[Marley13]

(Original post by totallyme)
Is there any way that you could do another advanced higher this year? Would your school let you come back part-time to get an extra grade?

I'm not sure. I have thought about it but the only subjects that I could take to AH level are the ones that I wasn't quite as good at, and I don't want to take them and fail because then I'm shooting myself in the foot. I'm looking into it though. I just wish Edinburgh wouldn't be so awkward, sure I didn't get an A in higher chem but I have a valid reason and the proof to back it up, and shouldn't the fact that I got an A in AH chem show that I'm capable of acheiving an A in higher?

[jordanelouise]

(Original post by schizopear)
what have you got planned?

Well i currently have planned
- 1 week at a large animal vets
- 2 weeks at 2 small animal vets
- 2 weeks at kennels
and looking for a farm placement at the moment
do you have anything planned?

[jordanelouise]

(Original post by totallyme)
Going to the vet when I'm not working and a whole month in South Africa doing veterinary experience, cannot wait! Oh and the odd week of milking and day of kennels What are your plans?

WOW! that is amazing!! I have found the website and it looks so amazing!! Do you have to apply in advance say for next year because of limited places and such?

This summer i have planned
- 1 week at large animal vets
- 2 weeks at small animal vets
and 2 weeks at my local kennels!

[schizopear]

(Original post by jordanelouise)
Well i currently have planned
- 1 week at a large animal vets
- 2 weeks at 2 small animal vets
- 2 weeks at kennels
and looking for a farm placement at the moment
do you have anything planned?

looks like you're going to be busy!

i've got three weeks vet work experience booked and also looking for some farm work. got some lambing booked for easter, which i'm looking forward to as didn't think i'd get to go this year because of college.

hope i'll get to go to the cattery again too as i really miss it!

[totallyme]

(Original post by Marley13)
I'm not sure. I have thought about it but the only subjects that I could take to AH level are the ones that I wasn't quite as good at, and I don't want to take them and fail because then I'm shooting myself in the foot. I'm looking into it though. I just wish Edinburgh wouldn't be so awkward, sure I didn't get an A in higher chem but I have a valid reason and the proof to back it up, and shouldn't the fact that I got an A in AH chem show that I'm capable of acheiving an A in higher?

Did you speak to admissions at Edinburgh?

I'm currently taking adv higher Chem, Bio and Physics and I haven't got a standard grade or higher in either Chem or Bio. If your school doesn't let you back to sit some more grades there will definitely be a place that does if it's what you want to do. And just from my own experience it's very different sitting adv highers in 6th year and sitting them after having some time out of school.

(Original post by jordanelouise)
WOW! that is amazing!! I have found the website and it looks so amazing!! Do you have to apply in advance say for next year because of limited places and such?

I applied a couple of weeks ago and was very specific about the dates that I wanted to go because I wanted to have the experience completed and be home for at least 2 weeks before the application date (so I could fit in some more experience) and still managed to get a date in September. I was lucky though cause I got the very last space, but I'm sure they have spaces for later dates and definitely for next year!

[Marley13]

(Original post by totallyme)
Did you speak to admissions at Edinburgh?

I'm currently taking adv higher Chem, Bio and Physics and I haven't got a standard grade or higher in either Chem or Bio. If your school doesn't let you back to sit some more grades there will definitely be a place that does if it's what you want to do. And just from my own experience it's very different sitting adv highers in 6th year and sitting them after having some time out of school.

I was told to email them and that they would look through my application and let me know what I could do. A week later I got a short email saying that they had taken it to the admissions selectors because they were unsure and that if the exam board had known about my illness at the time then the uni would already have given me special consideration, but they weren't told because no one knew what was wrong with me and so there was nothing that could have been done. So I don't know how that'll affect it, they still haven't told me for definite if I should even bother reapplying there and it's been 3 weeks now.
And my school would be the only place that I could do it, there are no colleges in my area that teach advanced highers, I've already called them all. They only teach highers. I'm waiting to see what Edin says, if they suggest it's a good idea then I'll do it, otherwise I'll stick to earning pennies and building up WE.
SAAS just emailed me back and they do gove out tuition fee loans so I could potentially apply to RVC, but even with that I'm not sure I could afford to live in London during the course. I just really don't want to limit myself to one uni but even if I did somehow get a place at RVC I don't think I could accept which is just as bad as only applying to one I think. Ugh, this is horrible.

