Dreams vs Reality

I have to make a choice. I got BBC in my Alevels but I believe I can do better and since I’m taking a gap year (wasn’t doing well mentally last year so didn’t apply to uni) I have decided to resit my Alevels in which I got c in (maths) and maybe the B in biology (the B in chem will just have to stick) hoping I can get two AAB. I’ve always wanted to go to ucl but they want AAB minimum for my course. My mum wants me to consider other options/courses so she (unbeknownst to me) told her friend and yesterday she(her friend) called me out of nowhere and asked me about my plans for my future. She was really nice about it and I appreciated the advice but I feel I’ve made up my mind so I told her I want to resit and she said it would be a waste of time and money and that I should have a “growth mindset” and accept the grades I got and move forward and look for apprenticeships and other pathways that will accept my grades. I don’t want this though, I want the university experience. Idk if I’m in denial or if I’m hopeful I just don’t know what to do. What would you do?

I have to make a choice. I got BBC in my Alevels but I believe I can do better and since I’m taking a gap year (wasn’t doing well mentally last year so didn’t apply to uni) I have decided to resit my Alevels in which I got c in (maths) and maybe the B in biology (the B in chem will just have to stick) hoping I can get two AAB. I’ve always wanted to go to ucl but they want AAB minimum for my course. My mum wants me to consider other options/courses so she (unbeknownst to me) told her friend and yesterday she(her friend) called me out of nowhere and asked me about my plans for my future. She was really nice about it and I appreciated the advice but I feel I’ve made up my mind so I told her I want to resit and she said it would be a waste of time and money and that I should have a “growth mindset” and accept the grades I got and move forward and look for apprenticeships and other pathways that will accept my grades. I don’t want this though, I want the university experience. Idk if I’m in denial or if I’m hopeful I just don’t know what to do. What would you do?

If you are really committed to retaking those alevel subjects, show your mum. Make a detailed plan, think of where you went wrong in your last exams and how you can improve. List study methods you will use, make a schedule to block out your study times, the more detail the better. It will help both you so that you have a clear plan of what you have to do, and your mum might begin to understand your commitment to this path.
(Also keep in mind that even if you get the grades it doesn't guarantee you a place at UCL, you need to have other unis and courses in mind where you would be happy studying)
On the other hand, doing an apprenticeships might not be a bad idea. It is less expressive than university and can get you more practical experience which employers value.
Ultimately, you need to be the one to make the decision and show your mum why you believe this is the right path for you. Wishing you the best of luck!

Regret is a horrible thing. I’d suggest that you carry on with your plan of resitting your A levels and aim for UCL. Please consider other unis as well as UCL is competitive.
Also, you can apply for apprenticeships, just in case something happens. Then you choose based on the options.
All the best.

Regret is a horrible thing. I’d suggest that you carry on with your plan of resitting your A levels and aim for UCL. Please consider other unis as well as UCL is competitive.
Also, you can apply for apprenticeships, just in case something happens. Then you choose based on the options.
All the best.

Yeah that’s the thing, I don’t want to look back in the year and regret not at least giving it a try! Thank you sm I’ll apply to apprenticeships too, I wont completely dismiss them

I have to make a choice. I got BBC in my Alevels but I believe I can do better and since I’m taking a gap year (wasn’t doing well mentally last year so didn’t apply to uni) I have decided to resit my Alevels in which I got c in (maths) and maybe the B in biology (the B in chem will just have to stick) hoping I can get two AAB. I’ve always wanted to go to ucl but they want AAB minimum for my course. My mum wants me to consider other options/courses so she (unbeknownst to me) told her friend and yesterday she(her friend) called me out of nowhere and asked me about my plans for my future. She was really nice about it and I appreciated the advice but I feel I’ve made up my mind so I told her I want to resit and she said it would be a waste of time and money and that I should have a “growth mindset” and accept the grades I got and move forward and look for apprenticeships and other pathways that will accept my grades. I don’t want this though, I want the university experience. Idk if I’m in denial or if I’m hopeful I just don’t know what to do. What would you do?

Please do research! UCL does not accept resits in some of its courses and since its top they will ask for higher grades. (Contact the subject department at UCL to find out if they accept resit)
Resit is a good idea, if you know what you are doing. I would encourage you to resit as I should have cuz now its a regret. I got my A levels post covid and it was baad... I got BCD (B in comp sci altho 1 mark of A didnt had the money to get it rechecked). However, I was kinda in a situation where I couldn’t change and My uni offered Comp Sci with Foundation year which I passed with 86% average. But now I think, i could have saved 10k if I had resit but thats that. There are a lot of Uni out there not only UCL!
Goodluck

Tysm for the advice, I was previously looking at pharmacy at UCL but I’m not interested in it anymore, I think it’s more about resitting to prove to myself that I can get better grades, I am taking a gap year anyway and the college I’m resitting at are allowing me to do so for free so I am taking the opportunity!
I’m so glad that you were able to graduate with an acreages that high! You should be insanely proud of yourself! I was wondering how do you find comp sci as a career because i genuinely have no clue of what i want to do it

Thanks but I haven’t graduated yet, my goal is to get as close to 100% in each module to get into top unis. Your A levels don’t define your full picture… how I came across computer science? well, i was genuinely curious about how computers worked and how they function at fundamental levels. This curiosity led me to computer science, I won’t stop here I will be applying at top unis for postgrad. Look around what piques your interest and makes you curious, Not knowing what to do is the first step… go to open days and meet people that’s the best way and Good luck