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#NoWrongPath - Results 2020

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Time for some Fleetwood Mac:

If you wake up and don't want to smile
If it takes just a little while
Open your eyes and look at the day
You'll see things in a different way

Why not think about times to come?
And not about the things that you've done
If your life was bad to you
Just think what tomorrow will do

Reply 41

Original post
by chloenix
Yes you can still go!
First of all if you are lucky enough you might get an unconditional offer (if your application is exceptional) meaning that even if you don't achieve those grades you will get in regardless.
If on results day you don't get those exact grades you can phone to admissions office to see if they'd still consider you, or you could do a foundation year if you want! There are actually lots of options so don't worry! :smile:
Also why do you think you won't be able to achieve those grades? You shouldn't put yourself down so early on! If you work hard then there's no reason that you won't! :smile:


its nit that i dont think i can achieve those grades because i do as history im good at its just i thought that if you didnt get an A you couldnt go to uni and i oreferably would want to avoid foundation year as it will be 4 years to become a teacher and thats long enough an extra year if i decide to do senco in the future.

Reply 42

Original post
by CoolCavy
Avatars can be found below :biggrin: To set an avatar simply save one of the below images to your desktop, click here, scroll to the bottom and click 'upload custom avatar'. Then upload the file from your desktop and click save :woo:

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This is awesome! How did you get a gif behind it?
Original post
by X.243llie
its nit that i dont think i can achieve those grades because i do as history im good at its just i thought that if you didnt get an A you couldnt go to uni and i oreferably would want to avoid foundation year as it will be 4 years to become a teacher and thats long enough an extra year if i decide to do senco in the future.

As someone who's now got a History degree after receving a B in A Level History and is soon to start my PGCE as a history teacher, I can assure you that you can most certainly go to university without an A grade.

There's a handful of universities who won't take students without an A grade in history but it's not many and there are many excellent courses out there for you. :smile:

Reply 44

Original post
by X.243llie
its nit that i dont think i can achieve those grades because i do as history im good at its just i thought that if you didnt get an A you couldnt go to uni and i oreferably would want to avoid foundation year as it will be 4 years to become a teacher and thats long enough an extra year if i decide to do senco in the future.

In the grand scheme of things, taking an extra year so that you can do the course you want to (if you end up wanting to take a foundation year, or anything else for that matter, like resitting, or even just a gap year) really isn't much time.

Reply 45

dont worry im sure youll do great

Reply 46

Original post
by Charlotte's Web
Going to repost what I popped in the SQA #NoWrongPath thread:

I didn't do amazingly well in my A levels - my results weren't bad but they were across a big range (ACD) which made it hard to meet entry criteria for lots of universities (most required BBC, for example, which I didn't meet). I was definitely disappointed, I did well in my GCSEs getting As across the board and I really felt I'd let myself and my parents down, despite getting into university. I had always done so well academically and I really felt my A level results didn't reflect that.

I was really well prepared for uni - I'd done lots of work experience and research and I felt I was ahead of the game. The nursing degree was incredibly hard and I stuck through it despite it having a really negative effect on my mental health. Throughout the degree I developed an interest in palliative care and was 100% sure I wanted to work in a hospice. I did lots of extra work experience and made myself a really attractive candidate. I managed to get a job in a hospice immediately on qualifying, which is not an easy thing to do. Unfortunately, as time went on in that role I found some things I fundamentally disagreed with in terms of how patients were treated and the hospice was run. I was at a stage mentally where I was not doing well at all, and would have been happy to take any job at all - even stacking shelves to get out of there. I felt so guilty for leaving that job - where I was really needed, but I was at breaking point.

I ended up taking a job as a Research Nurse that I happened upon by chance - I didn't really know what it involved at the time, but it was a 9-5 clinic-based job and I thought the lack of shifts would be better for me. I did really enjoy it to my surprise, although my manager warned I would get bored quickly. I did become bored but stayed in that role because I was fairly happy and had a good work-life balance. There wasn't really any scope for promotion or progression but my salary was decent and the job was easy enough. Unfortunately after 2.5 years, I was very suddenly made redundant and felt I was back to square one. I'd just bought a flat so was really worried financially and had no idea where to turn, as I knew I had fallen out of love with nursing.

I was extremely lucky to be contacted on LinkedIn by a recruiter for a well-renowned company to offer me an interview as a Clinical Research Associate - someone who monitors clinical trials. I was experienced in the field but didn't think I was qualified. My previous manager had actually suggested that this role would suit me so I was very keen to give it a try. Fortunately I got the job and 9 months on I absolutely love it. I finally feel like I have found my 'place', almost four years after graduating. I did (and still do) feel a lot of guilt about leaving nursing, where I know the workforce is struggling, but I realised I needed to prioritise my own wellbeing. I'm still in a position where I can make a difference, just not in the way I originally expected! I'm now finishing my masters degree in Health Research and hopefully have a long career ahead of me in clinical trials.

