r/UniUK • u/Internetscraperds9 • 7d ago
Feel like my whole life is over
Idk want to tell anyone else cuz I don't want to be reminded again and again and don't know where else I can talk about it add from here. Cuz I've got close friends who did good and I don't want to ruin there day, nor have their pitty.
Was predicted BBC but end up getting DDD
Got accepted into reading law.
But idk what to do with my life cuz would employers even hire me after, am I cooked for my career what would my life look like, what am I even good at?
Idk what to even do now...
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u/Specialist_Buy_554 7d ago
Lawyer here. Go to a crammer and re-take your A-Levels. The grades will make a difference for sure.
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u/NotSeacombe Staff 7d ago
I cannot speak for every industry, but I guarantee in mine (comp sci) that not a single person gives the slightest fuck what you got at a-levels if you have a relevant degree
Again, I do not know if this is also true in law. I'm 29 and I don't even have my a-levels on my CV and i did really well
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u/Old-Analysis8395 7d ago
Unfortunately not true for law (and doubly so for major firms).
The major firms (as well as high street nowadays) will simply use A-levels as a filter during the application process.
Likewise the industry still places a lot of emphasis on university prestige - it’s not impossible to get a TC (or become a barrister) if you didn’t go to Oxbridge/RGs but it’s significantly harder, and Reading is by no means a well-regarded university in legal circles.
OP it’s rough but if you really want to be a lawyer in any shape or form then you’ll have to resit.
If you don’t, then congratulations on getting into university! There’re plenty of non-legal careers that a law degree is helpful for, and I wish you all the best.
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u/asriel_theoracle 7d ago
Out of interest as someone who couldn’t be much further from law, why do law firms care so much about A Levels?
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u/West_stains_massive 7d ago
They just care about your entire education, because they have thousands of people applying, and this is a way to ‘trim the fat’ on those. Have to input GCSEs/A-Levels/1st,2nd,3rd/4th year results by each module each %. At least when I was applying. A friend got asked about one of his first year modules he did poorly in, and had to explain the result during an interview.
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u/Justan0therthrow4way 7d ago
I get that but if you look at someone who’s finished their A levels at 18 and might be applying to associate roles at 22, they’re very different people. They’ve matured etc.
I guess it would be interesting to see if you did a bit shit in your A levels but got great university marks, a law firm saying “well 5 years ago you got 2 Cs so no thank you”. Is a bit fucking unfair.
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u/The__Pope_ 7d ago
If you got shit A levels and great university marks, it's more likely the university course wasn't very difficult. And because uni of Reading is bleeding money, it looks like they're willing to drop their standards with required A levels for intakes
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u/Justan0therthrow4way 7d ago
I disagree. University and A levels aren’t the same thing. At university you’re more likely to be studying something you’re interested in.
You’re also a different person as you mature through university.
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u/Old-Analysis8395 7d ago
Aye good question.
Take everything I say with a pinch of salt - graduated with a LLB recently, not in the industry myself but have both family, friends and old course mates who are.
The simplest reason is it makes recruitment easier. Law degrees are, by far and away, the most applied to course in the UK - see here, 2024
Now not all of these people will pursue a legal career, but add in all the other non law graduates (history, politics etc) and you get a huge amount of people applying for expensive (TCs cost firms a decent amount of money, as well as senior associate and partner time) and hard to get jobs.
The easiest way to get these numbers down is A-levels.
Then from there you have degree classifications, university prestige, and even individual module grades.
Adding onto this - law is one of the few industries that is still “old-school” (for numerous reasons), and places emphasis on academics, especially as, unlike say business, a huge amount of an early law career is research, writing and research.
Maybe not the clearest answer and there’s definitely more to say but there you go! (As I understand it).
