Hey!
Right here is my life story so far... in 2005 my predicted grades were AAA and I had a conditional offer from Oxford for AAA to study History (St Catz - a pretty crap looking college, v 1960s but hey I was happy just to get in after being pooled) and my insurance of AAB at Manchester.
My actual grades were ABB ( got A in History, B's in gov&pol and biology) I cried for a week, but decided from the very first moment not to do clearing (fewer spaces than normal because of tuition fees coming and I did not want to do Theology at London Met!) SOOO.... I got on with my life...I went to a crammer called MPW in London. Far better teaching than in my old school, better exam board availability, made some fab friends, got to live in London (family home actually in Brussels).
I reapplied to universities, making sure I went for a couple who's requirements were ABB so I was sure I was going to univerisity next year, rejuggled my personal statement saying how retaking showed how determined I was to achieve my best and rang up about a million unis asking what their policy was on retakers and what effect would it have on the grade requirements (they may want to you to achieve higher grades, another AS, an AEA) .
These are my uni offers for History
OXFORD - AAA at Lincoln (no mention of it in interview, no pooling, much older and prettier and lovelier)
LEEDS - AAB
SHEFFIELD -AAB
UEA - UNCONDITIONAL
SOUTHAMPTON - UNCONDITIONAL
NEWCASTLE - AAB
so it just goes to show that what seemed like the end of the world was in fact a huge opportunity for me...if you know you are good enough and the grades do not represent your capabilities then prove it to universities - they are much more impressed by your love for a subject and utter desire to study it than exams which they know can and do go wrong for a number of reasons.
NB If you do not intend to right your wrongs when retaking - ie don't stay out late every night, do revision etc then do not bother.
Many of my friends wanted to medicine and had got Bs instead of As in either Biology/Chemistry - it is much harder for them and other retakers on completely overapplied subjects to even get an interview nevermind an offer so for all you vets/medics/dentists YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! However, Idon't think the same principle applies for those who are just retaking a couple of AS units during your overall course...so its not all bad!
Any queries just PM me!
My that was a long message ... oh well ...I'm done now!