Your story about not getting uni gradeS

[LenaLoveWitch]

DD didn't get the grades to go to the Russell group uni which was her first choice. She's really upset but has been offered another good course at a less prestigious uni. So be it. At least she'll go to uni in a good. It's. I've told her the same thing happened to me. Instead of becoming a physiotherapist I studied languages and ended Up with a really great international career. What's your experience of grades gone wrong?

Good city- I meant

My brothers friend was doing maths at uni and failed his first year, saw his bum and took a year out to work admin for a bank in london and never went back to uni, hes now better paid than all his friends and says it was the best thing that happened.

Probably not st the same level you and your DDs happened at but due to illness (mental health related) I had to leave school in year 10. I did not obtain GCSEs despite having predicted grades of above c/c marks. I worked in a shit job from 16 upwards, got a few good qualifications behind me (self funded via distance learning) got into management and I've done pretty darn well if I do say so myself. It's not the end of the world.

I was ill when I was in sixth form and bombed majorly so didn't get not uni at all. I went and did volunteering abroad for a couple of years, came back and did crap jobs while doing night school to retake a couple of a-levels. I got into a Russell Group uni to study law, another Russell Group uni for my Masters and years later I am in a c-suite job that I love, earning well. It's not the end of the world and often it's better to go to university a bit older rather than straight out of school. To this day, in my forties when I am in an interview, I get asked about my volunteering, nt my degree or my professional experience! It's crazy. My qualifications speak for themselves, but my experience speaks for me. Don't get me wrong a Russell Group education on paper is worth a lot, but don't get hung up on it. As long as she goes to a uni with a good student life, a good record for her course and one that she falls in love with when she first sees it - it'll work out.

I remember one of my best friends not getting the grades for his first choice, it was a huge shock as he always got straight As and was generally an overachiever. He ended up going to his insurance choice, which he was absolutely gutted about as heart has been set on 1st choice.

Fast forward 15 years he absolutely loved his uni experience, made amazing friends who he is still very close to today, got a great graduate job and has a generally amazing life, arguably way better than lots of us who got our first choices.

It can easily happen that you don't get the A level grades you want/need, and it feels like such a massive disaster at the time but it really doesn't have to be. Your uni experience and career afterwards is what YOU make it.

DD2 missed first and insurance grades. Had a horrendous day going through clearing. Went to a non-Russell group, but good, uni and had the best time ever. Met her now Fiance, came out with a first this year and has just started her first FT job in a profession that she loves.

I missed my first choice, went to insurance, loved it and the city and have never left, and I'm doing pretty damn well too!

My DD just narrowly missed the criteria to do a much respected degree at a great Uni. Oh did she cry! She was floored by that, totally gutted. Then she picked herself up and accepted an unconditional offer from a Uni in same area, slightly less recommendations for that course, but has got on with it. No places left in Halls, which was scary for us both but she joined online forums, 'met' a group in same situation and they have very maturely organised a house share. She's now raring to go.

Hope things work out for your child.

I didn't have great advice for selecting my A levels and chose Physics without also taking maths, which I realise was necessary for what was required.

Instead of suggesting or requiring that I took up another A level ( I dropped physics in the first term, as did the only other female on the course, after being patronised one time too many by the teacher) I ended up volunteering at the local special needs school.

I also took economics and geography.

I cocked up the geography exam. You were supposed to write each of the 2 main questions into separate answer booklets, as they were being marked by different people I assume, one being physical geog, one being human geog.

I answered both in one booklet. Panicked at the end of the time. The examiner let me have a small amount of extra time to transcribe one of the questions over to the other booklet, but I ran out of time - and did it all in tears so didn't do it very well.

So I finished with a B in economics and only an E in geog.

Luckily, the closest college (now a uni) offered a teaching degree which I was really interested in after my volunteering. And they only required 2 passed A levels, so were happy with my B and E, and my Bs in GCSE English and Maths.

I enjoyed my course, made great friends and I've been teaching for 20 years now and still love it.

Not mine (I took a different route), but I can think of several people who thought their world had fallen apart when they didn't get the grades they wanted, and who have gone on to be really successful in areas they hadn't considered before and really happy in their lives.

This kind of sums up the pressure our Dcs are living with, not so much by parents (I think) but by the schools. If any child is happy, secure, bright and motivated they will do well.

My dad told me I had to choose 3 out of maths, chemistry, biology and physics. I opted for chemistry, maths and biology. I wanted to take biology, English and classics. I got an E in biology (too busy revising for chemistry and maths), and failed maths and chemistry. Fortunately school put everyone in for General Studies as a back up and I got a D for that which was sufficient to study economics at an ex poly.

By 30 I was earning 6 figures in investment banking.

I didn't get my grades, and stupidly my 2nd choice wanted higher than my 1st did. I ended up going to my 3rd choice through clearing and I loved it! when I graduated I didn't want to leave, so I stuck around hoping to get into the big bank in the area, wound up meeting my husband on my commute to work and met some wonderful life long friends. I'm now working in a fairly high paid position in finance and if I hadn't gone to that specific uni I wouldn't have the life I do now.

My cousin had the same experience, she got her results the day before my wedding. I had to hightail it up to her school to help sort her out, at one point she was adamant she wasn't going to uni if she couldn't get into her 1st choice. I managed to talk her round and she had the best 3 years at her 2nd choice. Just remind your DD that it isn't about where you go, it's about what you make of it! If she can prove she has what it takes to work hard and dedicate herself to work/studies etc then any employer would gladly take her on.

