Made a HUGE mistake

You can still ask Cambridge to defer. The SAQ isn't final by any means and they do allow people to change their mind. If you are considering it, it's best to talk to your college now rather than on Results Day.

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With due respect, you don't actually know that. For 6th Form you needed to get 90%+ in pretty much everything. But for a degree even a First is "only" 70%+, and a 2:1 (60%+) really is a good goal to have...

You don't have to do all the questions on every example sheet every week... Actually no-one ever does.

Try it, see how it goes.

First year doesn't count anyway...

Posted from TSR Mobile

Youll be fine whereever u go but pls remember that no one slacked off and got into cambridge everyone works super hard, a true genius is 99% hard work and 1 % intelligence -thomas edison

pls consider carefully ur choice, i feel ur experiencing a burn out so my suggestion, go for vacations and relax ur mind,

finally im quite sure youll be happy at cambz

^^^

I understand the pressure from school/college - I had Oxbridge "suggested" to me too when I was in year 12/13. In all honesty the environment of those unis never appealed to me and I ended up picking a course that they don't offer anyway so at least some of my teachers stopped with their "suggestions". I have been at uni for 2 years now (2 years still to go) and you have to be happy wherever you go or you will be miserable. I got decent grades (A*AAA) and don't go to a RG uni but my choices were limited as so few places offer my course - my RG choice was my insurance uni. Lots of people thought I was crazy with my choice but they didn't understand me or the situation regarding the course I picked. If I were you I would leave things well alone until results day then when you know your grades/whether you have made your offer. It sounds like your parents are happy to support you rather than pressure you which is great. Try to stay positive and not worry too much for now - you may feel a bit clearer come results day.

I didn't know this before, thank you so much!!!!! You and @claireestelle don't know how much this comforts me! That is one major worry solved for me.

You've been accepted to Cambridge, and if you can defer entry, well and good. But, IMO, you should go ahead and take up the course this year! Next year, you might get used to 'not studying' (for lack of a better word) and leave behind an opportunity of a lifetime!

PRSOM

Yes, that's what I'm worried about I guess there's no real easy answer to this and at the end of the day, I just have to wait until results day to see if this is a decision I have to make. Maybe things will seem clearer then.

Thank you for sharing your advice and stating your confidence in me. It's really lovely I'm sorry if I don't appear to be grateful for everyone's replies but I really am and just because I don't yet know what to do, it doesn't mean that y'all (don't know why I used that term) haven't helped in bringing me closer to making an informed choice.

PRSOM

I actually lit a candle at church the day before my exams haha. And afterwards at Durham cathedral. Perhaps the occasion calls for another though!

Your PMs are like candy to kid, where said kid is moi But, I never reply the same day coz I read it, go to sleep (sleep on it indeed ), read it again next morning and reply I told you I was a little loco

My advice may not be popular but I am going to share it anyway.
You have been given an opportunity others would give anything to have. You are lacking confidence and it is understandable that going to Cambridge would be intimidating. You have proven yourself to be an excellent student so you will probably thrive wherever you attend uni. Obviously your teachers believe you to be capable.
Now, here is my advice. You're only as good as the last school you attended. For example Whispering Tide (as you responded to) noted that a friend went to Aberystwyth and is getting a PhD from Imperial. When you are interviewing for a job the company isn't really going to be concerned w/ where you did your sixth form but concerned where you got your uni degree. Same holds true for post grad, if you go to an average uni for undergrad but attend a top notch uni for post grad the company will really only be concerned w/ where you completed your post-grad degree. That being said, having any degree from Cambridge
be it undergrad or post-grad really does open doors when being hired and for getting post-grad placements. At the end of the day one goes to uni to end up getting the best job and potential start to a career possible. If you do make the scores to attend Cambridge but choose not to go you risk ultimately regretting that decision later on. There is stress, for sure, attending a uni the caliber of Cambridge but a lot of reward in the end as well. Good luck with your scores and making your final decision.....and know that at the end of the day life has a way of working itself out the way it is supposed to be.

Thanks for sharing your honest advice. Getting a number of different viewpoints is important as it will help me to make an unbiased, well informed decision (should my results be such that I need to make one, come 18th August).

However, I would like to clarify one point. If I were to attend a less 'prestigious' uni, it wouldn't be a 'bad' one. I'd still be looking at places such as Bristol, Leeds or Newcastle and I feel that a degree from any of those would be sufficient for my career aspirations. I want to be a primary school teacher, not Prime Minister or something and most primary school teachers do not have Oxbridge degrees so, while I agree that one would be advantageous, not having one won't put me at a disadvantage against the majority of other applicants.

If your place is confirmed on results day and your feelings don't change abour Cambridge then why not try a few terms there to see if you like it, and transfer if you don't? I'm sure many universities would be more than happy to take a transfer student from Cambridge

Haha don't worry about fast replies. I love your PMs too! they give me something to look forward to.

Ahem... "Grandma name"

Thank you. I suppose that is always an option too, and one which I hadn't considered before. I get the feeling that it would be harder to transfer and there would be less choice than if I were to choose a different uni in clearing though, as most universities won't have vacancies.

My advice is probably going against the grain here, but I'd say go with your gut, and if you really really know in your heart that you don't want to be worked to the bone (which Cambridge will do) then have a look at clearing lists right now, in case you get to results day and these thoughts are still there. I go to Oxford and while I wasn't forced, it was mostly the thought of turning down such a prestigious place which made me come here. I knew before I arrived that I wasn't going to hack it- which was only confirmed in my first term! Three years later and I still didn't have the guts to leave. Like you I could/can do the work but I literally work 24/7 which is not an appropriate price to pay for a 2.1 degree