The Student Room Group

In need of advice please

I screwed up and now really don't know what to do for the best.

GCSEs were a doddle (As and A*s) and I'd never had to work at anything so carried on like this into A levels. College wanted me to do Oxbridge but I knew I wasn't that bright or that type of person so I passed. Applied to do Maths at Leeds, Southampton, Exeter, Bristol and Cardiff. Bristol turned me down and rest all offered AAB so no insurance offer. Predicted grades were AABC.

Screwed up AS a bit and took some resits, but still didn't learn my lesson - too much socialising and dance classes, not enough work. I went to class and did most of the set work but not particularly well and nothing extra. Turned 18 and alcohol and clubbing leapt into the equation too resulting in a mixed bag of module tests/resits in Jan.

Parents got concerned and insisted on more serious amounts of work, very little social life and some extra tuition, and I worked harder than I ever had before (though ps said could still work harder of course) but by then it was too late and I got B in Maths, C in Further Maths plus another B and C.

None of the half-way decent universities will touch me for Maths without an A (I've rung them all), only the old polys and places like Kent etc. Swansea offered me a place and I'm trying to keep an open mind and going to visit tomorrow, but what I really want is my place at Leeds. Really want to take a year out and resit maths modules for 2011 entry. Parents don't think I have it in me to study hard enough to get my B and C to As. They may be right. Also beginning to doubt my maths ability as the module grades were much lower than I expected after the exams - didn't seem to go that badly. Maybe I'm just not good enough to do maths at all.

College has been useless with advice (go into clearing) and I just don't trust my own judgement any more. If I take a year to resit parents will breathe down my neck all year but Swansea just wasn't the sort of uni I wanted. What if I take a year and still don't make the grade or the unis ask for higher because I did resits. I'm so stressed out and I know its my own fault. What do I do?
Reply 1
The University of Kent and Swansea university are not ex-polys - you should see if you like the one you go to tomorrow. If not then you're going to have to resit. No point going somewhere if you're not going to like it.
Reply 2
can you go to uni and resit at the same time? is there a poosibility?
Kimmetje
x


Why dont you go to Swansea, do really well in the first year and transfer to Leeds in the 2nd year?
Reply 4
jakemittle
Why dont you go to Swansea, do really well in the first year and transfer to Leeds in the 2nd year?


Is this possible? Why would Leeds consider someone who has gone somewhere else first?
Reply 5
Kimmetje
I screwed up and now really don't know what to do for the best.

GCSEs were a doddle (As and A*s) and I'd never had to work at anything so carried on like this into A levels. College wanted me to do Oxbridge but I knew I wasn't that bright or that type of person so I passed. Applied to do Maths at Leeds, Southampton, Exeter, Bristol and Cardiff. Bristol turned me down and rest all offered AAB so no insurance offer. Predicted grades were AABC.

Screwed up AS a bit and took some resits, but still didn't learn my lesson - too much socialising and dance classes, not enough work. I went to class and did most of the set work but not particularly well and nothing extra. Turned 18 and alcohol and clubbing leapt into the equation too resulting in a mixed bag of module tests/resits in Jan.

Parents got concerned and insisted on more serious amounts of work, very little social life and some extra tuition, and I worked harder than I ever had before (though ps said could still work harder of course) but by then it was too late and I got B in Maths, C in Further Maths plus another B and C.

None of the half-way decent universities will touch me for Maths without an A (I've rung them all), only the old polys and places like Kent etc. Swansea offered me a place and I'm trying to keep an open mind and going to visit tomorrow, but what I really want is my place at Leeds. Really want to take a year out and resit maths modules for 2011 entry. Parents don't think I have it in me to study hard enough to get my B and C to As. They may be right. Also beginning to doubt my maths ability as the module grades were much lower than I expected after the exams - didn't seem to go that badly. Maybe I'm just not good enough to do maths at all.

College has been useless with advice (go into clearing) and I just don't trust my own judgement any more. If I take a year to resit parents will breathe down my neck all year but Swansea just wasn't the sort of uni I wanted. What if I take a year and still don't make the grade or the unis ask for higher because I did resits. I'm so stressed out and I know its my own fault. What do I do?
I think this is the nub of it. Understandably you are still getting to grips with what's happened. However, even if you took a year out to resit, there's no certainty that you would get another offer from Leeds.

I am encouraged that you are keeping an open mind about Swansea - you may find that you really like it and feel at home, or you may conclude that it's absolutely not the place for you. Take that as your starting point for what to do next.

It's not surprising that you are feeling doubtful at the moment about your ability in Maths - is there any other subject/course that interests you? Had you considered alternative courses with a strong but not overwhelming Maths content? I'm not saying don't do Maths, of course, but just suggesting other possibilities.

On the transfer to Leeds after a year possibility, that would depend on whether the courses at Swansea and Leeds were compatible. To be honest, it's not that good an idea to go to a uni with a game plan reading 'get out of here at the end of year 1'. If you go to Swansea (or anywhere else) you need to 'let go' of Leeds - hankering after missed opportunities (and you will come across enough of those in life, we all do) means you will not be able to make the most of opportunities you do have. Which is a waste.
Kimmetje
x


Can I ask..why Leeds?
Reply 7
Thanks for the thoughts. Visited Swansea and there was nothing wrong with it (except Woodside flats!), but it just isn't for me. Think I have to resit and find the self discipline I've been lacking so far from somewhere.

As to why Leeds. The course allowed me to do a percentage of totally unrelated non-examined modules alongside Maths and I just loved the whole feel of the university and city. I live in the sticks and want a big change. Plus three clubs in the su!
Kimmetje
Thanks for the thoughts. Visited Swansea and there was nothing wrong with it (except Woodside flats!), but it just isn't for me. Think I have to resit and find the self discipline I've been lacking so far from somewhere.

As to why Leeds. The course allowed me to do a percentage of totally unrelated non-examined modules alongside Maths and I just loved the whole feel of the university and city. I live in the sticks and want a big change. Plus three clubs in the su!


Sometimes, things like this are the kick up the backside that you need. I'm much the same - breezed through GCSEs and A-levels, it took a couple of close calls on uni exams to make me realise that this is something I actually need to work hard for.
The problem with taking a year out to resit, is that you're going to be applying to univerisites with your current grades. Something to bare in mind (that's one of the reasons I took a place through clearing), :smile: Good luck with whatever you chose

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