[Tali_91]

Hello Hello
Ooo there's been some activity since I last came on here! Think I will re-introduce myself... I'm Tali, 19, second year uni student studying biology at Warwick and applying for vet med in october for 2012 entry!
I live in North Wales, right next to the England border, and am having real trouble finding somewhere to do lambing... if anyone knows anywhere near-ish please give me a heads up! You'd think that being in Wales there would be loads of sheep around... :P

Oh and feel free to ask me anything about Uni life

[totallyme]

(Original post by Marley13)
I was told to email them and that they would look through my application and let me know what I could do. A week later I got a short email saying that they had taken it to the admissions selectors because they were unsure and that if the exam board had known about my illness at the time then the uni would already have given me special consideration, but they weren't told because no one knew what was wrong with me and so there was nothing that could have been done. So I don't know how that'll affect it, they still haven't told me for definite if I should even bother reapplying there and it's been 3 weeks now.
And my school would be the only place that I could do it, there are no colleges in my area that teach advanced highers, I've already called them all. They only teach highers. I'm waiting to see what Edin says, if they suggest it's a good idea then I'll do it, otherwise I'll stick to earning pennies and building up WE.
SAAS just emailed me back and they do gove out tuition fee loans so I could potentially apply to RVC, but even with that I'm not sure I could afford to live in London during the course. I just really don't want to limit myself to one uni but even if I did somehow get a place at RVC I don't think I could accept which is just as bad as only applying to one I think. Ugh, this is horrible.

That's really very unfair on you in regards to the illness and sounds more like them not being on top of things than anything. It must be frustrating, especially not knowing what was wrong. I sort of know how you feel, I have ME (chronic fatigue syndrome) and although I rarely have crashes now (an onset of it - basically a week in bed) when I do there is nothing anyone can do and no special circumstances given. If they have taken 3 weeks to get back to you though that's when you start phoning and emailing, just try get an answer and keep trying, someone will be able to tell you. In their defence though, it's very busy at there at the moment due to exams in April and May, it will have just slipped their mind probably, but that doesnt mean someone cant give you an answer.

It was the same for me, they ended teaching adv highers at the college near me a few years ago. My school didnt get back to me within the week and another school (granted it was further away) did so I decided to go there instead. Are there any other schools in your area?

Just thinking about it, Bristol only ask for 2 advanced highers, have you contacted them? They do say 5 A's but you never know? It's better just to go for it and see what happens than not I think. I have 3As and 2 Bs (Higher), a B and a C (adv highers) and none of them are Bio or Chem, had only a couple weeks experience in October, yet Cambridge gave me an interview! It's definitely worth just going for it and seeing especially as you said you don't want to put all your eggs in one basket. Although it's far away it's just another chance if it's what you really want to do.

[totallyme]

(Original post by Tali_91)
Hello Hello
Ooo there's been some activity since I last came on here! Think I will re-introduce myself... I'm Tali, 19, second year uni student studying biology at Warwick and applying for vet med in october for 2012 entry!
I live in North Wales, right next to the England border, and am having real trouble finding somewhere to do lambing... if anyone knows anywhere near-ish please give me a heads up! You'd think that being in Wales there would be loads of sheep around... :P

Oh and feel free to ask me anything about Uni life

Hello! Live in Scotland so can't help with the lambing but hope you find somewhere!

