Need advice for BTEC’s and Unis and what the right steps to take moving forward

Hello,
I need advice, on if there are BTEC students who have topped up to a larger qualification (national diploma to extended diploma), or been in the same situation as me and was capped to smaller qualifications (from extended certificate to national diploma), in the same level and it's very difficult and complicated.
I did a national extended certificate BTEC in IT in the first year of college and in the second year a national diploma in IT, which is worth 2-a levels. I got M for the first year of my course. I was capped to a national extended certificate because I had failed maths GCSE, and you couldn’t mix a levels and BTEC together in my college which was quite weird, and I was unsure what to do.
The course wasn’t necessarily hard but I had a lot of difficulties during college and school such as anxiety. However, now I have just finished 2 years of college and I received my grade of DM which is worth 80 UCAS points, which is not enough for most high-end top unis for computer science/tech courses, but my teacher said it was worth way more than that even though it wasn’t, I was wondering if I should go to uni at my firm choice (Foundation year at university of West London), or to top-up to an extended diploma in IT. I was thinking of clearing but I feel like this could be another alternative route as well.
I feel like I've been told things just to do different things and they are not reliable as now, it’s starting soon, and I've been researching all day on possible solutions.
I would have to:
1. to top up to the extended diploma - if I can, I would have to stay at college an extra year to do this, which would be long and tedious, as I do not want to go through college again, and I wanted to start uni soon, and there’s maybe a chance my grades stay the same but this means I do the extended diploma this year, then go to a uni next year.
2. Do my firm choice of a foundation year at UWL although it’s lower ranked for computer science/tech degrees, I think it’s still good enough to get a good degree from.
3. Go through clearing and find a course but I’m not comfortable with moving out and finding accommodation as of right now even though I wanted to explore uni life in the midlands.
4. Defer my choice with doing another year at college or a gap year.
It’s just very frustrating as if I had just done the extended diploma or a-levels, I wouldn’t be in this situation, as I was doing good in my national diploma in IT, whilst my classmates really weren’t focusing and distracting me but I still got a decent grade in the national diploma.
I’m just very stuck and unsure of what the right next steps are for me, if I had passed maths first time maybe I would’ve been in this situation now but I have now, but my college has made a mess with my course and it’s quite annoying.
Any advice or suggestions please reply

I’m in the same position, instead with health and social care. I’m thinking of doing an extra a level private. But aren’t completely sure. I wasn’t told when I was enrolling about the 2 a level course and wasn’t told about how they’re not putting me onto 3 a levels. As planned. So now I’m pretty much stuck.

Yes that happened to me as well but it was mainly cos of my maths but I had over 5 GCSE’s without the maths so they should’ve let me in regardless. But I’ve now enrolled at a different college to do a level 3 btec extended diploma in IT. It was a long process and was hard to do, so il see for now.

Hi,
So it was the same with me, due to maths. And I was basically blindsighted and wasn’t totally informed about the difference from what I initially enrolled into. And was then told that I can get pushed up. So I alone, completed additional assignments and work, meaning although I was in a certificate group, I did self teaching and did all the extended diploma assignments. And gained a very high grade. But this academic year, when I should’ve been pushed up. I wasn’t, and instead they didn’t. And kept me on national now.
And you're right, we got or we get told so late that we can’t find a way out of the situation. But there’s always betterment in delays. And hopefully this is in the best of our interests. Because of my age I can’t enrol onto another college course & for me there is no relevant course either at college. So I’m probably going to do it another way now. Because, there’s no need to be settling when we can achieve in other ways. So rather than relying on college and their unpredictable intentions. Might aswell. Nothing certain yet!
And that’s good! Now you’ll come out with your 3 a levels, and getting into uni will be more of clarity rather than confusion. And you’ll be grand for uni. Even though you tried your best, sometimes things just don’t happen the way we want them too. But there’s surely a reason or a betterment for it, behind it happening. So all the best, and it’ll be more than just okay! I’m sure it’ll go amazing. would it be a tad more familiar or easier, because you've covered it in nationals??

Yeah I only have 5 more units to do, and an epq which might be long, but I was supposed to do a foundation year at UWL for comp sci but I might have to decline that now. Also, Is it your first year at college or are you over 18n now? Yeah it’s all for a reason 😁

Ahh okay okay, I got you! So it’s only for one more year?
Also, if you’ve been given a place into your desired course. Why are you choosing to defer or decline it? Is it because you want to attain an additional a level? Which would also make sense, a foundation year trumps another a level. And why the epq?
And it’s my second/last year. And I’m 19, wbu? ☺️

Yeah, they said they can let me do an epq for extra ucas points for uni, but i heard it’s hard, and I wasn’t sure if a foundation year was right, and you gotta pay the same amount for it too, but UWL isn’t bad at all. I have been to my inductions this week to this new college, and it seems ok but some of the people are kinda weird n dodgy, so I’m still kinda indecisive at the same time if I had done the extended diploma earlier it would’ve been way better, but I kinda just wanted to try and get better qualifications and yeah it’s my last year, so technically 3rd year of college, and I’m 18 😁.

that's good, tbh I've not looked into an epq; but if you've done your research and your happy with it. then go for it.
And you're right, look at it like this. a foundation year isn't a direct start to your university degree. if you spend the next year working on an additional a level, and you then come out with 3 a levels. you'll be apply to potentially go into a degree straight away, rather than a foundation year. which may be more effective. and you'll be able to go to a university that you like more. and you'll have a stronger qualification. but at the same time, think about it in depth. maybe defer your admission if you can, just In case its the same university you want to go to, next year. keep your options open and limitless. do what makes you happy.
and I agree, if I was also let into the course I initially was put onto, things would've been so much more different right now. but like I said earlier, there's betterment in everything. a delay isn't a no, its just a direction onto another path way. so don't give up! and im sure you'll be amazing, don't let anyone tell you, you can't do it. and don't beat yourself up over it, not your fault.
and ignore the people 😭 focus on getting your grades. because even grades hold points, I think. so get all distinctions, and you'll be grand.
I myself, am trying to decide between religious studies and philosophy as an additional a level.
also, your the second person, after myself that I've seen in kinda the same situation as me.

