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.

No it wasn't. I took the OU route for my undergrad, as someone early suggested to the OP. However, since then have worked as a psychologist teaching on programmes at top-tier universities such as Cambridge and Henley Business School. Where you get your BPS accreditation and do UG degree doesn't necessarily hold you back when it comes to working as a psychologist.

My reason for commenting wasn't to invalidate people's thoughts about studying at UCL, I fully appreciate that some programmes require higher levels of mathematical aptitude than others (and I would have struggled, for sure!). It was because if someone had said to me back in my early 20s...there's no point in trying to pursue psychology at degree level if you don't have a high maths A-level grade it would have really put me off, when actually it isn't a barrier for lots of psych roles/careers inc. Educational Psych.

What type of psychologist are you? @applecharlotte

As far as I know, there is no entry requirement to study psychology at degree level at OU? Other than you can cough up the funds of course!

I feel I am derailing the thread a little, apologies OP. @Coldcabbage- I'm a Chartered Coaching Psychologist and work in organisations on leadership development, change and culture etc.

I did a psych conversion course with the OU (as already had an undergrad degree in an arts subject) that gave me GBC but I don't think that exists anymore. It was also very cheap to do (approx. £2.5k in fees) - no way could I afford to do the equivalent now. I then did a part time MSc (which was also much cheaper back in 2014) and then did the professional recognition route to get chartered psych status with the BPS. It's been a long (but very fulfilling) road...

@Milliondreamz98 I don’t see why it had to be UCL? She’s not got the grades for there and it’s probably out of reach. Newly discovered careers are not always great choices either. A customer or service user might not be the best practitioner and a very low % of psychology grads get anywhere near being a psychologist of any kind.

Being an educational psychologist requires a master’s and a doctorate and some experience of working with dc. The degrees are not all the same but some will have better employability than others. Carry on with supporting her dream but add a dose of realism. There’s few training places on the doctorate courses - you need to have everything they are looking for, not a dream supported by mum. None of what you say indicates a top drawer UCL student to me. I would steer her to be more realistic, especially if you don’t live in London.