My story so far. Changed man, need help. (23yrs in dec)

So, let's clarify:
Year 1: funded but failed.
Year 1 repeat: only one month, dropped out, no sign of funding?

Did you actually apply for finance for the repeat year at all? If not, and you failed the first year, then they will not have funded your attempted repeat year. At the time, that was bad, since it will have been why you were refused entry to the course. Now,though, it's good, because it looks like you have only had one funded year at university and should get 3 years funding for your next degree.

Getting your next degree is the problem now. You are unlikely to get anything in clearing with such low grades and no recent evidence of study, so taking a year out to do A levels or an Access course seems the best bet to me.

the OP took his alevels 4 years ago. The syllabus definately hasnt changed very much since then

You are going to need a more recent qualification as other people have said, and other people have mentioned Access courses - which I can highly recommend. I did GCSEs, A-levels, and then got ill. I ended up not working while I was ill, then getting a low paid job in a secondary school for 8 years. I'm now 33 and I am about to start Uni. Which I find amazing - but it is totally down to the Access course I've just done.

Go to your local college and book an appointment with a careers advisor - I know this sounds like crap (my experience of them was poor the first time around), but as an adult (which you are now) their aim is to genuinely help you find a career and a way to get there. So my experience this time around was that they listened to what I said, looked at my past academic achievements and said "An Access course is a good idea for you" and they then arranged an interview for me with the course leader at the college. I attended that, learnt lots about the course and talked to the course leader about wanting to go to Uni. I started the course in September of last year, did A-level equivalent in Biology, Psychology, Sociology and English literature with a core subject in Maths. You'll need to do 4 level 3 subjects and 1 level 2 (GCSE). This is just to make sure your Maths or English GCSE is up to scratch. They aren't taught as A-levels are - they treat you like an adult and expect you to work hard and find your own resources and work out your own time plans. There won't be any extensions (unless you're genuinely ill) and they teach you how to approach assignments and studying from a University level already. So you'll be taught all about referencing and using online journals etc.

You get your marks as you go along, so you know how you are doing, and by the time you apply to Uni you will already have a good idea of how able you are and what sort of grades you will get. Tutors support you through all of it and will also write you a reference stating (if need be) your changed attitude and how they would recommend you for the course. Your Access grades are converted into points which the University will use. E.g. they'll offer you a conditional place if you get 60 points, 45 of them being from level 3 courses and 20 of them being at distinction.

I've read a lot of stuff on here about top universities not being interested in Access course students and not accepting the equivalent marks. That hasn't been my experience. I applied to Bath, Worcester, Gloucester and Bristol. I got offers from all of them, and know that Bath is difficult to get into because my brother attended there for a BSC in Molecular and Cellular Biology and scraped entrance into the course he wanted (despite being a straight A pupil). You CAN do it.

It's just down to you finding a way now. REALLY do go and chat to someone at your local college, or look online at different colleges and look at their access courses. Some are for specific pathways, some are more generalised. Mine was a straight Access to higher Education diploma, which meant you could choose from Psychology, Sociology, Biology, Chemistry, History, and English Literature. There are some which are tailor made for medicine etc - so do your research. Find one which isn't specifically for something unrelated to your chosen career, and go and get advice.

It's never too late to start again, and once your attitude is changed you are approaching it in a new way and the options are unlimited! I started on my Access course with someone who struggled to read as they missed out on large portions of their primary education! I helped them write their personal statement and supported them in the first few weeks, and then the college offered them help, gave extra support outside of normal lesson times - and they are starting at Uni in September, having had the choice of 3 different Universities! Give it a go.

Good luck!

read under line to answer questions if you dont want to read background, thanks!

My GCSE's are mainly C's
my A levels are D's

I went to uni from 18-20, as you can see the trend from my grades, I didn't bother, was lazy, didn't care. failed first year, didn't care, did first year again, didn't care and left 1 month later. (course was business management, at a lowly uni, most was same material as A level business, which was big in me leaving)

from 20-23 I havnt done ****. no, really, literally. sat at home 3 years, internet all day, sometimes tv. getting fat. recently applied to jobs, couldn't get any, because have no experience and have no degree. then I see the situation my friends are in, who are in my boat, pushing trolleys at tesco and serving burgers in mcdonalds.

don't get my wrong I find a lot of subjects fascinating, and I learnt a lot from the internet in those 3 years, love sciences, computers, literature, etc.

One thing I am passionate about is computers. That's what I want a career in.

