choosing a college

there are two colleges im trying to choose between. in short, college 1 is your average good college and college 2 is a super good specialist maths school. i want to do a maths based career. i really want to do french and college 2 doesnt offer french. in long:

college 1 pros:
-quite a good school. until the new school came about they were the best in the county.
-offers french. french is my favourite subject and i really want to be able to speak french.
-i have some friends going there.
college 1 cons:
-1 hour on the train. lots of people from my area make the trip and i guess i could chat with friends and do homework but its still annoying.

college 2 pros:
-its a super good school. the company runs a bunch of maths schools around the country, and they place 1 and 2 for all colleges in the uk so they are very good schools. (kings college maths school and exeter maths school)
-it will be small classes and good teachers.
-all the maths schools are connected to universities (imperial, kings college london, lancaster, leeds, etc.) and maybe this would give me a better chance getting into these unis?
-its very convenient and easy to get there and back.
-i want to do a degree in maths and a maths based job so a really good maths school seems a logical option
college 2 cons:
-they dont offer french, only maths based subjects. i really want to know french so i think i would take delf classes or have a gap year or something after college to get a french qualification, but its a lot of hassle. also, if i get french a level i can do a maths degree with french at uni. my dad is in an engineering job and he deals with lots of french people so maybe i would also get work oppurtunities to go to france if i got a french a level.
-its a brand new school (my year group would be the first ever). im not concerned it will be a bad school since the company owns lots of amazing schools and its connected to a good uni, but im wondering if me saying i went there will even mean anything since it wont be on any rankings yet.
-its going to be just 80 students and theyll all be massive maths nerds which is fine but it will probably be really boring, and probably 90% boys. maybe thats not a con?

does anyone have any advice. what do you think of the problem about the rankings (its a brand new school.... no rankings yet)

also sorry for lack of grammar, i did this really quick on my google notes.

Reply 1

reen james

3

Original post by ErinHG

there are two colleges im trying to choose between. in short, college 1 is your average good college and college 2 is a super good specialist maths school. i want to do a maths based career. i really want to do french and college 2 doesnt offer french. in long:
college 1 pros:
-quite a good school. until the new school came about they were the best in the county.
-offers french. french is my favourite subject and i really want to be able to speak french.
-i have some friends going there.
college 1 cons:
-1 hour on the train. lots of people from my area make the trip and i guess i could chat with friends and do homework but its still annoying.
college 2 pros:
-its a super good school. the company runs a bunch of maths schools around the country, and they place 1 and 2 for all colleges in the uk so they are very good schools. (kings college maths school and exeter maths school)
-it will be small classes and good teachers.
-all the maths schools are connected to universities (imperial, kings college london, lancaster, leeds, etc.) and maybe this would give me a better chance getting into these unis?
-its very convenient and easy to get there and back.
-i want to do a degree in maths and a maths based job so a really good maths school seems a logical option
college 2 cons:
-they dont offer french, only maths based subjects. i really want to know french so i think i would take delf classes or have a gap year or something after college to get a french qualification, but its a lot of hassle. also, if i get french a level i can do a maths degree with french at uni. my dad is in an engineering job and he deals with lots of french people so maybe i would also get work oppurtunities to go to france if i got a french a level.
-its a brand new school (my year group would be the first ever). im not concerned it will be a bad school since the company owns lots of amazing schools and its connected to a good uni, but im wondering if me saying i went there will even mean anything since it wont be on any rankings yet.
-its going to be just 80 students and theyll all be massive maths nerds which is fine but it will probably be really boring, and probably 90% boys. maybe thats not a con?
does anyone have any advice. what do you think of the problem about the rankings (its a brand new school.... no rankings yet)
also sorry for lack of grammar, i did this really quick on my google notes.

i think you should do college 2 because they have many advantages towards your future even if they do not have rankings yet, they are still linked to good high ranking unis with a good reputation. if you really want to do french then i guess you can have a french tutor or go tuition for french and then get the qualification the same year you do college.
this is just what i would do if i was in your position but do what makes you happy and what you see fit

Reply 2

millie_themoo07

6

Original post by ErinHG

there are two colleges im trying to choose between. in short, college 1 is your average good college and college 2 is a super good specialist maths school. i want to do a maths based career. i really want to do french and college 2 doesnt offer french. in long:
college 1 pros:
-quite a good school. until the new school came about they were the best in the county.
-offers french. french is my favourite subject and i really want to be able to speak french.
-i have some friends going there.
college 1 cons:
-1 hour on the train. lots of people from my area make the trip and i guess i could chat with friends and do homework but its still annoying.
college 2 pros:
-its a super good school. the company runs a bunch of maths schools around the country, and they place 1 and 2 for all colleges in the uk so they are very good schools. (kings college maths school and exeter maths school)
-it will be small classes and good teachers.
-all the maths schools are connected to universities (imperial, kings college london, lancaster, leeds, etc.) and maybe this would give me a better chance getting into these unis?
-its very convenient and easy to get there and back.
-i want to do a degree in maths and a maths based job so a really good maths school seems a logical option
college 2 cons:
-they dont offer french, only maths based subjects. i really want to know french so i think i would take delf classes or have a gap year or something after college to get a french qualification, but its a lot of hassle. also, if i get french a level i can do a maths degree with french at uni. my dad is in an engineering job and he deals with lots of french people so maybe i would also get work oppurtunities to go to france if i got a french a level.
-its a brand new school (my year group would be the first ever). im not concerned it will be a bad school since the company owns lots of amazing schools and its connected to a good uni, but im wondering if me saying i went there will even mean anything since it wont be on any rankings yet.
-its going to be just 80 students and theyll all be massive maths nerds which is fine but it will probably be really boring, and probably 90% boys. maybe thats not a con?
does anyone have any advice. what do you think of the problem about the rankings (its a brand new school.... no rankings yet)
also sorry for lack of grammar, i did this really quick on my google notes.

