How are year 13 feeling about UCAS? – Ellie Hewes
Those who have been at RHS for a few years, will know how busy one can get and I am sure that those who are new, are also finding this. However, for year 13, this half term has not just been packed with trying to get used to the new Covid policies. Year 13 have been completing their UCAS applications and have also had to sit exams, under the pressure that these could be used to influence any CAG grades. Therefore, this week, I decided to interview some of the students in year 13 to see how they are feeling about UCAS and how Covid could impact us. These students included Olivia Mayers, Rosie Pritchard, Ben Jackson and Angela Adeyemo.
- What are you looking to study at university?
Olivia: Biochemistry
Rosie: Sociology and Anthropology
Ben: Marine Biology
Angela: Law
- How are you feeling about UCAS currently?
Olivia: “I’m a bit overwhelmed by the descisons which could impact the rest of my life, especially when I can’t choose what I am going to eat for breakfast! No matter how much research I do, I just do not feel informed enough to make a decision”
Rosie: “I have submitted my application and know that I should feel relaxed, but I still just feel overwhelmed”.
Ben: “I mean, I have received three offers already, so I am feeling quite relaxed about the whole situation”.
Angela: “I am feeling quite stressed as I am finding finishing my personal statement difficult”.
- Are you worried about the possibility of Covid preventing us from doing exams?
Olivia: “Yes, very much so because if we receive CAGs, we will be compared unfavourably to the year above us, who gained grades which were above average. I think if we gain CAGs, the process will be harsher for our year, which means that we may not be given the grades we deserve. I want to show what I can do!”
Rosie: “I believe there will be more negatives than positives if we do not complete the exams. Also, if we do not do them, then there is no sense of achievement”.
Ben: “I am very worried about the possibility of CAGs as this will mean that previous work will be taken into account”.
Angela: “I am really worried because many people in the year above us all over the country, received grades many believed were not reflective of their capabilities. I hope this will not be the same for our year”.
- Do you think our year has been most impacted by Covid academically?
Olivia: “I think our year across the country has been majorly impacted as some didn’t gain the education which we had over lockdown. However, I think the year above suffered more as they had the stress of CAGs”.
Rosie: “I think the year above us have had the most problems due to the whole fiasco around grades. However, I think for our year, it is not going to be easy either for the government as they have to consider that some people haven’t had the supervision that we have had over lockdown”.
Ben: “I definitely think we have, as the year above us had at least finished their courses before this whole palaver occurred! Most of them were better off with the CAG grades too. Our learning has been impacted”.
Angela: “Yes, mainly because we have had to continue learning our A-Level content virtually, which proved to be very difficult”.
- What would your advice be for future years as they come into the process of applying to university?
Olivia: “Do the research early and find something you are passionate about!”
Rosie: “Do MOOCs and read around your subject early (summer of year 12)”.
Ben: “Work hard in year 12. Don’t think you can pull it all back in year 13 as year 13 is so busy!”
Angela: “Make sure you choose a subject you truly enjoy and are interested in! This will motivate you”.
- What are you most looking forward to when you are at university?
Olivia: “Being around like-minded individuals”.
Rosie: “Being able to study one subject in more depth over three years, rather than studying three subjects over two years”.
Ben: “Specialising in a degree I am really interested in. This is the first opportunity to go and learn about a subject which we really do enjoy”.
Angela: “Being independent and experiencing new things”.
- Are you worried that we will miss the full Nelson experience?
Olivia: “Yes, we have spent seven years building up to these traditions – I don’t want to miss out!”
Rosie: “Yes, as we have been working our way up the school, watching the traditions time and time again. I want to be a part of these traditions and experience them”.
Ben: “I am so worried. I have seen so many people in the past go through them. The thought that it may not happen to our year is terrifying”.
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