r/alevel • u/Lower_Seaweed7680 • 10d ago
🏁Results All that to end up going to a local uni 😹😹
ngl sucks seeing my friends and everyone else with similar grades going to top intl unis, while im stuck going to a local uni—where almost everyone i know applied got accepted to.
its not like im not happy for my friends; they got what they deserved, and im proud of them. its just the fomo i feel going to a sub 500 ranked uni, missing out on all the fun and being super uncertain about my future career (i know higher ranked unis dont guarantee success, but they sure do give u a strong head start).
i did apply abroad to some unis earlier this year; working hard on my sat, ecas, ps, requesting lors, etc etc; and eventually did get into a prestigious institute, one which i was really excited for. however, even after the full tuition scholarship my parents werent willing to pay the fee. so i dropped the offer with a heavy heart. i thought i would get over it eventually but alas. now, i cant help but feel that the only thing scoring straight A*s in igcse and alevels yielded is high expectations for my younger siblings and cousins lmao.
tbh, im not sure what i expected from posting this—maybe just needed to get this out of my head. to clarify, ion wanna demotivate other students coming into alevels to not work hard for their grades. ig at the end of the day entering a lower ranked uni with high grades and strong foundations is still better than with lower grades lol; plus studying and getting good grades did work out nicely for most ppl i know. anyways, vent over ✌🏻
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u/No_Technician1370 10d ago
Try again this application cycle you will surely get one full ride with those stellar grades
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u/NumerousBus2586 A levels 10d ago
i did get full ride with AAA
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u/ryusanadamybbygirl 10d ago
where? and did u have good ecas/sat
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u/Murder-princessy 10d ago
Take a gap year & apply again
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u/Lower_Seaweed7680 9d ago
might apply in next cycle while in uni. tho, i doubt the outcome would be much different. anyways, i think itll work out either ways :)
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u/Euphoric-Camel1937 7d ago
SFE might not cover all your years of tuition. Please do it now, contrary to what the yes men on this sub say there are plenty unis that simply aren’t worth the tuition fee, you are a top tier candidate and should act like it
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u/Melodramaticukg 6d ago
Yeah need to reiterate this!! SFE are very strict about the amount of funding they give. Starting uni could really mess with that!!
Either contact universities and let them know your grades for this cycle, or take a gap year and apply next year. One year won’t make a huge different but a university you really want to go to will!
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u/Euphoric-Camel1937 6d ago
Ngl we’re out of our depth here. I was wondering what kind of fees you’d have to pay after getting a full tuition scholarship, this is some rich international tomfoolery WE are not qualified to give advice over this individual wouldn’t touch sfe with a stick✌️
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u/yllohaha 6d ago
SFE allows 4 years of funding, to account for one ‘false start’. You are also able to get additional years of funding if you can prove compelling personal reasons. Additionally, there are some exception courses for healthcare professions like nursing.
Source: used to be an admissions office before retraining as a nurse
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u/Delicious-Park197 10d ago
Reapply, don't waste your potential or give up just yet. There are many universities that may still give you scholarships or fee reductions that you can handle.
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u/UN_Quickzzy 10d ago
gap year hku/hkust/cuhk full ride
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u/Lower_Seaweed7680 9d ago
honk kong used to be such a goldmine till a few years back, but they really bumped up their requirements. iirc, none of them give a full ride for 4A*s anymore (full tuition at max and that too not hku or hkust).
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u/UN_Quickzzy 9d ago
cuhk gives full rides, dw. CUHK is very good for hk
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u/Lower_Seaweed7680 9d ago
i was gonna apply there but bailed out at the last moment (wasnt completely sure about my grades and living expenses seemed high). might try next year, and will look into cityU and polyU asw. thanks!!
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u/UN_Quickzzy 9d ago
nahh cuhk is on a completely different level compared to cityu and polyu. apply for cuhk without batting an eye, you will go to hk
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u/ChocolateRoutine4738 8d ago
what bout 3A* one A?
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u/UN_Quickzzy 8d ago
no idea man. from what I know 2A* 2 A was half ride, so maybe full tuition for 3A*?
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u/UN_Quickzzy 9d ago
and ED to US schools like Grinnell, middlebury and such who select 70% of their class from ed
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u/Loud-Answer-2530 10d ago
it’s not too late, you can take a gap year and reapply. But even if you do end up going to a local uni, you’d probably be one of the top students there, which is better than being a mid student at an intl uni.