[Marley13]

(Original post by totallyme)
That's really very unfair on you in regards to the illness and sounds more like them not being on top of things than anything. It must be frustrating, especially not knowing what was wrong. I sort of know how you feel, I have ME (chronic fatigue syndrome) and although I rarely have crashes now (an onset of it - basically a week in bed) when I do there is nothing anyone can do and no special circumstances given. If they have taken 3 weeks to get back to you though that's when you start phoning and emailing, just try get an answer and keep trying, someone will be able to tell you. In their defence though, it's very busy at there at the moment due to exams in April and May, it will have just slipped their mind probably, but that doesnt mean someone cant give you an answer.

It was the same for me, they ended teaching adv highers at the college near me a few years ago. My school didnt get back to me within the week and another school (granted it was further away) did so I decided to go there instead. Are there any other schools in your area?

Just thinking about it, Bristol only ask for 2 advanced highers, have you contacted them? They do say 5 A's but you never know? It's better just to go for it and see what happens than not I think. I have 3As and 2 Bs (Higher), a B and a C (adv highers) and none of them are Bio or Chem, had only a couple weeks experience in October, yet Cambridge gave me an interview! It's definitely worth just going for it and seeing especially as you said you don't want to put all your eggs in one basket. Although it's far away it's just another chance if it's what you really want to do.

As it turns out, ME is exactly what I have! As well as an immune deficiency which is apparently what triggered it after I received a vaccination. Well I am thinking about it and maybe applying to Liverpool, since it's definitely more cost effective than RVC. But then I read on their website that they're planning on raising their tuition fees so maybe not in the end. But I need to see if the school will take me back first. And Bristol don't anymore, that's why I got rejected this year, they upped it to 3A's at the beginning of the year.

[totallyme]

(Original post by Marley13)
As it turns out, ME is exactly what I have! As well as an immune deficiency which is apparently what triggered it after I received a vaccination. Well I am thinking about it and maybe applying to Liverpool, since it's definitely more cost effective than RVC. But then I read on their website that they're planning on raising their tuition fees so maybe not in the end. But I need to see if the school will take me back first. And Bristol don't anymore, that's why I got rejected this year, they upped it to 3A's at the beginning of the year.

What a small veterinary world! You're officially the second person I know with it (excluding me)! SUCKS doesn't it? I've had it since I was 10, so I barely remember not being sick or exhausted (at least it's not every week like when it started!). By 'immune deficiency' do you mean you get sick a lot? Along with exhaustion from emotions (not physical things any more, gave up every sport except a bit of horse riding after pretty much collapsing after cross country practice!) it's getting sick that's the main thing for me (glandular fever, acute tonsillitis (twice), kidney infection, viral pneumonia, you name it I've had it!). Nice to know someone else knows what it feels like!

That sucks about Bristol but you never know, if your school get back to you and you decide to do that you could be applying with 2 A's and one grade to come which is a lot more than most students apply with.

[jordanelouise]

(Original post by totallyme)
I applied a couple of weeks ago and was very specific about the dates that I wanted to go because I wanted to have the experience completed and be home for at least 2 weeks before the application date (so I could fit in some more experience) and still managed to get a date in September. I was lucky though cause I got the very last space, but I'm sure they have spaces for later dates and definitely for next year!

I've applied for a brochure and told my mum and dad about it and they seem totally up for me going so i'm going to check it out and decide ah that's great to know cause i was thinking that it would be quite a popular thing and wouldn't get a place but you've reassured me theres no rush!! :L you must tell me how it all goes it looks like a once in a lifetime opportunity!

[totallyme]

(Original post by jordanelouise)
I've applied for a brochure and told my mum and dad about it and they seem totally up for me going so i'm going to check it out and decide ah that's great to know cause i was thinking that it would be quite a popular thing and wouldn't get a place but you've reassured me theres no rush!! :L you must tell me how it all goes it looks like a once in a lifetime opportunity!

That's great! I shall keep you updated The only reason I wouldnt rush at it if I was to do it all over is because of the money. It's A LOT and I'm trying to fund raise half of it so will be working my butt off during summer at a summer job, fundraising AND more work experience! Just as a tip if you're going to apply, do it in enough time to fundraise but not too long so it feels like you will never get there! hehe

[Alice.]

