u/Otherwise_Rooster_86

Is it worth going to a “bad” uni for accounting such as Greenwich, London Met or Westminster? Can you still become successful afterwards, or is it more worth resitting A levels for another year to try get into a better university?

I’m 21 already and honestly feel behind in life, so I really don’t know whether it’s smarter to just move forward now or spend another year trying to improve my options.

I’m looking for honest advice from people in accounting/Big 4 recruitment because I’m trying to figure out whether this path is still realistic for me or if my A-levels will permanently hold me back.
By the time I graduate in 2029 I’ll be 24. I’ve been working since I was 16 and currently work in sales/events in luxury hospitality in London. It’s very client-facing and fast paced, dealing with corporate clients, events, admin, sales, problem solving etc. So I do have years of professional work experience already.
The issue is my A-levels. Realistically they’re basically fails. During that time my dad had cancer and then suffered 2 heart attacks, and I became one of his carers while trying to study. I completely spiralled academically and mentally during that period.
I know people say “everyone has circumstances” and I understand Big 4 is competitive, but I also genuinely know I’m capable academically when I’m in a stable environment. I think if I got into university I could realistically achieve a First in Accounting & Finance.
I’m looking at universities like London Met / Greenwich through Clearing because I know I probably won’t have many options with my grades.

My questions are:
Firstly, do you think universities like this would realistically still let me in through Clearing with terrible A-levels?
Secondly, would summer internships / placements automatically reject me because of the A-level grades, even if I’m doing very well at university?
Do Big 4 firms still care heavily about A-levels by 2029 or is there more flexibility now?
If Big 4 is unrealistic, are there still good firms that would fund ACA while paying a salary despite poor A-levels?
Once ACA qualified, do employers still care much about A-levels or does experience + ACA eventually outweigh them?
Has anyone here actually gone from bad A-levels → weaker uni → ACA → good career outcome?
I’d appreciate realistic answers rather than motivation. I’m trying to work out whether this is genuinely achievable if I work hard from this point onwards.

I’m 21 and honestly feeling really lost and unfulfilled in life. I don’t really know what direction to take, and I’d appreciate realistic advice from people who have been in a similar position or who work in different careers.

When I was in college I got really poor A-level grades. I know I was always capable, but at the time I made poor decisions, had no structure, didn’t care enough and didn’t take it seriously. When I was younger I was actually very academic and I know I’m definitely intelligent enough, but I completely lacked discipline and direction at the time. Now I’m older, I genuinely believe that if I got into university and had structure, I could work hard and do well, potentially even get a first.

The problem is I’m worried my poor A-levels have closed a lot of doors. Part of me thinks I should retake them to give myself more options, but I’m already 21 and feel behind in life. I don’t know whether it’s worth spending another year trying to fix them, or whether I should just move forward now.

For the past few years I’ve been working in sales and events. I’ve been considering university, possibly Accounting & Finance at somewhere like Greenwich or London Met, because I want a stable career with good earning potential. My long-term goal is to earn around £100k–£150k eventually, but I don’t want a job like investment banking where I have to dedicate my whole life to work. I want a comfortable, stable life with money, but also some balance.

Part of why this feels hard is that I do want a fun, glamorous and interesting life. My interests are things like beauty, travelling, health, fitness, looking good and generally feeling good about life. When I was younger, I always felt like I had broad options because people often told me I should model, and I was scouted by agencies like Storm and Nevs. So I always had this idea that there were different routes I could take if academics didn’t work out. But now I’m 21, I feel much more limited. I don’t know if modelling is realistic for me anymore, I don’t know if I’m photogenic or unique enough for that industry, and I also worry it isn’t stable enough for the kind of future I want.

I’ve also thought about things like real estate, property, or reselling houses because that sounds more exciting and potentially lucrative, but again I worry it isn’t stable enough or realistic without money/connections behind me.

At the same time, I’m worried accounting might not fulfil me. I know I’m more academic and analytical, and I don’t think I’d enjoy marketing or social media type careers because they don’t feel academic enough and the pay doesn’t seem like what I’d want. But I also don’t want to choose accounting just because it feels safe and then end up bored or unfulfilled.

I’m also confused about whether a first-class degree from a lower-ranked university would actually count for much, or whether employers would still care more about my poor A-levels and university reputation. If I did accounting, I’d want to know whether I could still get internships, ACA/ACCA/CIMA training, and eventually make good money from a university like Greenwich or London Met.

So I guess my questions are:

- Should I retake my A-levels at 21 to keep more doors open, or move forward now?

- Can poor A-levels hold you back long term even if you do well at university?

- Is going to a lower-ranked university worth it if I work hard and get a first?

- Is accounting/commercial finance a realistic route to £100k–£150k eventually without investment banking-level hours?

- Are ACA/ACCA/CIMA routes realistic from a weaker academic background?

- Are there any other careers that might suit someone who wants high pay, stability, but also doesn’t want to feel completely unfulfilled?

- How do you actually choose a direction when you want a good life but don’t feel passionate about anything?

I know this sounds all over the place, but I feel stuck between wanting to maximise my future options and also wanting to finally move forward with my life instead of staying in limbo.