It's probably come around a lot quicker than you're expecting so if you're nervously awaiting your A Level results then this post is for you! I went through it all last year and was lucky enough to get the results I needed to get into university so I thought i'd do a little post about it.
- Believe in yourself. Your exams are finished and you can't change anything so you might as well think positively. You'll probably think you've done worse than you actually have but there's no point in stressing about your exams now they're over.
- There are options for everyone. You've got a firm and an insurance choice for a reason. A lot of my friends got into their insurance choices and none of them have any regrets about not getting into their firm choice. No matter where you go you'll enjoy yourself and quite a few unis do accept people with lower grades than they originally asked for.
-Clearing isn't easy but you will find a university place. I sat with my friend for 3 hours through clearing last year and she eventually got a place at a good uni doing a course she really enjoys. To be honest clearing this year shouldn't be too difficult as there is less competition now the fees have risen so I wouldn't worry too much. If you check UCAS and you haven't got in pick up a Telegraph newspaper with all the clearing places in on your way to collect your results. Have a look for suitable courses and call the unis as soon as possible to be in with the best chance of getting a place. Remember that the later you leave it the harder it will be to get through on the phone.
-The UCAS site will probably crash. Check UCAS early in the morning (I found out at 6:45am using the iPhone App) before it crashes. If it says it will be updated at 8am you definitely need to check earlier; UCAS crashed at 8am for people in my year and many had to pick up their grades without knowing if they had a place at uni. My friend got her grades and was gutted because she didn't think she'd got in. When she checked UCAS she had as they'd lowered her offer so she didn't need to be upset!
And most of all, Good Luck! I'm sure you won't have anything to worry about!
Thank you for writing this, Caz! I'm picking up my results tomorrow and I've put myself in a stupid situation where my insurance offer is higher than my firm (don't ask!) aha. x
ReplyDeleteThank you for the reassurance in this post. My sister sent me this link and it has definitely made me feel a little better about getting my results tomorrow!! eeeeek :) xx
ReplyDeleteI went through this back in 2008 (god, I'm old) and found out in the early hours I'd got into my chosen Uni through UCAS. My mother then happily spent the few hours before we went to get my grades pondering what I might have got, proudly gushing about my genius to anyone who would listen and convincing herself (and me, a little) that I must have got 4 A's. Arrive at school to open the dreaded brown envelope to find out I actually got ABBC (my course requirements were AAB) in all the wrong order (I needed an A in French and hadn't got it) and spent the next couple of hours shrinking my head back down to size!
ReplyDeleteMoral of the story is - if you don't get your grades, this does NOT mean you have failed, the options for you next are endless.
Good luck to everyone getting them tomorrow! As scary as it is, I would put myself in your position all over again if it meant I got to go to Uni again - it was the best four years of my life. Cx
Thank you for this post :) I'm getting my results tomorrow and I'm really nervous! xx
ReplyDeleteI think it's also important to say that Uni isn't the be all and end all - there are other options! Work, apprenticeships, college! Don't worry - just do what interests you! Good luck everyone getting their results!
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