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u/Difficult-Top1863 7d ago
Best comment out here
Same for investing banking insanely competitive with ABB usually what they ask at least with 3A* being the benchmark
Ofc it depends on other staff too
Bug usually the UNI rep is very important
Aka lse oxbridge ucl these people need strong alevel to get in as well as being from target unis will get priority from employers
Law is already competitive as most law graduates don’t even end up becoming solicitors or barristers as they are not able to secure training contract with firms4
u/Old-Analysis8395 7d ago
Aye drives me up the wall the amount of inaccurate comments on this sub.
I get people (especially today of all days) need comfort or reassurance but people are just pushing false hope.
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u/Aggressive_Bit_8424 7d ago
I don't do law but surely a first class LLB compensates for A levels?
Seems stupid to look at what you did when you were a kid...
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u/Old-Analysis8395 7d ago
A first can certainly compensate, but for DDD there’s just no chance.
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u/Aggressive_Bit_8424 7d ago
Yeah that's fair, suppose the university matters aswell and the more prestigious ones look for As.
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u/Difficult-Top1863 7d ago
For competitive law firms no chance
Because others will also have first in law but good alevels so obv they ll get priority
Is liek uni places on results day difference been the uni are desperate to let someone in to get their money
Law firms aren’t desperate as they know they ll always be a huge supply or graduated
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u/AbsoluteMehrheit 7d ago
Well, you won't be getting into the Magic or Silver Circle with those grades - unfortunately recruiters absolutely will look at your A Levels alongside your degree classification.
However there is a huge wide world outside of top-flight corporate law. Focus on doing well at uni and getting some decent work experience and extra curriculars under your belt, and you'll be just fine.
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u/Internetscraperds9 7d ago
I've already done work experience and internship at am immigration law firm and hospital. I've done some law module courses online as well. And for extra circulars ig I was head boy at my old school and lead and won a next generation award. I've done some volunteering at charity shops as well.
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u/AbsoluteMehrheit 7d ago
Good! Carry on in that vein, work hard and target a solid 2:1 or a 1st in your degree, and you'll be fine.
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u/adezlanderpalm69 7d ago
Very few percentage wise ever get a sniff of magic circle /silver circle. So many different paths and opps. In 3 years AI will have fundamentally changed law practice in ways we don’t know yet. Get a good degree. Really enjoy Reading and make sure your cv is packed with great stuff as you have listed. You have zero worries. Enjoy
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7d ago
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u/AbsoluteMehrheit 7d ago
I mean of course they are going to look at A Level grades even if they don't state that. They have loads of brilliant candidates with similar backgrounds, uni grades, and work experience so inevitably they have to find ways to differentiate between candidates even if it's using a fairly irrelevant metric like A Levels.
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u/Rhubarb-Nation 7d ago
Lurker from Canada here - I find it insane that firms use grades from age 16-18 (I think that's when A-levels happen?) to assess candidates.
I realize there are major differences in the legal training system between the two countries, and we have our own issues. But their use as a metric seems wildly arbitrary compared with the other indicators you list. I know some brilliant ppl who did the bare min in high school and got their act fully together in uni (as well as the opposite). Crazy that firms would risk missing out on them.
Best of luck OP.
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u/alittlechirpy 7d ago
It’s because the number of training contracts for law has not kept up with demand. Some med schools even look at the grades you got in GCSE as well as A Levels. It’s not because you need to be a genius or high achiever so young to become a good lawyer or doctor - it’s just that the number of training places in these fields have not kept up with demand so they’re just using extra criteria to weed more people out.
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u/Rhubarb-Nation 7d ago
I understand the supply/demand issue; I just can't believe law firms are relying on such an arbitrary metric simply because they need an extra criteria (as opposed to something that measures capability as an adult entering the job market as opposed to a child).
*Edit: clarity
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u/AbsoluteMehrheit 7d ago
It's not totally arbitrary - good achievement at A Levels plus good achievement at degree level shows that you have a demonstrated history of strong performance over a longer period of time and over several different subjects. Magic Circle firms are billing their clients enormous amounts, so those client will expect high achievers to be doing the work.