I didn't get the grades I needed but was accepted at same uni onto a slightly different course through clearing
By end of first term I was doing fine and applied to transfer back onto my original course - which worked
I'm now not doing anything connected to my degree at all but am doing well in a very different career
DD dropped out of uni in final year - I was not happy with her - 5 years later she has the job of her dreams and is v happy
DS failed his degree and had to resit final year - managed to get an internship in meantime - resat and passed. 4 years later he's changed role 3 times (still with original employer) and earns a salary I would've dreamed of at his age!!

I had very poor careers advice in school and had no clue what to pick for a course. Picked a random course didn't get the grades for it but got the grades for my insurance offer. School put the pressure on to take the insurance place but I decided to take a year out. Went to local college to resit an a level and took a new subject over the year.workwd part time and saved money.the year at college gave me the confidence to apply for a teaching course as previously I'd been too scared to go for interviews. Applied, got an unconditional offer based on having three decent a level results and good predicted grades for my year out studies. Definitely the best decision I made as I ended up in the career I always dreamt of.

I'm not really sticking to the brief here, as I did get the grades I needed. However, I decided on results day that my heart just didn't lie in the quite prestigious 'Russell Group' uni but in my insurance offer uni, which was a lot less 'acclaimed' (for want of a better word). Same course but less pressure; I absolutely loved it and ended up with exactly the same career as if I'd gone to the other uni.

Last year DS2 missed his grades by one grade each BCD instead of ABC. Rejected by firm choice, didn't have a back up. Got a similar course he wanted to do at a different uni through clearing, and is at home for summer after his first year having had the time of his life. Is very happy and excited for the rest of his degree.

She'll be fine. There is more than one way to get to where you want to end up.

My husband got 4 A's and a B at A level. Unfortunately the B meant his offer at Cambridge was not met. He ended up at UCL doing genetics. He hadn't really planned to do that, he pretty much chose different science subjects for each university he applied to.

He messed around a lot at UCL - we were constantly visiting each other at opposite ends of the country, and he even flunked a whole year and had to retake. He got a 2:2 which was pretty pathetic given how smart he is.

He wasted another year not knowing what to do with himself, and finally took a GRE to see if he could get a place in a doctorate program in america. He aced it and got a scholarship.
11 years later and he finally graduated his doc with a near perfect grade point, and he got a decent post doc offer to work for one of the world's leading geneticists.

Sometimes life takes us down rabbit holes and weird paths. It usually works out ok in the end. Different, but ok.

Completely screwed up a levels, went and got a job (actually two) studied after work, loved the jobs, didn't have any debts and now have a six figure salary as an a accountant. Unless doctor, vet, lawyer etc I am unsure that university is the way to go.

I ended up at my third choice uni, an ex-poly that was really struggling as an institution. I somehow ended up in a really good job; it's better than a few friends in the same field, including one who studied at Cambridge and one at Durham.

Honestly I'm still slightly mystified by it, but goes to show that a prestigious name isn't always necessary!

I didn't not get the grades, but I dropped out of a prestigious uni quickly and went to the local poly. I see such negative comments on here about non red bricks etc.

I came out with a first, volunteered on the side and learnt an awful lot of skills and gained experience I could have got in no other way, I got into a top grad scheme (16,000 applicants for 100 places) and am now a few years down the line and a chartered accountant in a management role in a large organisation doing a job I love. I know plenty of others who went to 'bad' unis and have very high powered careers, it really isn't everything st all.

Making the decision to drop out of somewhere so great made me as a person. Not quite getting the grades could be similar for your DD. Wishing her the best x

I missed the grades for both my first and my insurance choice but my insurance choice liked me enough to let me on the course. I went there and met my DP at one of the clubs. Fell pregnant with DD (oops!) and deferred my second year. Ended up transferring unis to one closer to home. Loved both unis! I'm marrying my DP next year, still speak to and see my uni friends regularly (even though we live really far apart) and I'm in a good job (teacher).

It's not the end of the world.

DH missed the grades he needed for Manchester, got through clearing to study at an ex-poly. Really disappointed.

He met me. so that's a big bonus . He also earns 6 figures and owns his own business, and only works 3 days a week.

He has been extremely lucky but he has worked bloody hard.

A good friend got DDE missed both offers by miles. Was going to retake but a teacher at college said you've got 3 alevels you're going to uni.
Got them onto a course at a FE college that was just starting to offer a couple of degrees (which were awarded by a actual university).
Did really well but graduated during a recession, so did pgce.
Now is a secondary head teacher.

I always laugh at the comments on here about having to go to Russell group uni's and achieving top grades.
That doesn't happen for the majority.
We have kids on btecs who become brilliant teachers, kids who do foundation years who study art, forensic etc.
My story is that regardless of grades I had a baby. Not planned. I waited a year, sat another a level and took him with me. He is now himself at uni.
What tangled webs we weave :)

DH got awful a level grades, missing his first choice & back up places. He went through clearing, eventually settling into an HND in an entirely unrelated subject, in a field a distant relative he admired worked in. He did that, transferred into the second year of the degree. He did a year out in the industry & finished the degree, taking five years in all to get through. He loves his work, earns high five/low six figures & has never regretted changing direction. If he'd got the necessary grades to follow his dream at 18, he'd be an aging outdoor instructor.