Whether to retake A-levels or accept Sussex offer?

Hi!

I got my A-level results back today and I got BDD in psychology, biology and history- in history I was one mark off a C and with the grade boundaries of last year the D in biology would have been a C.

I got accepted by Sussex University to do my chosen degree of History, however I got rejected from my firm which was UCL. I desperately wanted to go to it and I’m not too keen on going to Sussex for the following reason.

I am wondering whether to retake all my A-levels or not. I know I can get much higher in my A-levels because I was predicted A*AA and I was producing high quality essays under non assessment conditions with open books. The reason I got such bad grades was because I left revision of each exam pretty much till the night before (incredibly stupid I know, I just couldn’t bring myself to revise).

So if I resat my A-levels then I know I would get higher and if I reapply to UCL and they give me an offer again I know there is a good chance I could get AAA that time round as I would actually revise- and have systems in place that would hold me accountable and make me revise.

So knowing if I resit my alevels I could get into a much better university, possibly UCL, I am hesitant to go to Sussex in September even though I have a place there. However, my parents are adamantly against me resitting and said they wouldn’t support me resitting and I would have to be in full time education (no colleges around me that I’m aware of offer a resit year) and not have a part time job (which I would need to have to be able to afford a tutor as a replacement for not being in College). All teachers I spoke to also said to go to Sussex and told me I would be stupid not to.

My parents and my teachers also told me employers look at what degree you got not your alevels, so they don’t matter as long as you get into uni.

So any advice would be appreciated as I am very confused and stressed over what to do.

Thank you

Reply 1

ageshallnot

Original post by Erin3878

Hi!
I got my A-level results back today and I got BDD in psychology, biology and history- in history I was one mark off a C and with the grade boundaries of last year the D in biology would have been a C.
I got accepted by Sussex University to do my chosen degree of History, however I got rejected from my firm which was UCL. I desperately wanted to go to it and I’m not too keen on going to Sussex for the following reason.
I am wondering whether to retake all my A-levels or not. I know I can get much higher in my A-levels because I was predicted A*AA and I was producing high quality essays under non assessment conditions with open books. The reason I got such bad grades was because I left revision of each exam pretty much till the night before (incredibly stupid I know, I just couldn’t bring myself to revise).
So if I resat my A-levels then I know I would get higher and if I reapply to UCL and they give me an offer again I know there is a good chance I could get AAA that time round as I would actually revise- and have systems in place that would hold me accountable and make me revise.
So knowing if I resit my alevels I could get into a much better university, possibly UCL, I am hesitant to go to Sussex in September even though I have a place there. However, my parents are adamantly against me resitting and said they wouldn’t support me resitting and I would have to be in full time education (no colleges around me that I’m aware of offer a resit year) and not have a part time job (which I would need to have to be able to afford a tutor as a replacement for not being in College). All teachers I spoke to also said to go to Sussex and told me I would be stupid not to.
My parents and my teachers also told me employers look at what degree you got not your alevels, so they don’t matter as long as you get into uni.
So any advice would be appreciated as I am very confused and stressed over what to do.
Thank you

You will have to declare your BDD on your application even if you resit. That's not going to look very good for any uni, particularly the D in history. You might be best to go to Sussex, knuckle down and consider postgrad at somewhere like UCL.

Reply 2

Erin3878

Original post by ageshallnot

Would all Russell group unis look down on it even if I get an A* predicted again? Because I heard unis like York treat your predicted grades as re-sitter the same as first time applicants.
Thanks for replying to the first one!

Reply 3

ageshallnot

Original post by Erin3878

I honestly don't know about that. Someone like @Admit-One might have a more informed view.

Reply 4

dragonlord888

If you don't like Sussex, have you tried clearing at another university? I don't recommend resit if a mid tier university have accepted you, you can always do a master in future for more know University. Did you not do EPQ that can help with clearing.

Reply 5

Erin3878

Original post by dragonlord888

Hi, yes I did do an EPQ and I got an A in it and it was about history. I tried Leeds in clearing and unfortunately they said I did not meet their criteria so I assumed the other Russell group unis wouldn’t, and many didn’t have the course I wanted . But I might try call more and Leeds again as my friend said that if you call them later and they still have spaces, they may be able to give you a spot with lower grades as they want to fill their spaces. So hopefully that’s true!

