3 highers S5, 3 highers S6

If you're asking about how difficult it might be to get into university while managing social anxiety, it really depends on the specific university and program you're interested in. Many universities offer support services for students with mental health challenges, which can help ease the transition.

My teachers have recommended me to do that because I have social anxiety. I want to ask how hard it will be for me to get into university when taking it within two years? I’m not looking for stuff like med school or going to England.

My teachers have recommended me to do that because I have social anxiety. I want to ask how hard it will be for me to get into university when taking it within two years? I’m not looking for stuff like med school or going to England.

Social skills:
Be open, relaxed, approachable, friendly, lighten up
0) You can try nlp exercises, meditation, breathing techniques, visualisation. You can read books on this subject and there is a wealth of resources on the internet, youtube regarding this subject.
1) Relax, imagine you're just observing or there as a traveller. For example, if you are on holiday, you go there to experience and observe the attraction, you're not going to get anxious doing that are you?
2) Smile, smiling in contagious.
3) Be confident, respect yourself, accept yourself, work out, wear good clothes, feel good, focus on your passions, know you are a good person who treats people well, you have got as much right as everyone else.Think positively, be proud of yourself, do things that make you happy, remember your happy times, what makes you confident? What makes you proud? Do you have a skill you are good at? Do things like cooking, driving, learning that increases your confidence daily. Relax.Have good posture, body language, improve your appearance. Be happy with yourself.
4) Dress well, have good grooming, hairstyle, have good posture.
5) Just say hi or hey to people in your vicinity, who cares if they don't say anything back?
6) Ask how they are, how's everything, how's it going, what's the latest, what made them choose this course, their plans for the future, their plans for the rest of the day, weekend, how was their weekend, their day, what they will get up to, what they got up to, ask them about their hobbies, talk about what's happening. You could read up on current affairs.Talk about the weather or did you see that sports game? Just mingle with them,Compliment them, say "I like your jacket".If you know they went on a holiday or somewhere, ask them about it etc.
7) Be passionate about life.
8) In group discussions, relax and talk to someone close or if someone says something you know, you can talk then. Stay relaxed.
9) Lighten up, have a laugh, laugh easily, be friendly, approachable, interested, relaxed.
10) You can write things down and come up with a rational reframed response, keep a journal of your thoughts, re ach out to people slowly

Hi @pinkpetals 🙂 Where admissions to uni is concerned, if you'll end up with 6 highers at the end of S6 then that's a good position to be in. If you're applying to a really competitive course at a competitive university, then they may not be able to make a conditional offer when you're applying in S6 (as competition can be very high), but don't let this worry you too much. If you keep working hard in S6 you could potentially look at applying through clearing, or taking a gap year and re-applying the following year.
The important thing is that you give yourself the time to achieve good grades in the most manageable way possible. I'd encourage you to speak to us universities too so that we can give you advise based on our entry criteria and your subject profile 📚️ We're all happy to help.
Caitlin 🎓️
Official University of Strathclyde Rep

Thank you, I’m still unsure on what I want to do, I like pharmacy and forensic science but I’ve heard they’re both competitive.

Brill, thanks for letting me know! If you're focusing on those subject areas this year I'd be inclined to say focusing on your STEM ones first rather than the essay based ones might be more suitable. If you're not able to change your subjects at this stage then chat to individual universities about our entry requirements to see what we'd recommend.
For Pharmacy at Strathclyde we'd likely be looking for STEM subjects in S5, followed by 2 Advanced Higher sciences for example (normally AH Chemistry and Bio). If you're not able to do this - then I'd say my advice would be similar to above. Focus on your overall highers you're able to achieve, and perhaps plan to take a gap year (and apply with 6 achieved highers), or alternatively a college course could help with uni preparation too.
Hope this helps a little! Don't put too much pressure on yourself - there's always other routes to consider as well 🙂 Not everyone does 5 highers in S5, and even students who do don't always end up where they want to be after their exams. Take your time and make the right decision for you.
Caitlin 🎓️
Official University of Strathclyde Rep

Thank you, if I went to collage then what course would I have to take? And is it possible for me to enter year 1? I heard it’s not the usual route but for some people that did not do advanced highers. Thank you again, sorry for the amount of questions.

Hello! Don't need to apologise for the questions at all - happy to help 🙂
If you look at the college route I'd recommend a course in a similar area - something like HNC Applied Science for example. You can contact the Pharmacy department directly at [email protected] - if you send them an email prior to starting the HNC (and let them know which highers you've done by that point) then they can provide guidance once you get to that stage.
Normally Year 1 entry isn't available, and would only be offered in rare circumstances (e.g. if your school doesn't teach it). I'd say the likelihood is we'd not be able to consider you without the AH subjects, but you could also drop them an email to ask this prior to applyin as well.
Hope that helps a bit but let me know if you'd like to ask anything else!
Caitlin 🎓️
Official University of Strathclyde Rep

I emailed them a couple of days ago and they said something similar to you about the HNC in college. They also said that it’d be best to contact them after I finish my highers this year, I spoke to my guidance teacher and she said that I could do forensics and then switch to pharmacy. However I don’t really mind because I want to study them both. I’m just unsure if I can get to uni with splitting my highers, I’m being pressured a lot to not take any gap years and go straight to uni so I’d rather not go to college. Thank you

Hey @pinkpetals 🙂 If you'd potentially consider switching to Pharmacy from Forensics then that's another thing that the department would need to advise on.
I'd say if you're applying to us, it's likely you'd need to consider the gap year/year at college. It's a very normal route for students to take though so don't feel like it's not a good option. We normally are looking for students with 4 or 5 highers from S5, and in STEM areas for the subjects you're considering. Admissions can be competitive. If you're focusing on your Humanities this year I believe the admissions teams would prefer to see more STEM subjects coming through, alongside Advanced Higher study as well. You can get in to uni with splitting your highers - but it may just take an extra year based on the sounds of your subject profile.
Other universities will be different however - so my advice definitely isn't a 'one size fits all' 🙂 Reach out to other unis to ask what their admissions teams would recommend.
Caitlin 🎓️
Official University of Strathclyde

Thank you again, if I have good predicted grades is it still possible for me to still be considered a competitive candidate for forensic science? If not then is college my only option? Since it’s a competitive course then even if I go there’s still a possibility of me not getting in and I don’t really want to waste a year for nothing.

Hello! Normally for our Forensic & Analytical Chemistry degree we're looking for Advanced Higher study (Chemistry and Maths) so it's likely you'd need to consider an extra year studying at college for that course too. The Chemistry email address if you'd like to chat with them directly is [email protected] 🧪 College would likely be the recommended route for the types of degrees you're considering with us this year, as we're tending to recommend AH study in STEM areas. Reach out to the Chemistry department to see if they can offer some more tailored advice though 🙂
Caitlin 🎓️
Official University of Strathclyde Rep

What should I say on the email? Sorry again and if I go to college and do hnc applied science would I then be considered as competitive as people who’ve done advanced highers?

Hi @pinkpetals 🙂 If you're emailing the departments you can say that you're looking for advice on applying with your qualifications and let them know what you're studying at the moment, what you plan to do next year and the course you're interested in. You can ask them what the best route for applying to the course is.
If you're studying relevant qualifications then you'd likely be as competitive as someone studying the AHs at school 🙂
Caitlin 🎓️
Official University of Strathclyde Rep

I don’t know, is there much point emailing them if they accept highers with advanced highers?