The gap year and reapplying questions thread

Can't edit my post for some reason. I meant 'apprehensive'.

I can spell! Honest. :puppyeyes:

Reply 182

Liam_G

Original post by Strüberry

x

I love being quoted by you, Strü :love:

I wish I was half as organised/optimistic as you are :colondollar:

I hope that even if my Sixth form wont take me on as a student, they'll at least let me sit my exams there as an external candidate. One of my (insanely intelligent) friends has offered to tutor me in Maths during the holidays as well, which is lovely of her.

I keep suddenly going from being completely confident that I'm going to apply next year, to completely the opposite, it's horrible.

This Chester accommodation thing has definitely made me more uncertain of going there... They say it happens every year, so they've invited me to a house hunting thing, but I don't like the sound of not being in halls AT ALL :no:

Original post by Milky Milk

x

Thanks Milky Milk. Trust me, you don't need to tell me how poor some teachers are :nah:

I'm talking 'bout you, Mr.Williams, the one educator who I would quite happily watch being repeatedly kicked square in their special place :angry:

You taught me nothing, you may have even made me forget things I'd already known previously :nooo:

Reply 183

Tabby10

4

Original post by Liam_G

Loving this thread :love:

You can feel so alone when everyone starts talking about going to University this year, but now I have people to talk to about not going :woo:

Those who are resitting in Jan for unconditionals, if you fail to get the grade again, will you be able to do another resit in June with everyone else? Or have you automatically missed your offer?

(preparing for the worst :colondollar:

)

Spoiler

loooool it@s like i could've written ur spoiler myself

Reply 184

chookieman

In need of advice.
As i've previously mentioned in this thread i'm intending of resitting and getting my grades up from ABB to A*AA. I know its been suggested that unis frown upon retakers, however my situation is more unique. A while ago I was fast-tracked a year upwards, so whilst I will be retaking, I will actually be taking my A-levels in the year the system intended me to.
How do you think Unis will see this - applying for Law at Top 10-20

Reply 185

Surfing_the_shine

Original post by Joanna-Marie :)

[QUOTE=Joanna-Marie [excludedFace]smile[/excludedFace];33752938]I'm thinking off re-applying next year! Basically; I've got a place to start Adult Nursing at the Boston Branch of Nottingham University in January but the hospitals had alot of problems like a damning CQC report & withdrawing students at one point yadda yadda I don't think I want to go there anymore!

Now with one thing and another I'm considering withdrawing altogether & having a gap year seen as I'm already going on a vounteering trip to Mexico with Original Volunteers anyway in October .. so extenting my gap year, doing a bit of travelling, carrying on with some charity work with St. John Ambulance & working alot is looking pretty good atm.

Then I'd re-apply to other universities with a veiw to get into Adult Nursing at either, Teesside (1st choice), Sheffield Hallam (2nd choice), East Anglia (3rd), York 4th or Manchester (5th) :biggrin:

I think i'd be alot happier!

hi im also a prospective nursing student though i've just finished my AS course, can i ask what subjects you undertook? also how did you find out about the reports of hospitals in that area? thanks

Reply 186

Phenylethylamine_

Original post by Milky Milk

Oh no! I'm sorry to hear about your home problems, stuff like that is not welcome at any time, but its especially detrimental during your A-levels. I hope it's better now :hugs:

I guess you have to watch with your course and being a third year student, mainly because Medicine and its related fields are already really competitive. However, I think if you try and bulk up your PS more and obviously get those grades you have a really good chance. You just obviously have to work harder!

I'm sure the universities would prefer you resat and got A*s, then tried first time round and got B's. I definately would talk to your teachers however, although I think if you have the ability to get those grades then I'd definately go for it! Regarding economics, definately talk to your teacher again. Are there required subject choices for biomedics? Do you think they'd look down on Economics because it's not science based? Definately ask your teacher this when you enrol and ask around on TSR threads related to Biomedicine.

At this stage it's unfortunately just the time where you'll exhaust yourself to the max by asking so many questions. Eventually you'll get the answers however and hopefully be on your way to uni next year! :woo:

~~
My situation :tongue:

Well I needed BBB to do Marketing at Lancaster, but unfortunately got ABC and was 1 UMS from a B :frown:

I'm hoping to just resit either the two exams from that subject (Media Studies.. I know.. don't judge me :emo:

) or resit the whole of AS and A2 MS within the year (which includes coursework). I'd need like 80/100 on both exams to get an A, however if I re-do the coursework and ace that (thats not set in stone however, it depends on your group) then I could get an A*. Right now however I'd need 201/200 on my exams to get an A* :teehee:

What are you planning to do other than study this year? :biggrin:

I definately need to make some gap year friends too :tongue:

Aww, thank you :biggrin:

Yeah, it was a tough two years!! Thankfully, things are better now, it was just too much family drama!