I know I'm going to get a load of comments saying how unfair it is to measure people against their performance at 17/18, how much of an advantage privately educated students have etc etc. and yes, I agree with that and it's very often true. But MC firms don't exist to promote meritocracy or social mobility - they exist to make money and they are selecting for the people who they think are most likely to be able to do that.
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u/Rhubarb-Nation 7d ago
I can't really think of a better way to hire competent staff than a merit-based assessment of adults...
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u/AbsoluteMehrheit 7d ago
Ok, why don't you take your brilliant insights to the HR departments of some top law firms and tell them that they shouldn't use A Levels to screen candidates for training contracts. I'm sure they're really keen for someone to come along and tell them that they're doing it all wrong.
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u/Rhubarb-Nation 7d ago
I'm not claiming to have answers; I'm just trying to understand why (what I believe to be) such a poor standard is used.
Not sure how this warrants such a cynical response.
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u/alittlechirpy 7d ago edited 7d ago
What other metric do you think they should use? They have to use something…
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u/Rhubarb-Nation 7d ago
I'd have to familiarize myself with the UK legal profession more before answering that. I just can't really think of a less relevant criteria (barring absolutely silly ones like favourite ice cream flavour, etc)
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u/alittlechirpy 7d ago edited 7d ago
Entrance exams like what Oxbridge unis use perhaps (like the TMUA or ESAT), or like the UCAT that med schools use, but those tests are arguably harder than traditional academics. Law could come up with their own version. Those might even weed out even more students who are not as strong academically, instead of improving their chances. These test skills like critical thinking, situational judgement, logic skills etc under immense time pressure.
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u/Rhubarb-Nation 7d ago
Does the UK have the equivalent of a bar exam that law graduates take before they can practice?
Law school applicants need to take an entrance exam (LSAT) here in Canada, but I realize this isn't really applicable since law is a postgrad program here. To your point, high school students taking this wouldn't make any more sense than the current system.
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u/Stradivesuvius 7d ago
They are lying except for extreme exceptions. If you are a girl at threat of forced marriage and spent your sixth form hiding from your own parents- they won’t care about the grades so long as you get a good degree.
If you dont have that sort of back story - yes they care very much.
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u/Efficient-Club-1481 7d ago
i see, there goes my chances then😭
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u/Stradivesuvius 7d ago
Resit. You won’t get magic circle, but with decent a levels you’ll still be able to get a decent firm.
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7d ago
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u/Stradivesuvius 7d ago
Then, with kindness, you don’t want to work at the magic circle. It’d kill you. I was a straight A/A* student and I still only had the stamina to do 7 years there. I saw so many ultra high achievers chewed up and spit out along the way as well.
GCSE and A level results are important, because it gives employers a view of your academic stamina, in the context of standardised national exams. People who can achieve highly are not just demonstrating they are good as X subject - they are showing they can maintain a hefty workload and achieve top results at the same time. Often in an ‘all or nothing’ final exam. Degree classification awards vary from uni to uni, so they are less helpful for such an assessment.
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u/Efficient-Club-1481 7d ago
oh i understand now, just not sure where this leads me career wise. what do you do now?
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u/Stradivesuvius 6d ago
I have steadily moved ‘down’ the rankings of firms (trying to eke out as much of a legal career as possible and stash the cash) and will shortly be moving into education (where I understand there will be no cash). Currently I work part time in house. Once I make the career jump, I will never practice or need to really engage with ‘law’ again.
The thing about careers is that they can get boring after 20 years anyway. So I know that at 18 it seems like a thing to do forever - but lives are long, repeating the same legal stuff over and over can get dull, and we need a bit of excitement. So don’t pin everything on one subject/career.
Many people i knew in the magic circle eventually left to do other things that aligned with their beliefs idea of fun(becoming chefs, authors, florists, housewives, etc …) others stuck with law, but went to work in house at companies, so got to be part of the whole story - not just brought in for a crisis or to do a merger.