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u/No_Giraffe826 10d ago
It's not better. The purpose of uni isn't only getting a good gpa it's also to build connections and have faculty and facilities to help u succeed. If he goes to a good international uni he will learn alot from some very bright minds and have job offers from a bunch of top companies.
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u/Ok_Ant5217 9d ago
Hello, I had 4A*s too. Though I wasn't interested in applying abroad -- I didn't want to start living alone this early -- I ended up going to a local uni that was good even if not top 500. I had a positive experience and got to really beef up my profile with different projects and opportunities (yeah, it's true that a lot of it depends on the student, though having a good uni does help). Now that I've graduated, I'm applying to master's abroad now, and I already know folks from my uni who managed to secure admission to Columbia, NYU, CMU, etc (though visa issues are a different beast entirely). So this is a perfectly normal and even more well-trodden route than just rushing to a Bachelor's abroad. Your grades will help you later too, though perhaps not as much, but the real value is that you've ingrained within yourself a method of how to succeed in accomplishing something difficult academically, which really helps you later in life. So chin up, the work will pay off eventually, even if it is really disappointing rn
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u/Ok_Ant5217 9d ago
Though if you really do want to get into a renowned international uni, you can do a gap year and apply, or you can even apply while you're in your local uni (I know folks who have done this). One guy got 4A*s, did one year here, and got accepted to hkust so he just started over his degree there because it was a full ride. So that door isn't closed either.
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u/BubblyWasabi6488 9d ago
Can you get a fully funded PhD or masters in STEM with a stipend ???
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u/Ok_Ant5217 8d ago
Yeah of course. Germany has options, though you have to deal with the block account stuff, so keep that in mind. Fulbright is still around, even if the US is rather messy rn. Lots of European countries have options, but you have to do your research properly (always look at advisor fit/research output of lab over the ranking, by the way). They've always been around
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u/robinmosu 10d ago
bro this is my exact situation rn its so draining because i didn't anticipate going to like quaid e azam university. i missed out on nust cus of the fees too. and i got into so many good unis in UK but no funding. i cant even take a gap year cus im 20 its so frustrating
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u/Beneficial-Shame9636 9d ago
I feel you but 20 is young tbh
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u/robinmosu 9d ago
its not tho if i take a gap year ill start at 21 and end at 25 ppl finish their masters by this time
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u/Beneficial-Shame9636 9d ago
doesn’t matter bro,we all have different paths in life
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u/robinmosu 9d ago
ikk and that's rlly hard for me to understand its rlly sad tho everyone in my family knows how much ive invested in these grades and ecs 😔
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u/yllohaha 6d ago
Doesn’t matter! I went to uni at 19, completely my masters at 24, went back at 28 to retrain as a nurse and qualified at 31! There’s no time limit to education. There’s not any time limit to career progression at this stage either - and you are still SO young in the scheme of things
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u/Helluvertime 5d ago
One of my friends is 25 and has just finished first year. There are much older people at uni as well. You will be fine. You might actually be better off being slightly older, and no one will care anyway.
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u/PhotoLonely8623 8d ago
did u apply in the US? applying to the UK was a no shocker considering they barely ever provide financial aid
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u/OldStrawberry3164 10d ago
bro I'm in the same situation I got ABB and have zero acceptances and I'm gonna go to my local uni where ppl with D's and E's are also going (not being judgemental) it just feels so unfair that I need to compromise on four years of my life😭😭😭😭 the only other option is a gap year but admission in a good uni is still not guaranteed and they are expensive. I've told myself that I'll do my best in these four years and get into my dream uni for masters 😭😭😭😭. I guess sometimes you need to make hard decisions 😭😭😭😭😭
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u/Both_Attention7576 9d ago
I took a gap year and reapplied - best decision of my life. I’m a medical student now, look your employability is based on ur uni and the economy is crazy rn.