Yeah that's the thing, Medicine and its related fields have been so oversubscribed this year..it's ridiculous! I'm really going to try and achieve A*A*B, should be able to now, just have to work super super hard. :rolleyes:

Hmm..that's what I'm thinking, the A*'s will definitely be far more advantageous, also because since I've been emailing universities around, a lot of them issue higher entry grade requirements for resitters. I honestly do feel like I've got the ability to achieve those grades, I really really want them. :tongue:

As for economics, I know for sure it's not required for any Biomedicine degree, but I just think it would look good overall, it is an academic subject after all. Hopefully, if I achieve an A overall for it, it would enhance my entire application. Also, I am genuinely interested in economics :biggrin:

Since I will not be retaking any biology modules, so will still be stuck with a B grade for that, so hopefully a fourth Economics A level at an A grade (what I'm aiming for) would be good!

Haha, I've been soooooo exhausted since results day! I mean, even if I'm not doing anything physically, I'm mentally exhausted just thinking about all of this! When I think about it, I don't deserve it, I've just been extremely unlucky >.< Everyone in my year still got a place through clearing even if achieved lower grades than me. Sadly, I was actually given a verbal offer from Cardiff through clearing but it literally got snatched out of my hands due to bad timing. :mad:

I just think out of everyone, no one would have expected me to be in this situation :s-smilie:

Not that I'm boasting or being full of myself, but I did genuinely work hard and also got two medicine interviews. It's awful from being at such a high to an extreme low.

Although, I'm starting to improve my attitude now, really trying to be optimistic and suck it up, it happens to the best of us :wink:

~~

Aw, I hate the 1 UMS away!! It's happened to me too :mad:

Bless. How comes you didn't go for a remark? well, tbh, remarks are very risky these days!! Just resit the two modules :wink:

I mean, do you really want to go through doing AS and A2? and the coursework? So, you need minimum 80/100 in both exams to secure an A grade? Hmm..well, if you really want to go for the A*, then go for it :biggrin:

Now is the ultimate chance!! :wink:

So, definitely going for Lancaster again? Btw, still well done on your results! You outdid your BBB predictions and was 1 UMS off a B, so you would have got ABB :wink:

Are you thinking to complete all your exams in January and get results by March? (that's if you don't resit Media AS and A2?) That's what I'm trying to do..I don't want to lengthen it :tongue:

But, if I decide to take economics, I will have that one exam in June.

~~
Hmmm..this year, I hope to get quite a lot done! Well, definitely my driving since everrrryone at school is nearly done! Haha.
*Driving
*I learnt British Sign Language before when I was applying for medicine, but now I've forgotten nearly all of it, so re-learn it
*Definitely take some guitar lessons, I tried learning it myself, but it was quite hard
*Learn basic Italian, I've got this cool book to learn it
*Keep cycling
*How can I forget get a job?? I could ask for a job at my local care home, since I've been volunteering there...I need to start applying ASAP
*Play tennis :smile:

*Hopefully go on holiday very soon, I really need a vacation! Couldn't go in the summer holidays, so hoping to go very soon. I would love to go travelling..

Wbu? :biggrin:

P.S. Sorry for the late reply! I've been busy :tongue:

and sorry for my essay haha

Reply 187

Phenylethylamine_

Original post by chookieman

In need of advice.
As i've previously mentioned in this thread i'm intending of resitting and getting my grades up from ABB to A*AA. I know its been suggested that unis frown upon retakers, however my situation is more unique. A while ago I was fast-tracked a year upwards, so whilst I will be retaking, I will actually be taking my A-levels in the year the system intended me to.
How do you think Unis will see this - applying for Law at Top 10-20

Hmm..I think you will need to individually contact the unis you're interested in, ask what their stance on it is. Hopefully, a university can give you a guarantee that they will definitely consider you as a normal applicant. Also, you could ask your referee to mention it in your reference. :wink:

Good luck!

Reply 188

Phenylethylamine_

Original post by angelic03

Yup it has changed. There is NO multiple choice I'm afraid! The 2nd section at AS is now the 1st section at A2. You have a choice of 2 data responses, and you only answer 1. Then the 2nd section of the exam, you answer 1 of 4 essay questions. The essay question is in 2 parts. 1st part is work 15 marks and the 2nd part is worth 25 parts.

check out this link for a past paper: http://store.aqa.org.uk/qual/gce/pdf/AQA-ECON3-W-QP-JAN10.PDF

hope the link works...

If you want me to be honest, I think that you might find it challenging considering you have missed a year, so be prepared to work your socks off! good luck :smile:

Ahh I checked out the paper, it does seem harder xD I think it will definitely be challenging, I'm just asking teachers now for advice, I really do want to do it as well, I'm genuinely interested in Economics :tongue:

Thanks for the advice :biggrin:

Reply 189

Joanna-Marie :)

15

Original post by Surfing_the_shine

hi im also a prospective nursing student though i've just finished my AS course, can i ask what subjects you undertook? also how did you find out about the reports of hospitals in that area? thanks

Look on the CQC & NMC websites .. they should have all the information about failing hospitals (as well as good hospitals) and full reports for recent visits and inspections :smile:

I took a BTEC Level 3 Health & Social care course at college because it joined with the local hospital & I was able to do placements on the wards which was good for gaining invalueable experience but if your doing 'proper' A-Levels i'd reconmend subject such as;

