If you mess up A levels, what to do next?

I definitely don't think retaking your A* and A grades is a good idea- it is a risk your grades would go down.

Hopefully the unis get back to you soon, but now is obviously a busy time for them!

Did your firm know about your situation in advance?

You would need to tell Southampton that you wish to withdraw completely, and UCAS.

As an example of the 14 day rule, this is taken from the Leicester uni website

https://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/sas2/fees-and-finance/withdrawing-from-your-studies-1

A small update: I contacted UCL regarding retakes for computer science and they responded with "we do not mind at all if you retake for Computer Science". I followed this up by asking if I would have to resit all three or I could just resit one, and they said that I could just resit one, only needing to get one more A*.
I didn't expect this response, and I still know getting an offer would be tough, since their offer rate for 2018 when I looked was only around 18%. Should I just ignore this? Or..?

A small update: I contacted UCL regarding retakes for computer science and they responded with "we do not mind at all if you retake for Computer Science". I followed this up by asking if I would have to resit all three or I could just resit one, and they said that I could just resit one, only needing to get one more A*.
I didn't expect this response, and I still know getting an offer would be tough, since their offer rate for 2018 when I looked was only around 18%. Should I just ignore this? Or..?

A small update: I contacted UCL regarding retakes for computer science and they responded with "we do not mind at all if you retake for Computer Science". I followed this up by asking if I would have to resit all three or I could just resit one, and they said that I could just resit one, only needing to get one more A*.
I didn't expect this response, and I still know getting an offer would be tough, since their offer rate for 2018 when I looked was only around 18%. Should I just ignore this? Or..?

That’s promising and it seems like they’d definitely consider you — you still might be disadvantaged but at least you know you’re not completely discounted.

@harrysbar is right about the offer rates occasionally being misleading, but again I wouldn’t put everything on getting an offer as it can be difficult as I’m sure you’re aware.

I don’t know if you’ve decided to turn down the Southampton offer or are still considering it; I imagine with how close it is to freshers now you’ve decided to turn it down.

I personally think your grades are strong enough already without the pressure of resitting but if that’s what you’ve decided to do there’s no harm in applying to UCL.

Best of luck

I've wanted to keep southampton as plan B so have still not declined it ;(
I think I'll have to reluctantly take it up, as it's the safest bet I have right now.
It was my firms freshers today and I had a close friend off to do the same course there today :/
I'm still considering my other options though. Could you elaborate on what I would do taking a gap year with the same grades?
Most of the good UK unis want A*AA for comp sci. With A*AB I don't meet most of these offers. Even Southampton for example want A*AA for their computer science course.
Thanks

You still have the option to decline it, but you’re cutting it very fine. With some freshers weeks beginning next week, you really need to decide; haven’t you already bought stuff, have accommodation if you’re going to Southampton?

I think you’ve dragged it on too much now and Southampton is going to be the best bet as you’ve got a place with very good grades at a very good uni.

With the grades you’ve got, the chances of still being offered a place even with one grade below is possible. They know what you’ve achieved and are clearly capable; look at the offer rates of the ones you’re keen on and have a mix.

I’ve just looked and with Southampton’s freshers in 2 weeks time, you really need to try and decide by the end of today. Get a plan and stick to it

The plan was to go for Southampton and wait for remoderation results.
In the unlikely (but hopeful) case remoderation goes up and I manage to get an A for Computer Science, I would most likely reapply for 2020 with A*AAB. Issue with this is that remoderation would most likely arrive after I start at Southampton, meaning I would have to drop out.
In the case remoderation doesn't work and I don't like the course, I would again have to drop out, and then I would retake one of my a levels and hope to achieve A*A*AB (not in one sitting).
Issue with this plan is that I am assuming that southampton would only charge me first term fees for both accomodation and tuition if I were to drop out. I can take the hit on one term fees but if they're reluctant and charge me the whole year fees then that'd be an issue.
PS I'm too gutted to buy stuff for uni just yet so that wasn't an issue

Judging by what you’ve said, it doesn’t seem you’re planning to go to Southampton or want to go there at all.

