anthony (@tonyeloquenza) tweeted at 0:04 PM on Thu, Aug 22, 2013: word of advice...select you a-levels wisely. on what you actually have an interest in. don't let your grades distort what you actually want. (https://twitter.com/tonyeloquenza/status/370501663335153664) Get the official Twitter app at https://twitter.com/download
Thursday 22 August 2013
Words of advice from my friend Anthony for those of you choosing A Level subjects
Monday 19 August 2013
Pass by University On The Way To Success
Pass by University On The Way To Success
September 2012
marked the beginning of the first educational year in which University tuition
fees rose to a maximum of £9,000. Whilst
the average annual fee was £8,507 for 2012/2013, the
Office for Fair Access predicts that 2013/2014 applicants are more likely to be
paying £9,000 as 3 in 4 universities are set to charge the top figure.
The increase in tuition fees undoubtedly changed the plans of some
school leavers as the total number of students who applied to study at University
during the first year of the higher fees was almost 10% less than in the
previous year.
How can it be that we live in a
society lacking skilled professionals, yet we hinder the process of anyone
gaining the necessary qualifications? Students are encouraged to go to University
to better their chances of getting employment in their dream job, so why should
attaining our dreams come at the cost of well over £27,000? Well now, it
doesn’t have to.
Although it seems alien to some
eighteen year-olds, there are alternatives to University which can still pave
the way to a dream career. Whilst professions such as dentistry or medicine
will require a degree, there is a plethora of other careers which do not,
including accountancy, retail management and some law positions. Choosing training for a specific career
instead of University is an option relieving young people of the prospect of
debt from extortionate tuition fees and student loans and shows dedication to a
certain field of work.
In response to the increasing
number of young people who are choosing not to go to University, many employers
have started to provide apprenticeship schemes offering on-the-job training in
over 1000 professions, in everything from plumbing to sales; an opportunity
some employers see as just as beneficial as an undergraduate degree.
Lewis Taylor, aged 19,
said: “I've started my job now instead of going uni. I've found it amazing so
far-much better than I expected. It's giving me qualifications so I’m training
and getting paid, which is a massive bonus. And I'm getting work experience, so
in my opinion not going to university is the best decision I have ever made!”
University has
traditionally been used as a bridge to get to an ultimate goal. However, today a
significant amount of students admit to going to University without even a
final career in mind. In such a way, young people choosing work or an
apprenticeship after school instead of University could be three years superior
on the career ladder to those of the same age who continued into higher
education, as employers stress the need of a strong foundation of work
experience in a specific field in contrast with class-based learning on a
general subject.
Sunday 18 August 2013
When Things Go Wrong
Life isn't perfect and nothing is ever straight forward. Things don't go according to plan and you don't always get what you want.
So what do you when that happens? Sit around moping? Yes, you can for a little while, then you have to pick yourself up and start again. As Aaliyha said "If at first you don't succeed, dust yourself off and try again; you can dust it off and try again!"
You might not have got the results you were expecting, might not have got a job you wanted, you might not have got your first choice uni, you might not have got any uni at all. So now it's time to deal with what went wrong and put it right. As I have said in previous posts, there is almost always something that can be done to make it better, but it's down to you. You have to search for the solution, and seek help if and when you need it- you will need it.
I unfortunately didn't get the apprenticeship at the Evening Standard. As disappointed as I am, I need to continue trying to find something else now. Hopefully I didn't get it for some pre-destined reason and it wasn't right for me or something is else right around the corner which will be better or might be where I meet the man of my dreams-who knows! I'm trying to keep positive! I try to believe that everything happens for a reason and what is meant to be will be, and that somewhere along the road, everything will fall into place. But you have to work hard for it.
So you didn't get the perfect results or a uni place? What are you going to do? Going over where it went wrong might help for a little while but it's not going to change the situation. Pick yourself up and see if it's possible re-sit your exams. Have a gap year. Go get another qualification to up your UCAS score. Do something else instead of uni. Nothing is going to be easy. Find out what it is you need to do to get to your end goal (in my opinion it's important to have a goal, whether it is short of long term) and do it.
Don't waste any more time!
So what do you when that happens? Sit around moping? Yes, you can for a little while, then you have to pick yourself up and start again. As Aaliyha said "If at first you don't succeed, dust yourself off and try again; you can dust it off and try again!"
You might not have got the results you were expecting, might not have got a job you wanted, you might not have got your first choice uni, you might not have got any uni at all. So now it's time to deal with what went wrong and put it right. As I have said in previous posts, there is almost always something that can be done to make it better, but it's down to you. You have to search for the solution, and seek help if and when you need it- you will need it.
I unfortunately didn't get the apprenticeship at the Evening Standard. As disappointed as I am, I need to continue trying to find something else now. Hopefully I didn't get it for some pre-destined reason and it wasn't right for me or something is else right around the corner which will be better or might be where I meet the man of my dreams-who knows! I'm trying to keep positive! I try to believe that everything happens for a reason and what is meant to be will be, and that somewhere along the road, everything will fall into place. But you have to work hard for it.
So you didn't get the perfect results or a uni place? What are you going to do? Going over where it went wrong might help for a little while but it's not going to change the situation. Pick yourself up and see if it's possible re-sit your exams. Have a gap year. Go get another qualification to up your UCAS score. Do something else instead of uni. Nothing is going to be easy. Find out what it is you need to do to get to your end goal (in my opinion it's important to have a goal, whether it is short of long term) and do it.
Don't waste any more time!
Thursday 15 August 2013
Results Day!
Over the last few days, all around the UK, 18 year-olds have been shaking nervously, anticipating that first view of the rest of their lives;
their A Level results.