Hello. As someone who also had a difficult time choosing between sixth forms I might be able to help.

My questions for you would be:

•

How badly do you want to do French?

•

Do you enjoy it more than maths?

•

Why do you want a maths career?

In your answer I don't think you made it clear if you want a maths career because you like maths or for other reasons e.g. pays well - if its not because you like maths then don't do it because doing a job you don't really like won't be fun.

Here are some reasons I have come up with in favour of college 2:

1.

You could learn French as an extra-curricular instead - if you want to do something maths related then I would recommend not doing french a-level and instead doing like duolingo or take lessons outside of school so you can still enjoy it. Also, if you take up maths at uni there could be MFL clubs at the uni so you can do french with like-minded people without doing it as a subject.

2.

You can study maths in France - whether it be going to a university in France or doing a year of study abroad/year in industry and going to France to do that, you can still enjoy and learn French while doing maths. Also, a year in industry in france could build connection for future careers, so you can work with french people without doing french a-level.

3.

A quicker commute will make your life so much easier - saying this as a village girl who gets home like 1hr 30mins after the school day ends because she's rural, if you get home sooner you would have more time to get things at home done and then you aren't at risk of any train cancellations getting you home even later

Now, here are some reasons in favour of college 1:

1.

You might have a change of heart career-wise during sixth form - I picked history a-level because I loved it at gcse and wanted to do it post-18 but now I hate it, as an example. The change from gcse to a-level is, as you may know, quite huge. You might find that you don't like maths as much as you thought you would and then you'd have to study something you don't like because you don't have non-math a-levels to fall back on like french.

2.

You might find studying solely maths to be monotonous and boring - if you want some variety in your subjects and feel college 2 wont offer that then go for college 1 (saying this because i'd find just 1 subject boring, you might not)

3.

You feel your grades will be good for good universities regardless of the college you pick - if you got AAA at college 1 and someone at college 2 got BBB I think the unis you mentioned would favour you over the college 2 person if you both have maths A-level (but check what subjects and grades those unis require because I could be wrong)

One last thing I'll mention is do the colleges have year 11 open days in june/july where you spend the day there to get a feel of student life? If so, do go to them as that could help you make up your mind.

I hope this helps! :smile:

Reply 3

ErinHG

OP

5

Original post by reen james

i think you should do college 2 because they have many advantages towards your future even if they do not have rankings yet, they are still linked to good high ranking unis with a good reputation. if you really want to do french then i guess you can have a french tutor or go tuition for french and then get the qualification the same year you do college.
this is just what i would do if i was in your position but do what makes you happy and what you see fit

thank youu

Reply 4

ErinHG

OP

5

Original post by millie_themoo07

Hello. As someone who also had a difficult time choosing between sixth forms I might be able to help.
My questions for you would be:

•

How badly do you want to do French?

•

Do you enjoy it more than maths?

•

Why do you want a maths career?

In your answer I don't think you made it clear if you want a maths career because you like maths or for other reasons e.g. pays well - if its not because you like maths then don't do it because doing a job you don't really like won't be fun.
Here are some reasons I have come up with in favour of college 2:

1.

You could learn French as an extra-curricular instead - if you want to do something maths related then I would recommend not doing french a-level and instead doing like duolingo or take lessons outside of school so you can still enjoy it. Also, if you take up maths at uni there could be MFL clubs at the uni so you can do french with like-minded people without doing it as a subject.

2.

You can study maths in France - whether it be going to a university in France or doing a year of study abroad/year in industry and going to France to do that, you can still enjoy and learn French while doing maths. Also, a year in industry in france could build connection for future careers, so you can work with french people without doing french a-level.

3.

A quicker commute will make your life so much easier - saying this as a village girl who gets home like 1hr 30mins after the school day ends because she's rural, if you get home sooner you would have more time to get things at home done and then you aren't at risk of any train cancellations getting you home even later

Now, here are some reasons in favour of college 1:

1.

You might have a change of heart career-wise during sixth form - I picked history a-level because I loved it at gcse and wanted to do it post-18 but now I hate it, as an example. The change from gcse to a-level is, as you may know, quite huge. You might find that you don't like maths as much as you thought you would and then you'd have to study something you don't like because you don't have non-math a-levels to fall back on like french.

2.

You might find studying solely maths to be monotonous and boring - if you want some variety in your subjects and feel college 2 wont offer that then go for college 1 (saying this because i'd find just 1 subject boring, you might not)

3.

You feel your grades will be good for good universities regardless of the college you pick - if you got AAA at college 1 and someone at college 2 got BBB I think the unis you mentioned would favour you over the college 2 person if you both have maths A-level (but check what subjects and grades those unis require because I could be wrong)

One last thing I'll mention is do the colleges have year 11 open days in june/july where you spend the day there to get a feel of student life? If so, do go to them as that could help you make up your mind.
I hope this helps! :smile:

french is my favourite subject and the only one i always enjoy. ive always been good at maths and i do really like it but obviously sometimes it can be boring.

i'd like to do a maths career because out of maths and french, there are way more and way better paying jobs in maths than in french, and i dont want to be a teacher.

i looked into studying abroad in france but almost all courses that have a year in france require french a level, and i dont know if i would have time to do french outside of the 4 a levels i would be doing at college 2.

thank you for the advice, you have helped me out :smile:

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