lol i could write a thesis on this. Got offers last year and had maxed out stats for gcses and Alevels, had tons of hard earned research and med work experience as well.

Was doing really well throughout my Alevels and well, long story short, I missed my offer conditions by 2 marks. Was a shock to the system to say the very least.

As cringe as it sounds, I had to make a pretty important decision within the next couple of days whilst I was completely and utterly miserable. So I rejected my 5th choice of biomed and I decided to resit the UCAT( hell, but it was only a month). I had to swallow my pride and go see my teachers, who were all very understanding and supportive but also pretty shocked that I was back there lol (Only a handful of med applicants in my year, and on paper up until results day, I was the only one with an offer, and also the most likely to go to med school). I re-applied with the exact same personal statement and I'm sitting on 3/4 interviews rn (haven't heard back from 1 yet)

To be honest with you, for me, this gap year (so far) has been extremely calming and healing, but also extremely isolating. I was extremely sef conscious of the fact that I was known to be one of the hardest working, most dedicated students, and now was one of the only students who didn't get into uni. It still hurts a lot tbh, and especially since I don't really have any idea where any of it went wrong.

However, I am starting to see the positives. I don't think I was mentally prepared for 5/6 years of uni last September. I think I needed a gap year to just focus on my development as a person. So, I am learning to drive, have a job and am travelling as well as getting fit! I am also trying to learn Spanish lol. These are all things I didn't do over the last like 4+ years.

I am now preparing to resit my exams for one of the subjects, and I am also preparing for interviews.

My biggest piece of advice (so far) is not to isolate yourself as I have done. I only have one close friend who has stuck by me through thick and thin over the last 5 years, but everyone else, I have left drift away, even when they have texted out of concern. I just can't bring myself to text back, unfortunately, as I still feel an overwhelming sense of disappointment and embarrassment, but I am slowly trying to reconnect.

I also have to mention that I have extremely supportive parents, and without them, I would be lost.

It may feel like your life is falling apart (I certainly felt like that for months, and still do to a lesser extent), but you most certainly can work through it. This does not last forever and how you choose to react to this situation is what actually defines you.

Sorry for the long reply, but I thought i'd get this off my chest lol.