For context, I’m an external student at a competitive sixth form, and this is only my third day of Year 12. So far, I’ve spoken to around 10 people. We mostly talk during lessons and sometimes hang out, so I do have “friends” in my classes who I sit next to, but we aren’t particularly close yet.
My sixth form also has quite a large study room where people can go during break and lunchtime to eat and hang out. I’m just wondering whether you think I should make more of an effort to join a friendship group to spend breaks and lunches with, or whether I should just study by myself in the library.

Where do I fucking start.

I guess I should start with the start? I think?

I don’t know. In October 2024, I lost my dad to a motorcycle accident. I don’t want to get into the nitty gritty of it, and what it meant to my family, but it left me, my mum and my sister in a fairly serious financial situation. Due to this, my school at the time recommended me to a school help foundation that I’ll leave unnamed so I don’t doxx myself. That foundation eventually recommended me to another foundation that would give me a full 110% scholarship to a boarding school in England. I got lucky, and was given a place about 15 minutes away from my house (So I’d be a day student, rather than a boarder). It’s also the place where my sister went to sixth form, so there’s a familial link.

I genuinely believe that that was the worst choice I’ve ever made.

I’m smart. I’m like, really smart. Like the amount of smart that people start thinking you are scary, type smart. In year 8, I used to get 7’s in all my subjects. Especially science. Physics, biology and chemistry, but especially biology.

Not at the end, though. I got 5’s. All 5’s, except 7’s in Maths, History and English. What I am good, no, great at, I did “Above average” in. That’s not me. No, I would have gotten better, I would have been better; Had I not have known from the word go that I was in the clear.

I took a position based on the worst thing that ever happened to me, and it led me to what is arguably the best thing to ever happen to be; and I hate it. I hate it with all that my heart has left to hate.

I just can’t shake the feeling that I should never have gotten here, and if I should have, it was never supposed to happen that way. I should never have taken it. Never. If I’d have gotten this off my own back; off my own hard work, I wouldn’t feel this way. I wholeheartedly believe that. And it’s shown in my results, too. I went to the 6th form’s scholarship program, and I really gave it my all; and I did it. I aced the Geography exam, out of 60 I got 57. I did pretty fucking well in physics, too. 80 or so out of 100. Because I always thought, even maybe if just in the back of my head, I could change it. I could just get to where I was supposed to be the way I was supposed to, without piggybacking off the worst event of my life. And then I got 5’s in every subject I was going to take. Because in the back of my head, I knew I was safe.

I start tomorrow, and I don’t even have any of my friends beside me to help me through this. They’re all at the local public sixth form. Where I am supposed to be. Because I was given an opportunity I never should’ve had.

And the fact that so many people dream of this happening to them makes me feel worse. It makes me feel lucky, special, even, and I hate it. Because it’s for a reason I don’t deserve.

I have no doubt in my mind, none at all, that I’m depressed. I’m smart. More than smart enough to know that. I know that, given enough time, my mind will change; but I really, really don’t want it to. Because I understand the truth, now. It’s the first time in a long time, maybe since my dad’s passing, that I see it all clearly.

At least that’s what I think.

I told my mum, today. I said it all to her.

She said that I was lucky, that this is what so many less fortunate people dream of.

That made me feel worse. I shouldn’t have this position, someone else should. I could’ve made it on my own had I just fucking tried harder. Had I not taken the path that I have.

She said that my dad would be proud of me, and I don’t doubt that. I know he would be. But that doesn’t help. I can’t help but think that this isn’t where I should be. And if it is, then this isn’t the path I should’ve taken.

I don’t know dude. I really just dont know.

So my mum gives me 25 pound every week for college to eat but I want to save that money and honestly I am planning to not eat anything for lunch to save it. Is this the right thing cos honestly I feel bad for my family because although we are not poor, we are getting work done in the house and my parents are working more frequently and I feel bad for them

Has anyone here got into UCL Applied Medical Sciences (AMS)? What were your predicted/achieved grades and other stats?

today was the first official day of year 12, had all 4 subjects, maths, cs, physics, economics. I’ve signed up to do a business project, a maths event, public speaking competition (I’m the shyest person you’ll ever meet) because I’m trying to put myself out there more, and have also signed up to run a Nat sci club for year 7-11 (inflicting a positive self image to them so they’ll vote me head girl in April). I’ve done my homework that I got today but I haven’t learnt enough in lessons to start making resources. Should I just relax and settle in this first week or read ahead? idk what do.