Yeah, I wanted to do a-levels as well but I don’t wanna do 2 years of it when I already did 2 years I only have 5 units left and I might do the epq. I haven’t really done much research on it yet though. Il probably just stick with an extra year at college for better qualifications and better uni choices 😭.
I think if you can take an additional a-level then go for it if your college allows it and your only enrolled on the BTEC national diploma, my old college did not let us mix a-levels with BTEC’s and this new college that I’m at rn is a BTEC/T-level college mainly. I think search for the pros and cons of RS and Philosophy A level if you can take it and see which one aligns with your goals and which one you like more. You will do amazing, it’s not really your fault or my fault it just happened for a reason 😅. You will do very great!

Yeah, I'm planning on doing the a level, in one year; rather than 2. because I don't want to delay uni, more than it already has been. and even without an epq, you'll get your 3 a levels. as I think epq, is half an a level. and do some research, its worth a try.
my college is only BTEC/t level, and its other campuses are 6form and a levels. but they don't let 2 qualifications be mixed either. also im going to be doing it private, if I do it. because the college is so unexpected, and honestly waiting for the unexpected to happen gets tiring and stressful, and they've done enough damage already. so rather now take matters into my own hands yk. and 100%, we tried our best. and we are not at fault. not at all, `anyone who tells us otherwise is wrong.
and im still trying to decide between both subjects, need to hurry about it tho.
ive got they're pros and cons down, now its just about making a very estimated decision
and thank you! likewise, so will you! ☺️
lmk how it goes )
also imagine were talking about the same college
btw, I also was looking into an epq, after what you said; and apparently it is very hard. but then at the same time, it's literally just a long essay. so worth the try? I think I might look into it, and focus mine on the brain and religion? what would you do yours, on?

Thankyou!
That’s true, better qualifications means a better university. The whole entire reason as to why I’m doing an extra a level.
And yeah it is very time consuming, woah wait, you have to do a presentation? I thought it was only if it’s relevant to ur topic?
Also, how many ucas points do you have rn? And how many are you going towards. just so I know as an idea, because I apply in like a month 🫥

Yeah, I have 80 with a DM national diploma rn, but I’m aiming for more with the extended diploma and same we started UCAS already, I’m gonna get rid of my previous application for a foundation year at UWL, I thought you could re-apply with the same application but you that was in the 2024 cycle and I didn’t realise that so I gotta do a new one with the college email but il switch to mine when I ring UCAS this week cos I start “uni” next week so yeah.
No you get graded on the presentation and stuff it’s like an independent project

Ahhh okay okay I got you!
Yeah it’ll probably get pushed up a lot more, with this next year. So basically you’ll have to decline UWL. And start from scratch again, that’s okay tbh. Now yk what u can do differently and newer too.
All the best with that! I need to start my own too. And decide what I’m initially putting my application in for. I think I’m okay, without an EPQ 😭 the essay aspect seems fine to do, but the presentation makes it all more time consuming. Which there is not a lot for. Also apparently you can get into uni with ucas tariff points too, so even if you don’t meet they’re requirements subject wise, you can apply with points? This is all too overwhelming and underwhelming

Yeah, but they said our class has to do an epq all the people who have passed English and maths, not sure why but yeah I don’t really wanna but if it boosts a better chance then ik jus have to try but 5 units and epq is gonna be a big challenge for me. But what are you thinking of doing? An extra a-level or just the BTEC the ucas tariff requirements are very stressful to be honest 😭. Have u applied to uni before? How many ucas points do you think you already have or can obtain with your course?

Ohhhh so it's like a must then, and that's fine; thankfully it'll boost your ucas points too. so just a little more work and you'll get there. you can do it!
So im going to do an extra a level, and honestly they're so confusing for nothing. But oh well, I'll see. because apparently you can convert them and then reply all of that. but I'll fit the ucas point radar, hopefully! due to my extra a level too.
and no I haven't, im this years application. so im going to be starting my application soon now. any tips????
and according to the ucas website, they're about 90+ And then itll have my a level added so itll go up.
But rn, as someone who's always been adamant about what degree she wants to do, ever since I was like 10. im rethinking my pathway degree, and what to initially apply for.

Yeah, but I was also thinking if my national diploma even counts now but the teacher said it does when I asked because I’m doing a top-up course, so hopefully I still have my 80 ucas points and I can still get way more and better grades.
Yeah I’ve started my application already just gotta finish the last section, read through all of the sections and fill out all the details. I like tech so that’s why I’m doing IT/comp sci but I also like other stuff too so I’m still unsure of what I wanna do after like uni or even in uni 😅.
Most unis require 96-144 ucas points so mainly 100+ for good unis paired with good GCSEs and a-levels/BTECs. If you were adamant and sure about your career pathway but now you maybe want to switch pathways, you should ask for advice from a careers advisor or someone else.

Also. I was thinking about how we can get into uni with the grades we have now. If we can then why are we doing all of this? What if we/I don’t preform very well and this extra academic work lessens our chances of getting in. Idk I think I’m just procrastinating lol, help