solution you choose to produce, but in nearly all the A2 coursework i have seen in the last three years this is a key point. There are also several topics at A2 which are beyond GCSE level Maths.
To a point this is correct. But someone who is good at programming will do well at AS Computing (particularly). By virtue of the fact three quarters of the Unit 1 exam is given over to programming type questions you can logically draw this conclusion yourself.
With respect of commenting on whether I should be teaching I don't think a response like that is necessary at all
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Associate
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stict to the centre. Physics, Chemistry, English, Languages and Mathematics. Only way to go
Soldato
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Chives if you think you are sufficently capable at Maths it should be an absolute must for any A-Levels studies. It will keep more doors open to you when choosing a degree and large corporate employers rate numeracy and mathemetics extremely highly.
Soldato
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I've not read it all but I noticed you said that you didn't want to do English because it was all about analysing and not writing speeches and instead want to do history, which is very much about analysing.
Might I point out that there isn't really a degree about writing speeches and alike and if there was it wouldn't be worth anything.
Take your degree to match your future job not the other way around. You will be in uni for 3-4 years but you will be doing your job for the rest of your life.
Furthermore there are a lot of degree's and a levels not worth doing. Luckily when it comes to a level only the top few actually hold it against you for taking some of the subjects.
Be smart about what you choose to do at uni. In the real world its not what you learnt in your degree that matters but how high up the ladder it is.
For example you take classics, history and English. A classics degree is history but in the ancient era, it has about half the work load and is more about socialising than learning. As a result it cannot stand up to history and English at all. History is a well respected subject but it is still trumped by English because it has a higher work load.
Pick the job you want to do, then pick the degree which is top in its field. It is a pity you can't do science because science majorly trumps almost all other a levels and degrees.
Maths at A level is a big deal also, as has been pointed out. It is not that hard, they dumbed down the sciences so much at college it's a joke. Physics doesn't even contain maths any more. I have taught several people to do A level maths in my spare time as I do a maths degree and they were not very bright and managed to get a b with hard work..
Might I point out that there isn't really a degree about writing speeches and alike and if there was it wouldn't be worth anything.
Take your degree to match your future job not the other way around. You will be in uni for 3-4 years but you will be doing your job for the rest of your life.
Furthermore there are a lot of degree's and a levels not worth doing. Luckily when it comes to a level only the top few actually hold it against you for taking some of the subjects.
Be smart about what you choose to do at uni. In the real world its not what you learnt in your degree that matters but how high up the ladder it is.
For example you take classics, history and English. A classics degree is history but in the ancient era, it has about half the work load and is more about socialising than learning. As a result it cannot stand up to history and English at all. History is a well respected subject but it is still trumped by English because it has a higher work load.
Pick the job you want to do, then pick the degree which is top in its field. It is a pity you can't do science because science majorly trumps almost all other a levels and degrees.
Maths at A level is a big deal also, as has been pointed out. It is not that hard, they dumbed down the sciences so much at college it's a joke. Physics doesn't even contain maths any more. I have taught several people to do A level maths in my spare time as I do a maths degree and they were not very bright and managed to get a b with hard work..
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Soldato
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Because in the real world most the other degree's cannot compete as they have far less workload and do not train your brain as well. They are the hardest to do well in in their field and consequently prove the most. That is what a degree is about, it's about training you to think a certain way and proving you can do it. I do maths and I could easily go further down the chain and get a first no problem but it wouldn't mean anything as good as a 2.1 or even a first in maths.
The things you learn in your lectures you will likely not use in your job. There are exceptions with things like dentistry/medicine etc for obvious reasons. But even that, most of it you learn on the job.
My advice to most people on degrees to pick:
1) Stay away from buisness/management. If you think you are going to come out and start up your own little shop or what ever you are deluded. Any managerial job worth having is going to have to go up against maths/chemistry/english/history/law and it will loose big time.
Most high end management jobs are held by people with those degrees.
2) Pick your job then pick your degree so that you are good competition for the job you want.
3) If you can't do a degree that is in good competition to the job you want then pick another job, don't skirt around the idea.
4) Pick a good uni, uni rep means a lot. If you go to leeds metrapoliton (not a red brick uni and mainly does things like sports science etc) and do a highly contested law degree and expect to be able to go up against those doing law from the top uni's you are dreaming. Law is all about contacts and you likely won't get anywhere.
5) Don't go into computers if you can help it. There are way too many people and too many badly paid jobs to make it worth while.