The (un)Official Thread for Access to HE 2011!

So, we're coming to the last 7-8 weeks of the access course now, how is everyone doing in relation to meeting your entry requirements? What and where is everyone going to study?

*Power to the oldies!*

21 credits at D so far, waiting to hear back on 3 credit assignment. Only 12 credits left to get from 2 pieces of work one due after the holidays and the other next month. Then the bit I've been dreading- exam week. Really nervous about exams, feels like a lifetime since I was last in an exam hall and 24 of our 60 credits come from exams. Weird to think 2 months from now we'll be all done.

I've not 'firmed' my offers yet but am going to be studying Law either at University of Leeds (wanting 45 Distinctions) or York (30 at Distinction, 15 at merit).

Well done everyone, we're nearly there!

So far I've got 9 credits at merit, 9 at pass (which I only just found out, for psychology) and 9 at distinction. Still doing the last 2 modules (sociology and access project), need to get distinction in both of them to still stand a chance of getting in for History at Newcastle (they wanted 3 distinctions and 2 merits). Does anybody know what would happen if I missed the requirements by one grade? I could still manage 3 distinctions, 1 merit and 1 pass. Do you think I should contact them now to let them know where I stand?

Got York st John as insurance but they were only after a pass overall.

Yeah I know what you mean scotton86, it's taken up to 2 months to get some work back; nightmare!

I've not minded so much having the grades grouped together, there have been some areas where I'm not so good (presentations) but I always manage to up the grades with written work; essays and documentary exercises.

My tutor said that if you miss your entry requirements by a grade or two, the universitys call up your college/tutor and ask if you would be able to cope with the course at uni etc etc. which is good! sorry if you have already had an answer to this haha

So far I've got 9 credits at merit, 9 at pass (which I only just found out, for psychology) and 9 at distinction. Still doing the last 2 modules (sociology and access project), need to get distinction in both of them to still stand a chance of getting in for History at Newcastle (they wanted 3 distinctions and 2 merits). Does anybody know what would happen if I missed the requirements by one grade? I could still manage 3 distinctions, 1 merit and 1 pass. Do you think I should contact them now to let them know where I stand?
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Make sure you do come down on one side in the end though! I love this sort of essay, really obvious structure. A good introduction essentially discussing the question. Your arguments for, backed up with quotes from reputable academic sources and referenced. The same for your arguments against followed by a conclusion which should be a summing up of your main points evaluating arguments to conclude on one side.

Hope that makes sense!

Bingo.. thats what i wanted to say, but whittled on about nothing! use academic sources to argue wth academic sources to balance it out. I love writing essays too, how worrying! lol. Just cant wait for September!

i also agree with what Mczakk has advise you to do ilovelabradors.There is defiantely a lot of research out there so u need to decide before you take it which particular point of view you coming from.

The arguments should flow from the main arguments. Like, religion says no, but people have the right to believe, and choose, and be independent.

You would never be able to regulate it v it happens anyway, so best that rules are put in place to protect those.

may make people feel guilty and vulnerable - feel like they are pressured into making that choice so as not to put pressure on their families.

I found an argument online which amazed me... but there is support out there for it - that euthanasia frees up resources for those who actually need/want it. that money could be better spent elsewhere than keeping people alive - controversial maybe.

I have referenced all the way through all my essays, as thats what they require at Uni, so am preparing myself for it now, and have always had 'good referencing' in my feedback, so I guess you need to check what they are expecting..

i would just cite the main arguments for and against, and then put forward your arguments for and against the arguments which you have quoted.

Is everyone busy studying? I'm hoping to cover the whole of our organic chemistry unit tonight so I can complete the assignment and revise for the exam all in one go. It might sound impressive but really its an avoidance tactic. I'm just not ready to write essays.

How is everyone doing? We are over half way through our break now, but are we half way through our work load? My workload is divided into 2 sections, the physical stuff which I have to get onto paper to hand in and the learning stuff that I want to do to prepare for exams. I'm probably over half-way the physical stuff.

Does it take everyone else days to write an essay? I'm having to reference every other sentence so I am spending more time looking for things to cite than I am actually typing. I'm not really sure of the point really, it seems more about rearranging other peoples words than writing about what I know. I really hope there won't be too many of these at universities, it just feels like such a waste of time. And this in only the draft copy which means I'll hand it in thinking it is as perfect as I can get it and be returned a week later with scribbles, crosses and comments all over it for me to re do.

Okay, I'll stop ranting and creep back into the pubmed website.

How is everyone doing? We are over half way through our break now, but are we half way through our work load? My workload is divided into 2 sections, the physical stuff which I have to get onto paper to hand in and the learning stuff that I want to do to prepare for exams. I'm probably over half-way the physical stuff.

Does it take everyone else days to write an essay? I'm having to reference every other sentence so I am spending more time looking for things to cite than I am actually typing. I'm not really sure of the point really, it seems more about rearranging other peoples words than writing about what I know. I really hope there won't be too many of these at universities, it just feels like such a waste of time. And this in only the draft copy which means I'll hand it in thinking it is as perfect as I can get it and be returned a week later with scribbles, crosses and comments all over it for me to re do.

Okay, I'll stop ranting and creep back into the pubmed website.

I feel the same, it seems that learning to reference is more important than learning the subject! All the assignments we get seem to require you to try and re write textbooks in your own words, or just cut and paste! It also doesn't demonstrate understanding very well if your essay is just a list of facts and opinions written by someone else!

How is everyone doing? We are over half way through our break now, but are we half way through our work load? My workload is divided into 2 sections, the physical stuff which I have to get onto paper to hand in and the learning stuff that I want to do to prepare for exams. I'm probably over half-way the physical stuff.

Does it take everyone else days to write an essay? I'm having to reference every other sentence so I am spending more time looking for things to cite than I am actually typing. I'm not really sure of the point really, it seems more about rearranging other peoples words than writing about what I know. I really hope there won't be too many of these at universities, it just feels like such a waste of time. And this in only the draft copy which means I'll hand it in thinking it is as perfect as I can get it and be returned a week later with scribbles, crosses and comments all over it for me to re do.

Okay, I'll stop ranting and creep back into the pubmed website.

Does it take everyone else days to write an essay? I'm having to reference every other sentence so I am spending more time looking for things to cite than I am actually typing. I'm not really sure of the point really, it seems more about rearranging other peoples words than writing about what I know. I really hope there won't be too many of these at universities, it just feels like such a waste of time.