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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Son (18) Distraught Over Results

380 replies

annelovesthebeach1975 · 18/08/2022 16:29

Hello everyone! I have been a longtime lurker of mumsnet for years now but today I have felt the need to finally make an account and post here, as my house has been plunged into chaos by the dreaded A Level results day. As the title says, my son has been absolutely distraught all day over the fact that his a level results were not what he wanted, and he got rejected by his dream uni, Newcastle University, and also his insurance choice, Birmingham. Although he only wanted to go to Newcastle so he doesn't really care about that. He received BCD although his predicted was AAB so obviously everyone was quite disappointed, but my son has taken it absolutely horrifically and it is breaking my heart. For some backstory, from when my son started lower sixth, his teachers helped students start looking for unis and courses during free periods at least once a week. From when my son began researching unis, he's only ever wanted to go to Newcastle University. When we went to the open day last year after he got his conditional offer he was hooked even further. He even knew what accomodation he wanted. He's a smart boy so I wasnt too worried about him getting in. However, after some of his exams he seemed quite unsure of himself, saying he didn't feel like he did a good job. I assumed this was just him overthinking it but now I believe the fact he didn't actually sit his GCSEs because of covid has had a negative effect on him since these were his first 'real exams.' He has been on the phone to clearing all day basically pleading for a biomed place at Newcastle and he has emailed them directly as well, although biomed and many other science courses are not clearing and his grades are much lower than the entry requirements so it has made things very difficult. I am putting on a brave face for him but on the inside I am heartbroken. This summer all he has talked about is what he's going to do when he goes to Newcastle, how excited he is, and how he's so excited for freshers week in newcastle. His eyes are red raw from crying in his room between contacting Newcastle over and over. He is not usually an emotional lad so this is very upsetting for me. I have contacted his sixth form for advice and they basically told me there is basically no chance he will find a biomed place at Newcastle with his grades, which were a shock to his teachers as they all thought he would breeze through his exams. It is looking like he will have to resit his a levels which while it is not the end of the world, it feels like it for my son when all his mates got into their unis, some Newcastle, and will be starting there next month. I am just looking for any advice on how to comfort him because I want him to know that I am there for him, and if there's any way I can get him a place at Newcastle on a science course that is biomed or similar.

OP posts:
Nocutenamesleft · 18/08/2022 16:32

That sound hard

dk you think he did not as good as he hoped because he has never sat exams before?

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 18/08/2022 16:33

Could he get into Northumbria uni through clearing?

loveislouderthanwar · 18/08/2022 16:34

What about unis near Newcastle? He will still see his mates and have the nightlife.

annelovesthebeach1975 · 18/08/2022 16:34

Nocutenamesleft · 18/08/2022 16:32

That sound hard

dk you think he did not as good as he hoped because he has never sat exams before?

Yes I think because he has never sat exams it made it a lot more nerve wracking for a lot of students. I think also because he was predicted such high grades and was told he would 'breeze through his exams' made the pressure even worse. I feel so bad for him as he's been getting messages from ppl at his school all day asking how he did :(

OP posts:
loveislouderthanwar · 18/08/2022 16:36

Or have a year out and do an epq instead of resitting a levels. He will get ucas points that way.

KittytheHare · 18/08/2022 16:36

Ride it out. He will gradually accept this - it’s a shock initially. Things will look differently over the next few days. Possibly repeating is the best option for him. Just try and bide your time, it’s horrible to see them so upset

Beekeepersapprentice · 18/08/2022 16:36

I'm sorry.
30 years ago I missed my grades and resat my A levels in a year.
Initially I was devastated and ringing round begging for a place - actually resitting was fine and starting a year later didn't make any long term difference.
If his heart is set on Newcastle and his teachers think those grades should have been achievable, encourage him to resit and go next year.
I'm sorry you're going through it though - it's hard.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 18/08/2022 16:36

I remember being recasted when l didn’t get into my choice.

l ended up in Manchester which was God’s Kingdom. 30 years later I’m so glad it happened. Could you talk to him about how life twists and turns?

GlueyMooey · 18/08/2022 16:37

You poor son. It's not surprising that he feels so bad. I'm sure he will be fine in the long run but there won't be much point telling him that just now.
Loads and loads of kids mess up their A'levels. There can be a surprisingly few points between getting a B and getting a D for example. That's why it's so hard to predict grades for students unless they are too,students. If he did retakes where would he do them? Can you afford a crammer or would he take them at his current school or at home? What subjects are they?

One of my kids did poorly in an AS so I left some alcohol and chocolate outside her door. It made her laugh. Bombing that exam made her work extra hard for her A level year so she benefitted from it really although I know that sounds crass.

Once you have something planned he will hopefully feel a bit better.

Hoppinggreen · 18/08/2022 16:37

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 18/08/2022 16:33

Could he get into Northumbria uni through clearing?

I was going to suggest this. It’s still in Newcastle and is the former Poly

HinchcliffeandMurgatroyd · 18/08/2022 16:38

Has he spoken to Newcastle admissions? They might make him an offer on a related course. Have a look at joint honours and similar subjects and ask. Universities will accept grades below those published and make compromise offers routinely. He has nothing to lose.

TeaWithPaddington · 18/08/2022 16:39

Hi,

I think it's been really hard on this group of year 13's because they haven't sat real exams before. I really feel for your son.

