[21stcenturyphantom]

Hello. I'm 24, I left school with no GCSEs and I spent the academic year 2011-2012 studying GCSE Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths full time whilst working 20 hours a week. I've been thinking about my AS options and I really want to pursue A Level English Literature, History, Philosophy, French and Spanish. I want to study the two languages more than anything but I've never formally studied them before and although I am a quick learner, I don't think I will be able to learn up to the minimum standard required for me to enroll on the language courses. I'm moving house and going away for a month, so I don't have much time before September.

I couldn't study them via a night class last year as French clashed with my nightly Maths class and Spanish clashed with my work hours. I was desperate for a job at the time so I took the work.

Hypothetically speaking, would it look terrible for me to take a year out to teach myself the basics so I can enroll for A levels in 2013? Given my already 8 year gap before resuming education, would taking another year out confine me to the waste pile when it came to entering university? I would like to think I can aim for the best universities. It also means I'll be over the 19-24 threshold for waived fees, but I willing to pay the fees if it means I can pursue the subjects I want at A level.

Thank you

[21stcenturyphantom]

Bump.

[21stcenturyphantom]

Actually; just something to add to my first post that I had not considered before. One option open to me is that I could study AS Philosophy, English Literature, English Language and History whilst studying both GCSE French and Spanish on an evening, study 3 to A2 alongside French and Spanish AS and then stay at college for a third year to finish my French and Spanish A2.

I imagine 4AS + 2 language GCSEs would be a lot of work. Has anybody else done this? The only other option is to not enrol for A levels until 2013 and then study all my subjects together. This would be easier and less stressful! Would this be the better option? I'm just casting around for some opinions here.

[Username4444]

Hello

What are your GCSEs like? if you don't mind me asking also what are you aiming to study at University? I'm about to start my A Levels too and i'm having some difficult choices too and I know each option has its positives but you need to think of it will be any benefit.

[21stcenturyphantom]

(Original post by Username4444)
Hello

What are your GCSEs like? if you don't mind me asking also what are you aiming to study at University? I'm about to start my A Levels too and i'm having some difficult choices too and I know each option has its positives but you need to think of it will be any benefit.

I won't receive my GCSE results until August 23rd, and I wasn't given predictions. Regarding university...I don't know. I'm not normally a planning type of person; I just want to follow my interests through A Levels and see which subject I enjoy the most. Right now, the thought of studying languages at university is what I have in mind; hence I want to study both languages at A level.

It's not about the money, but if I study 4 AS levels + 2 GCSEs I will save myself at least 2 years worth of fees. However on the other hand, I would be studying my A levels over 3 years and this would mean I have a year-long gap from my other subjects; not ideal. I will also have to maintain my part time job whilst studying.


Argh, help me TSR! There must be somebody who can offer me some advice or someone who has been in the similar AS + GCSE situation.

[21stcenturyphantom]

Over 200 views and only one reply? Come on my threads aren't that bad, are they?! Right now I'm thinking that perhaps taking the year out may be the best bet, as it will allow me to concentrate on learning my target languages. It will cost me money but I think 4 AS + 2 GCSEs + part time work might be more than I can handle. I only hope that I'm not making a mistake.

[Username4444]

(Original post by 21stcenturyphantom)
Over 200 views and only one reply? Come on my threads aren't that bad, are they?! Right now I'm thinking that perhaps taking the year out may be the best bet, as it will allow me to concentrate on learning my target languages. It will cost me money but I think 4 AS + 2 GCSEs + part time work might be more than I can handle. I only hope that I'm not making a mistake.

You need to think if your making the right choice either way for example say you did take a year out to do 2 GCSES then you would do 5 AS levels two of which would be languages which will cost a lot of time ontop of your other A Levels which will not help you in anyway since 4 is normally the most people take anymore will not make a difference. Also which University do you wan't to apply to since you are aiming for the top Universities just wondering . Think of what could be the best and the worst and another year out could harm your application with Universities so make sure you do what is best and you think of what you want to do at University. What did you get in your GCSES you took? this will show what kind of grades you are looking at when studying AS. Well what ever you do make sure it is what you wan't to do. Also you wan't the best results for your A Levels so you can apply to the top Universities so it is normally best to take only what you need.

