Do A levels matter?

Hi everyone, i have 2 options A) go to a low ranked university with low grade A levels or B) take a gap year and retake certain modules, i personally want to get away and get to university as soon as possible and dont feel a gap year is the one for me but if it means me not getting into a career as an investment banker i wouldnt mind to wait another year, in my AS i achieved AAC including an A in economics, however when it came to my A2s i was very unwell (had surgery) during exam period which caused me to become unwell, this did effect me during my exams as i spent most my days in a hospital bed and only left to go into school for the exams, i came out with Es/Ds in my A2s despite getting As/Cs in my january mocks, my predicted grades were AAC however because of the outcome it caused my overall grades to fall to DDD, therefore i didnt get into nottingham or city university, i went into clearing and go an offer from very low ranked universities, but will this affect me in e.g. applying to a jp morgan graduate scheme providing i get a 1st at university, do A levels matter? or would i be required to retake the modules baring in mind i would be allowed to come into school and would have to do all my prep throughout the year by myself? as i havent seen an ucas requirements on jp morgans graduate scheme just a 2:1 is required i believe, any advice would be appreciated, thanks.

Hi everyone, i have 2 options A) go to a low ranked university with low grade A levels or B) take a gap year and retake certain modules, i personally want to get away and get to university as soon as possible and dont feel a gap year is the one for me but if it means me not getting into a career as an investment banker i wouldnt mind to wait another year, in my AS i achieved AAC including an A in economics, however when it came to my A2s i was very unwell (had surgery) during exam period which caused me to become unwell, this did effect me during my exams as i spent most my days in a hospital bed and only left to go into school for the exams, i came out with Es/Ds in my A2s despite getting As/Cs in my january mocks, my predicted grades were AAC however because of the outcome it caused my overall grades to fall to DDD, therefore i didnt get into nottingham or city university, i went into clearing and go an offer from very low ranked universities, but will this affect me in e.g. applying to a jp morgan graduate scheme providing i get a 1st at university, do A levels matter? or would i be required to retake the modules baring in mind i would be allowed to come into school and would have to do all my prep throughout the year by myself? as i havent seen an ucas requirements on jp morgans graduate scheme just a 2:1 is required i believe, any advice would be appreciated, thanks.

OK yeah im retaking the exams thanks for the advice! I hope to get around 280-320 ucas points in my 3 a levels, whats all your thoughts on universities, i wont be applying to top universities but im thinking to go city to study banking and finance

City or Cass, I thought banking and finance there was AAA

Cass yeah, it is originally AAA however when i called up in clearing they told me they were willing to go down to BBB!

Cass yeah, it is originally AAA however when i called up in clearing they told me they were willing to go down to BBB!

Sigh - stories like this make me feel bad for people who do make the grades and choose a course like this (no offense OP).

Universities should be forced to be transparent in these matters.

Are you for real?

I got A*A*A and worked my ass off this year to get in to Cass who offered me AAA.



This. Kinda makes me feel like I've wasted my efforts.. -_- Nonetheless, I still like the course.

OP, generally if IB is what you're interested in they generally have a 340 UCAS cut off point (AAB) so just making sure you know.

No offence meant but nobody made you go to Cass. I'll maybe sound like an ass but in all sincerity, (and the offer shows this), with A*A*A I'd have leveraged my grades to go somewhere 'better'. There's a reason they're willing to go down to BBB

None taken. My academic history isn't the greatest anyway and the course is still something I'm interested in.

why the hell would you go to cass with those grades? no offense bro but you absolutely killed it, not saying cass is bad...but those grades are oxbridge/lse standard.

take a gap year, do even more internships, apply to somewhere better and this time next year there will be no stopping you...of course after getting so hyped for uni i doubt there is any chance of you doing that but those are my two cents anyway

grades is one thing only: you need an offer from those unis too, and that's not a walk in the park either (edit: it's not even that in the first place, its about credentials which you either have or don't have)

Taking a gap year to do even more internships... solid advice lol

hes made it no secret that hes from a 'disadvantaged' background, he is an ethnic minority and has a*a*a at a level confirmed, with internships and insights at BB's. im pretty sure he would have no trouble securing an offer from top 6 lol.

also, are you being sarcastic about the gap year thing? (dont see why you would be, just seems like that given the overall tone of your post)