The Student Room Group

Results day HELP

Had an offer for economics at Bristol, AAA, missed it completely with DDC in Econ physics and maths respectively

I have a clearing offer from royal Holloway and Kent but I’m not sure if I should take a gap year and retake or just go to uni with the grades I have.
I know I’m capable of much more and I was distracted during y12 and 13, because of unplanned stuff but I don’t really want that to be an excuse because I know I’ve f***ed up so badly. Again I don’t know where I went wrong, maybe I just crumbled under pressure but I really thought I’d do better than D, since I did work hard and I did try my best especially for economics.

Please help, from someone who’s preferably been in a similar situation, show me there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you

Reply 1

Hi i was in a very similar situation as you. I had an offer to study at cardiff but i took a gap year now i’m studying elsewhere. Personally, look at the logistics of if you were to resit like how much it would cost? and where you can resit? And maybe find uni offers that’s lower so you can secure getting into your firm

Reply 2

Original post
by 1ta_dx
Had an offer for economics at Bristol, AAA, missed it completely with DDC in Econ physics and maths respectively
I have a clearing offer from royal Holloway and Kent but I’m not sure if I should take a gap year and retake or just go to uni with the grades I have.
I know I’m capable of much more and I was distracted during y12 and 13, because of unplanned stuff but I don’t really want that to be an excuse because I know I’ve f***ed up so badly. Again I don’t know where I went wrong, maybe I just crumbled under pressure but I really thought I’d do better than D, since I did work hard and I did try my best especially for economics.
Please help, from someone who’s preferably been in a similar situation, show me there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you
Hey @1ta_dx 👋

Firstly, I just want to say congratulations on your A-level results - you did great, A-levels are tricky!

You're definitely not alone in how you're feeling right now - missing your offer when you know you worked hard can be upsetting, but it's not the end of the road! You have so many options available.

It’s clear you care about your future, and the fact that you’re reflecting this deeply says a lot about you. A lot of people have been in similar situations - not getting the grades they expected, going through stuff they hadn’t planned for, and not knowing whether to take the place they’ve got or step back and go again.

If you know you’re capable of more, and you’re in the right headspace to really commit to a reset, then a gap year with resits could be a smart option and will save you thinking "what if" in the future.

That said, going to uni this year (at Royal Holloway or Kent) could also be the right move if you're ready to start fresh, and you're open to making the most of it. You can also see if there's any other universities that may spark your interest - remember to pay close attention to the modules you will be studying as well as other important factors that may be important to you - location, affordability, local area, student support, careers support, etc.

The most important thing is that you don't rush into a decision. If you're really unsure, I think a gap year would be the best option because it'll allow you to really think about what it is that you want so that you apply to university next year feeling confident in your decision - it's important that you make the right choice for you.

Let us know if we can provide any additional advice, and best of luck with whatever you choose to do next 🤗

Lauren
WrexhamUniReps

Reply 3

Original post
by 1ta_dx
Had an offer for economics at Bristol, AAA, missed it completely with DDC in Econ physics and maths respectively
I have a clearing offer from royal Holloway and Kent but I’m not sure if I should take a gap year and retake or just go to uni with the grades I have.
I know I’m capable of much more and I was distracted during y12 and 13, because of unplanned stuff but I don’t really want that to be an excuse because I know I’ve f***ed up so badly. Again I don’t know where I went wrong, maybe I just crumbled under pressure but I really thought I’d do better than D, since I did work hard and I did try my best especially for economics.
Please help, from someone who’s preferably been in a similar situation, show me there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you

Hello!

I am really sorry to hear that you are disappointed with your grades. However, exam season can be stressful and you should be proud of yourself for sitting all of your exams!

