Retaking a year at university... was it successful?

[Uniretake]

Just looking for reassurance really. DC has just announced that they are thinking of retaking their 2nd year of university due to poor grades in the Autumn term.

They suffered a major bereavement and just did not engage with university due to the grief. They missed some crucial parts of the course and just never caught up with the modules and missed 2 coursework deadlines. University knew about the bereavement as DC missed 2-3 weeks, but DC has just told us about how much it affected their university grades.

In the Spring term they were back on top and with new modules were getting 70s and 80s in all coursework. However, they have just had exams and the ones covering the autumn term contents were, in their eyes, disastrous.

They love their course and university and I fully back them re-doing the year. The third year builds on the content of the second year and if that is not secure it is pointless trying to muddle through. DC thinks they will come out of this year with 48-54%, which is way below the grade they are capable of.

Please tell me some success stories of DC retaking a university year.

Final update:

DC graduated this week. Their journey through university was longer but they are in a good place. They have a graduate job linked to their degree and have just moved to a new area and started working.

Retaking Year 2 was a game-changer and we are so thankful to the university for giving DC this opportunity and support.

I'm so glad the university worked with you to get a great result. Well done all round.

Fantastic update, OP!

I wish more parents and DC realised that resitting a year to put yourself on a firm academic footing is often the best way forward, if you have become academically or otherwise vulnerable. And much more enjoyable than struggling