So you didn't get the results you wanted?

With today being results day for the SQA authority, some of you may have got the results you wanted whereas some of you might be fairly disappointed with how your marks have come out. So where do you go from here?

Standard Grade
A credit pass at standard grade level will usually allow you to proceed with the higher level of the same subject. A general pass at a 3, and you may want to speak to your subject teacher or careers advisor if higher is where you see yourself going, although pursuing an intermediate 2 in 5th year, and then doing higher in 6th year is probably your best bet. Anything below a grade 3 and intermediate level 1 or 2 is probably going to be your only option for further study next year, especially if the subject is necessary for the career you're planning in the future.

Higher
Have you just finished 5th year? Sorted! In that case, you can resit your exam by taking the subject again in 6th year alongside your other choices. Finished 6th year and still didn't get the results you were looking for? Go to college! In Glasgow, there are a plethora of local colleges that offer Higher and Advanced Higher study, the benefit there being that you're not under the school rule and can enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere to learning, whilst still being able to ask for help from your teachers.

But school really isn't for me
Are you under 16? Tough titties, my friend. You need to stay put for the time being. Over 16?

Alternative study options
So you're over 16 and didn't get the grades you wanted. You have four options form here:-

1. Stay at school at repeat the study
2. Leave school and get a job
3. Leave school and go to college
4. Leave school and get an apprenticeship.

I personally would strongly advise any school leaver to try and take up a modern apprenticeship at the very least. The education system in the UK has come under fire for producing graduates with low level degrees, so an apprenticeship that will give you a skill for a career may well be your best option. Discuss this with your careers advisor at school, or have a look here.

Remember, if you decide to leave school and go to college, if you have the entrylevel qualifications you can enrol onto an NC/HNC certificate course which, once completed, can sometimes gain you advanced entry into a related degree course. Or, you can study towards your highers and get the qualifications you need to get the course you want.

Good points of contact will always be your school guidance or careers team, as they will have plenty of relevant information to hand, and if you feel that your qualifications should have been better, you can always consider appealing - although you must have strong evidence to support your appeal.

[Timmy]

I am at uni, and wish i had taken a modern apprenticeship really, they offer loads more than a university course could imo, unless you join all the extra bits n bobs, but funding to do them all is hellish.

So whats everyones plans/past experiences?

[Christie.]

Originally Posted by Timmy

So whats everyones plans/past experiences?

My plan is to get my head down for 5th year and leave St Al's for Caley for something biologicy like microbiology or pharmacology.

or maybe Strathclyde. Just not glasgow.

Originally Posted by Elusive_Faerie

My plan is to get my head down for 5th year and leave St Al's for Caley for something biologicy like microbiology or pharmacology.

or maybe Strathclyde. Just not glasgow.

When I was still at school, I planned to leave at the end of 5th year when I'd be 16, and go to uni. I was advised that I would sturggle to get in (I eventually had to go for an interview) and I was also advised to stick school until 6th year then take a year out so that I'd be 18 when I started uni and I ignored it because I just wanted to do uni, so I came away at 19 with a degree, having had very little of the uni experience as I wasn't able to go to the union or go out clubbing with the folk in my class. It was a very isolating experience and not one I'd care to repeat.

[Christie.]

Originally Posted by Vonnie

When I was still at school, I planned to leave at the end of 5th year when I'd be 16, and go to uni. I was advised that I would sturggle to get in (I eventually had to go for an interview) and I was also advised to stick school until 6th year then take a year out so that I'd be 18 when I started uni and I ignored it because I just wanted to do uni, so I came away at 19 with a degree, having had very little of the uni experience as I wasn't able to go to the union or go out clubbing with the folk in my class. It was a very isolating experience and not one I'd care to repeat.

yeah, i know what you mean, i'll probably have to take an interview but i don't wnat to stay at St Al's for 6th year and i don't want to do 6th year. i really want to backpack around Europe but it's expensive and risky.

I also really want a degre but i don't want to be ancient and stuf when it's done so i want uni done with as soon as possible.

[fallen_nemesis]

Originally Posted by Elusive_Faerie

yeah, i know what you mean, i'll probably have to take an interview but i don't wnat to stay at St Al's for 6th year and i don't want to do 6th year. i really want to backpack around Europe but it's expensive and risky.

I also really want a degre but i don't want to be ancient and stuf when it's done so i want uni done with as soon as possible.

see i thought that too, I even got college places lined up for my 6th year, and a uni place. I ended up going to school though and I'm glad I did. 6th year's more a social year where you get treated with a lot more respect by teachers, get a lot of responsibility and chances to get involved in a whole ton of activities and volunteer work. It also helps you work on your own. It's seriously worthwhile. I found it completely different to the other 5 years at school that had made me miserable

[Timmy]

I loved 6th year, although i had to do all my 5 highers in 6th year because i was a wee stoner kid in the 5th year.

[Elmo]

i also really didnt want to do 6th year, but it turned out to be the best year at school due to all the reasons laura said above, it's far more relaxed, you're given a lot more responsibility with your own studies, which kinda edges you into the way of thinking for uni, where you have to be completely self motivated. No one will stand over you and kick you up the arse at uni. It's a HUGE jump from school!

[Zippy]

I wish I took an apprenticeship when I left school rather than wasting 3 years.

Originally Posted by Zippy

I wish I took an apprenticeship when I left school rather than wasting 3 years.

What did you study?

[Elmo]

Originally Posted by Zippy

I wish I took an apprenticeship when I left school rather than wasting 3 years.

ditto, altho i've wasted 4 years heh. We were never told about apprenticeships at school, we were always pushed towards uni as being the way forward

[Brookie]

i left school in fith year and went straight on to colege to do an HNC at 16. Was possibly the worst thing i ever did tbh. After college i went on and did an Mordern Apprenticeship with the horses and tbh it was the best thing i ever did. i loved every minute of it and i wouldnt be an instructor today if i hadn't. I am currenty doing another MA in business management and Admin and hating ever minute of it. So choose your MA wisely and be prepaired for a crappy wage.

[fallen_nemesis]

Originally Posted by Elmo

ditto, altho i've wasted 4 years heh. We were never told about apprenticeships at school, we were always pushed towards uni as being the way forward

ditto. It seemed if you were able to get a pass at highers at all they tried to force uni on you.

I genuinely never heard of the careers advisor suggesting apprenticeships to ANYONE in my school. It was almost like they were looked down on. Which is utterly crap. I may have got 8 grade 1's and a load of highers, but I'm certainly not academically minded and can't take anything in from books. It was just sort of assumed I enjoyed academic things because I got fairly decent grades. I'd far rather have been off on a creative course of some kind tbh. Drawing etc and painting and making clothes doesn't feel like work. Textbook learning makes me miserable

[SqueeTDM]

My sixth year was fun, the amateur dramatics was amazing, but I really didnt work and since I went to The Glasgow Academy I basically wasted my parents money which I feel shit about. Didnt get the results I wanted but unconditional so it doesn't matter

[Brookie]

tbh a lot of employers these days would rather employ some one with an MA than a degree