Re-entering Study 3 years after A Levels
So a little background on me:
I finished my A Levels in 2020 with A*A*B in Maths, Further Maths, & Physics, and then started at University of Nottingham in September of that year to study Mathematics.
… quickly realised online learning was not for me, and spent the next two years struggling through my degree due to mental health & physical issues before dropping out after failing my exams.
I’ve been working full-time since 2022, and am now at the point where I really want to study again. I really enjoy learning, and the more time I spend working in corporate the more I want to leave and begin studying.
Does anyone know how the application process would go for someone in my position? My A Levels were awhile ago and though I failed, I did study for two more years after completing them - just not sure what universities would be looking for from me.
I finished my A Levels in 2020 with A*A*B in Maths, Further Maths, & Physics, and then started at University of Nottingham in September of that year to study Mathematics.
… quickly realised online learning was not for me, and spent the next two years struggling through my degree due to mental health & physical issues before dropping out after failing my exams.
I’ve been working full-time since 2022, and am now at the point where I really want to study again. I really enjoy learning, and the more time I spend working in corporate the more I want to leave and begin studying.
Does anyone know how the application process would go for someone in my position? My A Levels were awhile ago and though I failed, I did study for two more years after completing them - just not sure what universities would be looking for from me.
Original post by peachandpillows
So a little background on me:
I finished my A Levels in 2020 with A*A*B in Maths, Further Maths, & Physics, and then started at University of Nottingham in September of that year to study Mathematics.
… quickly realised online learning was not for me, and spent the next two years struggling through my degree due to mental health & physical issues before dropping out after failing my exams.
I’ve been working full-time since 2022, and am now at the point where I really want to study again. I really enjoy learning, and the more time I spend working in corporate the more I want to leave and begin studying.
Does anyone know how the application process would go for someone in my position? My A Levels were awhile ago and though I failed, I did study for two more years after completing them - just not sure what universities would be looking for from me.
I finished my A Levels in 2020 with A*A*B in Maths, Further Maths, & Physics, and then started at University of Nottingham in September of that year to study Mathematics.
… quickly realised online learning was not for me, and spent the next two years struggling through my degree due to mental health & physical issues before dropping out after failing my exams.
I’ve been working full-time since 2022, and am now at the point where I really want to study again. I really enjoy learning, and the more time I spend working in corporate the more I want to leave and begin studying.
Does anyone know how the application process would go for someone in my position? My A Levels were awhile ago and though I failed, I did study for two more years after completing them - just not sure what universities would be looking for from me.
the more time I spend working in corporate the more I want to leave and begin studying.
Hilarious. Completely know where you're coming from though.
What were you doing for a job? Was it excruciating?
Does anyone know how the application process would go for someone in my position?
You apply through UCAS as an independent applicant. It's the same process as you went through when you did your UCAS application the first time round (you will need to create a new account for this cycle of enrollment though: https://accounts.ucas.com/account/login?returnUrl=https%3A//www.ucas.com/dashboard). There are a few things to note though:
•
Some universities would have a cut off date of 2 years, so if you have A Levels that are older than 2 years they might ask you to sit them again. Most unis consider them if they are less than 5 years old. Some unis don't care how old they are. You would need to check with the individual unis for the courses that you want to apply for.
•
As you have secured your grades, you can put your A Level grades as those you already have instead of predicted grades
•
Since you were doing a degree, you would need to let UCAS know that you have done a degree and include it in your application form. (I don't know the exact process for this.)
•
You would need to find academic references, and this might mean you have to get creative with your approach since you haven't been to college or uni for a while. I would check if there is anyone you can still get in touch with. See: https://www.ucas.com/advisers/help-and-training/guides-resources-and-training/writing-references/changes-undergraduate-references-2024-entry
•
I would also check to see how the above would change your circumstances for student finance. If you have passed specific years in your undergrad, they might not fund those years.
The questions that I have in mind are: what do you specifically want to do after your degree? If you did a degree, what would the subject be in?
Original post by MindMax2000
the more time I spend working in corporate the more I want to leave and begin studying.
Hilarious. Completely know where you're coming from though.
What were you doing for a job? Was it excruciating?
Does anyone know how the application process would go for someone in my position?