For so many, results are the be all and more often than not,
the end all too. Thankfully, as I'm not going to university, I don't have that mentality.
Having said that, I was disappointed when I opened up my brown envelope this morning and saw B, B, C, E; of course, anyone wants to do well in their A Levels regardless of their plans for the years ahead.
Although, after I had some time to think about it, I decided that I was satisfied with my results, if not happy! Whilst I might not be as bright as other people, I know that I tried my best and I got decent grades. I still have my 4 A level- which is more than some people can say. And it wasn't easy.
Sixthform was bloody difficult! Everyone talks about "the jump from GCSE to A Level" but you never realise that it's in fact more of a giant leap! I think that I learnt more French in my first term of year 12 than I did from year 7 to year 11!
There was so much information crammed into the space of two years- especially in Biology- which I got an E (I clearly didn't take much of that information in) it was difficult to try to retain it all.
That's what I hate about exams in some subjects (like Biology, ICT etc) they just test you on how much you remember and how well you can regurgitate your text book instead of actually how much you understand a subject.
But it's all done now! (Until I hopefully get this apprenticeship, where I will be studying a diploma with the NCTJ which will involve exams)
It now truly is into the real world for me.
Despite the hard work, late nights, 100 page coursework, exams, and all the other less appealing parts of school, sixthform was definitely the best part of my education. Especially year 13.
I'll miss my classmates, my relationship with teachers, all the banter and the jokes we had between us, all the 18th birthday parties, the practically coming and going from school when I please. It's now all serious.
I am proud of what I've achieved at BGS Sixthform.
Monday 12 August 2013
EXTRA EXTRA
This just in!
Why should students get all the perks?
NUS extra now do discount cards for apprentices!
Find discount on travel, sport, books and DVD, technology, mobile and broadband, as well as fashion, beauty and going out.
Money made from the cards will go to the National Society of Apprentices to help support apprentices in their training.
GO GO GO!
http://www.nus.org.uk/en/nus-extra/extra-discount-cards/
Why should students get all the perks?
NUS extra now do discount cards for apprentices!
Find discount on travel, sport, books and DVD, technology, mobile and broadband, as well as fashion, beauty and going out.
Money made from the cards will go to the National Society of Apprentices to help support apprentices in their training.
GO GO GO!
http://www.nus.org.uk/en/nus-extra/extra-discount-cards/
Results are looming!
Hi everyone,
So it's less than 3 days until A Level results day (dun dun dun!) and I am starting to worry!
At first I wasn't too bothered about my results because I'm not going to uni, but what ever qualifications you have are always going to be important.
You might think you can leave school at 16 and step into an apprenticeship with 5 GCSEs but a lot of apprenticeships will require specific qualifications; some may require certain A Levels or certain grades at GCSE so what ever stage your at, (it goes without saying) make sure you try your best! You don't want to limit your self before you've even started!
I have applied for 1000000000000 apprenticeships and internships and have been unsuccessful in them all, apart from one which I had an interview for last week. I am waiting to hear back for the results from that at some point at the end of this week. So Thursday and Friday have the potential to be amazing! Fingers crossed!
Like I have said in a previous post, results aren't everything. There is almost always a way to rectify your mistakes. AS Levels can be re-sat, (4 times if you're like my friend!) you can always resit a year of sixth form if you really need to, you might be able to defer your place at uni resit some of your exams to increase your UCAS points too.
If all else fails with regard to exams- DON'T PANIC You can find another way into your dream career. Just like university, exams and their results are not the be all and end all; they are a pathway to get you to an end goal
If you're worrying about results day, head over to notgoingtouni.co.uk for their results day survival guide
So it's less than 3 days until A Level results day (dun dun dun!) and I am starting to worry!
At first I wasn't too bothered about my results because I'm not going to uni, but what ever qualifications you have are always going to be important.
You might think you can leave school at 16 and step into an apprenticeship with 5 GCSEs but a lot of apprenticeships will require specific qualifications; some may require certain A Levels or certain grades at GCSE so what ever stage your at, (it goes without saying) make sure you try your best! You don't want to limit your self before you've even started!
I have applied for 1000000000000 apprenticeships and internships and have been unsuccessful in them all, apart from one which I had an interview for last week. I am waiting to hear back for the results from that at some point at the end of this week. So Thursday and Friday have the potential to be amazing! Fingers crossed!
Like I have said in a previous post, results aren't everything. There is almost always a way to rectify your mistakes. AS Levels can be re-sat, (4 times if you're like my friend!) you can always resit a year of sixth form if you really need to, you might be able to defer your place at uni resit some of your exams to increase your UCAS points too.
If all else fails with regard to exams- DON'T PANIC You can find another way into your dream career. Just like university, exams and their results are not the be all and end all; they are a pathway to get you to an end goal
If you're worrying about results day, head over to notgoingtouni.co.uk for their results day survival guide
HuffPost UK (@HuffPostUK) tweeted at 1:17 PM on Mon, Aug 12, 2013: 54% of young people would opt for apprenticeship as their first choice - over university http://t.co/M3RrAwertS via @HPUKStudents (https://twitter.com/HuffPostUK/status/366896288740032512) Get the official Twitter app at https://twitter.com/download
Monday 5 August 2013
Thinking of studying journalism? Need some encouragement?!
MediaNation (@MediaNationUK) tweeted at 6:11 PM on Mon, Aug 05, 2013: Bursaries available for NCTJ-accredited journalism courses with Journalism Diversity Fund: http://t.co/5YfS0miQqZ (https://twitter.com/MediaNationUK/status/364433459193708544) Get the official Twitter app at https://twitter.com/download
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