[defenestrate.]

So I've applied for biological sciences at Oxford and recieved an open offer of A*AA in bio, chem and english. The A* needs to come from either biology or chemistry. I was fairly confident of getting the A* in bio until we took our isas and everyone in the year did very poorly meaning I need essentially 100% in both bio exams this summer for the A* this summer. Moreover my chem exam yesterday went horribly.

In short, I'm not feeling confident that I'll meet my offer, reconsidered my course choice and have been seriously considering reapplying for English. This is because in all honesty, I have a much higher aptitude for English than biology, and am equally interested whilst naturally finding English a lot easier.

My question is, is it worth reapplying for English (again, at Oxford) if I don't meet my firm grades for biology this year? I know I'd enjoy either degree and am probably naturally better at English but run the risk of rejection in my second time in reapplying.

If anyone could share their experience or pm me about their experience of either applying or studying English at Oxford it would be highly appreciated

[ROBBY7896]

(Original post by defenestrate.)
So I've applied for biological sciences at Oxford and recieved an open offer of A*AA in bio, chem and english. The A* needs to come from either biology or chemistry. I was fairly confident of getting the A* in bio until we took our isas and everyone in the year did very poorly meaning I need essentially 100% in both bio exams this summer for the A* this summer. Moreover my chem exam yesterday went horribly.

In short, I'm not feeling confident that I'll meet my offer, reconsidered my course choice and have been seriously considering reapplying for English. This is because in all honesty, I have a much higher aptitude for English than biology, and am equally interested whilst naturally finding English a lot easier.

My question is, is it worth reapplying for English (again, at Oxford) if I don't meet my firm grades for biology this year? I know I'd enjoy either degree and am probably naturally better at English but run the risk of rejection in my second time in reapplying.

If anyone could share their experience or pm me about their experience of either applying or studying English at Oxford it would be highly appreciated

If you get to Oxford, they might let you change course. I'm not sure how it works and I think you'd have to interview again, but at least that way you have a guaranteed place for Biology if they don't let you change to English.

[defenestrate.]

(Original post by ROBBY7896)
If you get to Oxford, they might let you change course. I'm not sure how it works and I think you'd have to interview again, but at least that way you have a guaranteed place for Biology if they don't let you change to English.

Thank you, that's very true! My main problem is however that I don't think I'll make the offer this Summer as due to my school's incompetency, everyone's science isa grades turned out really low, reducing my chances of the A* in bio by quite a lot and I don't think I'm really that great at chem that I'll get the A*.

I might consider transferring if I do, by some miracle get my conditions this summer

[me, myself and I]

Why don't you put in a request for extenuating circumstances and outline the issue you had with your school? That might hopefully allow the admissions tutors to take that into account?

[Donald Duck]

If you don't make your offer, get your school to call them and explain the situation. It's your best shot really...

[defenestrate.]

(Original post by me, myself and I)
Why don't you put in a request for extenuating circumstances and outline the issue you had with your school? That might hopefully allow the admissions tutors to take that into account?

(Original post by Donald Duck)
If you don't make your offer, get your school to call them and explain the situation. It's your best shot really...

Thanks guys, your advice has been great I might ask a teacher to do so after my next exam.

I also have an eating disorder and was wondering if I should inform Oxford of this? I don't know whether my doctor will be able to write a letter for me before my exams start though as I've only recently been diagnosed despite struggling with it for years :/

I'm just a bit worried I'll come off as a massive complainer as last year I had pneumonia during my AS exams and then this year there's been some teaching issues and an increasing struggle with my ED...

[Octohedral]

(Original post by defenestrate.)
Thanks guys, your advice has been great I might ask a teacher to do so after my next exam.

I also have an eating disorder and was wondering if I should inform Oxford of this? I don't know whether my doctor will be able to write a letter for me before my exams start though as I've only recently been diagnosed despite struggling with it for years :/

I'm just a bit worried I'll come off as a massive complainer as last year I had pneumonia during my AS exams and then this year there's been some teaching issues and an increasing struggle with my ED...