Biology/ Human Biology/ Anatomy
Medical Science
Applied Science
Pyschology
Sociology/ Social Sciences

or even things such as Sports Studies (I did this at GCSE & we did modules on Health and Safety, The Body in Sport, Anatomy & Potential Injuries and First aid)

which are the sorts of subject i'd have done if I hadn't got on my Cadet Nursing course :smile:

obviously it goes on what your place of study offers & what your strenghts are but as long as you have some form of science (which is what universities mainly look for) in there you should be fine :smile:

Also if your looking for things that are going to make you stand out other than your A-level you could look into doing a First Aid course or joining St. John Ambulance (which I'm a member of & I thing it really does help) or even the Red Cross & see if anyone is willing to let you do some work experience in places such as Care Homes or with a school nurse .. just a thought :smile:

Good Luck

Reply 190

Original post by Milky Milk

x

This is also very good advice! Ignore the thing about being naked in the garden though. Apparently we have "laws" against that sort of thing.

:emo:

Original post by Liam_G

I love being quoted by you, Strü :love:

I wish I was half as organised/optimistic as you are :colondollar:

I hope that even if my Sixth form wont take me on as a student, they'll at least let me sit my exams there as an external candidate. One of my (insanely intelligent) friends has offered to tutor me in Maths during the holidays as well, which is lovely of her.

I keep suddenly going from being completely confident that I'm going to apply next year, to completely the opposite, it's horrible.

This Chester accommodation thing has definitely made me more uncertain of going there... They say it happens every year, so they've invited me to a house hunting thing, but I don't like the sound of not being in halls AT ALL :no:

Pah, you're welcome. :love:

I totally understand you on the flitting between different moods all the time. One minute I'm all lah di dah and really happy to be on a gap year because I get to improve things I've wanted for ages. So much time! But then all the arranging of things like SF and resits plus the thought of winter beckoning just makes me tired and upset. Ah well. It's only a brief spell! I love how everyone thinks I'm organised here! I'm literally the laziest person in England. My idea of a productive day = walking around in my duvet watching Tudors.

Full of ideas, completely devoid of determination and backbone tbh but that's all going to change this year innit. :u:

When are you going house hunting? I thought I might stay at home at first because I live 20 minutes away from KCL. But I searched dozens of threads on TSR and the general consensus is that living in halls is much social and better for your confidence, and even though you can get away with living off-campus, you'll have to make the twice the effort as everyone else to keep up. That did it for me because I'm a little shy and lazy so not a good mix lol. But for all we know your potential housemates could be very adorable and less erratic than people in halls?

Let us know what happens!

Reply 191

James10000

take a Gap year, you will love it
I recommend Far East Asia around thailand area

Reply 192

cwd12

8

Original post by chookieman

In need of advice.
As i've previously mentioned in this thread i'm intending of resitting and getting my grades up from ABB to A*AA. I know its been suggested that unis frown upon retakers, however my situation is more unique. A while ago I was fast-tracked a year upwards, so whilst I will be retaking, I will actually be taking my A-levels in the year the system intended me to.
How do you think Unis will see this - applying for Law at Top 10-20

You could lie (not actually lie, but kinda twist the truth). I'm not an expert so I don't know what unis will prefer to hear, but you could just apply as if your going into your second year of college, give them your AS results, give them your predicted grades (A*AA I'm guessing) and you could tell them you did a few A2 modules early (the ones you did better in) that way they won't see you as a retaker though. But I don't know if that will make you look better or not.

Reply 193

chookieman

Original post by cwd12

You could lie (not actually lie, but kinda twist the truth). I'm not an expert so I don't know what unis will prefer to hear, but you could just apply as if your going into your second year of college, give them your AS results, give them your predicted grades (A*AA I'm guessing) and you could tell them you did a few A2 modules early (the ones you did better in) that way they won't see you as a retaker though. But I don't know if that will make you look better or not.

thought of this, but it begs the question what happened in the year between I did my AS levels, and this coming year?

Reply 194

cwd12

8

Original post by chookieman

thought of this, but it begs the question what happened in the year between I did my AS levels, and this coming year?

Ahh yeah I see sorry I didnt really think my reply through too well. You could always say you did your AS's Last year instead of telling them it was actually the year before?

Reply 195

puma21

I gained ABB for my A levels do I stand much of a chance reapllying and aiming at AAA courses?

Reply 196

Swell

Original post by puma21

I gained ABB for my A levels do I stand much of a chance reapllying and aiming at AAA courses?

Depends on your predicted grades and PS I guess.

Reply 197

Liam_G

Do Universities look down on you for using your Personal Statement from the previous year? I'm not going to use all of it, but there were a few snippets that I was rather proud of :colondollar:

Will it affect their decision at all?

I hope to god that I manage to get an offer again this time around, I'll feel awful if I don't. How do you think I can show my firm just how badly I want to go there?

Reply 198

Original post by Milky Milk

Got back into college, yay! :h:

Just received this email from UG admissions at Lancaster, I was so scared to open it. It was like results day all over again:

Hallelujah! :woo:

Oh, I really hope they don't offer higher grades for us. That wouldn't be very nice. :sad:

It's just dawned on me that summer is finally over. Can't believe it is September already!

Reply 199