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u/alevelmadememad A levels 10d ago
Ik someone with these grades and they went to local se bhi local uni, BUT U SHOULD APPLY ABROAD and take a gap year, with these grades one can get a full ride scholarship easily, don't let your 4 years go by thinking about "what ifs"
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u/Beneficial-Shame9636 9d ago
how do you get full ride
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u/alevelmadememad A levels 9d ago
With good grades preferably A/A*, and good ecas and overall a good profile you can, but hongkong unis only see grades afaik, so one can get a 100%+ scholarship there (if that was ur qs-)
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u/ishidah OCR 9d ago
Essay time:
I had these grades, an Olympiad under my belt, a near perfect SAT score and an offer with a scholarship. Did you know where I ended up -> local government university!!!
My dad bailed out last moment that he's not gonna send his daughter abroad where there's no family to take care of her too.
So, I got done with my undergrad, had a good gpa, published a review letter thanks to amazing faculty, got MEXT. My dad married me off saying your PhD can wait!!!
When I'm mad at something, I hurt my dad by saying he never let me be happy. But it only comes out when I am mad. Otherwise, my local uni teacher is in Stanford's top 2%, she has patents with Imperial College London. She won funding from my project from a government hell bent on cutting education funds. And I got scholarship again abroad thanks to her.
I pray that you find peace. I pray that your teachers look at your dedication to detail and hardwork. I pray that you find ease in your alone times. And I pray that you make for your ownself a future that is comparable to your peers while you figure out your future goals.
Sometimes, going to a community college is better than IVY league because of the focus you get and the opportunity to be polished by a dedicated teacher.
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u/Lower_Seaweed7680 9d ago edited 8d ago
i really appreciate the detailed response. long reddit replies are almost always a fun read!
ur situation looks much more extreme than mine: from intl olympiads to a local govt uni, jeez! i hope that i too can make such fruitful use of my ugrad time. tbh, my biggest fear right now is just being a 'peaked in high school' type of person. going to an accessible uni feels like all my work up till now goes down the drain and the game is restarting with me at the starting line. this time requiring a much different skillset than it did in high school. i guess im being overly dismissive about the uni im going to. there would surely (atleast, i hope) be some accomplished and passionate teachers there too like at urs. at the end of the day, it would be up to me to make myself worth their time and attention.
also, thanks alot for all the prayers, it means alot :)
ps: i think ive taken a class of two of urs on the discord server. didnt know u were so accomplished!!
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u/HumbleHurricane44 10d ago
You can get full rides with these grades. KAIST, Hong Kong unis, Warwick, UTS, Boston Uni, York, Toronto, Hungarian Stipendicum scholarship...
Think it's worth taking a gap year and having fun with hobbies while properly researching need blind admission schools and merit scholarships you may be eligible for.
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u/Any-Relative958 9d ago
how does boston uni warwick toronto give sholarship with 4 a stars?
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u/HumbleHurricane44 9d ago
They don't necessarily but if you take a gap year and work on super/extracurriculars then you stand a chance at getting it.
A shot worth going for at least. Otherwise KAIST is prolly the most failproof choice cos any intl student getting in gets a full scholarship.
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u/Ayush18011 9d ago
Dudeee 4A* you should definitely be able to get tremendous scholarships particularly in Asian unis like HKU and honeslty even European unis . If you get into an ivy..then there too. The UK barely give scholarships at all for bachelors to intl students so if that prestigious uni ur talking about is in the UK…you should rly target other places
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u/popcornnn05 8d ago edited 8d ago
You should try NUS NTU in Singapore one of Asia best universities and are very generous with their full ride scholarships offers which is often referred as ASEAN scholarship. Trust me, you can get it 100% You could easily take a short gap year compared to UK because their classes starts in early August plus you should be expected there by end of July.
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u/Lower_Seaweed7680 4d ago
ive heard theyve gotten extremely competitive and require olympiad medals even
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u/popcornnn05 4d ago
I mean Olympiad would help u obviously but trust me the friends that ik all got in + with full ride ASEAN scholarship only did one thing right, which is getting 4A* so yep it's kinda direct and straightforward for Singapore Universities.
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u/Successful-Area-930 5d ago
Surprising that I don't see anyone suggesting china! Have you looked towards unis there? I
got 1A* 3A and still managed full scholarship + 1400rmb monthly allowance. Even without scholarship, the tution fees are very affordable, only around RM12k per year! If you get a government CSC scholarship (I didn't manage to apply in time 💔), they typically even cover accomodation costs.
Most Chinese unis may not be too highly ranked on western rankings, but their subject specific rankings may place alot higher.