Ultimately what I learned was that you can do all of the right things, you can do as much research as is possible and be super prepared, and can still find that your degree or job isn't right for you. Sometimes things don't work out and that isn't your fault - very few people actually get it right the first time round. Be open to opportunities, even if they aren't what you initially planned, and be ready to say 'yes' when they come your way.


thanks because i thought if i knew every goal i woukd succeed and i know i want to be a teacher ,ive always wanted to helo people but nursing just doesnt feel rigjt i feel like id panic in a emergency and ive never like the idea of elderly care (i love the elderly just not cleaninh their bums😂) but teaching feels right ive git the patience i have a littoe expierience with primary i did this art day with receptions and it was si much fun thougj i want to do secondary but primary is anothe rchoice. i want to inspire kids and show them that hisyory can be fun it diesnt have ti be writing and watching a boring documentary ive always wished that in history even tho im not keen on drama that we coukdve acted some of the big events out or made our own quiz game like tv or bingo and made a norman castle outta marshemellows amd cocktail sticks - ok thats a little to fun and silly but u get my point. i also want to show kids thay they can do it and tbat if they have mental illness that i had one and im still here im a success you can ti u can recover to. and i will fight to be a teacher a lot of my family do primary so i can easiky get work expierienve fir primary (my auntie is deputy at her school in bournemouth and her boss and her get on really well ive met him myself)

Reply 47

Original post
by Bill V2
In the grand scheme of things, taking an extra year so that you can do the course you want to (if you end up wanting to take a foundation year, or anything else for that matter, like resitting, or even just a gap year) really isn't much time.


oh im nust worried about repaying loans as i really dont like borrowing money and id never borrow money of anyone unless im on my last penny but id always pay it back asap so its the same for uni i know ill have to get a loan out but i want as less money to repay as possible

Reply 48

Original post
by 04MR17
As someone who's now got a History degree after receving a B in A Level History and is soon to start my PGCE as a history teacher, I can assure you that you can most certainly go to university without an A grade.

There's a handful of universities who won't take students without an A grade in history but it's not many and there are many excellent courses out there for you. :smile:


thank you and good luck with your pgce and outta interest what uni? i know that whatever uni i go to its going to be south of london
Original post
by X.243llie
thank you and good luck with your pgce and outta interest what uni? i know that whatever uni i go to its going to be south of london

I did my undergrad at Keele, not South of London I'm afraid but you still have plenty of options with those criteria. :biggrin:
(For privacy I don't disclose where I'm doing my PGCE :wink:).

If you get close to your offer but miss it, then Plymouth may still let you in, if not have a look at other universities in clearing and see if they're showing spaces on their History courses:
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6605660

If you need help feel free to tag me in this thread or anywhere else - always happy to help out a history enthusiast. :grin:

Reply 51

Original post
by X.243llie
oh im nust worried about repaying loans as i really dont like borrowing money and id never borrow money of anyone unless im on my last penny but id always pay it back asap so its the same for uni i know ill have to get a loan out but i want as less money to repay as possible


These student loans are not as bad as their other loan counterparts. These are only repaid back in minute amounts if you earn over the threshold which is around 25-26K and even then its only around £10 a month. And also they get cancelled after 30 years regardless of paying the full amount. Do correct me if im wrong however.
(edited 5 years ago)

Reply 52

Original post
by 04MR17
I did my undergrad at Keele, not South of London I'm afraid but you still have plenty of options with those criteria. :biggrin:
(For privacy I don't disclose where I'm doing my PGCE :wink:).

If you get close to your offer but miss it, then Plymouth may still let you in, if not have a look at other universities in clearing and see if they're showing spaces on their History courses:
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6605660

If you need help feel free to tag me in this thread or anywhere else - always happy to help out a history enthusiast. :grin:


oh thats fine you dont have to say anything im onlu thinking plymouth as its an area i would love to live in and i dint want to go uo north unless its to scotland i live in london and i dont want to stay in london either i cant go bournemouth where i originally wanted as they dint do the courses i need and i dint want to change universitu to do my pgce

Reply 53

Good luck tomorrow everyone!

Reply 54

Original post
by Lshort17
These student loans are not as bad as their other loan counterparts. These are only repaid back in minute amounts if you earn over the threshold which is around 25-26K and even then its only around £10 a month. And also they get cancelled after 30 years regardless of paying the full amount. Do correct me if im wrong however.


oh that sounds not to bad as i was thinking im going to be repaying the uni fees for the rest if my life

Reply 55

though idk if i mentioned but im going into year11 this year so i still got to do my a levels before im planning ti di history biology and chemistry or phsychology but i want goaks as they make me want to work harder and i feel less worried when i have goals
Original post
by X.243llie
oh thats fine you dont have to say anything im onlu thinking plymouth as its an area i would love to live in and i dint want to go uo north unless its to scotland i live in london and i dont want to stay in london either i cant go bournemouth where i originally wanted as they dint do the courses i need and i dint want to change universitu to do my pgce

Worth checking out Portsmouth, Southampton, maybe Bristol and or the surrounding unis there (e.g. UWE), possibly Exeter.
I'm not sure how many offer History and how many also offer the PGCE but worth a look for when you get round to applying.
Who knew Fleetwood Mac would be so on-point for occasions like this?

[video="youtube;6ul-cZyuYq4"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ul-cZyuYq4[/video]

Reply 58

Original post
by 04MR17
Worth checking out Portsmouth, Southampton, maybe Bristol and or the surrounding unis there (e.g. UWE), possibly Exeter.
I'm not sure how many offer History and how many also offer the PGCE but worth a look for when you get round to applying.


i havent checked portsmouty but exeter southampton dont do the pgce but bristol does which is on my list of options to go back to when it gets to that time. reading also does the pgce pretty much everywhere i looked did history degree i wanted to go winchester as its a city with tons of history in it so it would be great for history gegree also my auntie wentbthere but they only do primary so thats not an option

Reply 59

YES! A-Level grades are not the end of the journey, and nor do they define our potential. There are so many more ways to get to where we want to be and have enriching experiences along the way.

I was listening to an amazingly timely talk yesterday by Dr Rosena Allin-Khan MP, who comes from a disadvantaged family and was told throughout her childhood that she had to manage her expectations because poor mixed race girls like her couldn't become doctors. She failed her A-Levels, getting EEU. She retook them. She did a degree. She then got into Cambridge to study Medicine and qualified as a doctor. She's now an MP.

As Dr Rosena herself said, the only limits in your life are the ones you place on yourself, so if you don't limit yourself your life is limitless.

Best of luck for tomorrow, everyone!!

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