Applying through CSAS

Because of your 'special' circumstances you should be able to get an interview. Get 90%+ in your main subjects and you'll be in with a shout

Now for the interview you need to blow them away. READ,READ and READ more. Have knowledge about current affairs and obvious things but also extend past your syllabus's.

Have a good reason for your 'poor' grades but since you have one should be fine. Make up for GCSE by doing phenomenally well as AS.

Yeah, I didn't really put effort into any other subject than philosophy as I don't find them all that interesting, but I'm aiming to get around 90% in each of my subjects at the end of this year, maybe a little higher for philosophy, and a little lower for RS but overall around 90, which from what i've observed would make me roughly on a level playing field with other candidates, maybe a little lower actually, but given the circumstances. And that is my plan, to read a LOT of books over the summer and make sure I fully understand them so I have a lot to talk about in the interview and so on. A strong interview and Average (for OXbridge) AS results, should blitz those GCSE's away, combined with a good reason of course.

Yes, just work hard. Don't expect to get in though, to avoid disappointment. About 15 applied to Cambridge from my college, all with A's and A*'s at GCSE and A's at AS, I believe. Most got an interview, but only two got offers. One of them got 10A*'s at GCSE and is predicted like A*A*AA or something for A- Level.

Yeah, figures, a friend of mine was in a similar situation and she got rejected, I'll just have to have an incredible interview if I want to stand a chance! last year though, only 1/6 of philosophy applicants were accepted, I think I need to show my dedication to the subject! Although, I think I may be the only person applying from my college this year, maybe there is someone else but i'm really not sure. It's not an amazing college, to be honest, though that's perhaps more because of the students than the teachers, who knows.

Well best of luck .
I applied to Oxford, just out of curiosity, and got rejected. I am glad I applied though, it is always good knowing, rather than always wondering "what if". The way I though of it was if you try hard, you will stand a chance, but if you don't get in, you have always got many more doors open from trying harder.

P.s. is this posted in the right place? :P

Every place is valuable in medicine.

LOL.

1) Using CSAS will not guarantee an interview, but It cant hurt to use it. If they don't think it's a good enough excuse they just won't - no harm.
2) They will not reject you for those GCSE results at all, if they reject you it will be for a variety of reasons. This said - with decent AS results and/or other parts of your application being strong you should get an interview. From there you have a chance to impress although it is not true that from this point onwards nothing else matters.

If you wan't to apply then apply. The worst than can happen is you are rejected. If you write your CSAS yourself avoid the 'my life is so crap, hence I failed' approach - stick to the facts.

Not having a TV/Internet is a crap thing to try and blame bad GCSE results on though tbh lol.

Good luck.

Actually, I am going to abruptly take back the ' GCSE's don't count ' part of that statement!

Just have a passion for your subject and get good AS's-then your in with a shout

Haha I will stick to facts, police reports and the such. My life isnt ****, it's just been disadvantaged. but like I said, since cambridge interviews 95% of people, and I aim to have around, maybe a little lower than Average, ( emphasis on average ) Cambridge results, with a strong personal statement, I'm about 95% sure i'll get an interview! But while I appreciate GCSE results don't count, i'd like to explain to them what happened, rather than them thinking I have a bad work ethic. Don't worry I don't want my college to put me in for the sympathy vote, just an explanation.

And in addition, not having Internet was just an example, I missed a lot of school due to having to take care of my mother. I missed a chemistry resit because my stepdad was too drunk to take me, etc etc. I didn't really want to come on here with the sympathy thing, but there's more to it than I posted, I assure you

Aaah I forgot they were applying for medicine - hardly anyone in my school has offers!