Really need to start sorting work experience placements out.
I should be ragworting again with BHS Oxfordshire at some point, but apart from that I'm just on holiday an awful lot....oops!
Need to ring to just sort out my dates for lambing in April/May, but Summer hopefully 2 more weeks in 2 vets, and then going to look at a kennels and a cattery.
But then lucky me, being a year 13 currently can look at doing placements in September and October

[Eat.Sleep.Row.Repeat.]

(Original post by Alice.)
Really need to start sorting work experience placements out.
I should be ragworting again with BHS Oxfordshire at some point, but apart from that I'm just on holiday an awful lot....oops!
Need to ring to just sort out my dates for lambing in April/May, but Summer hopefully 2 more weeks in 2 vets, and then going to look at a kennels and a cattery.
But then lucky me, being a year 13 currently can look at doing placements in September and October

If you aren't going anywhere / doing something for your gap year then you should start looking at placements for next year to! I've already got some work experienc for Easter 2012 hah. No such thing as being too early for booking work experience

[Marley13]

(Original post by totallyme)
What a small veterinary world! You're officially the second person I know with it (excluding me)! SUCKS doesn't it? I've had it since I was 10, so I barely remember not being sick or exhausted (at least it's not every week like when it started!). By 'immune deficiency' do you mean you get sick a lot? Along with exhaustion from emotions (not physical things any more, gave up every sport except a bit of horse riding after pretty much collapsing after cross country practice!) it's getting sick that's the main thing for me (glandular fever, acute tonsillitis (twice), kidney infection, viral pneumonia, you name it I've had it!). Nice to know someone else knows what it feels like!

That sucks about Bristol but you never know, if your school get back to you and you decide to do that you could be applying with 2 A's and one grade to come which is a lot more than most students apply with.

I know, same here, you're the first I've met. I actually am over the moon about it because although they finally diagnosed it, my doctors are still really skeptical about whether or not it's real. Although I found an article a while back (can't remember which site, it was a news paper though) and scientists apparently have proven that it is infact a real disease, not just in our heads, and are looking into a cure/treatment! Yeah I get sick a lot, it's not major but it's enough that I pick up anything and everything, and it's always ten times worse than when anyone else has the same bug. It's not just a deficiency though, when the circumstances are correct (protein getting into my blood), an autoimmune response is triggered and it basically destroys what's left of my immune system. I got the HPV vaccine a few years ago and because it's main constituent is a viral protein, my body went berserk and I somehow ended up with ME. I was in hospital the other week though and my immunoglobulin levels are slowly increasing. I'm very pleased. And OMG, is that why I'm so emotional all the time?! I thought it had something to do with this, I'm NEVER, emotional and I hate letting people see me cry but I'm not joking, I burst into tears at the slightest thing all the time. (Including at my Glasgow interview when they asked me about being sick. ) Well I had my tonsils removed 2 weeks ago so hopefully I shouldn't be bothered by them anymore. Although the little buggers left me a goodbye gift, my wounds got infected after they were chopped out!
After seeing the BBC news (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-12767850) I've pretty much given up on an English school so I'm phoning Ed today and finding out what's what. I thought maybe resit my higher chem? Because then I'll have the A but not at the time of interview so I could just end up being rejected again. Hmm. I'll see what they say.
God I'm sorry, I talk far too much! How are you getting on with everything?

[ChocolateMonster]

(Original post by Clara Higgins)
Hey
I was unsucessful for 2010 entry but am hoping to improve my grades in Jan 2011 and reapply for a place in for 2012. Really don't know if this will work yet so if anyone knows whether unis accept it would be a help. But yeah am planning an amazing gap year and hopefully it will all work out!!!!!!

Heyyyy Im in exactly the same situation!! Hows it going? Any better?
Hope so
xxx

[totallyme]

(Original post by Marley13)
...