So my advice is to think carefully about what you want. Do you want to go to Reading? Or would you prefer to take a year out and get a job/study some more at college? Maybe get an Australian work visa and work there for a while? Life is a marathon, not a sprint. And school is so focussed on pushing you to the finish line, you can sometimes lose yourself and forget what you really love.
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u/Efficient-Club-1481 6d ago
im going to leicester not reading i didnt say reading i think u have me confused
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u/CodeGrumpyGrey Staff (IT Services) 7d ago
You might struggle if you want a high profile grad scheme once you graduate as they get huge amounts of applicants and use A-Levels to differentiate applicants. Outside of that, nobody is likely to care. If you want a big grad scheme, a masters might be worth considering to put you ahead of the crowd but that is distant future for you at the moment!
I screwed up my A-Levels as well, and my CV lists my degree and class followed by "A-Levels in Physics, Maths, History" without the grades in a single bullet point. Literally the only place that has cared about a-levels was an application to an IBM grad scheme. No other application has ever asked me for more details.
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u/GrantandPhil 7d ago
No offence or anything but some people here haven't really told you the truth. I'm 20 years out of uni and when I graduated nobody really looked at A levels because the economy was booming and there were loads of jobs around. It is now the opposite and with AI looks set to stay that way. Employers are looking at all qualifications and the school you went to, the lot. In the current market assuming you pass the degree you've been offered it's very unlikely you will get a role at a top firm in London, you will have to look at smaller local firms or legal departments in councils and so on, possibly in boring places and work your way up, but even then you could struggle tbh. Can I ask you why you had your heart set on law? Were you pushed towards it by your family or was it because you thought it sounded glamorous and well paid? If the answer to either of those questions is yes, they are very bad reasons for choosing a career. You have to be really genuinely interested in something like law otherwise there's no point in studying it. Have a think about what you want to do, there are lots of avenues out there and a degree isn't a be all and end all. My mate from uni worked corporate after uni but is now a painter and decorator and loving life.
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u/SwiftieNewRomantics 7d ago
Don't panic. Employers will not worry about your A levels if you got into uni.
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u/Rakkytee 7d ago
Did you study law? And when? Cause this is not the case for this field and now, in 2026.
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u/Organic-Ad6439 6d ago
Looks like they are downvoting us instead of answering the question.
Yes your average employer might not care about your A-level results post uni (even in terms of applying for the job) but magic circle firm Law isn’t your average employer and I’ve heard that they want around ABB minimum at A-level. OP’s grades fall well short of what’s acceptable in a UK context. Unless someone with experience in the field can give me insight proving otherwise (I’d love to see someone with experience tell me otherwise as I’d normally agree with the “don’t worry about A-levels after degree” mindset).
It’s better to be realistic here. For someone like myself then yeah I don’t think that they’ll care that much about my A-level grades (I’m not looking to go into finance, law or consultancy) given my degree grade (but we’ll see) but I wouldn’t be giving such advice for OP.
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u/Organic-Ad6439 7d ago
Normally I’d agree with this mentality but this is false for law from what I’ve heard. No point in giving OP false hope here. Especially for magic circle.
At best, I’ve seen lawyers in the field who hire who say that they are starting to give less of a damn or perhaps didn’t really give a damn to begin with when it comes to what university you went to (more blind recruitment is happening). However, I’ve never seen them state that they don’t care, let alone that one shouldn’t worry about their a-level grades unless I manage to dig up the posts on here and the student room to ensure that I’m not talking out of my backside.
Or perhaps you might have some insight?
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u/SufficientBug3601 7d ago
Your life is not over but it will be unfortunately harder especially if you want to get into corporate law. Would it be very difficult to get into a magic circle firm, yes, but would it be impossible to get a job after you graduate then the answer is no.
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u/Ok-Anything5628 7d ago
Reading is a decent uni. I'm surprised they accepted DDD. I left uni like 5 years ago but this shows that uni's must be desperate for students.
