[lordnacho]

First of all, Oxbridge is not that big a deal. I went there, it's just a bunch of people studying the same stuff they study everywhere else.

Second, what medical help are you getting? Seek out professional advice on whatever condition you've got.

You seem like you're still brighter than most people in your cohort. Don't be disheartened. If you can code, there will be things for you to do.

But find out about your condition first, and worry about uni afterwards. It's not the end of the world taking some time out either, just to de-stress.

[AdviceAlt]

In terms of medical help, the NHS is focusing on preventing the headaches. I've been prescribed topirimate, which gave me horrible side effects (stopped after 3 days), and small dosage amitriptyline, which I'm currently decreasing the dose of in order to get off of because it's not helping and it also gives me side effects. I've got an MRI scheduled in 3 months time. It's all moving quite slowly, and the focus on headaches and prescribing medicines over cognitive performance isn't particularly helpful. My GP (Family doctor) has been excellent but there's a limited amount he can do.

Neurofeedback has been suggested in this thread and I can get it privately here for about £2000, so I'm considering that. It's a lot of money but could have a very high ROI if it works. I'm also on a very long waitlist for hyperbaric oxygen therapy run by a charity. There's some limited evidence that it helps people heal.

I'm not brighter than most of my cohort, though my cohort is a pretty bright group of people. I'm just about keeping up through stubbornness and doing nothing but studying.

Compared to the average teenager my age - they'd probably get a better score on an IQ test, but I don't spend my time drinking and partying, and over the course of the year I've gotten my grades from Es to Bs, so I suppose I'm probably still a bit above average.

I will definitely be taking a gap year(s?) between A levels and uni.

Thank you.

[Ckirby]

Oxbridge is a huge deal, maybe not so much for the education, but definitely for the connections

[phyalow]

Also former Oxbridge attendee, it really isnt a reputation that is fully deserved. Local unis are more than fine. What matters more is your outlook on life, openness and adeptness to exploring yourself, industries and communities - ultimately resulting in mastery of a niche (or niches) and then hopefully wealth. Can Oxbridge facilitate some of this? Sure, but your local uni can too.

[AdviceAlt]

Thanks, that's good to hear.

[lordnacho]

IMO professional connections are more valuable. Friends from uni will end up doing all sorts of things, most of them unrelated to you.