You apply through UCAS as an independent applicant. It's the same process as you went through when you did your UCAS application the first time round (you will need to create a new account for this cycle of enrollment though: https://accounts.ucas.com/account/login?returnUrl=https%3A//www.ucas.com/dashboard). There are a few things to note though:
The questions that I have in mind are: what do you specifically want to do after your degree? If you did a degree, what would the subject be in?
Hilarious. Completely know where you're coming from though.
What were you doing for a job? Was it excruciating?
Does anyone know how the application process would go for someone in my position?
You apply through UCAS as an independent applicant. It's the same process as you went through when you did your UCAS application the first time round (you will need to create a new account for this cycle of enrollment though: https://accounts.ucas.com/account/login?returnUrl=https%3A//www.ucas.com/dashboard). There are a few things to note though:
•
Some universities would have a cut off date of 2 years, so if you have A Levels that are older than 2 years they might ask you to sit them again. Most unis consider them if they are less than 5 years old. Some unis don't care how old they are. You would need to check with the individual unis for the courses that you want to apply for.
•
As you have secured your grades, you can put your A Level grades as those you already have instead of predicted grades
•
Since you were doing a degree, you would need to let UCAS know that you have done a degree and include it in your application form. (I don't know the exact process for this.)
•
You would need to find academic references, and this might mean you have to get creative with your approach since you haven't been to college or uni for a while. I would check if there is anyone you can still get in touch with. See: https://www.ucas.com/advisers/help-and-training/guides-resources-and-training/writing-references/changes-undergraduate-references-2024-entry
•
I would also check to see how the above would change your circumstances for student finance. If you have passed specific years in your undergrad, they might not fund those years.
The questions that I have in mind are: what do you specifically want to do after your degree? If you did a degree, what would the subject be in?
Thank you for replying!
What were you doing for a job? Was it excruciating?
I’ve now worked in two roles that are finance related but both included “Assistant” in the job title so the work wasn’t insanely exciting or interesting. It’s not terrible and I work with some lovely people, but sometimes I can feel how bored I am with how menial my tasks are, and how much I’d rather be challenging myself by studying y’know?
what do you specifically want to do after your degree? If you did a degree, what would the subject be in?
During and since my last degree, I got a big outside interest in data & spreadsheets and would be really interested in doing something sort of Data Analyst-esque as my career path. I’d actually love to go to University to study Maths again, but I’m not sure that would be the best idea given my last shot at it… possibly it would be smarter to go into something more specific that I can focus myself more in.
I’ve been thinking about doing some kind of access/foundation course just to kind of get myself up to speed again, would I be able to get an academic reference from someone involved in those? Or would it need to be from one of the last places I’ve studied.
Original post by peachandpillows
Thank you for replying!
What were you doing for a job? Was it excruciating?
I’ve now worked in two roles that are finance related but both included “Assistant” in the job title so the work wasn’t insanely exciting or interesting. It’s not terrible and I work with some lovely people, but sometimes I can feel how bored I am with how menial my tasks are, and how much I’d rather be challenging myself by studying y’know?
what do you specifically want to do after your degree? If you did a degree, what would the subject be in?
During and since my last degree, I got a big outside interest in data & spreadsheets and would be really interested in doing something sort of Data Analyst-esque as my career path. I’d actually love to go to University to study Maths again, but I’m not sure that would be the best idea given my last shot at it… possibly it would be smarter to go into something more specific that I can focus myself more in.
I’ve been thinking about doing some kind of access/foundation course just to kind of get myself up to speed again, would I be able to get an academic reference from someone involved in those? Or would it need to be from one of the last places I’ve studied.
What were you doing for a job? Was it excruciating?
I’ve now worked in two roles that are finance related but both included “Assistant” in the job title so the work wasn’t insanely exciting or interesting. It’s not terrible and I work with some lovely people, but sometimes I can feel how bored I am with how menial my tasks are, and how much I’d rather be challenging myself by studying y’know?
what do you specifically want to do after your degree? If you did a degree, what would the subject be in?
During and since my last degree, I got a big outside interest in data & spreadsheets and would be really interested in doing something sort of Data Analyst-esque as my career path. I’d actually love to go to University to study Maths again, but I’m not sure that would be the best idea given my last shot at it… possibly it would be smarter to go into something more specific that I can focus myself more in.