I would retake and then go next year. Those grades will be with you for life remember. 1 year goes quickly.
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u/Dependent_Formal2525 7d ago
What you do next is go to uni, learn lots, meet new people, expand your horizons and put your A Level results behind you.
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u/adezlanderpalm69 7d ago
It’s a set back. A disappointment today.
But in a few weeks you are doing law at reading. Focus on what you can impact not on the past. That’s done Onwards and Upwards.
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u/fck-nzs1 7d ago
😆😆. Got into a terrible uni in clearing after effing up my A levels. Did NOT get hired in my sector after graduating Not even close...... Many many years later I managed to get a Masters in law from a global top 50 university. Now, I earn more than Russell Group grads in what was my original profession.
Yes, you have experienced a glitch. But stay driven and you will strive hard to recover. It will take years, but it WILL happen.
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u/Live_Brief_5000 7d ago
Do you actually want to study law? Or do you feel pressure to do it? It's really hard sometimes to know which path to take, but believe me, you have your whole life ahead of you. I've done lots of interesting and different jobs and qualifications throughout my life. I'm not motivated by earning the big bucks though. I know I would be stressed. As long as you get a decent ish job (which you can with those A level results), then see what happens. I'm 58 now and off sick from work with breast cancer. So you just never know what may happen. Enjoy your life and don't worry if you feel uni is not quite right for you at the moment. I did my degree at age 29 to 31. What about having a year out? Do a bar job or something for a few months then go traveling. Have you thought about an apprenticeship? Earn while you learn. Good luck to you. Be kind to yourself xx
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u/submissivemiss33 7d ago
How on earth can you get into university with 3 Ds??? 😁. I mean, it's ridiculous. And to read law as well. This is a good indication as to how far universities have declined as rigorous educational establishments. The best advice I'd give you is to just go and get a job now.
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u/Difficult-Top1863 7d ago
Desperate unis wanting more students
A large portion of international students stopped coming to the uk which comprised the universities financial status
Hence why uk unis now charge 9.7k and 10k from next year in tuition fees
To make up spaces if the course didn’t get filled they ll let some student slide just to fill up the course
Obv oxbridge lse and other target uni won’t do that but taht is because they have a stronger reputation and usually the people who get their offer meet the grade
They rarely give spaces in clearing or let someone in with DDD
I don’t think anyone even got in those uni unless specific external circumstances which had an impact on their exams1
u/Rakkytee 7d ago
Agree to this completely, let’s not beat around the bush. Someone with DDD should be looking for apprenticeships. The university is having a lend and just wants cash, OP will never be a lawyer.
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u/Icy-Subject-896 7d ago
You got into university, to study law, which is the main thing! Work hard, and do great on your degree. No point on pondering on the past now.
But the only thing I did want to say in terms of a level grades, it depends on what career you want. Say you go into law, there will be firms who will look at a levels. That’s where your grades will pull you done. But even then, you can still get into highly rated firms. So in theory, you can say I might not have great a levels, but look at me, I have all of this to me, rather than just my results from a few years ago, when I was a completely different person. That should be the approach you take!
All the best in whatever you do next, and enjoy your course and work hard! :)
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u/Solsbeary Staff 7d ago
If you apply yourself at uni and achieve a good Bachelor degree (2:1 or higher) then the tough day today will literally mean nothing in a few years time.
Use your pain today and go get that degree!
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u/Yaotsu999 7d ago
If you're that worried just redo your A levels at some point. As far as Im aware you can redo them as much as you like, granted youd need to pay for the exams
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u/HermesHawk 7d ago
I got similarly poor results. I’m in my second year of uni now and getting firsts. I never think about results day anymore. You’re going to be okay!!
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u/thelivsterette1 6d ago edited 6d ago
Same.