We still have places available to study Economics at the University of Leicester! If you would like to commence your studies this year, I strongly recommend calling our clearing line on 0116 373 6000 😄

Claire
Law LLB Student

Reply 4

Original post
by 1ta_dx
Had an offer for economics at Bristol, AAA, missed it completely with DDC in Econ physics and maths respectively
I have a clearing offer from royal Holloway and Kent but I’m not sure if I should take a gap year and retake or just go to uni with the grades I have.
I know I’m capable of much more and I was distracted during y12 and 13, because of unplanned stuff but I don’t really want that to be an excuse because I know I’ve f***ed up so badly. Again I don’t know where I went wrong, maybe I just crumbled under pressure but I really thought I’d do better than D, since I did work hard and I did try my best especially for economics.
Please help, from someone who’s preferably been in a similar situation, show me there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you
As someone who’s just finished econ at a uni similar to Bristol (think Bath Durham Exeter) I would recommend resitting your a levels. Royal Holloway is a decent uni but if you are thinking of anything in consulting/finance it would be significantly easier with the better a levels and a better uni. If your circumstances allow and you think you can get an AAA/AAB/ABB I would definitely do a gap year. I would recommend using Uplearn as it helped me massively for physics OCR A. I wish i’d used it for econ as well. I used TL maths and a textbook for my maths which was very helpful. Uplearn is a little pricey but i defo would recommend for a resit cause you can track your progress and it gives you a bit of structure. Msg me if u want any more info/help.

Reply 5

Original post
by 1ta_dx
Had an offer for economics at Bristol, AAA, missed it completely with DDC in Econ physics and maths respectively
I have a clearing offer from royal Holloway and Kent but I’m not sure if I should take a gap year and retake or just go to uni with the grades I have.
I know I’m capable of much more and I was distracted during y12 and 13, because of unplanned stuff but I don’t really want that to be an excuse because I know I’ve f***ed up so badly. Again I don’t know where I went wrong, maybe I just crumbled under pressure but I really thought I’d do better than D, since I did work hard and I did try my best especially for economics.
Please help, from someone who’s preferably been in a similar situation, show me there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you

Good afternoon,

Choosing whether to rest or university is a very personal decision that only you can make, but i recommend you follow your heart, if you think a fresh start at university is what you need then that will be your best choice, as the pressure of resists often ends up with stududents getting lower grades, as they overthink the whole process.

Once you have your undergraduate degree, employers will base your academic abilities on this more than your A-level grades, so if you have an accepted place at a university course, then this could be your fresh start to show what you are capable of, rather than focusing on what went wrong.

At the university of reading Economics (BSc), Economics (BA), Economics and Finance (BSc), and Business Economics (BSc) are currently in clearing, so you may want to have a look at these.

Our Clearing hotline (+44 (0) 118 402 0900) will be open during the following times:

Thursday 14 August 08:00 until 18:00

Friday 15 August 09:00 until 17:00

Monday 18 August 09:00 until 17:00

Tuesday 19 August to Monday 29 September: 09:00 until 16:30.

If you have any questions, please let us know, as we are happy to help.

All the best,
Ella
Bsc Ecology

Reply 6

Original post
by 1ta_dx
Had an offer for economics at Bristol, AAA, missed it completely with DDC in Econ physics and maths respectively
I have a clearing offer from royal Holloway and Kent but I’m not sure if I should take a gap year and retake or just go to uni with the grades I have.
I know I’m capable of much more and I was distracted during y12 and 13, because of unplanned stuff but I don’t really want that to be an excuse because I know I’ve f***ed up so badly. Again I don’t know where I went wrong, maybe I just crumbled under pressure but I really thought I’d do better than D, since I did work hard and I did try my best especially for economics.
Please help, from someone who’s preferably been in a similar situation, show me there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you

Hi there @1ta_dx ,
I am so sorry to hear that you did not get your expected results. It may seem overwhelming at this point of time but there are others who were in a similar situation as you and have made it through 🤧
There is also another option of going through a foundation year instead, as they usually have lower requirements for a uni that you might be interested in.
Take some time to reflect, do some research before you make a decision and consider what you plan to do if you choose to do a gap year.
Just in case you are interested in exploring other universities, Kingston University has a few Economic Courses on Clearing that you might want to check out. Good luck and I hope you make a decision that is the best for you🤗

