Is it risky to apply to only universities within the 'top 5'?

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e2014

I wish I'd applied to more than one top 5 because I certainly deserved to get into more than one imo, but you certainly need to apply to at least 2 from the 5-15 mark with lower grades so you have a viable insurance or you can be confident you'll get an offer from at least one university, not that it should be a problem unless you want to do medicine or something else highly competitive.

Thanks! Where did you apply and where did you get into?

Reply 21

e2014

Original post by Arkasia

My advice would be: two optimistic, two your level, one insurance.

Thanks!

Reply 22

e2014

Original post by alcibiade

Have a safety school. It's elementary.

Thanks

Reply 23

samb1234

It's a decent idea to try and have at least one with a lower entry requirement than the others, but not essential if you're confident in your abilities

Reply 24

e2014

Original post by jneill

Actually, if OPs level really is A*A*A then I think going for 4 or 5 "top" unis is a perfectly good idea. Although maybe keep 1 slot for safety.

For STEM subjects I'm pretty sure any "Oxbridge" candidate will be applying to Imperial plus 2 or 3 other leading unis for their course. (Except Medicine but that's a different game.)

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Thanks! I'm only a GCSE student right now but I'm being optimistic as I do believe I'm capable of high grades. I'm interested in applying for law. :smile:

Reply 25

e2014

Original post by StrangeBanana

Economics isn't that competitive. Law and Medicine are the only ridiculous ones.

If the table is the only thing you look at, sure. If you do a bunch of research on a bunch of unis and the ones you decide to apply for happen to be the top 4/5 on the league tables - assuming you're a good enough student - then there's no reason you should hold back.

Thank you so much! Congratulations on that by the way. Where did you end up going? I do understand what many others have said about not just picking the top 5 but, as you have stated, the ones I'm most interested in do happen to be in the top 5 or so! I don't think that's unreasonable at all given that they all are excellent universities. If I do happen to be capable when the time comes, why not?
I want to apply for law and I do understand that that's one of the most competitive of them all. I'm willing to work very hard though.

Reply 26

e2014

Original post by runningoutoftime

All I would say is be careful, have a back up, I was predicted A*A*A at A level, exams went well, results day I got BBD- basically I was royaly screwed over by the exam boards! Hence I didn't get into my top choice (Exeter) If your predicted high grades, apply for one uni that has slightly lower grade requirements, I.e. ABB , it will still be a good uni :smile:

Thank you!

Reply 27

Student403

I wasn't very serious on the UK so I applied to the top 4 + UCL cause it had a nice name (do NOT do that second bit lol).

But I would say if you're serious and a gap year is out of the question, keep 1-2 choices that are ones you'll almost certainly get offers from.

Reply 28

Origami Bullets

It depends on
a) the subject - some are far more competitive than others - you will have a significantly different experience if you opt for law as opposed to, say, a modern foreign language
b) whether or not you are happy to risk ending up in Clearing and/or having a gap year

It's also worth noting that there's no such thing as a defined top 5 (or 10, or 20) universities - ask five different people what the top 5 unis are and you'll get five different answers. League tables tell you naff all - read this http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1096372

Reply 29

loknath

those are good grades, i would take the durham out and apply to somewhere like exeter so top10

Reply 30

User182034

I think it's a better idea to apply to the top 5 rather than applying to universities lower down the tables just because you feel the need to have insurance choices. Too many people apply to two or three universities they wouldn't actually be happy at because they've been told to have those safety choices.

I happen to think league tables are pretty much useless and decisions shouldn't be based on them above all else, but if you're only interested in those five universities and they all happen to be up there then why not take the chance? You have Extra and Clearing if you end up with no offers, or you can take a gap year and apply the next year. Whatever you do make sure you only apply to places you 100% want to go to.

Reply 31

math42

If you would only be happy going to unis of that quality, and feel you are capable, then why not. Adjustment, clearing and gap year are all fall back options so it's not like you'd be in a terrible situation even if you missed out on all.

Reply 32

picklescamp

Original post by e2014

Thanks! Where did you apply and where did you get into?

I applied to Cambridge (rather unenthusiastically), Durham, Birmingham, Newcastle and York. Got into all but Cambridge. In hindsight I should've applied to Exeter and St Andrews and maybe UCL or Kings.

Reply 33

samb1234

Original post by Student403

What uni are you going to next year then? I guess somewhere in the us but im curious haha

Reply 34

Student403

Original post by samb1234

What uni are you going to next year then? I guess somewhere in the us but im curious haha

Cornell

Reply 35

e2014

Original post by Student403

Cornell

Wow! Congratulations. Wait, so are you a British student going to America to study?

Reply 36

samb1234

Original post by Student403

Cornell

Ah very nice, i imagine in the winters it gets a bit cold tho haha

Reply 37

e2014

Original post by picklescamp

That's still absolutely amazing! Did you get an interview at Cambridge though? Also, what GCSE grades did you get? What subject was you applying for?

Reply 38

jamestg

Original post by Princepieman

Yes.

Apply to a spread of universities: some highly competitive/high entry requirments, some achievable entry requirements, and a couple slightly below.

Would you say Cambridge, Exeter, Bath, St Andrews, Surrey and Reading are a good spread for economics?

I'll be cutting that list down to 5 after open days and results.