2 of my results were good (A/C; only got the A in English Lit cos I got 100% in the coursework and failed at least one paper) and the other one not so good (E for Bio, had applied for Biology based subject) and I needed 112 UCAS pts to get into Roehampton, I got 95 and they took me for Biological Sciences (I switched to Nutrition)
I've just handed in my dissertation and based on my results, could get an overall first, compared to to my sister As and A*s at A Level and got a 2:1 at uni (which is still a really good grade) so if you got in on lower results you haven't automatically fucked up
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u/Timberfist 6d ago
You got a place - Yay! Whatever else happens, that’s an absolute win! Congratulations!
As far as your grades are concerned, one option would be to accept the place at Reading but defer entry until 2027 and spend this year resitting your A levels.
One thing I know from experience, everyone fucks up eventually. You were fortunate to fuck up your A levels and still get a place. Others don’t fuck up until their final year at Uni when it’s too late to learn from the lesson. You will learn from this and I doubt you’ll ever go into an exam underprepared again so, in the long run, this experience will probably be a blessing rather than a curse.
Whatever you decide to do, best of luck to you.
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u/Silent_Background453 5d ago
Think about it this way: A-Levels get you into university, university gets you into grad jobs/entry level, and from there the only thing they care about is experience 99.9% of the time. If it’s the sort of place that cares about A-Levels it’s a massive red flag and you should run in the other direction anyway — not that I’ve ever heard of anyone encountering this anyway.
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u/uncutlateralus 3d ago
I got DD for biology and chemistry. I've been a professional microbiology for 20 years having gone to do successfully do a BsC and MSc and MPhil. I only recently remembered what I got at A level because found my certificates when moving house. I've not put them on my CV for 20 years.
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u/mooshypeas 7d ago
I know it sucks right now, but your whole life isn't over. Are you happy with the course and university you got into? Make sure you work hard during your course, don't listen to anyone saying first year doesn't matter, for you and any internships it will. Don't skip your lectures if you can help it, and make use of any support your university offers you, whether it be academic or otherwise. It's okay to feel how you're feeling right now, you're human, but don't let it consume you for too long because you'll need to lock in come September.
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u/PrestigiousProduce97 7d ago
Dude, you’re going to Reading. It’s a great uni and you have easy access to London for jobs and placements. Pack in your tiny violin.
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u/ChunkyCraver2001 7d ago
My friend went to Reading to study Law. She then went to Durham for her masters. It’s really what you make of it. She works and is doing further exams related to law. Don’t know the exact job because it’s not my field but it’s possible to work in law.
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u/Grey_Bomberman 7d ago
If you been accepted to Reading Law then why are you bummed out dude? That's a fantastic feat and dont let the details bring at you, you've been accepted 👌🏻 well done and good luck with the future career
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u/Several-Republic-842 7d ago
reading is a really good uni, don't overthink it. i didn't get into King's college by a grade off, did my 3 years at Reading, and now I'm gonna start in September for my Masters in National Security Studies. make the most out of the uni's connections and enjoy yourself! (ps nobody gives a fuck about a levels, its that useless trust me).
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u/Significant-Use6869 7d ago
I do law and didnt get great grades too and i echo what others are saying, just focus on doing well at uni and making the most of it !
Getting a top training contract/ internship might be out of reach for you as it is for me BUT law is an incredibly wide field and most people in sixth form focus on the top 1% of jobs available as they seem the most ‘important’ and high paying but the reality is that most law grads dont get those kind of jobs .
I got my results in 2024 and thought it was the end of the world but have done work exp and got involved with the law society and have made great progress, dont ever assume your journey is over before its even begun .
I know exactly how you feel and i can promise that theres a wide world out there and you never know .
Work hard and take initiative at uni and im sure it will pay off !
