A Levels Vs Diploma - What shall i do!

I dropped out of sixthform last july due to depression, lack of motivation and thinking id failed all my AS levels. (I got 3Bs in the end so I was pretty shocked/chuffed with that :smile:

).

So anyway I want to go back to my studies this year and I have no idea whether to finish my A levels OR do a Travel and tourism diploma. Both would take 1 year to complete.

Pro’s – A levels.

I’ve already started them so should finish them.
At the collage most people would be my age (as a lot of people had to retake the year), or year below me.
I could go to Uni next year and do a T&T degree, which would lead to better job prospects

Cons
I do find my subjects quite zzzzz
Everyone would know each other because they’d been together for a year, and I’d be the new kid who doesn’t know anyone. :frown:

I may have forgotten a lot of the information (although I can always just read over my old notes)

Pros – Travel and Tourism.
No one would really know each other so it would be easier to make friends.
I have a passion for the subject and would like to study for it now if I could.
The collage that does this Diploma is a lot nicer than the Alevels one lol!

Cons
Could I do a degree in it as well? I would like to go to Uni.
A lot of people would be a lot younger than me (I’m 17 btw – 18 in 3 months).

So basically I’d probably rather do the Travel and Tourism Diploma as that is what I find interesting and want as a career. However if I carried on with ALevels I’d do T&T as a degree.

Constructive advice very welcome please :smile:

I don’t need people telling me I shouldn’t have left sixthform – yes I should – I would have done badly this year and I was not in a good place.

Reply 1

Tucking Fypo

You should've never left sixth form..

But seriously, I think you should finish off your A-Levels. But I mean, A2 is obviously more challenging than AS so if you consider them to be "quite zzzzz" maybe you might not be as motivated to go well. I dunno...

Never really known much about diplomas...I do believe it's pretty useful to get into Uni. If you get BBB that's 300 UCAS points right there, so you can get into a decent Uni too.

But yeah...A-levels ftw.

Reply 2

lolilady---O

Can you go into Uni with a diploma :confused:

i didn't know that! i know i should finish the Alevels it would be better for career probably etc and shouldn't just do what i think I'd enjoy more. hmmm..
:smile:

thanks for your advice

Reply 3

Tucking Fypo

Well, I have no idea about diplomas...but you can get into Uni with a BTEC Diploma. But I'm guessing your T+T Diploma isn't a BTEC...because it takes one year to complete? Or can BTECs be done in a year...I seem to be confusing myself.

Reply 4

lolilady---O

I just checked YES it's a BTEC First Diploma! woo :p:

i know A Levels aer supposed to look better and all but you need 5 Cs at GCSE to do both, so it's the same entry criteria.

Reply 5

xximstrongerthanthatxx

if you find your subjects boring, then, why don't start from the beginning, eg take new as-levels???

I'd say do a-levels over the diploma..probably wait a few more years, see it in action before i make up my mind about it. You'd have more career opportunities offered to you if you do a-levels aswell, you may want to do travel and tourism now, but who's to say you'd feel the same way in a few years??

I wouldn't worry about age, at university there are a mixture of people from different backgrounds, ages etc

OH, and well done with overcoming depression!

Reply 6

ParadoxSocks

lolilady---O

I just checked YES it's a BTEC First Diploma! woo :p:

i know A Levels aer supposed to look better and all but you need 5 Cs at GCSE to do both, so it's the same entry criteria.

To get into university you need to do a BTEC National Diploma. Are you sure it's not the National Diploma as that's equal to three A-Levels? A First Diploma is of GCSE standard so wouldn't need GCSEs to get on it.

Reply 7

watermelon sugar

A LEVELS! just finish them. people make friends constanty in college and classes are jigged about and people drop out at A2
first diploma won't get you into college and you are way too intelligent(i mean, you actually passed a levels!) to be wasting your time with that. you'd need to do a two year btec after it as well.

one year with people your age to get reputable qualifications to get you into uni.
or three years with younger people who probably couldn't handle a levels to maybe get you into a not so good uni?
hummm!

Reply 8

meema

i would do the diploma... i bet you can still get uni with it as well as your ASs. Also its something you'd enjoy. I think if you're enthusiastic you'll get a good grade in the diploma anyway... why dont you look and some of the unis and see if they accept the diploma

Reply 9

The_Goose

lolilady---O

I just checked YES it's a BTEC First Diploma! woo :p:

i know A Levels aer supposed to look better and all but you need 5 Cs at GCSE to do both, so it's the same entry criteria.

a first diploma is only worth GCSE's a national diploma is worht A- levels. You won't get in uni with a first diploma. I would finish your A - Levels

Reply 10

blondevalkyrie

Finish your A levels and do a T&T degree

Reply 11

The_Goose

Valkyrie Knows Allthe Answers

Reply 12

blondevalkyrie

lol if only!

Reply 13

sheepgirl

A BTEC First Diploma is equal to 5A*-C GCSEs so wouldnt get you into uni. Would you be able to go into a career in T&T with a first diploma rather than a national diploma (equal to alevels)? How much of a dissadvantage would you be at if you didnt have a degree in T&T? Its easy to say stick it out for a year and would probably be the best option career wise - but if its made you unahppy and depressed before it may be a bit of a risk and far better to be happy doing something you enjoy. Is there anyway you could compromise and continue with 2 Alevels and do the diploma? That way you would get the best of both worlds and I think some unis would accept 2 Alevels for degrees - and certainly foundation degrees.

Good luck with everything xx

Reply 14

SanetteW

Hi all, I'm doing research for an assignment (A-Levels vs Diploma vs Apprenticeships). I must say I'm curious as to what you decided on in the end (13 years later) and what your (@ Lolilady---o) opinion would be now?

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