Should I just give it all up?

Hi! I came across this thread quite randomly but here's my advice. Please take it with a grain of salt because life happens.

Firstly, I sympathize with your situation. I took 2 gap years after high school and it all turned out okay for me.

If Hull is the best uni you can get into right now then go for it. Work hard, get good grades and then apply to better unis for a master's degree with a good first-class undergrad degree. Post-grad admission is a whole different ball game and they will look at your academic potential more than they will look at the prestige of your university. The basic principles of Economics are the same no matter where you go. Try to be a research assistant for your econ professors etc to build up your CV. Choose an interesting thesis topic and do rigorous analysis. That will be looked upon favorably, more so than the fact that you went to Hull.

As for me, I ended up in the USA. I got a double major in economics and biology. I currently work in investment banking in New York City and am applying to LLB programs in the UK. All this to say that Hull is not the end of the world. Use the opportunities given to you wisely and leverage your experiences to climb the ladder. 3 years pass by fast and the trajectory of your life and career is not dictated by your high school grades. Yes, there are people who directly get to go to Oxbridge but just because you don't have the same path as them doesn't mean you are worse off. Find other ways to make yourself an attractive candidate to universities for post-grad! Think for the long term and work towards it. It really isn't too late!

Hi! I came across this thread quite randomly but here's my advice. Please take it with a grain of salt because life happens.

Firstly, I sympathize with your situation. I took 2 gap years after high school and it all turned out okay for me.

If Hull is the best uni you can get into right now then go for it. Work hard, get good grades and then apply to better unis for a master's degree with a good first-class undergrad degree. Post-grad admission is a whole different ball game and they will look at your academic potential more than they will look at the prestige of your university. The basic principles of Economics are the same no matter where you go. Try to be a research assistant for your econ professors etc to build up your CV. Choose an interesting thesis topic and do rigorous analysis. That will be looked upon favorably, more so than the fact that you went to Hull.

As for me, I ended up in the USA. I got a double major in economics and biology. I currently work in investment banking in New York City and am applying to LLB programs in the UK. All this to say that Hull is not the end of the world. Use the opportunities given to you wisely and leverage your experiences to climb the ladder. 3 years pass by fast and the trajectory of your life and career is not dictated by your high school grades. Yes, there are people who directly get to go to Oxbridge but just because you don't have the same path as them doesn't mean you are worse off. Find other ways to make yourself an attractive candidate to universities for post-grad! Think for the long term and work towards it. It really isn't too late!

Start by being a good student and getting good grades in your econ classes. Go to office hours and talk to the professors about problem sets etc. Read your professor's research and ask them questions about it to show your interest in their research. Then start talking about your hope to pursue higher education in Econ and possibly of getting a PhD etc. Finally, ask them how you can gain further experience in Econ research and inquire about the possibility of becoming their RA. They may have a position open. They may not. If they don't, they might give you additional reading, or refer you to another prof! Do this with multiple profs for better chances but remember, it's not about the numbers but about showing your profs that 1) you will be a good RA, 2) you are genuinely interested in their research and want to be a part of it, and 3) you want to learn the practical application of econ (which is not what happens in lectures etc.).

Good luck!

Start by being a good student and getting good grades in your econ classes. Go to office hours and talk to the professors about problem sets etc. Read your professor's research and ask them questions about it to show your interest in their research. Then start talking about your hope to pursue higher education in Econ and possibly of getting a PhD etc. Finally, ask them how you can gain further experience in Econ research and inquire about the possibility of becoming their RA. They may have a position open. They may not. If they don't, they might give you additional reading, or refer you to another prof! Do this with multiple profs for better chances but remember, it's not about the numbers but about showing your profs that 1) you will be a good RA, 2) you are genuinely interested in their research and want to be a part of it, and 3) you want to learn the practical application of econ (which is not what happens in lectures etc.).

Good luck!