[xinolisss]

Originally Posted by necessarily benevolent

Hmm...yes, but if I told them it was for personal reasons then a) wouldn't they ask what exactly it was? and b) wouldn't they just offer to defer my place (thus stopping me UCASing)?

No they wouldn't... Although this Southampton did try to convince me of deferring... but I said no and still gave me the offer afterwards... like the week after my UCAS was sent...

But yes you should tell them what your personal reasons are obviously

[necessarily benevolent]

Does anyone think it would be beneficial to take an A/AS level or two during my gap year if I do so? I'll probably do GCSE German too.

[sleekchic]

Originally Posted by necessarily benevolent

Hmm...yes, but if I told them it was for personal reasons then a) wouldn't they ask what exactly it was? and b) wouldn't they just offer to defer my place (thus stopping me UCASing)?

If they ask then tell them what it is unless you don't want to. Also maybe you shouldn't tell them before you have applied but when you have applied.

[necessarily benevolent]

Originally Posted by La Esmerelda

Are you all in year 12? If so then what're you doing on a thread like this. Enjoy the rest of your year, I only bothered with uni's during the summer...

I'm in Year 13

[necessarily benevolent]

Originally Posted by sleekchic

If they ask then tell them what it is unless you don't want to. Also maybe you shouldn't tell them before you have applied but when you have applied.

Well I guess I could apply really early, like 1st September when it opens. But that would be a bit risky, and UCAS could get involved somehow.

[La Esmerelda]

Originally Posted by necessarily benevolent

I'm in Year 13

gap year?

loving the btw.

[sleekchic]

Originally Posted by necessarily benevolent

Well I guess I could apply really early, like 1st September when it opens. But that would be a bit risky, and UCAS could get involved somehow.

Why would UCAS get involved?

[necessarily benevolent]

Originally Posted by La Esmerelda

gap year?

loving the btw.

I'm possibly going to university this year, but if my grades will suffice I might apply to Cambridge (or Oxford) during my first year at uni or during a gap year.

[necessarily benevolent]

Originally Posted by sleekchic

Why would UCAS get involved?

I heard somewhere that you can't apply when holding an offer at another university. But that might only apply to deferred entry.

[sleekchic]

Originally Posted by necessarily benevolent

I heard somewhere that you can't apply when holding an offer at another university. But that might only apply to deferred entry.

You wouldn't really being holding an offer with the uni because you would have to withdraw and apply again in the new cycle. The only thing is that the you would have emailed the uni to let them know why you are reapplying so UCAS wouldn't be involved.

What were your "crap" GCSEs?

Like I said before I don't think you would be able to transfer from your first year if applying to Oxford/Cambridge. If you apply in your first year from a different uni you might have to start first year again at Oxford/Cambridge which would be a wasted year.

[necessarily benevolent]

Originally Posted by sleekchic

You wouldn't really being holding an offer with the uni because you would have to withdraw and apply again in the new cycle. The only thing is that the you would have emailed the uni to let them know why you are reapplying so UCAS wouldn't be involved.

What were your "crap" GCSEs?

Like I said before I don't think you would be able to transfer from your first year if applying to Oxford/Cambridge. If you apply in your first year from a different uni you might have to start first year again at Oxford/Cambridge which would be a wasted year.

I wouldn't transfer, I'd reapply and start the first year again. It wouldn't really be a wasted year because St Andrews is a four-year course anyway, and UCL's first year is a lecture course which covers some really interesting stuff (and would be sound preparation). Also, even though some of the content may be similar, the teaching style most certainly isn't.

I don't really know how I can explain my Year 11 record, because I got an A in A2 History. But the five or six GCSEs I took alongside it weren't that good (As and Bs). The weird circumstances might help, and my AS/A levels are certainly an improvement on this. Apparently it's very rare that people with AAA already achieved don't get interviewed.

[all_that_glitters]

Originally Posted by necessarily benevolent

I wouldn't transfer, I'd reapply and start the first year again. It wouldn't really be a wasted year because St Andrews is a four-year course anyway, and UCL's first year is a lecture course which covers some really interesting stuff (and would be sound preparation). Also, even though some of the content may be similar, the teaching style most certainly isn't.

So basically you want to use university as an EC so that you can have another go at Oxbridge?

By all means re-apply if you don't feel satisfied with your UCAS performance this year, but don't take a place at what are prestigious universities when you're only using it as a stop gap. I'm sorry about your personal circumstances, and obviously if that's your reason for re-applying then this doesn't apply.

[necessarily benevolent]

Originally Posted by all_that_glitters

So basically you want to use university as an EC so that you can have another go at Oxbridge?

By all means re-apply if you don't feel satisfied with your UCAS performance this year, but don't take a place at what are prestigious universities when you're only using it as a stop gap

No. I'd just wield the chance to take advantage of a system which allows you to apply somewhere better. It's simply a fortunate case of affairs that St As is 4 years and UCL's first year is a lecture course. It just means I wouldn't feel as though I'd wasted a year. I'd make the most of my time at whatever firm I decide to go to, but it'd be irrational to leave it at that.

That'd just be one option open too. I might take a gap year. This all, of course, being dependent on my grades.

[Hedgehunter]

Originally Posted by necessarily benevolent

Of course it all depends on me getting three As (and a Merit/Distinction in my AEA as a decider). I don't know if that will happen anyway. I'm confident about getting AAB at least but in Geo I need 80% across all of my final exams.

Is Hedgehunter applying?

Yes, he thinks so. However it won't be for History nor Cambridge. Instead, Biochemistry at Oxford if he gets good grades at AS.

My school though, are cracking down on 'just anyone' applying to Oxbridge, saying that they will not support applications unless people get AAAA at AS... They also say that 6A* is what people generally get in with. I for one know that is not true.

[QED]

Originally Posted by Hedgehunter

Yes, he thinks so. However it won't be for History nor Cambridge. Instead, Biochemistry at Oxford if he gets good grades at AS.

My school though, are cracking down on 'just anyone' applying to Oxbridge, saying that they will not support applications unless people get AAAA at AS... They also say that 6A* is what people generally get in with. I for one know that is not true.

Our school has asked for 7, with no Bs in full course GCSEs. And that we ought to get at least 90% UMS in our three most relevant subjects. Ridiculous.

[Hedgehunter]

Originally Posted by QED

Our school has asked for 7, with no Bs in full course GCSEs. And that we ought to get at least 90% UMS in our three most relevant subjects. Ridiculous.

I know. Its not even up to the school, its up to the candidate, or at least it should be. The school should only be able to advise.

[necessarily benevolent]

Don't let your schools stop you anyway. They only do it to preserve their reputation. My poor old state school has no reputation so they're just, "you want to apply for Oxbridge? Okay"

[MathsHamster]

Since nobody got into Oxbridge from our school this year I think they'll be begging us to apply...

[ArchedEdge]

Originally Posted by QED

Our school has asked for 7, with no Bs in full course GCSEs. And that we ought to get at least 90% UMS in our three most relevant subjects. Ridiculous.

The thing about GCSEs isn't true, but I think they do prefer it when you have 90 UMS in your A level modules.

[QED]

Originally Posted by Hedgehunter

I know. Its not even up to the school, its up to the candidate, or at least it should be. The school should only be able to advise.

I get what they mean though, they only want commited candidates as the school does mock interviews etc. They already made us do a mini personal statement with us specifying which subject and either Oxford or Cambridge.