Re: My future is in tatters.... :(
- From: utopia2k5@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: 13 Aug 2005 09:52:03 -0700
fergus wrote:
> On 12 Aug 2005 22:53:45 -0700, utopia2k5@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
>
> >Hi,
> >
> >Let me introduce myself, I am a 19 yr old student that is currently in
> >his gap year. I have just finished doing a years A-level in
> >mathematics. I am self taught.
>
> [snip but read]
>
> Hi,
>
> Failing an A level isn't the end of the world and doesn't mean that
> your future is in tatters. It would mean a change of plan and maybe a
> change of direction but that isn't, by any means, the same thing. I
> think you've done very well if you are self-taught. That's much harder
> than doing it by receiving tuition. You clearly do have plenty of
> ability and perseverance but you have set yourself a very difficult
> task.
>
I recieved very very little tuition (should have mentioned this
before), once a week for three hours, which was hardly enough time to
throughly cover a chapter - let alone do all six modules throughly in
the space of a year. So most of my progress was made at home with me
having to spend the majority of my time going through the syllabus
myself. Hence in that respect I am largely self-taught.
I agree with what you have said above. One could say that I had
underestimated mathematics at this level, so I probably deserved this
outcome. However an explanation to why I "underestimated the subject"
was because prior to this year I had done A-level English in a year
simultaneously with my other two A2 levels at my old sixth form and
achieved a C overall. So natrually I felt that given I had a whole year
to concentrate on one subject, things should be ok and I should pass
with ease. Even if I don't get an A, I felt that I should acheive a B/C
overall which is not at all bad given the difficulty of the subject.
Unfortunantly, I feel that things have not worked out as plan (gut
feeling from after sitting the examinations) and I am now in this
predicamaent.
> If it came to it and you didn't get the grades you need, would you be
> able to delay going to uni for a year and have another go at the A
> levels next year?
>
That is certainly an option I have thought of taking up if clearing
does not work out. For three reasons, first reason being that I have
always genuinely had an interest in Politics/History as in my spare
time I read about books on Stalin/Lenin , different political
ideaologies etc. I also tend to be a very over analytical person, which
one could dismiss as a fault of mine as I tend to spark arguements for
over analysing. I am opinionative and often don't accept status quo
when I see it. The other reason for doing such a task next year if
things don't work out, is because I may have to get my jaw operated on,
so it may be for the best that I stay in London anyway instead of going
a million miles away for university - only to find that I am alone when
getting my jaw operated on. Lastly, I feel that if I am to go into
something as competitive as politics/history it is important that I am
to goto a reputable university, otherwise my chances of getting into
the best job positions may decrease.
My siblings have recommended that I do this - by studying History &
Politics. My friends/parents would probably oppose such an undertaking
(well my friends are already proving strong opposition to this), mainly
because they follow the logic that if I cannot handle doing a singular
A-level in mathematics in a year then how can possibly successfully do
both History and Politics in a year and get a good grade. They just
think I should settle for any old University that comes along.
To be frank, I am honestly scared about my future, I am scared that if
I do take up such a task next year with politics & History at A-level,
I could end up in despair yet again if things do not work out and if
that happens I know for sure that I would feel completely useless. Yet
at the same time, a side of me feels as though that I should be more
bullish and just do it, because at the end of the day life is about
taking risks - some may pay off, others may not.
In short, I guess what this ultimately comes down to is a lack of self
confidence in my ability.
> I'm also interested that you say that you have a dream of going into
> Software Engineering and a zeal for Maths but have always been
> interested in, and seem to be more comfortable with, subjects like
> Politics, History and Philosophy. What is it about Software
> Engineering that makes you choose that over these others?
>
> Take care
>
>>From a very early age, I have always been pushed into computers by
family/relatives. I am intregued by how computers in general work, and
how software is made. I have good problem solving skills with
computers, yet this has never been reflected by Mathematics during my
school years. I have always wondered why. As ironically, people who are
generally good at computers are also good at mathematics.
So I have been convinced that this was due to very bad teaching in the
subject throughout my academical career - I went to a bog standard
comprehensive, a relatively bad primary school (where we had one
teacher to teach 6 different subjects). Teachers in my old secondary
school were often very impatient and aarogant when teaching mathematics
as they expected you to understand things first time round, I never did
understand certain mathematical concepts first time round and instead
of those areas being a addressed as they should have - I was just left
on the scrap pile. I managed to pass GCSE mathematics with a C by
relying on mathematical formulae. Yet my actual understanding on the
subject was non existant. This proved to be my downfall first time
round at AS mathematics, two years ago (where we did only one pure
module) - as relying on formulae is just impossible to do as you have
to know what you are doing. So it helps if your GCSE foundations were
solid to being with. In short, mathematics is a language and everything
builds up from each other - which is why it is hard. For example, take
something as trivial as fractions for example (which was non existant
before the start of this year), a proper understanding in it is
absolutely essential in even the most advanced parts of mathematics
such as algebraric fractions, integration, biomial theorem etc. If that
does not exist (which was the case first time round) then the course
will just get harder and harder as time goes on as more things rely on
it and you will as a result fall behind and fail.
Unsatisfied with what happened first time round in the subject at AS, I
decided to after my A2s/A-level English in my second/final year of AL
to re-visit AL mathematics. But only this time treat it like a language
by re-addressing everything that I was weak at from GCSE beyond and see
what happens. I have made significant progress as expected - to the
point that I can do everything in the syllabus competantly. Some areas
are stronger then others. The problem I have is that because I had to
play catch up, by re-addressing my foundations that should have been
addressed donkeys years ago, I am not very accurate and I just don't
have the experience and level of flair needed in order to be an A grade
mathematician. As much of the skills I had acquired this year, were
acquired at an accelerated rate, therefore for me to be an A-grade
student would require these skills to be second nature. Which is just
impossible to achieve in a year due to time constraints and lack of
experience with using those tools acquired.
My tutor has recommended that I keep at it and go into a soft
engineering degree, as he feels that regardless what the outcome is
this year I have demonstarted all the skills that are neccessary for
doing well in a degree. The ability to work independently, dedication
and a commitment to the degree when the going gets tough. But, I am
just confused at the moment. Sometimes I just feel as though that maybe
I was ludicrous for presuing my weakest subject area in the first place
regardless of the progress made.
.
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