A-level results, late ADHD/autism diagnosis and reapplying to UCL – looking for advice

[Milliondreamz98]

I’m hoping some parents here might be able to share advice, as I’m feeling quite lost about what to do next.

My child missed her UCL offer after not achieving the required A-level grades. Her predicted grades were AAA, so this has been a huge shock.
There is a long background to this.
Before GCSEs, my child developed severe depression and started counselling. Despite this, she achieved strong GCSE results. We were advised to seek ADHD and autism assessments, but the waiting list was around two years.
During Years 12 and 13, the depression improved, but school became very difficult. She struggled with attendance, motivation, and what looked like school refusal and exhaustion. Despite this, they still received AAA predictions and an offer from UCL.
In Year 13, things worsened. Concentration and study became very difficult, and performance declined sharply, with very low mock results.
After nearly two years, She was finally diagnosed with autism and ADHD, which likely affected their learning, focus, and behaviour. However, this came just as exam leave began, so there was no time for school support or adjustments.
There was also a serious issue with a private maths tutor, where boundaries were crossed from his side and we had to stop lessons about three months before exams, causing further disruption.
In the end, she achieved an A in English and a D in Maths, which was very upsetting given her earlier GCSE success in maths.
She still want to go to UCL. She is now on ADHD medication and is determined to try again. As a parent, I feel she faced many challenges without proper understanding or support during A-levels.
We are considering reapplying to UCL, but I’m unsure how realistic this is with her current grades. I also wonder whether her late diagnosis and lack of support could be explained in a future application.
I’m also confused about the reapplication process. Since she has left school, how do we get a reference or predicted grades for UCAS? Their grammar school says they do not support former students. Is this normal?
I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has successfully reapplied to UCL or a similar university after lower-than-expected A-level results, especially where ADHD or autism was diagnosed late.
Any advice on reapplying and possible options would be very helpful. Thank you.

My dc had a similar situation.

school would provide a reference but don’t do predicted grades for anyone except their full time students.

your dc may be overly fixated on a specific route, as mine was.

it is possible to resit a levels but there will not be any state funding for this - so you will either need to pay for a private school which specialises in resits and one year courses or your child will need to study on their own. I think these days there may be online schools as well.

for example MPW do resits and one year courses.

https://www.mpw.ac.uk/locations/cambridge/courses/retakes/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=222166341&utm_content=13366402461&utm_term=resit%20a%20levels&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=222166341&gbraid=0AAAAAD_HBBfmTWK2wS_yHiby4Va_ObZAg&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8Jm14LSllgMVu5pQBh2AXxVdEAAYASAAEgK8cfD_BwE

online options

https://www.oxfordcollege.ac/courses/a-level-retakes/

What does she want to study?

There was also a serious issue with a private maths tutor, where boundaries were crossed from his side and we had to stop lessons about three months before exams, causing further disruption

did you escalate this?

What subject is she studying?

Honestly, I would be stepping away from UCL or anywhere very high pressure. Your DD has a history of overwhelm and collapse, albeit she hasn't gone into full burnout.

Ideally a modular or partial coursework assessed course, too.

She wants to study Psychology with Education because her own experiences have inspired her to pursue a dream of helping and supporting other young people.
The tutor made inappropriate advances towards her, inviting her to dinner, asking her to have lessons at his home, and even giving her a second phone.
I didn’t formally escalate it. At the time, I simply spoke to the tutor directly and told him very clearly that his behaviour was inappropriate and that he needed to be careful and maintain appropriate boundaries. I then stopped the lessons.

Firstly WTAF… this man sounds dangerous. You need to bloody report him. Is he a teacher at her school?

secondly, she got a D in maths and psychology is very very heavy on maths. Very heavy.

I have also considered whether university might not be the best option for her, but she really wants to go to university, and UCL in particular. So, as her mum, I want to support her and help her as much as I can to achieve what she wants. Also, considering that she managed to get a good grade in English despite barely studying, I feel that she does have the ability to do well academically when she is able to engage with the subject.

I think it's normal for schools not to provide predicted grades for an ex-pupil. If your DD is retaking her maths at a private college or with an online provider I guess they may be able to give her a prediction?

There's no reason not to reapply for UCL as one of her five choices. I'd say her chances aren't great though, so encourage her to consider some more realistic options too.

Psychology is much more maths focussed than English

she doesn’t sound remotely in a health and strong enough place to be going to university in 3 weeks

UCL is very intense, I wouldn’t recommend it. Perhaps a more nurturing campus university where everything is on site and it’s not as spread out or surrounded by other unis? Psychology is super maths heavy so that might be an issue. Retaking maths could help or doing a 4 year integrated uni course.

She is taking a gap year as she didnt meet the grades. Ill see how she is coping with her year of self studying.

Psychology isn't that maths heavy. I did it with arts A levels.

If she wants to be an educational psychologist, she just needs to do a BPS accredited psychology degree (doesn't have to be "with education") . Then get relevant work experience, progress ideally to assistant psychologist in an education psych service, and then the doctorate.

The Alma mater of the first psychology degree will not matter a jot as long as it's BPS accredited. In fact people will probably just check that she has a degree in psychology and not even look at where. I am an educational psychologist and it makes absolutely zero difference to who we offer assistantships to. I have genuinely no clue where ours studied

It is unusual for a school not to support UCAS applications from recent leavers. All the sixth forms I've taught in have. Are you sure that's definitely what they said?

I didn't get good A levels due to undiagnosed dyslexia and going through a traumatic event in my teens. I just forgot about university for a while to be honest. Then, in my mid 20s, I did an access course. I then applied to 3 universities (including 2 for psychology) they all offered me a place if I completed the access course....Universities LOVE "mature" students!!

To be honest I had a far better time at University in my late 20s as I was in a better place for it. I wonder if you just let her have a time out then see where things are at. You can apply for Universities at any time, it doesn't have to be directly after A Levels.

She needs to see this year as one to focus squarely on getting herself in a strong state to live independently.

Intense therapy for a start.

Forget psychology with a D at maths.

They wouldn’t give predicted grades though if the pupil had failed and wasn’t resitting the subject as one of their own pupils though would they?

universities usually allow a grade drop of predicted grades for late autism diagnosis but I think unfortunately a D in maths too low for what she wants to study

Is the tutor a teacher in a school Op?

I do understand that maths is important when studying Psychology. Although she got a D in Maths in these exams, I don’t actually think my daughter has no ability or aptitude for maths. She was in the top set at a top grammar school without having private tuition for years, achieved a 9 at GCSE, and was predicted an A at A-level.
I suspect that what happened with the tutor made her lose interest and confidence in maths, and as studying became increasingly difficult for her, she may have eventually just given up on it. I genuinely believe that, with a year of proper support and consistent study, she could bring her Maths grade back up to an A.

Surely you went to the police?

It would appear not

Yes Op
and you’re her mum
fact is… she got a D

That's true. Schools will generally support a reapplication with the grades received though.

Good A level grades are needed for psychology & you need to be numerate. However, a sound maths GCSE grade is sufficient. The maths content of psychology degrees is often overplayed on mumsnet. You don’t need A level standard maths to successfully complete a psych degree. I don’t know what the best next steps are for your DD, but don’t reject psychology just because A level maths was challenging. BPS psychology degrees have a common core, but they do have different emphases.

Do you speak from experience?

I do