[elliemae]

Ok, so basically I left school at the beginning of May this year and have applied at two colleges to study A-Level- one being my local college and the other being my schools sixth form. I have been offered a place at both however i am unsure as to which one to go to. They are both really good in terms of education but it's other things that I am unsure of. For example, if I go to college I only have to come in for whichever lesson I have that day where as at sixth form, I need to be in all day for 5 days a week which I can't bear the though of. I am also scared of the thought of going into college and not making any new friends as my friends are all planning on going else where. Also i really want to study sociology but my sixth form doesnt do that course, any ideas?

[littleone271]

Personally I'm not a fan of A-levels but I am a fan of college and sixth form is pretty crap in my opinion. The thing is, you're probably more likely to get decent grades at sixth form because it will still be like a jail and schools seem to be stricter on teachers and better organized than colleges. College is much better preparation for uni though I think (I'm not at uni yet but a lot of people say college is better for that) because you call your lecturers by their first names, you're treated more like an adult and it's seen as being your own problem if you can't be bothered to do the work rather than something to shout at you about, you go in when you need to go in and your attendance is your problem. In sixth form you're meant to be in all day but to be honest at my school nobody really cared if you didn't so it was fine providing you don't get ema.

I guess it depends on what sort of environment you respond to best. Don't worry about the friends thing though, I stayed on for a year of sixth form because it was what most of my friends were doing and seemed like the natural next step but it was a big mistake really. Total waste of a year.

[OU Student]

I much preferred college. At least at college, I didn't have the year 7s interrupting lessons. (Teacher for AS Biology was head of science)

[kaypc]

i say sixth form. does't college learn one subject the whole day?? that would make my head explode. you'll still be prepared for uni even if you go to sixth form. if its anything like mine, they will focus a lot on independent learning like in college. i don't see any major pro's of college except sociology but it depends on how badly you want to study that.

[Theafricanlegend]

(Original post by elliemae)
Ok, so basically I left school at the beginning of May this year and have applied at two colleges to study A-Level- one being my local college and the other being my schools sixth form. I have been offered a place at both however i am unsure as to which one to go to. They are both really good in terms of education but it's other things that I am unsure of. For example, if I go to college I only have to come in for whichever lesson I have that day where as at sixth form, I need to be in all day for 5 days a week which I can't bear the though of. I am also scared of the thought of going into college and not making any new friends as my friends are all planning on going else where. Also i really want to study sociology but my sixth form doesnt do that course, any ideas?

go to a colllege or sixth form where you'lll do best at, i.e better teachers, less distractions etc? or if you are a party girl/boy go to where your friends will be. just to add, if you made friends in your old school you will make new ones so dont worry much about that, (kind of personal experience and observation)

[_Shmiley]

(Original post by kaypc)
i say sixth form. does't college learn one subject the whole day?? that would make my head explode. you'll still be prepared for uni even if you go to sixth form. if its anything like mine, they will focus a lot on independent learning like in college. i don't see any major pro's of college except sociology but it depends on how badly you want to study that.

You don't learn one subject the whole day at college, you have a timetable and do different subjects :L where the hell did you hear that from?


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[tallen90]

I'll tell you a story from my point of view; of course, anything you do it your own choice, but I think it's worthwhile telling you my experience.

I applied to Heckmondwike Grammar Sixth Form and Greenhead College to do my A-Levels. I received offers from both (and met the offers), but after three days at Heckmondwike Grammar I decided it wasn't for me and went back to my high school's sixth form.

This might seem a bit ludicrous, but my reasoning was this: I wasn't settling in at Heckmondwike Grammar, the teachers didn't know me and I hardly knew any of the students. This caused a lot of stress on me, which is why I opted to go back to my high school's sixth form; A-Levels are stressful enough without making it more difficult for yourself!

Luckily, this proved to be a good choice, as there were many advantages of going to my high school's sixth form - the teachers already knew me and so knew how to best support me, as did my friends (most of whom had stayed), and the class sizes were smaller. Ultimately, I know that due to the effort I put in, I couldn't have performed any better at the best college/sixth form in the country - at the end of the day, A-Levels are what you make of them!

So, that's my advice, but the choice is up to you!

[kaypc]

(Original post by _Shmiley)
You don't learn one subject the whole day at college, you have a timetable and do different subjects :L where the hell did you hear that from?


