The Big "Are My Grades Good Enough for Cambridge?" Thread (Mk1)

Hi there, I know this is a long shot, but maybe you should pretend you took 2 less GCSE's than you did, i.e. don't declare them (you're not obliged too) and then the 'b grade rule' wont apply....

Good luck with the 4A* thing though.

Think about my first idea

Hi there, I know this is a long shot, but maybe you should pretend you took 2 less GCSE's than you did, i.e. don't declare them (you're not obliged too) and then the 'b grade rule' wont apply....

Good luck with the 4A* thing though.

Think about my first idea

As someone who either has knowledge on the application process or has studied at Cambridge, would you say go for it?
Thanks

Little Friendsly Advice!

I've finished my A-Levels for University, and I applied to read Law at Trinity College, Oxford.

Do not set your hopes to high; because the bigger they are the harder they fall. I was educated through the state system, achieved 6 A*'s & 6 A's at GCSE, I achieved 5 A's at AS-Level, I am achieved 3 A's at A-Level and I also have A distiction in an Advanced Extention Award, AQA Bacculeurte and the first A* in an Extended Project Qual. new for 2009. My perosnal statement was personally endorsed by my principle, only one of few students had that honour.

I was rejected from Oxford, without even an interview. Although, convinently two students from my college you used to attend a Grammar School to complete their G.C.S.E's, the only two people in the college, managed to get a place. Oxford, despite what they tell you, is biased against state application, although it did't help my application by applying to Trinity although they should have pooled the application. I feel in love with Oxford, and actually thought I could get in. It is obviously reserved for the privilidged, as per my experiences and what had happened.

I'm not saying don't apply, just do not expect to much and if your from the state sector choose a college lower down on the Norrington Table. I've now got a place at the University of Leicester, the 6th best law school in this country mainly because of the oppertunity to study European Law in Malta in my third year; just because it's not Oxbridge, does not detract from the value. Look at the oppertunites, Oxbridge cannot provide you with the same social experiances.

It's just a shame that law sets look at who you know, as oppose to what you know. But I just want to be a humble administrative legal barrister, so a good law degree from a top 10 university will suffice.

Good Luck Thou!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. I am from a state school, I didn't know this would affect my chances that much It wouldn't put me off obviously but you're right I shouldn't set my hopes too high.

it doesn't, he's bitter

You're obliged by the contract you sign with UCAS to declare all of your GCSE grades. If the OP followed your instructions and the uni found out, she could potentially lose her offer, or even her place (even after she'd started) because she'd broken the terms of the contract.

So... bad idea.

In what world are A*A*A*A*AAAABBBB poor GCSE grades?! These threads are really starting to get boring. I'm really holding myself back from ranting here; there are so many things I want to say that I'm refraining from saying For what it's worth, I only got 2 A*s, and I know people with more than 2 Bs who have offers. Additionally, the GCSEs that you got Bs in aren't really relevant to your degree, so I don't see the problem. Apply goddammit.

I was rejected from Oxford, without even an interview. Although, convinently two students from my college you used to attend a Grammar School to complete their G.C.S.E's, the only two people in the college, managed to get a place. Oxford, despite what they tell you, is biased against state application, although it did't help my application by applying to Trinity although they should have pooled the application. I feel in love with Oxford, and actually thought I could get in. It is obviously reserved for the privilidged, as per my experiences and what had happened.

don't listen to this bint

your grades are fine, they're better than mine (0 a*'s, more than two <B) and I got in, not applying will harm your chances more than anything else you do. is there anything more to say?

Seriously, go for it! Your results, AS in particular, are fantastic! The college I applied to also said that they were looking for around 5A*s but really they were flexible. I would say that you have a better chance at Cambridge than lots of other universities because of the interview, not least because this gives you a chance to talk in the language, but even if like me you muck this up, there are SO many opportunities for language applicants to prove themselves, such as in the test and stuff.

Ahaa thanks, I'm loving it so far. I'm reading Buddenbrooks atm, which is a project in itself, then moving onto Faustus (cant remember the full title lol).

Ahaha someone neg repped me telling me to "sort my life out" I'll do my best

Your post was seemingly flaunting academic brilliance. Some people will understandably feel resentment that they're not in the fortunate position you're in.

That, and welcome to TSR; it's full of random negging and possing. It's basically gangster warfare...for internet cliques.

All of what I want to shout at you boils down to this:
1. There is no minimum GCSE grade requirement, spoken or unspoken
2. You're very likely to get an interview on those grades; the offer that may or may not follow depends on interview performance, among other things
3. If you don't apply, you won't get an offer
4. Your teachers (even those in high/'specialist' positions) probably don't know what they're talking about

Point #4 is especially pertinent, and I found it to be very much true when I went through the experience myself.