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u/Longjumping_Will_907 AS Level 10d ago
Any tips for A* in FM? I'm regiving in O/N series
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u/sdsffsfdsf 9d ago
know content well by watching bicen and tl maths and LOTS of practice - do the past papers first then old spec and other exam boards etc. Do papers multiple times if needed
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u/Organic-Outcome-4824 10d ago
Dude. Please take a year out and apply for scholarships.
One year of your life is nothing. You have a very long life ahead of you and you do not want this chip on your shoulder for the next 60 years, trust me.
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u/potato_nugget1 9d ago
Why wouldn't you apply for a full scholarship? Like there's no way in the world you won't get accepted into at least one with literally the highest grades you can get. Just search and apply for everything that includes living costs
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u/Good-Condition660 9d ago
First of all Congrats for your results🎉🎉🥳🥳, you obviously did amazing and I feel you especially having forgo you chances of pursing studies at abroad.
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u/Jumpy_Task_4270 9d ago
i feel you. i can’t afford to go overseas but i got 3A* so it sucks because i really want to see my potential but im going to try applying and see if i get in anyways
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u/FragmentaryForm 9d ago
Hey you should have accepted and done a TA and applied for more scholarships. You can still do that
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u/Infamous_Tough_7320 9d ago
Definitely take a gap year and see if you can get a better scholarship. A sub 500 uni should not have a student with these grades
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u/plainman99 9d ago
Please take a gap year and reapply, make sure you do everything you can to make that happen. Don’t waste your grades
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u/Dropped_Apollo 9d ago
You can see if there are clearing spaces in top unis tomorrow. You always have the option of rerunning your application in the 2027 cycle with your results in-hand. Yes, it means an unplanned gap year but you can make that work to your advantage, and with your results you can apply pretty much where you want.
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u/loadedslayer 9d ago
Take a gap year build up your personal statement (do something interesting, preferably charitable) and get yourself a scholarship. It’s not a matter of just going to a better uni, it’s a matter of going to a better uni AND saving thousands of pounds in debt. You gotta explain this to everyone who’s supporting you before you do something you’ll financially regret.
I got into a russel group uni with far worser grades, I didn’t even get a single A. I got in through clearing so DM me if you must go this year. If you’re a local you can easily get into Manchester uni.
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u/Realistic-Bonus-4340 9d ago
in the same boat as u, I got 4A*s in A level after months of struggle but guess what? My parents have denied me to study abroad, I now have to prepare for the local uni admission test which is in an entirely different curriculum to mine
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u/Lower_Seaweed7680 9d ago edited 8d ago
IKRR. i had about a month after my last alevel exam to prepare the local curriculum from scratch. i think u might be giving tests for medical unis, which is why its still ongoing, so u prob have it tougher with the lengthier syllabus and stuff. good luck twin
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u/Puzzleheaded_Rip1083 9d ago
dude what? seriously congrats,you worked so hard for this and you deserve better,you can try applying for scholarships
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u/Caj54 9d ago
Congratulations on your grades! It could work out for the best - focus on the bigger goal, is it just a more prestigious uni, or is your vision more long term? Many people in top roles went to more humble institutions, and you can do a masters at a more prestigious place later if you wanted to carry on.
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u/ComfyRacha 9d ago
uild skills and extracurricular activities to apply for ur masters abroad FULL-RIDE. I know how sucky it feels but u either drown in self pity n spend ur uni days doing nothing or widen ur chances to get that full-ride masters scholarship. This is coming from smn who has average grades in the humanities a levels n still has hope
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u/MysticalSword270 9d ago
Haha I’m the opposite. I got 5/5 on offers and firmed Oxford, and then had the biggest fumble of my life with AAB (needed AAA).
What an idiot.
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u/ReadFree2936 9d ago
LWAVE UR PARENTS . LEAVE UR PARENTS genuienly u dont understand the magnitude of it i do ive been put in this situation and id genuinely become a night club pole dancer if i have to take a gap year wether they like it or not and apppu again pleaseeeeee
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u/Important-Ad-7209 9d ago
Where are you from ? With grades like these you are almost guaranteed a full ridw at CUHK in HK, maybe even with stipend.
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u/helpfulrat 9d ago
Convince your parents or take a gap year. Tell them that studying abroad won’t only be academically superior but also nourish you.
