Psychology with AAB

[honkytonkheroe]

DD now has AAB at A level (after today's U-turn) and in to Birmingham Uni to study Psychology with a view to becoming a Psychologist (clinical or possibly educational). Will AAB hold her back? She was predicted AAA for UCAS and thinks she'd have got AAA/B in the exams. She is thinking of taking her A level Psychology in October and thinks she can get an A *. Her main reason being that psychology is such a competitive field. Does anyone in the know have an opinion about this? x

If she has an offer why would it? I don't see the benefit of retaking an A level if she has a place. She will presumably need to go on to take a masters and Phd to become a clinical psychologist and by then it's her uni performance that matters. I have a masters in educational psychology but from another country. My undergraduate degree was in a totally different subject but no one cared about that, let alone what I got in school.

She'll be fine as long she works hard at the degree - great spot on campus for Psycology and amazing uni! Good luck to her

I’m a psychologist. I can’t remember the last time I put a levels on my CV. Perhaps for my masters application? These days it’s just my degrees and professional qualifications on there. AAB isn’t going to disadvantage her at all. Tell her well done, and to focus on adjusting to university life!

She is in for the long haul so school will become irrelevant - all practising psychologists I know have/ need a PhD. Does she know this?

Yes, that is the main thing that concerns her. Would it disadvantage her in getting on a doctorate course with them being so competitive. Sorry I didn't explain very well.

Marginally, in that the course requirements include reference to academic performance at A level. But her A level grades are good enough and easily explained with reference to the farce that we're living through.
I agree she's far better spending her time making sure she gets the best start in her degree as, realistically, a first is almost essential if she's looking at clinical or educational and that she tries to find time to start some relevant voluntary work.

I'm an educational psychologist. As far as I can tell, getting relevant work experience is the most important thing for getting on the doctorate.

I bloody hope not. My grades were below my offer and I’m now on track for a 1st at a Russel Group uni. I’d be very irritated if the exams I sat at 18 while ill had much of a baring on my future career

And they should have even less of an impact given that they are not based on actual exam performance!

I'm a chartered psychologist. I got a PhD after only a C and 3 D's at A Level. Never put my A-level grades on my CV after my BSc. Employers will be far more interested in the experience she gets.

Thank you all for your responses. You all seem unanimous that it doesn't matter and that AAB is good enough.

However, just one thing I should have mentioned. Her place has already been deferred until 2021 and she has a job as a TA for a year. She can retake in January with no cost to us and keep the highest grade. She'd only ever try to get the A to an A* (there was too much unfinished work on the B subject). Are you still in agreement it's not worth it?

Ah right. in that case give it a go. Sounds like she has a good chance and and she has nothing to lose.It'll mean she gets back up to speed with her psychology before university. Sorry, I'd assumed she was starting university in September and would risk being distracted from hers studies.
S

Thank you all. She has decided that she has nothing to lose. You did all make her realise that AAB are good grades and would not hold her back in any event. She does however not want to always feel she was never given the chance to show what she would have got!

Of course those grades won't hold her back.

They're the same as I got. Long road to clinical psychology and the degree is harder than you imagine (stats Haha) but she can definitely do it.

My Dd did psychology at a Russell group uni, her offer was AAB.

Tbf the uni isn't that important. Just make sure the degree is BPS accredited.

Well done her for getting the TA job, could also suggest she does some voluntary hours with people with MH issues or in a direct caring role (covid permitting). Most clin psychs I know got their first experience in care homes, drop in MH centres, playschemes for children with disabilities helplines etc it's harder to do this after graduating when you have to pay the bills!

Thank you. She has now realised she's being ridiculous and AAB are good grades and A* was never a given and is happy with her grades. Especially after seeing it was the entry requirements to all the Russel group unis she was looking at. I really think she just struggled with the fact she never sat the exams so doesn't know for sure what she'd have got. I'll speak to her about volunteering. Thanks for all your help!