I’ve been thinking about doing some kind of access/foundation course just to kind of get myself up to speed again, would I be able to get an academic reference from someone involved in those? Or would it need to be from one of the last places I’ve studied.
It’s not terrible and I work with some lovely people, but sometimes I can feel how bored I am with how menial my tasks are, and how much I’d rather be challenging myself by studying y’know?
Yep, know the feeling.
From what I can tell, unless you're working as an actuary or quants analyst, chances are most roles in finance tend to be very similar i.e. just office work involving relatively straightforward maths.
During and since my last degree, I got a big outside interest in data & spreadsheets and would be really interested in doing something sort of Data Analyst-esque as my career path
This is not a role that you specifically need a degree for. See the following for example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLsKBDjIr6U
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=I14TWwMhfYM&pp=ygUJI2pvYl9kYXRh
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/data-analyst#qualifications
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/data-analyst-statistician
https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/job-sectors/finance-accounting/job-profile/data-analyst-statistician
https://www.life-pilot.co.uk/job-sectors/water-gas-oil-etc/job-profile/data-analyst-statistician
Whilst a degree in maths is helpful, it's not required. Also the maths used tend to just focus on stats.
I’d actually love to go to University to study Maths again, but I’m not sure that would be the best idea given my last shot at it… possibly it would be smarter to go into something more specific that I can focus myself more in.
Sounds good. Personally, I prefer the general maths degree over one that is overspecialised in a topic such as financial mathematics, mathematical physics, mathematical economics. If you do a general maths degree you can always specialise in the degree, but if you go in a specialised maths degree it's difficult to do something else if you don't like the specialisim
I’ve been thinking about doing some kind of access/foundation course just to kind of get myself up to speed again, would I be able to get an academic reference from someone involved in those? Or would it need to be from one of the last places I’ve studied.
Whilst you can always go for an Access course to do a degree, it's not likely going to be in something maths related since you would usually need A Level in Maths for that. If it's a STEM related degree, chances are you're better off doing A Levels (the only possible excepts that I can think of are in general life sciences, some computer science degrees, and possibly a few in engineering).
For academic references, I would personally try to go back to Nottingham to get those. It's probably the most relevant place that you can get your references. You can get academic references via an Access course though.
If you intend to resit your A Levels (if you have to), then I recommend doing an online course since you would get a tutor to get your references from as opposed to just resitting your exams.
Your existing A Levels should allow you to get into most maths related degrees as they are. You should look at the entry requirements for the specific degrees to be sure (they should say when you should have completed your A Levels).
(edited 2 months ago)
Original post by peachandpillows
So a little background on me:
I finished my A Levels in 2020 with A*A*B in Maths, Further Maths, & Physics, and then started at University of Nottingham in September of that year to study Mathematics.
… quickly realised online learning was not for me, and spent the next two years struggling through my degree due to mental health & physical issues before dropping out after failing my exams.
I’ve been working full-time since 2022, and am now at the point where I really want to study again. I really enjoy learning, and the more time I spend working in corporate the more I want to leave and begin studying.
Does anyone know how the application process would go for someone in my position? My A Levels were awhile ago and though I failed, I did study for two more years after completing them - just not sure what universities would be looking for from me.
I finished my A Levels in 2020 with A*A*B in Maths, Further Maths, & Physics, and then started at University of Nottingham in September of that year to study Mathematics.
… quickly realised online learning was not for me, and spent the next two years struggling through my degree due to mental health & physical issues before dropping out after failing my exams.
I’ve been working full-time since 2022, and am now at the point where I really want to study again. I really enjoy learning, and the more time I spend working in corporate the more I want to leave and begin studying.
Does anyone know how the application process would go for someone in my position? My A Levels were awhile ago and though I failed, I did study for two more years after completing them - just not sure what universities would be looking for from me.
You don't have to resit your A levels at all. Many universities will want you to show some recent academic work, so signing up for a mathematical Open University course/module should be enough.
Your main problem seems to be that you have already used up 2 years of uni fees, so in normal circumstances, you would have to self-fund the first year of any new course.
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