Regardless of your moderated marks, I would reject the place there. You’ve said yourself you’re “too gutted” to buy uni things so so the best case scenario right now I think is to just withdraw your place.

You don’t seem enthralled to be going there at all and you should be. Whether you resit or just reapply, I would decline the Southampton offer so you can think straight and have it out of the way.

As much as I want to do this, I don't want to risk losing a place.
I think it's more the thought that I got there through clearing that puts me off, and it would be the same situation of reluctantly taking a "forced" gap year.
I understand I'm being picky for what my situation is, and that i've done this to myself. However, getting into the unis I wanted: Camb/Imperial/UCL/Edinburgh seems unrealistic if I were to resit or reapply.

You’re going back and forwards and people are losing patience — sorry to be blunt but that’s what’s occurring.

“As much as I want to do this” — this implies that you don’t want to go Southampton at all and aren’t enthralled about the idea. You should be excited about going to go to uni and the fresh start but you’re acting like someone’s holding a gun against your head. The fact you’re “too gutted” to even buy your things says it all; you’ve mentally told yourself you don’t want to go and can’t motivate yourself.

If the problem is genuinely you got there through clearing, who cares? Yourself? You got A*ABB, which would be regarded as very good grades. Unless you tell people, no one will know you went through clearing. Your lecturers won’t know, your course mates won’t know and neither will your flatmates. So going through clearing makes absolutely no difference.

You’re right, getting into the likes of Cambridge, Imperial and UCL are difficult enough when you’re a first time applicant, let alone a resit candidate. They’re unlikely now I’m afraid. Going to UCL isn’t the be and end all of your job prospects, regardless of what you think.

Sorry to be so blunt but it’s frustrating considering you’ve had over 3 weeks now to weigh up your options.

I’d cancel the Southampton offer as you don’t want to go there and that’s obvious. Whether you resit or just reapply then that’s up to you.

The plan was to go for Southampton and wait for remoderation results.
In the unlikely (but hopeful) case remoderation goes up and I manage to get an A for Computer Science, I would most likely reapply for 2020 with A*AAB. Issue with this is that remoderation would most likely arrive after I start at Southampton, meaning I would have to drop out.
In the case remoderation doesn't work and I don't like the course, I would again have to drop out, and then I would retake one of my a levels and hope to achieve A*A*AB (not in one sitting).
Issue with this plan is that I am assuming that southampton would only charge me first term fees for both accomodation and tuition if I were to drop out. I can take the hit on one term fees but if they're reluctant and charge me the whole year fees then that'd be an issue.

Sorry about this,
It's true that i've had 3 weeks, but the situation has kept changing slowly, such as getting my remarked results and getting responses from unis about resits. I'm just as frustrated for not coming to a decision
Thanks for your suggestion; I may have made myself seem very reluctant towards Southampton, but it's mostly regret for not making one of the big 3 unis. I think I'll stick to the plan I mentioned before:

It'll give me the chance to decide for sure whether the course is truly right for me, without having to speculate it from a bias view point (of wanting to go elsewhere like my firm), though it's risky.
Thanks for your advice, and I take every bit of it on board.

@harrysbar @Arisapo
Things have changed once again...
I got my remarked result back for Computer Science (not the remoderation I mentioned previously, this is just a remark of one paper), surprisingly I managed to go up to an A grade in Computer Science now.
I now stand at A*AAB. I have contacted my firm and am waiting for a response. It is very unlikely they will give me an offer for 2019 entry, but likely it will be a deferred entry for 2020 if they want to. (I meet my firm offer of A*AA now).
I am now unsure of what to do in the case I get a deferred entry for 2020. That is, in terms of how to go about dropping my Southampton offer (for which freshers starts on the 21st), and what I would do during this "gap year".
I would like to sit the STEP papers if I end up on a gap year, but am not sure what else I would be doing during this year.
Any further suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I apologise for the changing circumstances, but really appreciate your advice and support throughout this.

Firstly, congratulations on the remark, that’s excellent news and as you say, you should now get a deferred offer from your Firm at the very least. At work so can’t give a long response but I think you should defo phone up Southampton now and tell them you would like to withdraw, they will talk you through it