Our university hopefuls are coming to the end of their exams and thinking about the future
With AS exams behind him, year 12 student Sam Jacobs is throwing himself into his passion for medicine in a bid to boost his uni chances this summer. He's already attended open days at Manchester and Nottingham universities, and is embarking on more work experience at hospitals. "I am more passionate about medicine than ever," says Sam, one of five students Education Guardian is following on the route to university. "At open days, I really enjoyed meeting the professors, they were so enthusiastic. It's definitely given me a taste of what I have to look forward to."
Seventeen-year-old Sam will be the first in his family to attend university, and is relying on work experience to inform his decision-making. "Having spent a week at the Homerton hospital in north London, and learned about all the different fields, I've realised that it's important to be open-minded when looking at university courses, and know that there is more than one road." The sixth-former has visited a range of universities, including St George's University of London and Birmingham, as well as Manchester and Nottingham, to look at their course options.
His school, JFS, a mixed comprehensive in Kenton, north London, has put on lectures and sessions to tell students about the Ucas process. "Last week, we had a higher education seminar where we found out more about academia, as well as the social aspects of university," Sam says. He's not sure whether he'll start university in 2012 or 2013 because he's currently considering a gap year, a top option being GapMedics, which organises work experience for students in India, Zambia and St Lucia.
Sam's summer is busy and includes acting in a performance of Othello at the Edinburgh fringe festival and spending time helping children with special needs and learning difficulties for the charity, Norwood. He's also booked to spend the last week of August working in the rehabilitation unit of Finchley Memorial hospital to get "a greater insight into geriatrics." And there's one other thing Sam's keen to squeeze in: "I'm looking forward to enjoying spending time with my friends," he adds.
Life is a little less exciting for year 13 student Josh Kay at Stourport school in Worcestershire, who only finished his A2 exams on Friday. He needs AAB to meet his offer from Manchester University. "My exams are going well – I think," he says. "I think I've done enough to get the grades I want in the exams that I have taken so far – history and sociology. I'm not too worried about my coming English exam, as I already have high A's in my AS English and A* in this year's coursework, so it highly likely I will get an A overall. German doesn't worry me too much either as my university entrance requirements do not depend on it."
Josh admits his bedroom was one of the first victims of exam fever. "I have been revising like mad over the last month, making reams of highlighted, colour-coded, annotated pieces of paper and revision cards, and one side of my bedroom is now stacked with papers, folders and books from different subjects," he says. "Mostly revision doesn't bother me too much as I know it will all be over soon — and worth it if I get the grades I want. But I do get a bit bored sometimes."
For his uni plans, Josh has organised his student finance and applied for accommodation at both Manchester and his back-
up choice, Birmingham, but hasn't yet heard back. "My main concern about university at the moment is whether I will get the accommodation I want, as I want an en-suite room," he says. "Otherwise I'm quite excited about going as all of my possible universities are in cities – I live on the edge of a small town which isn't particularly exiting – and have great facilities and courses."
This summer, Josh has a uni shopping list to purchase, including books, clothes, stationery, and a new laptop. Also on his to-do list is passing one more exam: not related to A-levels, but his driving test. "I hope to book it after my exams are over," he says. "Apart from that, I'm also going away camping with some friends for a week, as the last thing to do together before we all go off to our different universities. I might try and find a part-time job for a few weeks over the summer as well, so I have something to do."
The only thing blotting his plans is concern about results day. "I think everyone is having a little stress about it, and I don't like to be to over-confident as it could all still not go the way I want it to," Josh admits. "I'm just hoping that I've done enough work over the last two years to get the grades I want."