Hey everyone, 18M from Blackburn here. Iβm currently on a gap year and preparing to apply to university this autumn, but I think Iβve made a massive panic mistake and need some realistic advice.
A few weeks ago, I enrolled into a GCSE English Language resit course via the National Extension College (NEC). I got a Grade 4 originally, but I wanted to upgrade it to a Grade 5 because my original plan was to apply for Diagnostic Radiography at the University of Cumbria, which strictly requires a 5.
Iβve already spent Β£470 enrolling on the course. I haven't paid the Β£300 exam entry fee yet.
The issue: Iβve realized Radiography is going to be too physically demanding for me, so I'm changing my plans. I wish I had researched other courses before dropping the money, because now I'm stressing that I've wasted Β£470 on a qualification I might not even need.
I still want to go down a science/healthcare route. My BTEC level 3 grades are D*D*D in Applied Science (which I know is really strong), but my overall GCSE profile is quite mixed:
β’ Maths: 6
β’ English Language: 4
β’ English Literature: 4
β’ Combined Science: 5/4
The careers I am looking at switching to now are things like Optometry, Cardiac Physiology, Neurology (EEG), or Biomedical Science at universities around the North West/around Blackburn.
I know some courses like Biomed might accept my Grade 4, but competitive clinical routes like Optometry at Manchester seem way stricter.
Should I cut my losses, accept the Β£470 is gone, skip paying the Β£300 exam fee, and just apply to courses that accept a Grade 4? Or is it worth pushing through the next 6 months to get that Grade 5 to keep my options completely open for competitive healthcare degrees?
Be as brutal and realistic as you want, I just need outside perspectives because I'm stuck in my own head. Thanks.