What's with all the childish comments? If you don't think so, fine, but there's absolutely no need for mean comments.
I've heard of people who have been preparing or think about their dream university for years. It doesn't make you weird. In actual fact I think it's admirable and sensible to plan ahead. This wasn't supposed to be a very serious or intense thread and I am neither 'desperate' or a 'loser' as people so kindly remarked. I'm simply thinking ahead. It's not as if I have chosen a college or bought an Oxford t-shirt.
I made this thread with the intention of hearing about other people's efforts to make their application and personal statements impressive (i.e. voluntary work, university summer schools). It's not as if there will be a lot of time available come September. I've heard of people with straight A*s being rejected (some without interview). I don't think I'll get an A* in all of my subjects for GCSE, so I'm pretty freaked out that very intelligent people I know with impeccable grades are turned away. It's a pretty fierce world out there.
BTW, I am not ISA or in anyway similar to that user.