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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that I fucked up and this won't help?

28 replies

OpheliaRosePolonius · 27/07/2017 14:16

Backstory:

I'm 20 and retook my AS levels and finished the A2 exams last year with extremely mediocre results. I currently have a newborn baby and I wanted to have something to do in my spare time that will exercise my mind rather than binge watching Netflix. So, I paid to do an A Level online. Due to finanes, I have to do it, as it was expensive and DP and I really don't have a lot of money. So, I signed up. Catch is, I already have this A Level, at a very mediocre grade. I have two years to complete the exams, so I have a lot of time to do it in, plus DP has agreed to watch the baby on one of his days off until I do it (if not, family member will whilst he's at work). I decided to sign up because I want a better grade so that I can go to uni. In hindsight, I should've picked to do a different one, I'm aware of that now, but I want to do this subject at university, I just didn't think at the time that I spent three years doing it and only got a mediocre grade. Before people jump on that fact, I was in a very stressful situation at the time, which the school knew about but did nothing about, I really did have a lot going on at the time, PLUS the second time I sat the AS, I only retook one exam, as I started teaching myself it three months before the exam, and I went up two grades in the exam that I retook. It is a humanities subject, I'm not wanting to study medicine or anything. Even if I got an A (hypothetically), will it still have been a waste of time doing it? Will universities only see the grade that I got before and not the grade I taught myself? I feel like I really mucked this situation up :(

OP posts:
OneMillionScovilles · 27/07/2017 14:24

I'm no expert, but I think you should be able to apply only citing your best results (along with when you got each of them). It doesn't sound like a waste of time at all, especially as it's the subject you want to study. Be proud of yourself for making the effort to improve something that didn't reflect your best work!

Personally I'd think about getting a reference from someone at your school who knows you and your previous situation well - it's normal to submit something from a teacher etc alongside your personal statement, and if they can put something down about your circumstances, this will help your potential unis understand why you're resitting.

Best of luck!

zeebeedee · 27/07/2017 14:26

I think they will only see the better grade, so you couldn't (for example) list that you have 4 a levels, english, french and history 2015 and history 2017.

Doing an A level to use you brain/just for fun is a great thing - I did Psychology (but then had a baby the day of the exam, so never passed) and human biology later , when DS2 was 3.

NevilleBennett · 27/07/2017 14:29

No you need to list all grades on your UCAS form.

Original poster
OpheliaRosePolonius · 27/07/2017 14:30

I thought with UCAS, you had to write down every qualification you got, including retakes??

OP posts:
Original poster
OpheliaRosePolonius · 27/07/2017 14:32

@NevilleBennett I thought so, therefore is this a waste of time? :(

OP posts:
KimmySchmidt1 · 27/07/2017 14:35

It is always good to improve your academic performance, and you are aging at the same rate whether you have qualifications or not, so you may as well do them. Teaching yourself is much hard for various reasons than doing it at an evening class so i'd suggest doing that if you can.

also, think about what job you want, and whether what you are studying qualifies you to do it. If money is tight then presumably you'd like to earn some more, and it might be more productive to work back from what job you want to what qualifications to pursue.

KimmySchmidt1 · 27/07/2017 14:35

Also worth considering the Open University considering you have a partner and a baby, which may be more doable than trying to pretend you are 18 and going to university full time. My mum did an OU degree when I was small and has been a teacher for 20 years now, so time does fly.

Allthebestnamesareused · 27/07/2017 14:36

It won't necessarily be a waste of time because they will see your commitment to the subject and by the time you apply you will be doing so as a mature student.

Don't be disheartened- stick with it.

viques · 27/07/2017 14:54

Is DP the babies dad? If so he will not be "watching the baby" , he will be parenting. If not apologies and well done DP for stepping up.

WildernessWhale · 27/07/2017 14:57

Some universities will only count grades taken in one sitting; they will not count grades taken as resits, or where grades have been taken over multiple years.

I think your best bet would be to contact the university department that you wish to apply for, or alternatively to get in touch with the Open University and get some solid advice regarding entrance requirements.

Do you have a specific course and university in mind?

cardibach · 27/07/2017 14:58

If it's the subject you want to do at Uni and you only have a mediocre grade you will have to redo it. They accept resits, especially if you make a huge improvement which will suggest to admissions that there were issues the first time round.

