[sauce]

(Original post by chai wallah)
wahoooooooo well done!!! This is fabulous.

thank oooo

(Sorry to hijack the thread, well done Tom! )

[TomU]

(Original post by kethry)
Tom - yep, mine did the same, although it didn't show the grades for the extra credits. I'm just happy I got distinctions across the board!!

keth
xx

No, they don't show grades for any credits over and above the 60 required to pass the Access course - only the level at which the credits were gained and the module/subject. My certificates are exactly the same - 60 credits @ L3 Distinction and 6 ungraded credits in IT. Congratulations on getting straight distinctions though, it's a great achievement and I'm sure you'll do really well at Leicester.

I've heard (though I can't provide a source) that some Access students in certain circumstances actually do comparably better in a degree than equivalently qualified A-level students due to the fact that they are often more motivated, mature and the style of learning on an Access course is more similar to the style of learning on a degree course than A-levels.

We shall see - I'll try to keep this thread updated with my experiences at Cambridge!

[kethry]

(Original post by TomU)
Congratulations on getting straight distinctions though, it's a great achievement and I'm sure you'll do really well at Leicester.

I've heard (though I can't provide a source) that some Access students in certain circumstances actually do comparably better in a degree than equivalently qualified A-level students due to the fact that they are often more motivated, mature and the style of learning on an Access course is more similar to the style of learning on a degree course than A-levels.

We shall see - I'll try to keep this thread updated with my experiences at Cambridge!

thank you! and yes, I've heard the same thing from two different sources, one was a Masters student I went to talk to early in 2010 about studying at Uni, and who recommended I do the Access course. Then, on one of the Open days, I was speaking to an existing student in the second year of his degree who had come the Access route as well (who had actually had the same teacher as I had, although on a different course) and he mentioned exactly the same thing. In fact, he said words to the effect of "you'll coast through your first year, where the others are finding it tough going". So I pass that on for what its worth - it remains to be seen as to whether its true. I suspect its not so much the actual knowledge of the subject so much that Access (when its done properly) prepares you for uni for, because in some degrees they assume no prior knowledge. Its more the way of studying, getting information from a range of sources, handling those different sources, spending time in the library and so on. I know when I did my A Levels (granted, 20 odd years ago) that I only worked from a few books and we certainly weren't encouraged to do library research or anything like that. I have no idea if thats still the case at A Level. (if so, it would argue for the overhaul of the A Level syllabus but that's a whole different thang!)

and yes, please do keep us updated!

keth
xx

[morris743]

If I could form my perfect class group, I'm pretty sure most people in here would be in it. Such generous, positive and interesting people.

[philistine]

I've been reading this thread avidly since discovering it. A resounding good luck on your Cambridge experience Tom!

You can be sure I'll be anticipating the updates.

[wizardtop]

(Original post by TomU)
My Access to HE diploma certificates and transcripts finally arrived this morning. They actually include more credits on them than the unofficial transcript provided by the college. I'm glad that OCN did their jobs correctly, even if Henley college didn't.

So that's it 100% official and confirmed - I met my offer for entry to Cambridge and will be moving on the 27th September to start my pre-degree PREP course. Happy days!

hugh congrats on achieving so many level 3 credits and at the highest level you can acheive TomU that tells me if u prepared to put the work in and work hard you get the grades,all the best to u at Cambridge its good to see once in a while mature students geting into the top universities of this country,you are a true inspiration to all TomU best of luck

[wizardtop]

(Original post by TomU)
If somebody else were to plagiarise my personal statement now, in this application cycle, it would be their problem - It is on the record that I completed mine back in October, so there's no doubt who did the original work!

I did get a look at my academic reference, they were highly complimentary of me and I would suspect that it also went a long way towards getting me an offer. I doubt I would have even been invited for interview at Cambridge without the wonderful reference they gave me!

Haha, I'm sure your statement couldn't be too bad - it got you into a great uni! I'm sure that people would appreciate you uploading it, if you do choose to do so. I looked at the PS that I did for last year recently, it's absolute garbage compared to the one I did this year.

UCAS updated today as well, image attached Can't wait to get started! I'm expecting a call in the next week or so from the domestic bursar who will be arranging my accommodation for me! Things are really starting to get very, very real!!

I cant understand why applicants would plagriase such a personal statement TomU i do know Ucas has anti-plagriase software in place on their systems which highlights if someone copies somewhere elses statement,so i dont actually think Big V or TomU they would get far anywhere to be honest with you both.I do know that UCAS keeps copies of everyone personal statement so has a record of who applied for what degree etc so if someone did plagriase a few sentences or paragraphs of ur excellent ps TomU they would soon found out i reckon

[racheatworld]

I love this thread.

I am not doing an access course, but if I ever needed to go down that route as a mature student this thread would give me the confidence to do so. I am so pleased that you have managed to disprove the stigma surrounding top Universities and mature students.

I bet the end of this thread seems a long way from the 1st page where your lesson blocks and timetables were disorganised and chaotic!

Congratulations to you and all of the other access students who dipped in to this thread and managed to receive places at their preferred Universities, you guys deserved it.

I wish you the best of luck in your Cambridge journey (you'll be starting pretty soon I bet!).

[TomU]

(Original post by racheatworld)
I love this thread.

I am not doing an access course, but if I ever needed to go down that route as a mature student this thread would give me the confidence to do so. I am so pleased that you have managed to disprove the stigma surrounding top Universities and mature students.

I bet the end of this thread seems a long way from the 1st page where your lesson blocks and timetables were disorganised and chaotic!

Congratulations to you and all of the other access students who dipped in to this thread and managed to receive places at their preferred Universities, you guys deserved it.

I wish you the best of luck in your Cambridge journey (you'll be starting pretty soon I bet!).

Thank you! Yeah the start of my Access course feels like a long way back now!

Eeeeep! I start at Cambridge in just two days!!

[racheatworld]

(Original post by TomU)
Thank you! Yeah the start of my Access course feels like a long way back now!

Eeeeep! I start at Cambridge in just two days!!

Oh wow! Is it really that soon? Are you all prepared?

I can only imagine how excited you are!

[jami74]

(Original post by TomU)
Thank you! Yeah the start of my Access course feels like a long way back now!

Eeeeep! I start at Cambridge in just two days!!

I can't wait to hear how it goes.

All the best, I bet it'll be fantastic!

[jami74]

(Original post by TomU)
Thank you! Yeah the start of my Access course feels like a long way back now!

Eeeeep! I start at Cambridge in just two days!!

TomU, how has your first year gone?

[Tigrah99]

(Original post by TomU)
Thank you! Yeah the start of my Access course feels like a long way back now!

Eeeeep! I start at Cambridge in just two days!!

Oh wow, well done!
Big thanks for starting this thread, it is a huge motivator for people like me who have decided to go the uni route by starting an access course this year. I didn't even think it was possible a few weeks ago, but since I applied and have been looking over peoples experiences here, it makes me feel extremely positive

[philistine]

Was Tom swallowed alive by the toffs?