Depressed from clearing/dilemma

Now I have an offer from Sheffield to study Chemistry, but I feel I could do better.

I thought to myself that I could do well in my first year in Sheffield then transfer universities

Basically those are the only options I have and I think I have evaluated them quite throughly. Im in a dilemma. Can anyone give me any advice or just their opinion? It will be greatly appreciated.

Seriously, Sheffield is a great university and a great city. A chemistry degree from there will set you up very well - don't feel disheartened, just go for it!

Basically I didn't get into my firm, which was UCL, and I had no insurance. I had an offer of AAB and I achieved AAC. I got an A in Chemistry, Maths, and a C in Economics. Im not unhappy with my results and in fact I'm quite proud of them especially the A in Maths; however the C in Economics is holding me back so much.

AAC is one of the worst combination of grades you could get. With the cap being ABB, AAC is useless. When I phoned one uni to display my interest in one of their courses in clearing they asked me for my grades. I told them my grades and the uni rejected me straight away saying they do not accept anyone with C grades. The most frustrating thing was they did not even ask me what subjects I achieved the grades in. They wanted ABB including Chemistry just to make matters clear. Economics was in no way related to the course too.

Clearing so far has been a horrible experience, its basically something for people who has ABB or higher. I would not say my grades are bad, but I just feel that many people who has got ABB in less respectable subjects than me are getting places that I would not have a chance getting simply because they have ABB.

Now I have an offer from Sheffield to study Chemistry, but I feel I could do better. Im unsure whether I should go to Sheffield or spend another year in college, but if I spend a year in college what should I study? If I was to spend an extra year in college I would only try and improve my Economics grade since I already have 2A's in the other subjects. To qualify as a full time student I have to study at least study 3 subjects. There will be little point in studying AS subjects since I doubt they would form a part of an offer if I was to apply next year. The only subject I thought I could do was Further Maths as I could get a whole A-Level in a year. If I do an extra year a lot of problems will come with it too e.g No January exams next year, unis might give me higher offers, I cannot guarantee getting better results for economics, and I don't know if I could get a good grade for Further Maths especially when I'll have to do all 6 maths exams in the summer.

I thought to myself that I could do well in my first year in Sheffield then transfer universities, but then I realised that it would be such a hard thing to do since the chemistry modules at Sheffield are quite unique and it will have to be similar to the modules the university I want to transfer to are offering. Not to mention that some may be strict on their A-Level requirements.

Basically those are the only options I have and I think I have evaluated them quite throughly. Im in a dilemma. Can anyone give me any advice or just their opinion? It will be greatly appreciated.

Im in such a similar situation to you! I missed my Law offers for Bristol/Exeter (AAB) because I got ABB. I've had my heart set on going to both of those places for the whole two years of A Levels. However, I got into Sheffield to do Law but I'm not satisfied.

Don't get me wrong, Sheffield is an amazing university but if I'm going to university I want it to feel like an achievement rather than a compromise because I couldn't go where I want to. All my family think I'm crazy for even debating whether I should go or not. I think I'm going to go but I'm also seriously considering re-taking a year.

Sheffield is an excellent university
The guardian has them at 20 in their tables (UCL are 15) for chemistry



This is always dodgy - more so because of the issues that you mention



My opinion would be "go to Sheffield"

Sheffield is a fantastic university and a great city. Could you see yourself being happy there? If so, I'd take the offer and prepare myself for a good three years.

The problem with Clearing is that you are a) making a decision about the next three years in a very short space of time, and b) it was a decision that you realistically expected to not have to make. It requires you to have a bit of clarity at a time when you're unlikely to be able to do so!

Thank you, I do value your opinion. I do know Sheffield is a great uni, but I dont know whether I would be happy there.

Thank you, I do value your opinion. I do know Sheffield is a great uni, but I dont know whether I would be happy there.

