Retaking an A-Level in 1st year Uni
Just to show how dire my situation is: I got BDE in my A-Level exams, with the B in English Lit, the D in biology and the E in Chemistry.
To provide some context for my results, I’ve suffered with depression for a lot of my life, but it grew especially worse during the ends of year 12 and for the majority of year 13. Study leave was when it was at its worst, with no more going to school, and having to spend the majority of my time at home studying, or trying to. More context, I have CPTSD from my environment (that I’m still in), I live in a hoarder home with a parent that has serious untreated mental health issues. This has been the case for me even since my GCSEs, though my grades were alright, but I could’ve done better had things been better (think all A*s except for one A). Basically long story short, I’m completely unmedicated and unsupported for all of my struggles and I am struggling!!! Though I am staying positive and hoping everything improves once I move out for uni in a month or so.
I applied for a law degree, and initially I wanted to go the law degree, SQE, vac scheme, training contract route into law. I somehow managed to get into a mediocre non-Russell group uni for law llb despite my god awful a level results (I was a contextual applicant). I’ll forever be grateful to my uni. I know most law firms look at A-Level results, so I need to get better A-Level grades no matter what (whether it be in 1st year uni, or during a gap year before postgrad). Even though I guess I have extenuating circumstances (?), my grades are awful even for that. However, with my current situation at home, taking a gap year (where I stay at home) to retake probably wouldn’t make any real difference to my grades (I would probably get even worse, grade wise and mentally), as I NEED to move out for my own mental health. I’m also from a poor background so I have no option to move out or go abroad or do anything like that for a gap year. I’ve secured a great accommodation at my uni, that I’m rather happy about. I also plan to do a law postgraduate at a better uni, to make up for attending a non rg uni for law (and also for my A-Level grades). A gap year where I retake is basically out of the question.
Realistically, if I wanted to retake my A-Levels at uni during 1st year, how possible would it be? Or alternatively, would it be better to just privately take a whole new A-Level (let’s say, law or English language) rather than biochem since it’s so different from my uni course? If i do end up retaking, I would probably only resit 1 A level in 1st year so I don’t overwhelm myself. I don’t plan on retaking for a uni transfer, it’s mainly so I don’t have BDE as my results for future companies. I’ve never been too much of a social person, so most of my uni time will probably be spent in my room, or in the libraries. I really do plan on working really hard at uni! Sorry if this post is badly formatted, it’s my first post on Reddit and I desperately need advice. Thanks!! ✌️✌️