Reply 6

Admit-One

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by Erin3878

To be honest it’s decided at a course level rather than the overall university. For History, you may have more luck as it’s a bit less competitive than some subject areas.

Ultimately the only way to find out is to contact every uni and ask specifically how retakes are viewed for that course.

Appreciate you’ve got more than retakes to take into account, so I can’t really advise whether Sussex or a retake is the best approach for you.

(@ageshallnot - thanks for the tag. Just to let you know that I am offline for a while from Friday onwards, so will not be able to respond to anything time sensitive.)

Reply 7

Erin3878

Original post by Admit-One

To be honest it’s decided at a course level rather than the overall university. For History, you may have more luck as it’s a bit less competitive than some subject areas.
Ultimately the only way to find out is to contact every uni and ask specifically how retakes are viewed for that course.
Appreciate you’ve got more than retakes to take into account, so I can’t really advise whether Sussex or a retake is the best approach for you.
(@ageshallnot - thanks for the tag. Just to let you know that I am offline for a while from Friday onwards, so will not be able to respond to anything time sensitive.)

Thank you!

Reply 8

ageshallnot

Original post by Erin3878

Thank you!

In the meantime you could accept your Sussex offer. If you decide to resit and reapply next year you can drop Sussex at any point up to registration. The only thing to watch out for would be accommodation deposits etc.

Reply 9

wilby63

Original post by Erin3878

Hi!
I got my A-level results back today and I got BDD in psychology, biology and history- in history I was one mark off a C and with the grade boundaries of last year the D in biology would have been a C.
I got accepted by Sussex University to do my chosen degree of History, however I got rejected from my firm which was UCL. I desperately wanted to go to it and I’m not too keen on going to Sussex for the following reason.
I am wondering whether to retake all my A-levels or not. I know I can get much higher in my A-levels because I was predicted A*AA and I was producing high quality essays under non assessment conditions with open books. The reason I got such bad grades was because I left revision of each exam pretty much till the night before (incredibly stupid I know, I just couldn’t bring myself to revise).
So if I resat my A-levels then I know I would get higher and if I reapply to UCL and they give me an offer again I know there is a good chance I could get AAA that time round as I would actually revise- and have systems in place that would hold me accountable and make me revise.
So knowing if I resit my alevels I could get into a much better university, possibly UCL, I am hesitant to go to Sussex in September even though I have a place there. However, my parents are adamantly against me resitting and said they wouldn’t support me resitting and I would have to be in full time education (no colleges around me that I’m aware of offer a resit year) and not have a part time job (which I would need to have to be able to afford a tutor as a replacement for not being in College). All teachers I spoke to also said to go to Sussex and told me I would be stupid not to.
My parents and my teachers also told me employers look at what degree you got not your alevels, so they don’t matter as long as you get into uni.
So any advice would be appreciated as I am very confused and stressed over what to do.
Thank you

Hi
I'm in a similar boat, being offered Sussex for Economics BSC (his insurance choice).
My firm was not as high ranking as yours, but somewhat higher, all the same. My thoughts are that you should consider the tutoring costs and if without that option, will it be a challenge to keep on top of revision for retakes, especially as you found that a challenge this time round (but it's not impossible, if really motivated)

As per a previous poster, you could study at Sussex, work really hard and obtain a first or 2.1 and be well qualified from a decent university. That is still a good result for most careers! (what is your career plan?) If you want to continue study / university after the undergraduate years, apply to a higher level university at that point, because i think it's less competitive to get into post undergraduate study. (but can be costly) from what I've researched. Your CV will then have the top rank university you crave!

You have a good option, But consider if you could be happy at Sussex as a place to live for several years.. Do you like the campus? The city... with all it's nightlife, if that appeals? Or the beautiful South Downs area surrounding the campus, for example?
If yes, it's a good, solid option. Ask yourself if it offers what you need, or what's important, rather than what you wanted in an ideal world. No university is perfect in reality.
I have decided to forget retakes and go for it at Sussex if my priority review doesn't upgrade my grades. (missed two B's by 2 and 3 marks respectively)
Sussex has the course I want and the campus is ok. The coast is nearby and i can get home easily for weekends. If you haven't visited, pop down / have a look.
You need to be happy about the course and the place, but as teachers will say, don't throw away a good option for a dream that might not be realised in a years time, as it is not so easy to get into middle or top universities in any year.

Best of luck

Chris