Zhi En
(Kingston Student Rep.)
Original post
by 1ta_dx
Had an offer for economics at Bristol, AAA, missed it completely with DDC in Econ physics and maths respectively
I have a clearing offer from royal Holloway and Kent but I’m not sure if I should take a gap year and retake or just go to uni with the grades I have.
I know I’m capable of much more and I was distracted during y12 and 13, because of unplanned stuff but I don’t really want that to be an excuse because I know I’ve f***ed up so badly. Again I don’t know where I went wrong, maybe I just crumbled under pressure but I really thought I’d do better than D, since I did work hard and I did try my best especially for economics.
Please help, from someone who’s preferably been in a similar situation, show me there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you

Hi @1ta_dx. Try to breathe and not panic. Please also remember you have options. I am just checking in to see if you made a decision yet? Remember we all here to help!

Kiran
Hi @1ta_dx,

Resitting you’re A Levels is one option, but it might be that you want to put A levels behind you and focus on the next steps.

You’ve got two offers to go to university this year, which is fantastic. That means you could be off to uni next month if you want to be! In the long run, your A-Level grades won’t matter, so consider why you’d be resitting them. Is it to get onto a more competitive course, or because you know you could do better?

Plenty of our students came to Royal Holloway through Clearing and have done incredibly well for themselves. You can read some experiences from students and alumni here. In particular, see Anthony's experience. He came to us after unexpected A Level results, but he went on to get a first in his degree and now works for PwC as a Financial Risk Consultant.

I'm pasting his advice here as I think it is particularly valuable and might be helpful to read:

"Although I used to wonder how life might be different if I had gone to my firm choice, now I’m in a job I love, I can confidently say that it all worked out for the best. Clearing led me to Royal Holloway where I had the most incredible experience, achieved a first in my degree, made friends for life and learnt the skills needed to enter the working world."


Maybe this is just the push in a slightly different direction that you needed.

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about life at Royal Holloway.

Best wishes,
Royal Holloway, University of London Official Rep
(edited 2 months ago)

Reply 9

Original post
by 1ta_dx
Had an offer for economics at Bristol, AAA, missed it completely with DDC in Econ physics and maths respectively
I have a clearing offer from royal Holloway and Kent but I’m not sure if I should take a gap year and retake or just go to uni with the grades I have.
I know I’m capable of much more and I was distracted during y12 and 13, because of unplanned stuff but I don’t really want that to be an excuse because I know I’ve f***ed up so badly. Again I don’t know where I went wrong, maybe I just crumbled under pressure but I really thought I’d do better than D, since I did work hard and I did try my best especially for economics.
Please help, from someone who’s preferably been in a similar situation, show me there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you


Hey I’m actually in exactly the same position as you!!! I did maths physics psych and got CDA in that order. I had an offer for Bath Business which I lost and I’ve got clearing offers for Royal Holloway and Surrey. I’m also considering taking a gap year because I know I can do better as well and I had some other things going on during A levels just like you. I think I’m going to firm Surrey and potentially withdraw before the term begins/ finances start etc if I still feel strongly that I’m not happy with these grades. But I’m really undecided because it’s such a huge decision to make and there’s the risk that the resits don’t go to plan either. I’d love to hear what you decide to do because our positions are so similar!
Original post
by 1ta_dx
Had an offer for economics at Bristol, AAA, missed it completely with DDC in Econ physics and maths respectively
I have a clearing offer from royal Holloway and Kent but I’m not sure if I should take a gap year and retake or just go to uni with the grades I have.
I know I’m capable of much more and I was distracted during y12 and 13, because of unplanned stuff but I don’t really want that to be an excuse because I know I’ve f***ed up so badly. Again I don’t know where I went wrong, maybe I just crumbled under pressure but I really thought I’d do better than D, since I did work hard and I did try my best especially for economics.
Please help, from someone who’s preferably been in a similar situation, show me there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you

Hi,

I'm so sorry to hear your results weren't what you wanted, but even so, still well done on competing A levels and for still aspiring to go to university after this mild set back - not everyone would have done the same, so you're already doing fantastic.

As for advice on going forward: you're the only one who can decide for certain what works best for you. A few things to consider are if you've given a visit to royal holloway and kent, and if you enjoyed them? And if you feel like the course structure there is something that will be beneficial for you in the long run?