I'm presuming he wants to be a Biomedical Scientist? All is not lost. I only had one A-level (grade C) so had no chance of getting onto the degree. What I did was apply for the HND in Applied Biology at Sunderland University (not sure if they still do it or if Newcastle does it) but, at the end of year one, I got a distinction in my exams and was able to transfer to the 2nd year of the Biomed course so didn't waste any time. I went on to get a 1st, then a Masters and am now lab manager. All is not lost and I hope he can get in via this route!! Or, re-sit his A-levels. Hopefully, he can do what I did. Try Sunderland if Newcastle don't do it - I thoroughly enjoyed my time there (many years ago)!!

He'll be upset for a few days but he will be determined to get what he wants. Tell him not to give up!

annelovesthebeach1975 · 18/08/2022 16:39

loveislouderthanwar · 18/08/2022 16:34

What about unis near Newcastle? He will still see his mates and have the nightlife.

He has tried northumbria but biomed is not clearing and he said he didnt want to go anyway because it would really upset him if he was in Newcastle for uni but wasnt at Newcastle Uni specifically. I think he just has his heart set on Newcastle Uni

OP posts:
superram · 18/08/2022 16:39

Check that Newcastle accept resits before he gives up on clearing. I would also look at Northumbria and Sunderland.

Hotpinkangel19 · 18/08/2022 16:41

If he definitely wants Newcastle he may have to Resit.

annelovesthebeach1975 · 18/08/2022 16:41

TeaWithPaddington · 18/08/2022 16:39

Hi,

I think it's been really hard on this group of year 13's because they haven't sat real exams before. I really feel for your son.

I'm presuming he wants to be a Biomedical Scientist? All is not lost. I only had one A-level (grade C) so had no chance of getting onto the degree. What I did was apply for the HND in Applied Biology at Sunderland University (not sure if they still do it or if Newcastle does it) but, at the end of year one, I got a distinction in my exams and was able to transfer to the 2nd year of the Biomed course so didn't waste any time. I went on to get a 1st, then a Masters and am now lab manager. All is not lost and I hope he can get in via this route!! Or, re-sit his A-levels. Hopefully, he can do what I did. Try Sunderland if Newcastle don't do it - I thoroughly enjoyed my time there (many years ago)!!

He'll be upset for a few days but he will be determined to get what he wants. Tell him not to give up!

Thank you for your kind comment. I keep telling myself he wont be so upset for long but it is really hitting me hard that he is so broken up about it :(. It is early doors now but I think he will end up resitting and applying for Newcastle again as he is completely infatuated with the uni. I'll tell him about the HND though and he can look into it, he knows more about this stuff than I do lol.

OP posts:
HerRoyalNotness · 18/08/2022 16:41

Someone I know got BCD and was accepted to Kent for biomed a couple years back. Seem very happy there and going in to final year

Confused101687 · 18/08/2022 16:42

I don’t know if this exists for bio med. but when I was going to uni I didnt get the grade I needed in biology (honestly the jump between gcse and a level I found really difficult even though I breezed gcse) I still went to uni but did an additional year on an access course, which then gave me the access to study the course I wanted.

GlueyMooey · 18/08/2022 16:44

Has he any extra UCAS points or just his A levels?

GlueyMooey · 18/08/2022 16:45

I presume he has looked at similar courses like biomedical engineering etc. I imagine his points might still be a little low though. Tell him not to give up looking though!

vjg13 · 18/08/2022 16:45

Do any universities offer biomedical science with a foundation year?

Inthecathouseagain · 18/08/2022 16:46

Hi OP. I'm so sorry to hear this. Please tell him that, although understandably disappointing, this is just a point in time. He can retake his A-levels in the Oct / Nov series. Then he can reapply, with (hopefully improved) grades in hand and could be sitting in a bunch of unconditional offers early next year. It's only a few months when you think about it. Also, a gap year can be absolutely brilliant for them. Maybe he could work and travel / work abroad. Nothing is fixed in stone and if he wants this enough, this is just a bend in the road. Good luck!!!

annelovesthebeach1975 · 18/08/2022 16:46

GlueyMooey · 18/08/2022 16:44

Has he any extra UCAS points or just his A levels?

Just a levels unfortunately

OP posts:
PutinIsAWarCriminal · 18/08/2022 16:47

Poor kid. Its his whole world right now, but in real terms it just means a 1 year delay or an extra year on an access course. Tell him now to give up, he'll get there. The current A Level and GCSE students have had it so tough, no one can overplay exactly how difficult it has been for them. (We've got GCSE results next week in our home).

AgathaMystery · 18/08/2022 16:47

OP this was my DB. A few short yrs ago. He had his heart set on Kings for biomed and didn’t get the grades. He resat a year later and got in. That year was the best thing that could have happened to him. Results day was AWFUL. I mean, my mother called me to come home (I live 300 miles away) it was that bad. But we (me and my brother) made a plan for re-sit and it was doable.

One A level he couldn’t resit due to funding issues so he did an entire A level in a year. He managed it. He simply had not worked hard enough. GCSE we’re easy for him and he didn’t want to hear us all when we said A levels were very very difficult.

his teachers told him to forget Kings but he refused. In fact, it was the only place he applied to the following year. He graduated 2 years ago.

Today and this weekend will be very hard but your son will get through it. If he wants to go to Newcastle he should resit. It’s doable.

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