[21stcenturyphantom]

(Original post by Username4444)
You need to think if your making the right choice either way for example say you did take a year out to do 2 GCSES then you would do 5 AS levels two of which would be languages which will cost a lot of time ontop of your other A Levels which will not help you in anyway since 4 is normally the most people take anymore will not make a difference. Also which University do you wan't to apply to since you are aiming for the top Universities just wondering . Think of what could be the best and the worst and another year out could harm your application with Universities so make sure you do what is best and you think of what you want to do at University. What did you get in your GCSES you took? this will show what kind of grades you are looking at when studying AS. Well what ever you do make sure it is what you wan't to do. Also you wan't the best results for your A Levels so you can apply to the top Universities so it is normally best to take only what you need.

Yes I know 4 is the standard amount but I do not believe this rubbish about 5 "not making a difference". It makes a difference to me because they are the subjects I want to study. Nothing is absolute and obviously I can change my mind, but I'm definitely not doing a fifth A level to look clever on an admission form.

I don't know my GCSE grades yet; I have to wait until results day on the 23rd like everyone else. I think if I start this year and study 4 AS levels, 2 GCSEs and keep my part time job it would be too much work for me, and I don't want to ruin my A levels. Giving up my employment is not an option; I need the money. If I study next year I'll be able to study all my A levels together right from the outset.

I wish I could have done this last year but circumstances made it impossible for me to study French and Spanish. The French clashed with the Maths and the Spanish with my newly-found employment that I just wasn't in a position to give up.

I don't want to name any particular universities just yet; I'd rather wait until my A levels. Truth be told as a mature student I don't know that much about universities, so I would have to attend open days and such to judge which ones are right for me and which ones are not. I'll just aim to perform the best I can.

As to what universities may think...I've already been out of education for 7 years so surely one more year won't make much more of a difference? Not when it would enable me to study the subjects I enjoy the most.

[Username4444]

(Original post by 21stcenturyphantom)
Yes I know 4 is the standard amount but I do not believe this rubbish about 5 "not making a difference". It makes a difference to me because they are the subjects I want to study. Nothing is absolute and obviously I can change my mind, but I'm definitely not doing a fifth A level to look clever on an admission form.

I don't know my GCSE grades yet; I have to wait until results day on the 23rd like everyone else. I think if I start this year and study 4 AS levels, 2 GCSEs and keep my part time job it would be too much work for me, and I don't want to ruin my A levels. Giving up my employment is not an option; I need the money. If I study next year I'll be able to study all my A levels together right from the outset.

I wish I could have done this last year but circumstances made it impossible for me to study French and Spanish. The French clashed with the Maths and the Spanish with my newly-found employment that I just wasn't in a position to give up.

I don't want to name any particular universities just yet; I'd rather wait until my A levels. Truth be told as a mature student I don't know that much about universities, so I would have to attend open days and such to judge which ones are right for me and which ones are not. I'll just aim to perform the best I can.

As to what universities may think...I've already been out of education for 7 years so surely one more year won't make much more of a difference? Not when it would enable me to study the subjects I enjoy the most.

Well considering you can't loose your job how about this: take three or four A Levels (Three would be best) for the first year along with your favourite language out of the two then next year carry on the A Levels to A2 and the language you studied at GCSE to AS or if your College offers it do it as a fast track A Level (AS and A2 in one year). That might be the best option since you wan't to keep your job.

Don't you have any predictions? Well make sure what you do is best for you.

[21stcenturyphantom]

I actually emailed Cambridge admissions to explain my situation and asked for their view; I just wanted some advice. I received a reply to my email saying that taking a year out to complete the GCSEs and enrolling in 2013 would be the best course of action. I've also enrolled on the language courses today and paid the fees so I've decided now. If anything it will give me a year out to really devote time to studying languages, and this is what I want to achieve.