Currently im on AAB predicted with a B in maths, and i want to apply to econ related courses, how good is the bath int dev with econ bsc and does exeter econ and pol/finance accept someone on AAB, ive seen a few people get in with AAB as non contextuals so i was wondering if it is worth applying to exeter, apart from those 2 nis i really dont want to go anywhere else since there arent many options and im trying to either get the maths to an A or econ to an A* so i get a larger variety of courses to apply to but rn its looking dire

Wanna persue STEM degree
Rn at og school with 3 humanities alevels and already did year 12 there.

Pros of staying old school:
Better environment and people
Can receive best academic help
Go uni next year like everyone else
Families are happy as it’s a more prestigious school
Cons:
Foundation year hella competitive. Chances of 0 offers
Cannot rlly catch up with the humanities alevels as I spent too long on resitting my GCSEs
Haven’t started on my personal statement
Can do psychology as degree but weak career prospect unless I go into med tech with masters into computational neuroscience which idk if it’s a realistic target

Pros of retake year 12 (new school)
Fresh start
Correct alevels for STEM
Wider universities options (imperial within reach)
Open more doors for degrees
Cons:
Cannot guarantee to do well at the new Alevels
Going uni year later than everyone else
School is less prestigious
Bad environment

And no I don’t have any other school choices coz it’s all left with colleges or sixth form that doesn’t allow me to retake year 12.
What should I pick 🙏🙏

hi, i’m an international student planning to apply to imperial business EFDS for 2027 entry. would anyone know the percentage of the cohort who receives scholarships, especially the business school excellence award? thanks!

PenPen confused about how long I should study. PenPen is scared that PenPen will study too much for so early in the year (PenPen only just started year twelve). However, PenPen is also confused on the proper ways to do more relaxed ways of study. PenPen is too used to cramming past papers and flashcards for GCSEs, instead of doing more relaxed study that would be more suited for day to day life.

PenPen is especially worried because PenPen is doing four subjects, and needs to as PenPen isn't sure of what to do (and the subjects Mistato wanted me to do are very limiting).

PenPen would like help!

So originally my a level options were maths chem and econ since I want to do economics. However ive started my first day of college today and in the first 10 mins I was pulled out of the classroom by the deputy head telling me that a human error was made at enrolment and I cant do a level chemistry since I got a 5 6 5 in triple science. It’s really annoying and I wish they would’ve said at enrolment but it is what it is.

They told me that I have to switch my a level subject to something other then chemistry( I can’t do further maths as I would have to take 4 and they’ve said my grade profile isn’t high enough, L2D*77766655) so im torn up on what subject to change it to for econ degree. Ideally want to go to a high ranked uni such as ucl, Warwick Durham. Currently torn up between history and politics as they seem to relate the most to economics.
BTW I am pretty contextual since my high school was very low ranked and I live in a very deprived area

Thanks and sorry for the essay😅

Slightly late bread but YAY!!!!!!!!!!!! I got 2A* 3A in bio, chem, maths, drama & epq

Feel free to DM me if you want any unc wisdom :D

Lmk if you want any ps advice as well

Hello! I am on this sub looking for advice. I’m fully aware this is going to sound really weird but please read the whole thing before you make a judgement. I suffer with pretty bad social anxiety and in my old school (which was a normal comprehensive/non-selective school) I was pretty much bullied/probed for being a ‘neek’ (I got 99999988887 in GCSEs), people used to come up to me and do the whole “are we best friends” thing ppl who have had the same experience as me probably know. In my new school (I now go to a grammar) people are always coming up to me and speaking to me like we have known eachother for ages? A guy whose name I didn’t even know offered to carry my chair back to my class (we have outside assembly) because “I was wearing heels”. I have made a lot of friends for someone who’s really awkward and has only been there for three days now. When I walk around and walk into my common room a lot of people stare at me (or I at least feel like I am being watched) and the only thing that I wear that I would say it’s a little bit outside of the dress code are small maybe 3 or 4 inch stilettos, but apart from that I make it a point to blend in with others clothes wise so I don’t stand out. Again I know this sounds stupid but due to my social anxiety I am really overthinking about all of this stuff :(

Do people think I’m weird? Or are they genuinely nice?

brooooo where are all the compsci girlies at 😔 what happened to women in STEM 🫩

it's so awful. the teacher didn't even have to call my name for registration in the lesson he just looked at me immediately and nodded 💔

it also doesn't help that i've never been to a mixed school before. i'm so fried

Hi, i chose the 3 subjects in the title for A-level, but now I'm unsure what I can actually do.

Ofc maybe medicine or dentistry, but I can't imagine being confined in a hospital or dental practice for a whole day, or doing lab work and staring at cells.

