When my youngest applied for college.

When Becky applied for college I did most of the form filling as when she applied we were still living in Northumberland so it made sense for me to do everything as it took a lot of planning as she wouldn't be going to the open days or having an interview along with all the other school leavers because by the time we had moved house to Scunthorpe the college was shut for the summer. It all worked out well, she had an interview during the summer holidays and started along with everyone else in September.

Ellie is leaving school in June, after her GCSE exams and will be starting college in September. Eek! I still can't get my head around the fact my baby is growing up. Things have been a little different with her applying for college.

One day at school Ellie and her friend decided to take it upon themselves to apply for college. I wasn't happy. We had a quick look at the courses over the previous months of courses that she might want to study but she hadn't decided on anything. She said she had filled the forms in properly but had given them her phone number and her school email address.

I was going to give it until the end of February to chase things up but Ellie actually got an email at the start of February inviting her for an interview. She had to email back to confirm that she would be attending and I took that chance to take control. I know Ellie is getting older and has to stand on her own two feet but I know from Becky applying to college that there is a lot of paperwork to do, forms to fill in, finance and uniform to sort and lots of other things. A lot of it Ellie would need my help with anyway so it makes sense to use my email, plus when she leaves school she won't have access to her school email.

 I also found out what course she had applied for, an Electrical Engineering one which looking at it seems the best one for her. I am so glad she chose well.

This qualification has been developed to provide learners with an intermediate knowledge and understanding of the practices and processes of engineering technology. It covers knowledge, understanding and skills that are relevant to a wide variety of careers and study routes and take a hands on approach to basic engineering training

Ellie and I have had words, she now understands that she needs to talk things through with Stu and I before she decides on big things like this by herself. Thankfully it all worked out OK, this time.

Ellie is excited and I am excited for her. A couple of days after we confirmed that she would be going for her interview she received a little package from the college with a pencil case, a pen, a highlighter and a Freddo bar. 

Have you got kids going to college? What will they be studying?