Matric Results Not What You Thought They Would Be?

Here are six pointers to set your mind at ease, and your career on a forward trajectory: 

1. How to cope with rejection letters from universities 

Rejection hurts, whether you’re 18 or 48. It’s not a reflection of your worth or potential. University selection criteria are often narrow and space-limited, but talent and future success are not. 

Consider doing the following:  

• Take 24 - 48 hours before making decisions; let the disappointment settle.
• Speak honestly amongst yourselves; this is a family moment, not an individual failure.
• Explore why the rejection happened. Ask yourself: Was it marks, capacity, wrong programme fit, or something else? 

At Red & Yellow we meet so many students who started their journey with a ‘no’ from somewhere else, and it becomes the best thing that ever happened to them because it pushes them toward a pathway that actually fits their skills, creativity, and personality better. 

2. What to do when results fall short. 

You are not your marks. Your marks reflect a moment in time, not your intelligence, not your creativity, and definitely not your future employability. The sooner you realise this, the easier it will be to take some practical actions: 

• Apply for remarking or rewrite options if your marks are close to the threshold.
• Look for alternative admission routes. Many institutions (including Red & Yellow) offer:
  • Higher Certificate pathways
  • Skills-based entry assessments
  • Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
• Re-evaluate: maybe the programme you chose needs a different academic profile, but your interests still have a place in the wider industry. 

We see incredible success from students who start with a more accessible qualification like a Higher Certificate and move into a full degree with confidence and momentum. Sometimes a stepping-stone becomes the thing that sets you up to thrive. 

3. How to choose or rethink a career path and what “future-proof” careers really look like. 

It’s okay if your dream is changing. Or if you don’t even have a dream yet. Your career is not a single decision; it’s a series of pivots where you adapt, grow, and move with technology.

Future-proof skill sets include: 

• Creativity & problem-solving
• Digital fluency
• Marketing & brand building
• Data literacy
• Human-centred thinking
• Adaptability
• Communication & leadership 

These are exactly the kinds of capabilities Red & Yellow builds into every qualification, whether it’s marketing, digital, design, or creative leadership. The world needs emotionally intelligent thinkers who can connect human meaning with technology, and that’s our DNA. 

4. Managing the emotional and mental health impact of the results period. 

This is a deeply emotional time. The pressure on young people is enormous… often bigger than we realise. 

Supportive guidance: 

• Normalise talking about the fear, shame, or anxiety
• Remind learners they are allowed to grieve the expectation they had
• Set small, immediate next steps (Week 1: explore options. Week 2: make calls. Week 3: Submit applications).
• Parents: Your reaction sets the tone. Lead with calm, not panic. 

One thing we pride ourselves on at Red & Yellow is our human-centred culture, smaller classes, real relationships with lecturers, and an environment where students feel seen and supported. For many of our students, that emotional safety net becomes one of the biggest reasons they succeed. 

5. Exploring alternatives if study or employment options feel limited 

Feeling stuck doesn’t mean you are stuck. There are more pathways today than ever. 

Alternatives: 

• Short courses or micro-credentials to build confidence and employability quickly
• Gap-year learning (with structure, not stagnation)
• Bridging programmes like Higher Certificates lead into Degrees
• Entry-level work or internships to build real experience
• Reassessing interests, sometimes a ‘Plan B’ becomes the perfect fit. 

Red & Yellow has always specialised in building industry-ready talent, whether someone is starting from scratch or changing direction. From online short courses to full degrees, there are flexible and practical routes for every type of learner. 

6. What must I think about the impact of AI on pupils’ career paths? 

AI isn’t replacing young people; it’s reshaping what their skills need to look like. The jobs disappearing is task-based. The jobs growing are creativity-based, people-based, and strategy-based. 

Key skills the AI era needs: 

• Human creativity
• Strategic thinking
• Ethical judgement
• Brand building
• Storytelling
• Problem-solving
• Data-informed decision making 

This is why Red & Yellow’s programmes include creativity, digital marketing, AI literacy (e.g. understanding how AI produces meaning, where it fails, and what its limits are), and human-centred design, because those are the strengths that AI cannot replicate, and they’ll be the engine of future careers. 

Closing thoughts: 

Matric results matter, but they don’t decide everything. What decides your future is what you choose to do next. And wherever you go, choose a place that sees your potential, not just your marks. A place that prepares you for the world you’re walking into, especially with technology and creativity reshaping everything. For many young people, and for over 30 years, Red & Yellow has been that turning point, and it can be for you too.