I enjoyed biology and maths in GCSE, chem as well but not as much. Like its interesting to study but as a job? It js seems boring ngl

Ik work isn't "fun" but is there any like careers that is recommended that is like fun or smthing and what is everyone else going to do with these a levels, or already done?

(year 12)

i just started a-levels taking bio, chem, geography and EPQ and i'm considering studying some a-level maths in my own time independently (to help with critical thinking in sciences and i'm also hoping it would help with a personal statement??)

wondering if it's worth it or if anyone else has done something similar? if i did decide to do some a-level maths it wouldn't be anything beyond first year content and it wouldn't count towards ucas or formal qualifications but since i'm going into stem it feels like it could be useful

Some people are probably starting tomorrow or later this week or aren't in year 13 but for everyone else I just want to know how the first day of yr 13 has been and whether ym have high hopes for this year and whatever subjects you do. 😆😆😆

I was wondering how long I have until I can’t change sixth forms because I kinda miss going to the same school as my friends 💔

​

Hey all so I'm going into Year 13 next week and I want to end up at Warwick University which requires A grades. I'm pretty confident that I can achieve A's or atleast High B's in my other 2 A levels, Law and Criminology however my third A level, Media is my worst subject and I can't even get an A grade in it.

I am able to get A + Grades in Law and Criminology often but Media my best is a B grade at the end of Year 12, I feel I struggle with Media because there isn't really much structure to it and I really hate that. Anyways I really need to get better at this subject and I've tried revising it so many times but it feels like everytime I go in for an exam there is new stuff I just dont know how to answer even though I revised all the content and set texts/theories.

I really need some help as clearly what I've been doing in Year 12 and my revision techniques for Media haven't been working and I desperately need a good grade in this 🥲

So im going into year 13 tomorrow

And I haven't done any of my coursework or any revision over the break

And its kinda just hit me now that shittttt im probs so screwed

So uh is there any coming back 4 me 🥹

Predicteds are fucked cuz i got straight E's in year 12 and got semi-decent grades in my ucas exams, but cuz of no consistent data, i have low ass predicteds, then burnt myself tf out with ucat, fumbling it, and getting a mediocre score, got september mocks as well, all my teachers want me dead, and I dread economics. Tryna do med, shoulda gone for a bricklaying apprenticeship. Minor tho, we graft.

Can't wait for this shit to be over already, get me out of here.

Hello, Year 13 here
I take Maths, FM, Econ and History. I'm looking to apply to Oxford, Imperial, Warwick for a Maths degree. History is my fourth A-Level. I initially took it because at the end of Yr11 I wanted to do an econ degree at LSE or Cambridge but my aspirations have changed. So right now the main reason I have history is because it acts as a safety net incase I get below A in econ for my offer. I'm better than Econ than History, I got an A in my mocks for Econ and a B for History. Another reason why I'm reluctant to drop History is because I've already spent a whole year studying History and I feel that if I drop it, all that time I spent last year would have all gone to waste. But if I drop HIstory I could focus more on my other 3 subjects. What do you guys think?

I had my first a level maths class today it was pretty chill as it was the first lesson we did smt like trig equations or smt, it was pretty good. However, i am now stuck on where too start my revision and how too acc revise, should i js use text books or js like youtube i dont really know, i also have a key assessment in 2 weeks so i do need too revise. Are the year 1 pure and stats text books worth it? and what are the best online resources to revise? Also what topics should i start from.

My school is really strict with how they go about predicting our grades, and I’m really worried that i won’t get accepted into any unis with this on my application. I was going to apply to sussex, reading, royal holloway, surrey, and somewhere else for english literature but now im starting to lose hope. I’m eligible for a contextual offer due to meeting a few of the criteria so I don’t know if that plays a part.

Can anyone give me any advice?

I've just started yr 12 and my teachers are all telling us that we're going to suffer 😭

I did pretty decently on my GCSEs (7's and 8's except for maths) but I'm worried that 6th form might be as bad as everyone has been telling me. Is it really that stressful and do you guys have any advice on what to do/mistakes to avoid?

So I wanted to take Maths, FM, Physics and EPQ, but my school is forcing me to do four (Chemistry), because in the past some people only did Maths, FM, Physics, and later on found out they hated FM, but they couldn't drop it because they would only have two A levels left...

I have told them that I know for sure that I won't drop FM in the future because it is mandatory for maths/cs at uni, and I absolutely hate Chem (so much random details). Yet, they are really forcing me to do it because it is a 'maths department policy'.

What do I do?