If you do decide to resit, there's absolutely no shame in it whatsoever. Many students take a year out to retake exams or to work/travel.

My main advice would be to look after your mental health during all of this to make sure you're making the best decision you can for yourself - make sure you take some time to do something you enjoy and de stress

Best,

Amy (Lancaster Student Ambassador)

Reply 11

Original post
by 1ta_dx
Had an offer for economics at Bristol, AAA, missed it completely with DDC in Econ physics and maths respectively
I have a clearing offer from royal Holloway and Kent but I’m not sure if I should take a gap year and retake or just go to uni with the grades I have.
I know I’m capable of much more and I was distracted during y12 and 13, because of unplanned stuff but I don’t really want that to be an excuse because I know I’ve f***ed up so badly. Again I don’t know where I went wrong, maybe I just crumbled under pressure but I really thought I’d do better than D, since I did work hard and I did try my best especially for economics.
Please help, from someone who’s preferably been in a similar situation, show me there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you
I strongly suggest you take the offer from eg Royal Holloway and move on positively. I speak as a tutor with many years of experience and think it is a more positive move.

Reply 12

Original post
by 1ta_dx
Had an offer for economics at Bristol, AAA, missed it completely with DDC in Econ physics and maths respectively
I have a clearing offer from royal Holloway and Kent but I’m not sure if I should take a gap year and retake or just go to uni with the grades I have.
I know I’m capable of much more and I was distracted during y12 and 13, because of unplanned stuff but I don’t really want that to be an excuse because I know I’ve f***ed up so badly. Again I don’t know where I went wrong, maybe I just crumbled under pressure but I really thought I’d do better than D, since I did work hard and I did try my best especially for economics.
Please help, from someone who’s preferably been in a similar situation, show me there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you





Hi, I’m in the same position as you 😞. I received an offer from Bristol too, but for maths and econ instead, also AAA ( I was predicted A*AAB). Some unexpected things happened during exam season (possibly worst point of my life) and I ended up with ACCC. I’m not sure whether to resit or take Lancaster's clearing offer because I know I can definitely do better under different circumstances but also it’s a very long process.

Please tell me what you decide to do, I’m considering going to Lancaster for a term since I need to wait a year to resit anyways and then decide what I want to do from there. But people I spoke to tell me it’s unnecessary and expensive and that I should just do one or the other.
Original post
by haerinbunnie
Hi, I’m in the same position as you 😞. I received an offer from Bristol too, but for maths and econ instead, also AAA ( I was predicted A*AAB). Some unexpected things happened during exam season (possibly worst point of my life) and I ended up with ACCC. I’m not sure whether to resit or take Lancaster's clearing offer because I know I can definitely do better under different circumstances but also it’s a very long process.
Please tell me what you decide to do, I’m considering going to Lancaster for a term since I need to wait a year to resit anyways and then decide what I want to do from there. But people I spoke to tell me it’s unnecessary and expensive and that I should just do one or the other.

Hi!
Congrats on your results, even if they weren't quite what you hoped for, and congrats on securing an offer with us! Hope you're proud of yourself for managing this given your difficult circumstances.
As a Lancaster student, I really want to be biased and just tell you that we're amazing and that you should come study with us, but I understand that things aren't as simple as that. As some other advice above suggested, there's pros and cons to taking a year out to resit your A-Levels, but if that's what your heart is telling you to do, it could very well be worth pursuing.
If it's rankings that you're concerned about, Lancaster ranks 11th in the UK for Maths and 10th overall. Our Mathematics and Statistics department was ranked first out of 157 UK universities for research impact, with 100% of research being rated world-leading or internationally excellent.
Rankings aren't everything though so I would also strongly suggest looking carefully through the course content to see if we're the right match for you. If I understood correctly and your offer is for Mathematics with Economics, you can find details on the course here, and you can also chat to a current student on that course through our UniBuddy system (a window should pop up in the corner when you click the link) if you have any specific questions about the course.
In the meantime, I do hope you consider us, and please give us a shout if you have any questions at all!

Sofia
Student Ambassador (PhD Linguistics)

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