I'm the opposite example. I was going to study Computer Science at Warwick. Amazing course, I really wanted to do that. I was accepted for a place if I got ABB (iirc, this was 1988). I was predicted AAA. Life got in the way and I got BDE. I accepted a place at Oxford Polytechnic (now Headington University I believe). I completely messed it up and flunked out after 2 terms. Went off the rails completely, became a punk, worked in shitty manual jobs. Finally got a job as a developer at 25, and back on the rails from there.

I'm so glad it turned out that way. I had no idea who I was, and needed that time to discover myself. I shouldn't even have been applying for Uni, but that's the thing you do, isn't it?

I wonder how many people from this debacle will look back and say they're grateful it happened because it gave them a chance to take a different path.