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my friends who go to college. they go for 4 days a week spending each day on 1 subject

[_Shmiley]

(Original post by kaypc)
my friends who go to college. they go for 4 days a week spending each day on 1 subject

Woah, they go to a weird college :L every college in my area has a timetable with an hour or so with each subject they have and like frees and Erm... Stuff and yeah :L


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[Airfairy]

I went to a college and I'm glad. My school didn't have a sixth form, but I'd find it a blag to have to stay there all of the time and still wear uniform and have strict rules. It was nice to get out of that and I loved college so much, with the timetable freedom and relaxed rules. It felt like getting independence for the first time. Uni wasn't a massive shock to me in that sense, I was used to it, whilst some people I met couldn't get over this freedom they had with their timetable as it was their first time.

[nacho1996]

Personally I think college. I'm starting college in September because I'm in need of a fresh start, new friends and a different out look. My school teacher is appalling but all my friends are staying there for 6th form. It's going to be hard leaving my friends but I need to think about my education and what's best for me. So I'd advise you to do what your going to be happiest with and get the best results doing. The results are what's really important.


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[sinfonietta]

(Original post by elliemae)
I am also scared of the thought of going into college and not making any new friends as my friends are all planning on going else where.

This was one of my worries too. So I deliberately did something a little different:

I moved out of my parents house for my first year of college to live on-campus. I knew where all of my friends were going to college, so I deliberately chose a different one and didn't tell anyone except my mum and dad about it until after I had accepted my offer. This meant that I was living in a new area and going to a college where I knew nobody. The result?

☼ My friends went in pairs to colleges. Even though they weren't even in the same classes as their friends they didn't try to make new friends on their courses - they just waited until break/lunch time to hang out with people they knew from school.

☼ I went alone and made friends in all of my classes as well as in halls (no one I lived with were in the same classes as me). I forced myself into a position where I had to meet new people if I didn't want to be stuck on my own all year - and it worked. I'm a lot more confident/out-going for it too and I still keep in touch with people from my first year (I'm now going into my third year, at a college closer to my parents' home, after the summer to do a HNC).

[nmr1991]

Just do subjects that you enjoy (A-levels), if your school doesn't do the A levels you want to do, then you can consider moving to another sixth form or go to college which I did. Truthfully, my school only had about 6 A level subjects altogether, they did A level Maths but not Science or English, and all the 'not so good' A levels such as sociology, ICT and Media Studies. There were 3 that I was offered that would have suited my previous GCSE grades but there was the problem of clashing in the timetable and I wasn't allowed to do those subjects together.

I couldn't bear the thought of going to another sixth form though I suggested it, since alot of other schools would have up to 10 or 15 A levels to choose from, where the limit of subjects you are allowed to choose is 3 A levels (depending on the education institution).

I don't know what colleges with A levels are like so I can't really comment on that.

[Converse Rocker]

(Original post by kaypc)
i say sixth form. does't college learn one subject the whole day?? that would make my head explode.

Not sure what type of college your friend goes to, but this is the only time I've ever heard of this. At my college, we don't even have the same subject twice a day, let alone all day.


OP, I'd just go with whichever you prefer on the whole, regardless of whether it's a 6th form or college. I chose to go to a college rather than my school's 6th form just to meet new people and get away from the lower year kids. People leave one for another every year though, so chose which you think suits you best

[scrampie]

College for sure.
The first week or so is scary as hell so and you won't make proper friends towards the end of the first couple of weeks but you WILL definitely make new friends, from tutor groups, subject classes and clubs so please don't worry about that. So many of the friends I have now knew no one before college and now it's like we've been friends since we were 2
College is pretty awesome, I get up at like 10.45 two days per week and finish at 1.15 on two other days
Also subject choice is obviously incredibly important so if your sixth form doesn't do Sociology then definitely go to college! It's so so so important at this stage to do subjects you enjoy.
Hope this helps! (:

[SweetChilliSauce]

I'd say Sixth Form. A couple of my friends went to college then came straight back after 2 weeks. No college will spoon-feed you but some sixth forms won't (mine doesn't). But really, you're going there to study. Unless the sixth-form/college has a terrible building or useless teachers, go to the one that offers your wanted subjects and will allow you to succeed. There's no point going to college just because it seems cooler if the teaching and pass rate is rock bottom.

[College_Dropout]

I go to a Sixth Form College

[elliemae]

The college is having a 'taster day' at the beginning of July so i'm going to go, see if I like it and take it from there

[Tigersprite]

I have the same problem as you. >.< I hate making college decisions last minute.

[nmr1991]

I had to make the decision to go college at 6th September, fortunately the course didn't start until beginning of October. You shouldn't worry unless you want to get a feel for what it might be like.