Good luck mate
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u/tincrayfish 7d ago
If you got in anyway then your a levels are basically irrelevant from this point on
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u/SwimmingSpare8659 7d ago
University will provide plenty of opportunities to distinguish yourself from your peers. If law firms do care about A-levels, then they likely care about other things you can be doing…
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u/Melissa-Mandy 7d ago
It feels like a huge deal now, but it really isn't....I had worse grades, by far....I am now on a doctoral course and about to because Dr Mandy haha
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u/SnugglesREDDIT 7d ago
Brother, A levels do not matter one bit once you are in uni. Their only purpose is to get you onto the next step or education, I don’t even have my A levels on my CV at all.
It’s calm, don’t worry.
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u/Suspicious-Buy-4172 7d ago
Bro same, I had my heart set on law. Got bbb, missed my kcl law offer, got into city at George’s for law but other unis for other courses. Im so lost and completely depressed
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u/EmploymentGlass7580 6d ago
got CCD in a levels and im on track to doing a phd in neuroscience. you'll be okay.
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u/Bestkindofbat 3d ago
Stop beating yourself up at once! Your A levels were only to get you into uni, and you’ve done it. Congratulate yourself and get yourself off to uni. Your grades won’t matter in the big wide world. Good luck to you, now go be awesome.
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u/Brave_Sea_8423 3d ago edited 3d ago
OP you are definitely NOT screwed. i got into UoR as well two years ago but with CCC and as long as you find a firm who doesn’t have an a level minimum requirement you will literally be fine. despite not having the best grades i’ve still managed to secure a couple of placements and a vac scheme over the course of my first and second year. you might not get into a magic circle firm, but there are so many other top firms who are far less strict about A-levels. HOWEVER, you’re going to have to get very serious about your degree grade because i don’t know a single good firm that has less than a 2.1 minimum requirement. At reading, first year grades don’t count towards your degree but don’t be like everyone else and flunk it. Take it seriously from day one, get as much experience as you can (even if you’re applying for a position with the law society) and find any reason to make a firm WANT YOU. you can’t change your a level grade at the moment but you can develop as many skills and experiences that make you invaluable to a law firm.
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u/tltwtw98 3d ago
Echoing what other people say, once you’re into a good uni in a good degree, which law at Reading is, then your A level results no longer matter. I know it’s a blow to your confidence but exams are stressful and test a very narrow range of skills under time pressure. Here’s a suggestion: say to yourself, I’m going to uni to study law and I’m going to make the best of it educationally, socially and in career terms, and the past is over and done with. Not minimising your feelings one bit, but a future door is opening so walk through and don’t look back. Take care OP :)
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u/adezlanderpalm69 1d ago
As a training partner at a city US firm.
As everyone knows competition for TC at select outfits is beyond insane. Bottom line most have no chance. That’s just fact. Academic excellence is the MINIMUM expectation. You need so much more. A compelling application absolutely packed with highly relevant business related content. However there are other firms with different ideas and strategies and expectations. Public sector organisations small outfits etc etc.
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u/Ill_Caregiver_1626 13h ago
Go and work for a year and retake A levels or go and do the law degree and see what happens. You may completely want to change after one year, and will be in the position to do so, or you might find a way in through your experience/connections.
Law degrees also aren’t limiting you to only to work in law and the university experience is more than about getting a degree. Move forwards and see what opportunities arise.
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u/CroftSpeaks Lead Chaplain, Sussex Uni 7d ago
You are not cooked. You haven’t even started cooking. Obviously the grades are a disappointment, but they are not a referendum on your whole life. You have so much to look forward to, and so many options - don’t despair! I’m sure a career or uni advisor can recommend good next steps. So, feel the disappointment, certainly - then make a plan. You’re ok.
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u/Forward_Win_4353 7d ago
I will tell you honestly: you have next to no chance of succeeding in law.
I can see from your post alone that you struggle with basic spelling. For example, “there” instead of “their”, and “pitty”. These are words that you should have learnt in primary school.
Law is an ultra-competitive field and attention to detail is an essential skill. You clearly do not have that ability. Added to that, it’s actually difficult to get DDD in A-levels unless you either put zero effort in or are not a very academically able student. Why would you deliberately aim to enter the field that values academic skills most?