TheFrendo · 27/07/2017 14:59

If you significantly improve your grade, you will not have wasted your time.

cardibach · 27/07/2017 15:00

Wilderness that's true of very few universities and courses. Especially if you are applying as a mature student, which the OP will. University isn't a one-chance-fuck-up-at-18-and-you're-out deal!

Morphene · 27/07/2017 15:03

When I was doing uni admissions we were very sensitive to resits particularly for people not coming through in the standard timescale. So a mature student self-taught resit improvement would have been given great weight and made it slightly more likely we would offer a place (assuming the resit grade was good enough), than a straight up equivalent grade, certainly it would get a lot more weight than the original grade.

So it isn't a waste at all assuming you achieve the grade you need.

WildernessWhale · 27/07/2017 15:05

Cardibach

I said, "some universities" and I never once said that the OP has fucked up. I advised her to check with the University they would like to apply for, or with the Open University.

There are universities where the majority of courses require A level grades from just one sitting. So it's not that rare anymore.

Mature students do have different routes onto courses at times; the OU is a usual route for this to happen (with modules). I have yet to see a mature student application where those mature years involved one A level retake - there is usually a lot of other supportive evidence for admission to the course (work experience, OU Credits etc.)

IHeartDodo · 27/07/2017 15:10

Have you considered a foundation year? You may not need to retake, as they're generally aimed at people coming from an unconventional route...

WildernessWhale · 27/07/2017 15:15

Once you've contacted the university to confirm their admissions requirements

You could also sell the resit in your PS along the lines of "a personal situation meant I wasn't able to do the course justice during my secondary schooling. I have retaken the course with more maturity in recent years and improved my grade by XX marks. I found that the maturity and life experience I've gained helped me see issues in a different light e.g. having a baby of my own I've realised how fragile child health can be in regards to malaria and this caused me to reflect more on other options available for malaria prevention in young babies" or similar.

But you really do need to speak to the university first.

iseenodust · 27/07/2017 15:16

Ask to get this thread moved to the Higher Education board there are a number of people who university professionals who will give good advice. The title you've given & being in AIBU won't necessarily attract their attention.

Slightlyperturbedowlagain · 27/07/2017 15:17

With Open University you may not need to resit A levels, they have lots of detail on their website.

DerelictWreck · 27/07/2017 15:31

Even if you do have to list all results OP, it's still worth it - UCAS will see your new better grade (fingers crossed) and be impressed you retook it as it shows commitment and perseverance!

Ohyesiam · 27/07/2017 15:36

Your UCAS form will show your determination.

parrotseatemall · 27/07/2017 15:36

Is DP the babies dad? If so he will not be "watching the baby" , he will be parenting. If not apologies and well done DP for stepping up.

This is disingenuous. If OP weren't studying they'd share parent duties on that day. So he's offering to sacrifice the shared load by looking after the baby on his own during that time. I know I'd consider it a generous offer, and the mark of a kind partner who supports his partner's goals.

OP, surely if they see two marks, one later and higher, it'll just show that you took it again and did better. That's not a negative thing is it?

lanouvelleheloise · 27/07/2017 15:39

No, it's totally NOT a waste of time!

If you will be over 21 at the start of your studies, you'll begin as a mature student, which means that slightly different rules sometimes apply to 18 year old entrants. You need to write a personal statement that brings out the fact that you went back and studied with a small child to get a better grade: most admissions tutors will find this impressive. Speak to admissions people on university open days and find out what they require, it can vary from place to place.

sp12345 · 27/07/2017 16:00

It really depends what university you want to apply to. If it is Russel Group then that will probably not be an option, but if it is outside of this group (one of the older polys, which are usually wonderful institutions), then you might be ok. It is really easy to call up and speak to admissions departments so I would start with that. Your reference on your UCAS ref can discuss any problems you have had to put it into context.

You mentioned in one of your posts that it is a humanities subject? Can I ask which one? Most of the specifications have now changed for A-Level subjects which means you might struggle more than you realise with sitting this again as the content and format will be very different from before. If you let me know what subject it is I might be able to help?

Atenco · 27/07/2017 16:29

Just found this OP: www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/getting-started/mature-undergraduate-students

"Don't worry about whether you are qualified to study at university – your original education or work experience may be enough, and if not, there are Access courses you can complete to gain entry. You also have the option of studying from home with organisations such as NEC (National Extension College). "