uni advice

4

Hi, 2023 in my A-Levels I achieved 3 C grades, this year I decided to take a gap year to work and to retake my A-Levels as I knew law is a competitive field and good unis require at least ABB, however due to personal circumstances I dropped retaking these A-Levels, I do have an offer from Surrey, however this is with foundation year. I also have heard that spring weeks, require students to have high grades to even apply. I feel very clueless on what I should do as I feel like my grades put me at a disadvantage for my future prospects, is it worth retaking A-Levels again? or just going straight to uni this year. I am also worried if I take 2-year gap year it will impact unis considering me and I also would be 20 when I start uni. Any advice and suggestions would be incredibly helpful

Reply 1

seventh18

6

Given your current offer from Surrey with a foundation year, this seems practical and beneficial, especially considering the time and uncertainty involved in retaking A-Levels. Whilst high grades are important, they are not the sole determinant of success. Many people started off like this and are now doing great. You could draw up a list of pros and cons and weigh out your options about retaking A-Levels or going straight into Uni. You could try to talk to a careers advisor at Surrey about opportunities you can gain by taking a foundation year if you don't really want to do a foundation year, or you could look at other Universities during clearing. Hope this helps.

Reply 2

rhiannah <3

6

Original post by ari989

Hi, 2023 in my A-Levels I achieved 3 C grades, this year I decided to take a gap year to work and to retake my A-Levels as I knew law is a competitive field and good unis require at least ABB, however due to personal circumstances I dropped retaking these A-Levels, I do have an offer from Surrey, however this is with foundation year. I also have heard that spring weeks, require students to have high grades to even apply. I feel very clueless on what I should do as I feel like my grades put me at a disadvantage for my future prospects, is it worth retaking A-Levels again? or just going straight to uni this year. I am also worried if I take 2-year gap year it will impact unis considering me and I also would be 20 when I start uni. Any advice and suggestions would be incredibly helpful

Hi! I also have a foundation year offer from Surrey (not for law though so sorry if this isn't relevant) I got similar grades in 2023 and took a year out to work instead of retaking. From what I've heard once you have your degree it doesn't matter whether you started 1st year or foundation year, what matters is that you gained a degree! :smile:

Reply 3

student5678s

OP

4

Original post by rhiannah <3

Hi! I also have a foundation year offer from Surrey (not for law though so sorry if this isn't relevant) I got similar grades in 2023 and took a year out to work instead of retaking. From what I've heard once you have your degree it doesn't matter whether you started 1st year or foundation year, what matters is that you gained a degree! :smile:

Thank you, I was just wondering how did you find Surrey and foundation year, is it worth it?

Reply 4

rhiannah <3

6

Original post by ari989

Thank you, I was just wondering how did you find Surrey and foundation year, is it worth it?

Aah sorry if I didn't make it clear in my post, I'm starting September this year! But honestly, I've only heard positive things about the uni especially when it comes to employability after

Reply 5

University of Surrey Student Rep

Official Rep

15

Original post by ari989

Hi, 2023 in my A-Levels I achieved 3 C grades, this year I decided to take a gap year to work and to retake my A-Levels as I knew law is a competitive field and good unis require at least ABB, however due to personal circumstances I dropped retaking these A-Levels, I do have an offer from Surrey, however this is with foundation year. I also have heard that spring weeks, require students to have high grades to even apply. I feel very clueless on what I should do as I feel like my grades put me at a disadvantage for my future prospects, is it worth retaking A-Levels again? or just going straight to uni this year. I am also worried if I take 2-year gap year it will impact unis considering me and I also would be 20 when I start uni. Any advice and suggestions would be incredibly helpful

Hi @ari989

There are a few factors to bear in mind while making your decision on whether to do a foundation year or retake your A-levels.

Our law foundation year at Surrey provides a strong foundation in academic skills, research, and general law. Students who have completed a foundation year generally perform better than those who directly enter their first year. Strong university results can mitigate concerns about your A-level grades. Undertaking a foundation year should not put you at a disadvantage, as many employers recognise the programme as a full LLB degree. There are various pathways into university and law, and a foundation year might be the right choice for you.

On the other hand, retaking A-levels is an option. However, it's important to note that there's no guarantee that your grades will improve, and you should also consider the costs involved in tuition and retake fees. Most employers prioritise your degree classification over your A-level and GCSE grades. They may also consider any extenuating circumstances if you can explain them. For instance, Slaughter and May do not have a strict A-level requirement but expect a 2:1 or above for their Spring Week programmes.

I wouldn't let your A-level grades define your university experience. University life is so much more than just studying. It's a chance to meet new people, make new friends, socialise, live independently, participate in a new sport, join a club, build invaluable personal and professional skills and much more!

Also, I wouldn't worry about turning 20 when you start uni! People aren't concerned about your age. Many students returning from a gap year are between 19 and 20. The university won't even classify you as a 21+ mature student either, not that that should matter!

Our guaranteed accommodation deadline for those who firm us is 25th July 2024, so please apply here before then if you would like a place! Find out more here.

We have several upcoming open days, and we'd love to see you there! Register your interest in open days here. If you have questions about open days, please email [email protected]. Here's a short YouTube clip on what to expect on the day.

Here are some links to give you more insight into law at Surrey:
Annual law networking event
Law Society
An insight into our facilities can be found here on our Instagram.

I hope this helps. Please feel free to reply if you have any more questions.

All the best
Daniel
BSc Accounting and Finance
University of Surrey

(edited 10 months ago)

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