Need help on my academic situation, what can I do to get in to IB?

You can sell your sole.

given you love warwick, i would say take the foundation year (only if its guaranteed you will start first year at warwick). no bank cares. use the year to grow your ib knowledge and collect some experience in order to make good spring week apps for the following year as well as getting high marks so you can get into warwick UG.

alongside the foundation would you be willing to retake physics to an A/A* level?

your gcses are good too.

An advantage of the FY is that it gives me the opportunity to apply to study at LSE, which I may consider doing. Tbh im not entirely sure whether I should take the opportunity bc LSE offers no Placement year. I’ve been told by career advisors that my C in physics does not matter as I do have the standard UCAS points needed 120+ to apply to top banking firms.

I honestly hated studying physics at A levels and I underperformed because I lacked the practical experience which I needed from Ks3/ GCSEs to help me understand the A level practical content which I was assessed in during my exams and I achieved an E in that paper lol (this was bc I attended a very poor secondary school) but I managed to achieve Bs in other papers.

I really don’t want to retake my physics a level as I lack the motivation for it and my passion lies in a completely different field, are there any other options or am I panicking too much?

Thank you for all the help ))

from what ive seen, banks/consultancies/law firms all require 128/136 (ABB/AAB) ucas points minimum so i would really promote the idea of you retaking.

and if you prefer LSE over warwick, then that is more reason to retake because ik loads of guys who have retaken and have been accepted my LSE (you just need a strong personal statement) + you already have 2 A's which makes predictions easier.

i do understand your frustrations with alevel physics as i also did the course, but you have all year which is plenty of time to really understand the basics and work your way up to the more difficult application questions.

taking a gap year over a FY means it will be free, you'll have loads of time to focus on physics, earn some money and also prep for banking apps.

AAC is also equivalent to 128 UCAS points so should I still consider retaking physics? I can put in the work but the foundation year is pretty intense especially because you actually need no requirements (only extenuating circumstances and a well rounded PS to get in), you need to be at the same level of A level students who are achieving AAA/A*AA so do you think it’s still wort h it to retake ?? The foundation year is also free, I just need to repay my maintenance loan

i would say given you have the opp, go for boosting your alevels as high as possible... AAA* or AAA potentially :P

Even though the FY is free technically, explaining why you're at a university already on your personal statement will be quite challenging, so i would say either go down the gap year route or fully focus on the FY

and if you can handle retaking both physics & business/accounting alevel why not

Hiiii everyone, I am just wondering what are my chances of getting in to Investment Banking and if you have any suggestions on ways I could improve my chances, what kind of stuff could I do in uni to enhance my CV?

Bearing in mind I went to a fairly inadequate school for secondary, I am also from a deprived area which has a very low progression to higher Education.

My academic timeline so far is as follows;

In year 10 I achieved 2Bs for GCSEs

In year 11 I achieved 2A*5As for GCSEs


I chose to study Mathematics, Economics, Physics (a big mistake) for A levels and I was able to get in to a top Grammar sixthform, overall the transition was difficult. I do have some mitigating circumstances which made me underperform during my A levels such as increased responsibilities at home due to poor health running in my family, unfortunately my mother is suffering from a brain problem and my elderly father who requires support as well as my younger brother who’s recovering from a stroke.

So, in year 12 I achieved BCC in those subjects for AS

In year 13 I achieved AAC in those subjects for my A levels.

I have got in to A&F at Warwick University and I opted to do a foundation year to make up for my C in physics A level. I had the opportunity to go through clearing to other top universities but my heart was set on warwick as I loved it there during my interview, plus it’s a target university. I’m quite unsure whether the foundation year would be able to compensate for my grade in physics or should I choose to pick up an easy subject like business studies for A levels (as well as doing my foundation year) and aim to get an A/A* in it. I know physics is unrelated to IB/ A&F but it is important I demonstrate a strong educational background. Do A levels matter as much? I hope to work hard and build on many of my subject skills which would help me gain a 2:1 or a 1st. I also plan to join many societies as I can. I notice I lack work experience and I am also wondering what could I do to gain some? The university course is 4 years in total including the foundation year and 5 years with a Placement year, is the Placement year worth it to get in to IB?

What else do I need to do to improve the attractiveness of my CV to get easily recruited by a top investment firm?

Thank you for all the help in advance

taking a gap year over a FY means it will be free, you'll have loads of time to focus on physics, earn some money and also prep for banking apps.

since when does Warwick uni do interviews for A&F?
Why would you want to retake your physics if youre already at uni?

I think that the OPs circumstances may differ. If they get full loans, and possibly some university bursary for being from a low income household they could be far better off taking the year at Warwick and getting a part time job than trying to find work in a low income area (although Warwick is also in a low income area but they would have some cash already). Far more likely to get decent careers advice from the university and other students - many of which will be very focused in similar careers and well connected. Plenty of societies to join - much more fun than collecting glasses in a pub on a zero hours contract.

You took the words right out of my mouth!

You took the words right out of my mouth!

I think this forum is a bit strange at times. Its very different finding and enjoying work in richer parts of the country than many other areas. Lots of people - if they boxed clever - would be better off taking a university course in a place with reasonable rents and working part time/ summer jobs that sweating in an Amazon warehouse being treated like cr*p. Whereabouts are you from?

Oh, as a wild idea, have you looked into army reserves type schemes? They used to be a good way to gain skills and earn some money. A bunch of mates of mine at university (too long ago to be worth anything as advice) joined the navy reserves, loved it, and found it worked well when they applied for banking jobs. Two from very working class families (which is why they needed the money) are pretty rich now - as in buy parents a house and fly them business class to see you in Singapore wealthy.

Experience, networking and getting an internship before spring weeks/summers is key imo. Will make up for the C.