Looking for a bit of advice
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Looking for a bit of advice
For a long time I have wanted to join the RAF, as a youngster I was a cadet in the ATC and loved every minute of it! Through these years I was lucky enough to gain a gliding scholarship along with my duke of edinburgh award. During my a-levels I decided to apply for pilot and two fall back options, basing my qualifications, post gcse - having already achieved 10 - on my predicted a-level grades. Everything was going great... until I failed them!! Now I'm not stupid and academically i'm reasonably bright I just didnt put the work in and suffered the consequences. Obviously my application couldn't continue as i hadn't satisfied the grade boundaries and now im back to square one. I'm currently resitting two of my a-levels which, I hope, will come good by the summer and i can begin my application again.
My question is, will this 'failure' and only having the required 2 a-levels put me at a serious disadvantage when it comes to my application? I have done a fair bit of research on fall back options as i know how competitive the position is, but ultimately my real ambition is as pilot.
Thanks,
Felix Saddler.
My question is, will this 'failure' and only having the required 2 a-levels put me at a serious disadvantage when it comes to my application? I have done a fair bit of research on fall back options as i know how competitive the position is, but ultimately my real ambition is as pilot.
Thanks,
Felix Saddler.
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It depends whether you can justify it in the interview and, even better, make amends by getting a few As in your re-sits. If, for example, you were seriously ill during your first sit, they would take that into account, but if a bunch of fails (do people fail nowadays or just get 'low passes'?) was caused by the discovery of lager and girls, this won't endear you to the selection officers.
Make no mistake, the RAF can pick and choose for pilot because they get so many applicants. Moreover, the selection interview at OASC is merciless, so if you do continue, make sure you have a robust explanation for why you failed (see earlier qualifier). IMHO if you just screwed up, the only real antidote would be gleaming results in the re-sits, which will counterbalance your previous 'temporary lapse of concentration'.
Make no mistake, the RAF can pick and choose for pilot because they get so many applicants. Moreover, the selection interview at OASC is merciless, so if you do continue, make sure you have a robust explanation for why you failed (see earlier qualifier). IMHO if you just screwed up, the only real antidote would be gleaming results in the re-sits, which will counterbalance your previous 'temporary lapse of concentration'.
Personally, if you turned up in front of me, I would ask you why you didn't put the work in? What was more important?
Secondly, I would consider whether something else is likely to stop you 'putting the work in' during Flight Training.
It's not the end of the world, but you need to think about how you word your answers carefully. See the sticky thread on OASC for more advice.
(written at exactly the same time as Dallas's thread)
Secondly, I would consider whether something else is likely to stop you 'putting the work in' during Flight Training.
It's not the end of the world, but you need to think about how you word your answers carefully. See the sticky thread on OASC for more advice.
(written at exactly the same time as Dallas's thread)
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Felix - I hate to be a miserable s0d, but your previous posts seem to have been very focused on commercial flying and not on the RAF. If you see the RAF as a 'cheaper' way of flying and not something you REALLY want to do, your application will be even harder as there are some pretty focused individuals out there.
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I looked into the possibility of commercial flying as a back up, however once i screwed up i thought it was the only way! To clarify, I have no excuses as to why I failed other than im a fool!! I'm currently working incredibly hard - 6/8 hr days - to achieve the very best I can, I'm doing the whole thing distance learning and having to pay for it myself! This sort of drives me towards success. I'm hoping for two As by the finish, anything below that and i know i'll have even more explaining to do, i may as well just get my coat...
Last edited by Felix Saddler; 13th Dec 2007 at 18:31.
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Wow 303 posts and only 19!
Felix,
you don't have to be brilliant to be RAF aircrew, infact from what I have seen the lustre wears off pretty quick. But, say you were at interview and you were asked a question about lets the "American bombing of Hiroshima" and the whole nuclear weapons thing, how would you reply?
I just wondered because your earlier post concerning the same issue leads me to believe that your views may be at variance with what the interview board would want to hear.
why not contact your nearest RAF Careers Officer for serious advice.
SMK
you don't have to be brilliant to be RAF aircrew, infact from what I have seen the lustre wears off pretty quick. But, say you were at interview and you were asked a question about lets the "American bombing of Hiroshima" and the whole nuclear weapons thing, how would you reply?
I just wondered because your earlier post concerning the same issue leads me to believe that your views may be at variance with what the interview board would want to hear.
why not contact your nearest RAF Careers Officer for serious advice.
SMK
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Originally Posted by AIDU
Oh dear, you will get a shock if they let you in............