Unless you deliberately stood naked on top of a mountain in a thunderstorm, I don't think anyone in their right mind would call you a complainer for getting pneumonia.

Get all the help you need

[me, myself and I]

(Original post by Octohedral)
Unless you deliberately stood naked on top of a mountain in a thunderstorm, I don't think anyone in their right mind would call you a complainer for getting pneumonia.

Get all the help you need

Agree with this! It completely isn't your fault. You didn't ask to be put through all this and you deserve the help good luck with it all, update us when you find out!

[Donald Duck]

(Original post by defenestrate.)
Thanks guys, your advice has been great I might ask a teacher to do so after my next exam.

I also have an eating disorder and was wondering if I should inform Oxford of this? I don't know whether my doctor will be able to write a letter for me before my exams start though as I've only recently been diagnosed despite struggling with it for years :/

I'm just a bit worried I'll come off as a massive complainer as last year I had pneumonia during my AS exams and then this year there's been some teaching issues and an increasing struggle with my ED...

I don't think you should call before you actually know 100% if you failed your offer, and I'd suggest getting a head of department to call (it sounds better)

[defenestrate.]

(Original post by Octohedral)
Unless you deliberately stood naked on top of a mountain in a thunderstorm, I don't think anyone in their right mind would call you a complainer for getting pneumonia.

Get all the help you need

Thanks As much as I enjoy standing on top of mountains naked, my plans to do so were interrupted by the prior pneumonia

(Original post by me, myself and I)
Agree with this! It completely isn't your fault. You didn't ask to be put through all this and you deserve the help good luck with it all, update us when you find out!

Thanks, everyone's being so compassionate/rational it's lovely

(Original post by Donald Duck)
I don't think you should call before you actually know 100% if you failed your offer, and I'd suggest getting a head of department to call (it sounds better)

Fair enough! I'm just worried that it's very unlikely anything will change if I ring them on results day and they'll probably be asking why they didn't find out sooner. After all, I hear it's pretty common for people to call up after results and ring about their various illnesses/bad teacher sob stories once they've found out they haven't got in.

I will definitely get a senior member of staff to ring for me! Again, thanks to everyone!!

[ROBBY7896]

(Original post by defenestrate.)
Thanks As much as I enjoy standing on top of mountains naked, my plans to do so were interrupted by the prior pneumonia



Thanks, everyone's being so compassionate/rational it's lovely



Fair enough! I'm just worried that it's very unlikely anything will change if I ring them on results day and they'll probably be asking why they didn't find out sooner. After all, I hear it's pretty common for people to call up after results and ring about their various illnesses/bad teacher sob stories once they've found out they haven't got in.

I will definitely get a senior member of staff to ring for me! Again, thanks to everyone!!

I'm not sure what you or other people will think of this, but I don't see any downside to either you or your teacher letting both the exam board and Oxford know that you were ill during your exams and so you do not feel that you performed at your best. If you actually did fine, then you've made a bit of a fuss about nothing, but you have a place at Oxford so it doesn't really matter. If you don't meet your offer, you might be in a better position to defend yourself if you told them you were ill straight after you took the exam.

[defenestrate.]

(Original post by ROBBY7896)
I'm not sure what you or other people will think of this, but I don't see any downside to either you or your teacher letting both the exam board and Oxford know that you were ill during your exams and so you do not feel that you performed at your best. If you actually did fine, then you've made a bit of a fuss about nothing, but you have a place at Oxford so it doesn't really matter. If you don't meet your offer, you might be in a better position to defend yourself if you told them you were ill straight after you took the exam.

Thanks, I definitely will let them know before results day, partly down to the reasons you offered. Plus, it'll look like I'm looking for any excuse if I complain on results day in the likely event of rejection. Again, thanks for your offer