It would be great to have a cure or some sort of treatment! All I was told was graded exercise and figure out how to cope on your own....it's taken about 10years :P

Oh goodness that does not sound good! (about the HPV vaccine) How did they find out about the immune deficiency, if you don't mind me asking? But good stuff about the immunoglobin levels!

The way my ME is affected by emotions is, for example, if I was to go to school and do a full days work it probably wouldn't have an affect on me but if at school there were people to talk to and I did that same full day a few times I would be exhausted after a few days. I have no idea why but it just seems the way of it with me I'm definitely a very sensitive and emotional person but it's hard to say if thats the ME or not seeing as I've had it so long. Bad times about the tears in the interview but it's a hard thing to talk about sometimes!

I hope it's good news from Edinburgh today - fingers crossed for you!!

Things aren't going so good in some ways but awesome in others Pesky investigations have turned into a NIGHTMARE! lol Only cause they aren't working but then hey ho, can do the write up without good results I suppose. Vet related wise things are going amazing lambing nearly upon us and I have lined up lots of experience - it's gonna be a goooooooood summer! What work experience do you have, got summer planned? I may have asked before but I cant remember, sorry! I blame investigations, PPAs and LO3s for my memory loss right now :P

[Alice.]

(Original post by Dave_Beeston)
If you aren't going anywhere / doing something for your gap year then you should start looking at placements for next year to! I've already got some work experienc for Easter 2012 hah. No such thing as being too early for booking work experience

I thought though I read somewhere that some only it up to a certain time? Like the unis only count WE up to Decemeber 2011 for 2012 entry? Maybe in the 2011 thread, I may be wrong and making that up though!

[Marley13]

(Original post by totallyme)
...

I was basically told, figure it out yourself. And I did I suppose, just took things easy, don't overdo anything. Traded my social life for half decent grades because it affected my school work quite badly. But it was worth it.
They were doing biopsies of my innards to test for cancers as they didn't have a clue what was going on. In one of the tests it showed that my immunoglobulin levels were all wrong so they did some more blood tests and stuff and figured it out. Then we went alllllll the way back to the beginning and pieced it all together.
And it's probably a part of your personality now because you have had it for so long but I think it could have been influenced by the ME, I was never an emotional person before, certainly not publicly. But I'm an emotional wreck now and after doing some reading it seems that it can affect emotions in some cases.
I found this website, the link is for the symptoms page but there's quite a bit of info on it. Although with you having had it for so long you probably know it all anyway, I'm still learning. http://www.meassociation.org.uk/?page_id=1685#features
And as for Edinburgh, I got a different woman who reacted in the same way as the first one and said exactly the same 'let me have a look at your application and I'll email as soon as I know'. Grr.
Investigations are a total pain, last year my biology ones was to do with growing plants and because there was construction going on in the next room, all the dust killed my plants the week before I was to gather my results. And for my chemistry one, I got all the way through it, the write up and everything before I realised that one set of results didn't quite look right. I had done the experiment COMPLETELY wrong. But if you just do what you can and then talk to a teacher/lecturer they should help you tweek your results into something passable.
I have 3 years consultations and surgeries at a local mixed practice although because I go mostly evenings it's pretty much smallies that I've seen. I spent a few years helping out at a wildlife reserve, 2 weeks lambing&calving, 1 week dog groomers, 1 week chemistry labs, 1 day exotic butterfly centre. Next week I'm spending 2/3 weeks on a llama/alpaca/horse farm and putting my dog grooming skills to use on some matted St Bernards. Hopefully after that catch a bus to the next town and spend a few weeks lambing some more and I have a few weeks booked in July on a small holding in Devon. They have a few cows, pigs and chickens and I get to learn how to hand milk the cow, make cheese and bread, take the pigs to slaughter and then make my own bacon and sausages. That one will be useful since my local abattoir closed before I could go. Then inbetween hopefully some time at a dairy farm and another smallies practice going on visits and stuff. Not sure what else there is for me to do around here but I'm looking. What have you got planned for this summer?