What if I don't get the chemistry grade?

You open the envelope, pull out the piece of paper, scan the page and your heart drops. The most dreaded feeling on results day and it is horrible if you are in that situation. It’s perfectly normal to feel very emotional and panicked about what to do next, especially if you had planned to go to university and didn’t meet your offer. You may be stressed, worried, panicked, upset or a mixture of all of them and as difficult as it might be right now, it will all be ok. This is just a block in the road, but you can get past it, you just need to figure out your plan B. I do hope every student gets the chemistry grades they work for, but if your one of the ones that doesn't, don't worry, here's some ideas for what to do if you don't get the chemistry grade.

Clearing

If you are set on university this year, clearing is an option. This is the process where universities open up course places that have not been filled. Results day is very chaotic for the clearing process but having a thorough understanding of the options available to you can help you make an informed decision rather than panic selecting the first course you see.

UCAS has a brilliant tool to help you identify courses with places still available. These could be the same course you were wanting to do but at an alternative university or a closely related course that is at the university you really want to attend. Chemistry does tend to have a large volume of places available through clearing, however, this is dependent on the university choice (Oxbridge clearing unlikely). Whereas courses like medicine or dentistry which are more heavily subscribed tend not to have many, if any, places available through clearing. It is worth speaking to your university advisor at your school or college on results day if this is an option you are interested in.

Resitting

If you still want to go to your 1st choice university and course but your grades were lower than the requirements, resitting could be the best option for you. This would mean reapplying for the following academic year starting September 2023 and retaking some of your A-level or IB subjects to boost those grades. Some schools are fantastic at offering support with resit students, others will only enter you as a candidate for exams and there will be those that cut the ties (although I believe this to be a very rare occurrence). When it comes to resitting most of the time you are no longer required to attend school and will be essentially revising/learning independently. Getting a private tutor might be an option to support and guide you through the syllabus, especially, if you missed large chunks of schooling. However, this is not a necessity. If you are motivated to achieve the required grades the ultimate combo of resources I would recommend are; a copy of the syllabus textbook (your school may provide you this or you can find them online/amazon), copies of the syllabus specification and past papers (found online) and access to ChemGuide.

Resitting your A-levels will often not follow a strict school timetable and this can also provide you an opportunity to work part time, gain work experience, take other courses or do some travelling. Whilst most A-level courses will only offer a summer sitting for exams, if you have been doing the IB, you could be entered as a candidate for the November sitting, allowing you the rest of the year to complete whatever other gap year activities you have in mind. Speak to the IB coordinator at your school if this is something you are interested in. If you are resitting, you must be motivated to do so, but if you’ve set that goal based on what you really want, then it shouldn’t be too difficult to follow that path.

Apprenticeships

Whilst university might be an obvious pathway to begin a career in chemistry or related field, it is not the only option. There are increasing offerings of apprenticeships which provide real world experience, to learn the skills of a particular industry and get paid whilst you doing so. There are some companies that will also allow you to complete a degree course with an associated university whilst still working for them, fully funding your degree or diploma. Major companies in the chemical industry including Unilever, AstraZeneca & GlaxoSmithKline (application opening times vary throughout the year) offer apprenticeships and Not Going to Uni has many apprenticeships with current applications advertised now! These are a fantastic opportunity to still get the move away from home experience whilst gaining fundamental experience in the field, without raking up the debt a degree.

Gap-year

Gap year’s are increasingly popular as they allow you time to consider your options before taking the next step. Whether you aim to get your grades up by resitting some of you’re A-level/IB chemistry or are just not sure what to do next, a gap year can be fantastic. It can allow you to build up some money, travel or pursue opportunities that might not be able to when in full-time work or university. The major thing I tell students if they are wanting to take a gap year, is take advantage of it, don’t waste it. I personally love to travel, but travelling for 12 months although cool, doesn’t show a future employer or university personal statement that you’ve got much drive to do anything other than spending money. Could you work for some of it to fund your trip? Could you volunteer on your travels? Could you do an internship in your field of interest? I’m not saying you have to be in employment or volunteering for the entire year, but adding little bits of work/life experience to your CV will make it more appealing to university admissions staff or a prospective employer.

There are many websites to inspire you for a gap-year, however, do be cautious as many can have hefty price tags. Prospects advertises some reputable organisations which offer internships/short term overseas placements perfect for any gap year. If volunteering is more up your street, whilst I have not worked with this charity before, Indigo volunteers appears to be one of the few to offer volunteering at no upfront cost, although you will need to pay for your accommodation (depending on position), flights and visa. Whatever you choose to do with a gap year, the main thing is you enjoy it.

It may feel very stressful right now, but you have more options than you probably think. If you picked to study chemistry to this point you certainly have some drive and determination about you. If you know where you want to go start there and work backwards, and if not, try to enjoy the process of exploring where you might like to go. The road doesn't end here, you are just on a different path to what you were expecting and who knows, it may be the best thing that ever happened to you!