[AverageExcellence]

(Original post by 21stcenturyphantom)
I actually emailed Cambridge admissions to explain my situation and asked for their view; I just wanted some advice. I received a reply to my email saying that taking a year out to complete the GCSEs and enrolling in 2013 would be the best course of action. I've also enrolled on the language courses today and paid the fees so I've decided now. If anything it will give me a year out to really devote time to studying languages, and this is what I want to achieve.

Do yyou want to go to the University of Cambridge then?

[21stcenturyphantom]

(Original post by AverageExcellence)
Do yyou want to go to the University of Cambridge then?

I think I would most definitely apply to Cambridge, yes.

[AverageExcellence]

(Original post by 21stcenturyphantom)
I think I would most definitely apply to Cambridge, yes.

If your serious about cambridge, i would recommend you dont study 5 A levels or put more workload than on yourself with extra GCSEs. If you want to study languages then thats fine but i would do so in your spare time secondary from your studies. That way you can use all your energy trying to achieve academic excellence with A/A*s needed to be considered seriously at Cambridge. As a mature student starting you may be in a weaker position than those starting out (although i know they have to allow some matures in) but i wouldnt rely on that as theyre will still be alot. Dont as you put it put so much work on yourself so your 'working at minimum capacity' because you certainly won't achieve As and this will make any application to cambridge a very unlikely one.

If you want to do both (get good grades and have a lot of qualifications) then you should learn the languages in your spare time, just download the specs online and self learn. Then when you feel confident then you can at a later date sit a test (not a school one) to verify you can speak write and read fluent whatever to make your CV look lush.

Good luck anyway

[21stcenturyphantom]

(Original post by AverageExcellence)
If your serious about cambridge, i would recommend you dont study 5 A levels or put more workload than on yourself with extra GCSEs. If you want to study languages then thats fine but i would do so in your spare time secondary from your studies. That way you can use all your energy trying to achieve academic excellence with A/A*s needed to be considered seriously at Cambridge. As a mature student starting you may be in a weaker position than those starting out (although i know they have to allow some matures in) but i wouldnt rely on that as theyre will still be alot. Dont as you put it put so much work on yourself so your 'working at minimum capacity' because you certainly won't achieve As and this will make any application to cambridge a very unlikely one.

If you want to do both (get good grades and have a lot of qualifications) then you should learn the languages in your spare time, just download the specs online and self learn. Then when you feel confident then you can at a later date sit a test (not a school one) to verify you can speak write and read fluent whatever to make your CV look lush.

Good luck anyway

Thank you for your post. I'll most probably drop down to 3 or 4 A levels in second year, depending on how confident I feel and which subjects I am interested in. I'm not sure if you misread my post, but I've decided to study just the French & Spanish GCSE on an evening for the year 2012-13, so I will not be studying A levels this September. I will be studying them year. I understand what you mean by language proficiency tests, but I want to study languages at GCSE and A level so no, they won't be secondary to my studies. They will be my studies.

[ljsilver]

I'm looking to follow a similar route. Did you have much difficulty finding a college that offered A/AS levels for Adults?
The college's in my area offer something called a HEFC programme.

[21stcenturyphantom]

(Original post by ljsilver)
I'm looking to follow a similar route. Did you have much difficulty finding a college that offered A/AS levels for Adults?
The college's in my area offer something called a HEFC programme.

Hello. I've never heard of a HEFC programme, what is it? I didn't have any difficulty with my college, no. It is a college in a semi-rural area and I've had no trouble at all. I was accepted on to their full time GCSE programme last year and I've had no problems what so ever whilst applying for A levels. The college is great in that regard; they will do everything they can to help students enrol on the best course regardless of their age.

[ljsilver]

Would it be impropper of me to ask for the colleges name?

[21stcenturyphantom]

(Original post by ljsilver)
Would it be impropper of me to ask for the colleges name?

I've sent you a PM.