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I smiled at that line too. I'm presuming these 6-8 hours are in addition to a full-time job and/or college. Otherwise this 'display of effort' might go un-noticed without a 1 in front of it...
Davaar lad - I can understand where you are coming from, although my response would probably be of a professional nature given the fact that that is my duty and that is what is expected of me. My responsibility is to follow orders not oppose them..
Last edited by Felix Saddler; 13th Dec 2007 at 22:16.
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Felix
If its any help, I was in your situation many moons ago, failing my A levels (twice!) mainly because I spent too much time with cadets (Doing my DofE and gliding certificate, ISTR).
In the end I got away with a good degree grade which completely glossed over the A level problems. I suspect I learned to read the questions properly by the time I got to do the degree!
However I would agree that you need to think of a good answer to the question of 'so why did you fail your A-levels then?'
If its any help, I was in your situation many moons ago, failing my A levels (twice!) mainly because I spent too much time with cadets (Doing my DofE and gliding certificate, ISTR).
In the end I got away with a good degree grade which completely glossed over the A level problems. I suspect I learned to read the questions properly by the time I got to do the degree!
However I would agree that you need to think of a good answer to the question of 'so why did you fail your A-levels then?'
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Felix,
2 Decades ago, I failed my A Levels and was rejected by the RAF. It was a shock and a good kicking- actually, just what I needed!
I resat my exams and having worked very hard, passed them all, and was accepted. (Now 18 Yrs Fast Jet Pilot)
As other posters have said: The RAF don't want perfection, we want: dedication, integrity, humour, common sense ....... and a whole host of other things not taught. It's about YOU not your exams. (But you do have to make the min standard)
Simple, if you really want to join and fly, TRY, TRY and TRY AGAIN, but without effort, and evidence of effort....... try this:
www.macdonalds.co.uk
Good Luck,
Advo
2 Decades ago, I failed my A Levels and was rejected by the RAF. It was a shock and a good kicking- actually, just what I needed!
I resat my exams and having worked very hard, passed them all, and was accepted. (Now 18 Yrs Fast Jet Pilot)
As other posters have said: The RAF don't want perfection, we want: dedication, integrity, humour, common sense ....... and a whole host of other things not taught. It's about YOU not your exams. (But you do have to make the min standard)
Simple, if you really want to join and fly, TRY, TRY and TRY AGAIN, but without effort, and evidence of effort....... try this:
www.macdonalds.co.uk
Good Luck,
Advo
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The RAF may well look down their noses at you but there are two other services out there who provide opertunities just as good if you only open your eyes; more importantly they tend to have a more adult approach to the interview and thus tend to be more flexible in who they take on.
I failed Maths A-level and got a B and C in two others. I forget what the exact requirements were at the time but it cant have helped! I then failed first year at uni (too much beer and extracurricular activities
) Unsurprisingly I didnt do too well at selection.
I was pretty cheesed off to be honest and thought things were over; nevertheless, the idea didn't leave me completely and after resitting the first year and a shocking but busy (extracurricular again!) second year I knuckled down and worked like a trojan gaining a 2:1 in one of the more respectable subjects (not chocolate cookery).
Yes I made 'mistakes' and failed frequently but then I also worked hard to rectify the situation. At interview I was open and honest and whilst I regretted making life hard for myself I was also proud of what I had achieved outside of uni, this certainly helped me. The board were understanding and appreciatied my candour, saying as much in the final interview.
In summary, we all make mistakes but it is how you learn from them and rectify them that matters and then how you illustrate this to the board; perseverance pays off too. I made four applications over the years and finaly made it, do not write yourself off too easily.
I failed Maths A-level and got a B and C in two others. I forget what the exact requirements were at the time but it cant have helped! I then failed first year at uni (too much beer and extracurricular activities
) Unsurprisingly I didnt do too well at selection. I was pretty cheesed off to be honest and thought things were over; nevertheless, the idea didn't leave me completely and after resitting the first year and a shocking but busy (extracurricular again!) second year I knuckled down and worked like a trojan gaining a 2:1 in one of the more respectable subjects (not chocolate cookery).
Yes I made 'mistakes' and failed frequently but then I also worked hard to rectify the situation. At interview I was open and honest and whilst I regretted making life hard for myself I was also proud of what I had achieved outside of uni, this certainly helped me. The board were understanding and appreciatied my candour, saying as much in the final interview.
In summary, we all make mistakes but it is how you learn from them and rectify them that matters and then how you illustrate this to the board; perseverance pays off too. I made four applications over the years and finaly made it, do not write yourself off too easily.