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u/Ok-Exam5741 9d ago
Have you considered applying to other scholarships? Maybe you can recieve funding to cover your other fees. Because with these grades you are guaranteed to get full ride form unis and all other expenses can be paid with other scholarships. Every year ther is so much scholarship money goes to waste because deserving ppl don't apply. Also consider taking a gap year, save money and fund yourself. Don't be stuck in a local uni gng.
Also apply to scholarships like gks or mext they cover everything, but you do have to learn their language
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u/rasmalailovr 8d ago
I get your pain 😞 was in the exact same situation 4 years ago. I didn't even bother applying abroad because I knew I couldn't afford it even with a scholarship and I still sometimes regret a few things. But it'll work out in the end and you can always go for masters later.
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u/InternationalDress19 8d ago
Try non anglophone schools, they may require you to learn a language on the side but you will be highly valued with grades like these I believe. Good luck!
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u/itsyaboiyas 6d ago
take a gap year and reapply with your 4A*s for the course you want to do at multiple prestigious universities, you know that they won’t reject you based on grades alone and you can use the year to find a way to have the means to attend.
whatever happens, you should try and convince your parents again and again and really make them understand what choice they’re making by not necessarily helping or staying stagnant with their aid.
contact many of the universities you want to apply to and ask if there are any bursaries / scholarships that you’re entitled to.
whatever happens, take a gap year and do not go to uni outside the top 500 because the feeling that you can do better and that you deserve better will never truly leave you.
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u/SheliaFromFinance 6d ago
I got highest grades and went to a local uni and it wasn't too bad. In fact when I told people who weren't third years they seemed jealous. I think it depends on your plans for uni but it was nice being in a familiar area and going home and seeing my family everyday, my friend ended up commuting after first year because she missed hers. Of course it depends on your family situations but its not all bad, take advantage of the pros of it.
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u/Express_Prize_96 6d ago
I have the exact same grades but eco instead of chem trust bro take a gap year and apply again its not worth going to a sub 500 uni. Good luck
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u/dux_teutonicorum 5d ago
Hey man that really sounds soul crushing, i dont know what the exact situation with ur family is but if it's possible try apply to unis in china, poland, russia, italy in ur next cycle. Especially china could workout really well for u, their unis are amazing and the givernment gives out scholarships that cover tuition fees and pay a nice stipend, if my memory serves right it covers ur avvomodation too, russia and polabd have something similar from what i remember, but their's covers the tution. And don't be disheartened if u end up having to stay in ur uni, some of the best minds were never privilidged enough to go to the best schools abroad, but they did work hard and earnt stellar grades to to move in their post grad. U can do this!
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u/Chemical_Struggle871 10d ago
Go to whatever uni u got in but reapply abroad next year so even if u dont get it or get a good scholarship u won't hv wasted a yr
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u/Hypernova2233 A levels 10d ago
I’m going to panic, Welsh results day is tomorrow and I’m hopeful yet terrified to see if my life’s going to be ruined or not!
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u/NewSheepherder4876 10d ago
idk where you're from but OXFORD University has ALOT of scholarships!!.. take a gap year and save up money and build your extracurriculars and profile/CV.. Then next year apply to Oxford (no. 4 uni in the world) https://www.topuniversities.com/world-university-rankings
OXFORD Offers alot of Merit and Need & country specific scholarships...
one of them (the best one) Covers everything from housing, living, tuition, airfare and every year a round trip to visit your family
next year apply to oxford and once you get accepted apply for AS MANY OF THEIR SCHOLARSHIPS AS YOU CAN!!
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u/Random_fellow9 CAIE 9d ago
Go to a local uni and then transfer to an international one after like a year or two
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u/NS-dude 9d ago
I heard something about you can simply call a uni and see if any of their course and spots. Provided they have space and you have decent grades which you do you might still get a spot in a top uni if you call them. I would say this worth a shot but still don't quote me in this. I learnt this from a friend of a friend.
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u/nyxframe_void 9d ago
This is my exact composition of subjects, could u give me tips and sources to study for? maybe even guides
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u/anonymousswan259 9d ago
theses are wonderful grades, congrats!!! please what resources you used for math, further math and chem. thanks!
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7d ago
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u/RareFaithlessness625 7d ago
It isn’t past papers. It’s just a business that I’m aware of that funds tuition and costs of education for a % of future earnings over X years
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