The next step – Make sure you’re well prepared
AFTER two years’ hard work thousands of students across Wales will pick up their A-level results today.
It is a nervous time for everyone. Many will celebrate getting the grades they need to go on to university, medical school, art school or other paths. Some may be bitterly disappointed when they find their results fall short of expectations or future course requirements.
Grade comparisons will be made on social media and the press, but this doesn’t always reflect the personal stories of some students. For some, getting a D or C means so much more – as it may have taken as much hard work and dedication as it took others to gain an A*. Every student is an individual with a different story and separate challenges.
Whatever your situation and whether you get the results you want or not the important thing is to realise there are options and many doors are open.
I didn’t get the grades I needed. What do I do? Consider your back up offers and contact the university of your first choice to see if they will still accept you with lower grades. If not there may be other courses at the same university with lower entry requirements. Consider those as alternatives.
Look at courses available through Ucas clearing. If you’ve applied for student finance and your course, university or college changes let Student Finance Wales know. Visit www.studentfinancewales.co.uk
How does clearing work? Students who don’t achieve the required grades can apply for unfilled university courses through the Ucas clearing system.
To do this you must already have applied through Ucas and have already received no offers or declined all of them. Visit www.ucas.com I got the results but don’t want to go to university now. If you are thinking of deferring your place note that from September 2018 changes to student finance could affect how much support you could get.
Be sure to check this out before deciding.
If you don’t want to go to university now or later think about starting an apprenticeship. There is a huge range of choice for employment and training across Wales. The Careers Wales helpline is available on 0800 028 4844 MondayFriday, 9am-6pm or visit www. careerswales.com. Your school careers advisor may also be able to help.
Vocational qualifications are best for some and you won’t have to worry about tuition fees and student debt, but remember that degrees are essential to some careers.
Results day has left me stressed and worried Whatever your results, whether it is good news or not, try to be focused and don’t panic. Be organised and have all the telephone numbers, website and email addresses you need to hand. Plenty of people change their minds or fail to get the grades they need every year. Whether you are celebrating or considering alternatives there are plenty of options for the future. We wish you the best of luck.