Should I accept the Sevennoaks offer

I have recently gotten an acceptance email from Sevenoaks school, to join their sixth form in the coming year. This, of course, is an amazing offer and I'm really grateful for it. I've been to the school before and I absolutely loved it and the facilities and the accompanying town. However, they offer the IB, which I am not 100% sure is right for me, as it will force me to do Math and Physics.
The other school I'm looking at is Cardiff Sixth Form, which I'm writing the entrance exam on Wednesday. I've never been to the school, know next-to-nothing about except for the fact that it is one of the best independent A-Level school in the UK, which is a huge plus. Also, it allows me to specialise in the subjects I really enjoy - History, Literature and Economics - which are what I need to study Law.
Note, I haven't gotten an offer from Cardiff, and Sevenoaks wants a reply by the 10th of December.
The dilemma here is not whether I should Cardiff or Sevenoaks, but whether I should do the IB or A-Levels. The program I choose will determine the school I choose.
Any thoughts?

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Original post by the_logician

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For some reason I moved this into the relevant section and your whole post disappeared for some reason.

Reply 3

username4377214

lol thanks

Original post by Rock Fan

For some reason I moved this into the relevant section and your whole post disappeared for some reason.

Reply 4

username4377214

lol thanks

Original post by Rock Fan

For some reason I moved this into the relevant section and your whole post disappeared for some reason.

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Hi! That's amazing; and we both have the same dilemma - choosing between the IB and A-Levels (or Sevenoaks and Cardiff!). Wondering if you've gotten back to either Sevenoaks or Cardiff? For me, I got accepted into Cardiff but I decided to do the IB.

The IB is, in essence, harder, because for students like me, who don't match with English literature, balancing between 6 subjects alongside TOK would be arduous. I chose Sevenoaks because they are decent and offer both academic and pastoral help alongside staying at the top on the league IB results tables. To me, Cardiff is one of the best A-level schools out there and giving up that offer was hard.

My thoughts on the IB and these 2 amazing schools in general: the whole IB programme itself is rigorous, more over-whelming than the typical 3 subjects A-levels. However, Cardiff allows students to take 5 subjects, if capable, which is worth considering. Looking at your query, you seem to have an idea which path you want to take - Law, which the A-level programme is tailored for since you can choose the subjects you want to do. Likewise, the IB might also be helpful with skills required to be a lawyer through TOK, EE and the debating elements of the IB diploma.

Either way, Sevenoaks and Cardiff chose you because they know you can excel well in such learning conditions. You've probably made your reply to either schools or possibly others - do state which school you have chosen as I am excited to hear back from a possible future Sevenoaks or a Cardiff student.

Note: My output is solely opinion-based, may be biased and inaccurate (hopefully not!). Apologies for the late response. Congrats on your offer too! Hope to hear from you soon.

(edited 5 years ago)

Reply 7

username4377214

Hi Binnie!

Wow, that was a long response! I'm happy to inform you that after a lot of thought and consultation and prayer, I decided to accept the Sevenoaks offer and looking back I'm really glad that I decided to do so.

I won't try and draft such a long response as yours, you've pretty much covered everything there is to cover! What I want to mention is that after doing some further research, I realised why Cardiff isn't good for me.

Yes, it is the best A-Level school in the UK. With a 90%+ A*-A, they have any school's dream scores. But, that also has its disadvantages.

There's an article that really changed my entire outlook on Cardiff. Here it is:
https://thetab.com/2016/03/18/britains-brainiest-school-business-not-learning-72257

It was written by an ex-Cardiff student, and it really sheds some light on things.

If you want to talk more about schools or whatnot, just PM me for my Instagram username and we can chat there. I would love to talk with a fellow future Sevenoaks student!

Reply 8

username4403900

Hi Logician!

Apologies for the long response, but thank you for your response. I think the situation for Cardiff now has differed since management has changed along with the director leaving the college which has resulted in a number of changes.

Unfortunately, I don't have an Instagram account but I'll see you next year in Sevenoaks

PS. I just opened this student room account to write the response so I'm not familiar with it. Curious to know whether there's a private chat going on here.

PPS Which subjects are you doing?

Thanks.

(edited 5 years ago)

Reply 9

username4377214

Hey.

I heard something about the new management thing, but I don't know too much about. Maybe the situation has changed and that is for the better, as future students will benefit from it.

And don't worry about the Instagram thing. It's cool. :smile:

There is a PM thing, but from what I've seen, it's pretty inefficient. I'll send you a message so that you can see what it's like.

I am doing English, Physics and History at Higher Level and Math, French B and Music at Standard. You?

Reply 10

username4403900

Thanks.

I'm doing Chemistry, Physics and Maths at HL and Economics, Chinese B (might change to French B - which I'm pretty unconfident about) and English at SL.

(edited 5 years ago)

Reply 11

username4377214

I know someone who is doing the exact combination of subjects as you!
What is warranting the change?

Reply 12

username4403900

Nothing much, I haven't been actively studying French for a couple of years, but it's just something I want to go back and learn more about.

You're the first person I (virtually) know who will be taking a Group 6 subject!

(edited 5 years ago)

Reply 13

username4377214

My goal is to be fluent by the time I'm 18. Learning another language (or maybe four lol) has always been my dream.
And I get what you mean. Other people I know of are taking another science or humanity or something. What do people have against Group 6 subjects?

Reply 14

username4403900

Four languages - that's incredible! Which languages are they?

I would probably take Music if pestered to do a Group 6 subject. Honestly, Group 6 subjects make you more well-rounded so I can't comprehend not taking a Group 6 subject myself.

Reply 15

username4377214

Well, apart from English (duh), French, Esperanto (this super easy language that was made by this guy that I can't remember his name right now), Spanish and Italian. When I get through with these (and I will cause I'm pretty good with languages as a whole, I'm just lazy lol) maybe I'll learn some more for good measure.

Languages fascinate me, point blank period.

Anyways, I'm doing Music partly cause I really enjoy the subject, and partly because (like you said) it just gives you more well-rounded look, although the Diploma already does that quite well. I just feel like I should do something that I know I'll enjoy.

Reply 16

username4403900

That's amazing - learning so many languages, especially with the conjugations in French and Spanish (and Italian, I believe)! I can never memorise the words along with the conjugations even after years of learning them.

(edited 5 years ago)

Reply 17

Vasile

My daughter is a boarder at Sevenoaks School. I am very proud that we have been accepted from a state school from Bucharest.
She is studying High level: Math, Physics and Geography. Standard level: English literature, Chinese Mandarin B, German B. She also can speak French.
You know there are a lot of extracurricular. Wish you to fulfill your objectives. We are targeting top 10 computer science US universities because of Brexit.