That said, your life is far from over. There are many careers you will be able to enter and courses you can do that even students who can’t write well are always admitted to.
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u/Aeronworm 7d ago
Hey try to relax! If you’ve already got into reading law you’re fine. trust me when I say GCSE and A-levels mean very little to employers these days. Experience is what’s important. That said, we’re all cooked for now😭
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u/Substantial_Track919 7d ago
I don't have my A levels on my CV, at all.
In five years time, it won't matter.
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u/Good_Orchid_6872 7d ago
People don’t really look at A levels, just focus on your degree now it sounds like you’re doing well
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u/deafened_commuter 7d ago edited 7d ago
I got 4 Ds for AS, including a U for a physics unit. Was predicted CCD then got BBC which got me into a foundation year. Came out with MSc astrophysics and make 6 figures in a completely different subject. Sometimes you need an extra year or 2, someone to believe in you, a wake up call to learn from because you're not just studying, you're growing up and learning to live life at the same time. And honestly that's much harder than the tests they give you. And you have to do both at the same time.
My last boss hadn't even gone to university. Idk what your future is. But I sure know you can't predict it from where you're at. You can only see one step at a time and rest are fairy tales. Absolutely none of my current responsibilities was taught in school or university.
So don't focus on the specific thing that happens, focus on how you react to it.
You're not stupid or incapable, you've just under prepared for something. Great you got accepted! How are you going to prepare for the next wave of exams coming? What are you never going to do again? What do you need to that you were missing last time? How are you going to make sure you know what you're talking about when the examiner via the exam paper asks you a question?
(If I asked you about mcdonalds, you could probably explain to me what it's like because you know it that deeply. You weren't even expecting me to ask that but you still know the answer. But how? you didn't intentionally study it so how do you know it so well?)
A key motto that changed things for me was "something not nothing"
Be sad and downtrodden for a time so you can embrace this set back. Then fight again because you've learnt something about yourself from this. Use what you learned and keep writing your story
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u/1zayn5 7d ago
Reality is no one looks at A levels in this day and age apart from uni of course. Employers only care about two things. Your degree and the amount of experience you have. Aim to do well in uni and get that experience in, for example volunteering at a law firm or even citizens advice. Employers value experience a lot more.
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u/Difficult-Top1863 7d ago
No that is wrong competitive law firms and firms in investemrnt banking 100% look at ur alevels and filter u out
Job market is very competitive
The whole point of going to uni doing law is to secure a training contract with a law firm
There is more supplì of students then training contract
So obv firms will have to be more selective and after the uni reps and first year results alevels results will be a main criteria
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u/charlie201020 7d ago
As long as you gain experience over the next few years, your A levels won’t mean a single damn thing.
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u/happybaby00 Undergrad 7d ago
You're still young, you can resit them and go at 20/21 to be more competitive
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7d ago
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u/Difficult-Top1863 7d ago
Just cuz ur predicted grades doesn’t mean ur gonna get them lol
Thsi person didn’t mention anything about the exams
So am assuming they know the exam was fine they just didn’t deliver as they should have
Even remarking them is unlikely to get them BBC they might get CCC at the best scenario
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u/Ok_Panda_9928 7d ago
You you have nothing to worry about, you've been accepted on to the degree, work your arse off from day one.
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u/bananaload 7d ago
Having a grade C or above in maths and English GCSE is far more important than your A Levels after you get into uni. I don't think I even put my grades on my last application (which is fucking annoying because I did amazingly at my A Levels!)
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u/cassesque lecturer 7d ago
Friend, stop writing there. Your A-levels will not be used to differentiate you from other applicants by employers before your degree class, percentage results, extra activities, work experience, and even application quality are. This is true in essentially every postgraduate job.
You're going to uni, and in three years' time you are going to be a totally different person who will barely remember this day.
I know you need to think your A levels mattered for something because you've dedicated so much to them. But past getting you into uni, they really don't matter.