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How does a 23 year old apply to university? Am I considered a mature student?
I want to apply to these universities.
Kings (highly unlikely)
queen mary (unlikely)
goldsmiths
brunel
city
kingston (last absolute choice)

Can I still apply for 2013 courses? When do they start, if it's too late, when does 2014 start?

thank you

Have you though of doing a crash course or maybe join an intensive computer camp? Which part of computer are you interested in? I know a friend who likes programming but he didn't take computer as a subject during O's and A's. He was really into it and learnt them from the internet or some sort.

you reallyt want to go to university and finish at 26-27 year old man with no experience? i would considere that un-hireable.

Are you saying I can just go and take A level exams? just like that?, paying the relevant fee's, ofcourse., or are you saying I would need to go to school again?

how does one do A levels at 23? it's 1 year right? AS is the prequel to A levels, and helps you into the subject, but that isn't needed, or is it?

Is there a study at home/online while working type thing? or would I need to go to a school?

Access, I never heard of that before, Would that be helpful? online? school? ucas points?

I don't think I did any applying for the second year, which may be good, as you say, now.
thanks

What do you suggest? Right now I can't even get a job pushing trolleys at tesco for minimum wage.

I know im better than that.

nope you can take them privately. Just revise yourself or get a tutor. Please work really really hard. I dont know about other subjects but mine (psychology, law and sociology) havent changed very much in the last 8 years

you could maybe do an internship. i done a telesales/business internship now offered a job as a broker up North and i have very little experience many easy telesales jobs are also going like telesales charity funraiser or other telesales i got interviews for these with little experience it is good experience and pay until you get something greater you have to start somewhere leaving uni at 26-27 may not be a great idea

I thought of these things, I am being rejected left, right and center, for all things I apply for. Internships, apprenticeships, jobs, training, etc.

how does one do A levels at 23? it's 1 year right? AS is the prequel to A levels, and helps you into the subject, but that isn't needed, or is it?
No, you need both AS and A2 to form an A level. An AS is only half a qualification and isn't enough on its own to get you into university. You need to contact your local FE college about doing A levels, although I think an Access course would suit you best.
Is there a study at home/online while working type thing? or would I need to go to a school?
You wouldn't be allowed to attend a school, and in any case a college would be a much better environment for you. You can self teach, but it'd be a massive amount of work.
Access, I never heard of that before, Would that be helpful? online? school? ucas points? An Access course is designed to help adults like you into university - this is its only purpose and I really think it's the way forward for you. Universities are very used to this as a way in for people like yourself. Contact your FE college again. You might also look in the Mature Students forum for help.
I don't think I did any applying for the second year, which may be good, as you say, now.
thanks

Privately, so no attending school, learn at home, and then attending a school for the day of the test or a test centre of some sort?

Is there a website or somewhere I can get more information? Am I able to work while I study? are the test only at a certain time or can I take them anytime?
Is there a limit to how many times/subjects I can take a test?
Thanks.

nope you can take them privately. Just revise yourself or get a tutor. Please work really really hard. I dont know about other subjects but mine (psychology, law and sociology) havent changed very much in the last 8 years

you reallyt want to go to university and finish at 26-27 year old man with no experience? i would considere that un-hireable.

How does a 23 year old apply to university? Am I considered a mature student?
I want to apply to these universities.
Kings (highly unlikely)
queen mary (unlikely)
goldsmiths
brunel
city
kingston (last absolute choice)

Can I still apply for 2013 courses? When do they start, if it's too late, when does 2014 start?

thank you

Do you have any skills in computers? Such as have you taught yourself to make websites? Program an app? If so, put a portfolio together. Put it on a blog and then send it round all the "new media" companies in your area, And apply for some jobs. At the very least you might get some feedback about what to learn next. In those sort of companies it is what you can do rather than what grades you have that's important. Good luck.

read under line to answer questions if you dont want to read background, thanks!

My GCSE's are mainly C's
my A levels are D's

I went to uni from 18-20, as you can see the trend from my grades, I didn't bother, was lazy, didn't care. failed first year, didn't care, did first year again, didn't care and left 1 month later. (course was business management, at a lowly uni, most was same material as A level business, which was big in me leaving)

from 20-23 I havnt done ****. no, really, literally. sat at home 3 years, internet all day, sometimes tv. getting fat. recently applied to jobs, couldn't get any, because have no experience and have no degree. then I see the situation my friends are in, who are in my boat, pushing trolleys at tesco and serving burgers in mcdonalds.

don't get my wrong I find a lot of subjects fascinating, and I learnt a lot from the internet in those 3 years, love sciences, computers, literature, etc.

One thing I am passionate about is computers. That's what I want a career in.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

How does a 23 year old apply to university? Am I considered a mature student?
I want to apply to these universities.
Kings (highly unlikely)
queen mary (unlikely)
goldsmiths
brunel
city
kingston (last absolute choice)

Can I still apply for 2013 courses? When do they start, if it's too late, when does 2014 start?

thank you

Complete and utter nonsense.