Thank you for your advice. My problem is exactly as you say. I still havent even gotten over the fact that I didnt get into my firm and now I have to decide where I want to study for the next 3 years.

You've pulled the words out of my mouth. I just feel a down because I didnt get in where I wanted to go. Of course sheffield is a great uni, but I dont see myself really wanting to go there. I dont think my family wants me to do an extra year though

Exactly the same as me. Went out with my friends last night to 'celebrate' but I felt like I had nothing to celebrate, all I had was a compromised university place because I couldn't attend my firm. I probably don't help myself by also going on twitter and reading that lots of my friends have got into Bristol/Exeter.

To be honest, I've been pretty sad/depressed for the past couple days and really hating the thought of doing a re-take year. However, today after getting an accommodation offer and researching a lot about sheffield employment statistics I'm actually starting to look forward to it. there are so many friendly people and societies to join. I also hear myself moaning 'oh yeah I got into Sheffield to do Law but I'm not happy' and I just get annoyed with myself, I sound ridiculous. I think I'm so caught up in the league table bubble.

What are you going to do in the end? I've decided to just go to Sheffield, I don't want to/can't be bothered to do a re-take year... I'm forever going to have a chip on my shoulder about Bristol/Exeter but there is nothing I can do. But I totally get how you feel, today is the only day since results that I've actually felt mildly happy about going to university.

Im in such a similar situation to you! I missed my Law offers for Bristol/Exeter (AAB) because I got ABB. I've had my heart set on going to both of those places for the whole two years of A Levels. However, I got into Sheffield to do Law but I'm not satisfied.

Don't get me wrong, Sheffield is an amazing university but if I'm going to university I want it to feel like an achievement rather than a compromise because I couldn't go where I want to. All my family think I'm crazy for even debating whether I should go or not. I think I'm going to go but I'm also seriously considering re-taking a year.

Basically I didn't get into my firm, which was UCL, and I had no insurance. I had an offer of AAB and I achieved AAC. I got an A in Chemistry, Maths, and a C in Economics. Im not unhappy with my results and in fact I'm quite proud of them especially the A in Maths; however the C in Economics is holding me back so much.

AAC is one of the worst combination of grades you could get. With the cap being ABB, AAC is useless. When I phoned one uni to display my interest in one of their courses in clearing they asked me for my grades. I told them my grades and the uni rejected me straight away saying they do not accept anyone with C grades. The most frustrating thing was they did not even ask me what subjects I achieved the grades in. They wanted ABB including Chemistry just to make matters clear. Economics was in no way related to the course too.

Clearing so far has been a horrible experience, its basically something for people who has ABB or higher. I would not say my grades are bad, but I just feel that many people who has got ABB in less respectable subjects than me are getting places that I would not have a chance getting simply because they have ABB.

Now I have an offer from Sheffield to study Chemistry, but I feel I could do better. Im unsure whether I should go to Sheffield or spend another year in college, but if I spend a year in college what should I study? If I was to spend an extra year in college I would only try and improve my Economics grade since I already have 2A's in the other subjects. To qualify as a full time student I have to study at least study 3 subjects. There will be little point in studying AS subjects since I doubt they would form a part of an offer if I was to apply next year. The only subject I thought I could do was Further Maths as I could get a whole A-Level in a year. If I do an extra year a lot of problems will come with it too e.g No January exams next year, unis might give me higher offers, I cannot guarantee getting better results for economics, and I don't know if I could get a good grade for Further Maths especially when I'll have to do all 6 maths exams in the summer.

I thought to myself that I could do well in my first year in Sheffield then transfer universities, but then I realised that it would be such a hard thing to do since the chemistry modules at Sheffield are quite unique and it will have to be similar to the modules the university I want to transfer to are offering. Not to mention that some may be strict on their A-Level requirements.

Basically those are the only options I have and I think I have evaluated them quite throughly. Im in a dilemma. Can anyone give me any advice or just their opinion? It will be greatly appreciated.