[Oromis263]

(Original post by Llewellyn)
I wrote the other paragraphs first the opening seemed to become more apparent afterwards.

I'm no where near satisfied though; my current character count is 6,520

Yeah, I tried mine with a couple of openings, but initially I just wrote a backbone to it, then fleshed it out from there. I personally found the ending to be the hardest, trying to strike a happy medium between ending too abruptly and using clichéd statements. :P

[Llewellyn]

(Original post by SrijanParmeshwar)
I think I'll be on the other side of the character count for most of the time

I almost guarantee you'll struggle with the character count limitations. The limit is 4,000 characters or 47 lines (whichever is shorter). But once you've added paragraphs (which you should) the more realistic character limit is ~3,500.

I've got to chop away half of my PS and I have no idea where to start, I may begin again

[Oromis263]

(Original post by wcp100)
Why are you reapplying if you got offers elsewhere?

Why not? A gap year has always appealed to me anyway, I just went with it this year as well to see if I got an offer. My firmed choice (Edinburgh) is amazing, but the distance thing was a bit tough.

[Oromis263]

(Original post by Llewellyn)
I almost guarantee you'll struggle with the character count limitations. The limit is 4,000 characters or 47 lines (whichever is shorter). But once you've added paragraphs (which you should) the more realistic character limit is ~3,500.

I've got to chop away half of my PS and I have no idea where to start, I may begin again

I think you highlight a very important point. The 47 lines is not enough! As well, the UCAS form uses slightly narrower lines than a typical word press like Word or Open Office, and so what may be 47 lines on word turns out to be roughly 52 (happened to me). =/

[Llewellyn]

(Original post by Oromis263)
Yeah, I tried mine with a couple of openings, but initially I just wrote a backbone to it, then fleshed it out from there. I personally found the ending to be the hardest, trying to strike a happy medium between ending too abruptly and using clichéd statements. :P

Indeed, the ending is also difficult. I'm still quite early in the drafting process...

I think the hardest thing is finding the correct tone to use. It's bad to come across as too modest or apprehensive but it's also bad to come across as too arrogant. Coming across as sort of quietly-confident/ suggestively hopeful is really quite a skill. But it's definitely best to avoid "I hope" and "I think" as well as "I have always been brilliant at everything". Bah, words. Maybe I should write it in the ancient language so they know I can't be lying

[Oromis263]

(Original post by Llewellyn)
Indeed, the ending is also difficult. I'm still quite early in the drafting process...

I think the hardest thing is finding the correct tone to use. It's bad to come across as too modest or apprehensive but it's also bad to come across as too arrogant. Coming across as sort of quietly-confident/ suggestively hopeful is really quite a skill. But it's definitely best to avoid "I hope" and "I think" as well as "I have always been brilliant at everything". Bah, words. Maybe I should write it in the ancient language so they know I can't be lying

An excellent idea, I think I have myself a new hobby for the summer... Now you mention it, I just realised I've finished, I can read again. Woop!

[tooambitious]

(Original post by Llewellyn)
Indeed, the ending is also difficult. I'm still quite early in the drafting process...

I think the hardest thing is finding the correct tone to use. It's bad to come across as too modest or apprehensive but it's also bad to come across as too arrogant. Coming across as sort of quietly-confident/ suggestively hopeful is really quite a skill. But it's definitely best to avoid "I hope" and "I think" as well as "I have always been brilliant at everything". Bah, words. Maybe I should write it in the ancient language so they know I can't be lying

Love the inheritance cycle reference

[Etoile]

(Original post by Llewellyn)
Maybe I should write it in the ancient language so they know I can't be lying

This is something that also occurred to me Plus then I could magick them into accepting me

[silentlife]

(Original post by tooambitious)
Love the inheritance cycle reference

I can rant (have a diatribe) ages about the inheritance trilogy (now cycle), but this seems to be the wrong thread to do so.


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[Oromis263]

(Original post by silentlife)
I can rant (have a diatribe) ages about the inheritance trilogy (now cycle), but this seems to be the wrong thread to do so.
I think the Inheritance Cycle is a fantastic series of books, and Christopher Paolini is brilliant.

Glad you're sharing the love. :')

[Etoile]

(Original post by silentlife)
I can rant (have a diatribe) ages about the inheritance trilogy (now cycle), but this seems to be the wrong thread to do so.


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

The Inheritance books are great Clichéed maybe, but good

[silentlife]

(Original post by Etoile)
The Inheritance books are great Clichéed maybe, but good

Haha, cliched. Compare star wars to the first book Eragon...

Admitted I used to really like Inheritance cycle... Until started to think critically about...



This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[Llewellyn]

I was going to reply to everyone... but I have so much to say about the books (both good, bad and massive opinion-bombs (though it's 99% good)) that I think I could be sat here forever I really hope Paolini writes stories set in Alagaesia again though.

Everyone go and read the inheritance cycle if you haven't already. Also, read the power of 5 series and read the Lord of the rings, and read his dark materials and put references to them all in your Personal Statements

I probably need to read more non-fiction right now though

[Oromis263]

(Original post by Llewellyn)
I really hope Paolini writes stories set in Alagaesia again though.

Everyone go and read the inheritance cycle if you haven't already. Also, read the power of 5 series and read the Lord of the rings, and read his dark materials and put references to them all in your Personal Statements

Seconded.

That's a very good list of books you've got there. I'm not sure how they would stand up against those, I read them years ago so they may actually be quite childish, but Mortal Engines is an amazing series of books.

As well, the Isabel Allende trilogy for younger (but not too young) readers is fantastic.

[4mar_ar5en4l]

(Original post by JustAbi)
Aha you could've left it until another time :P

Ah yeah, well same here... Hopefully we both get an offer :L , my teachers are putting so much pressure on me to go to Cambridge :/ it's so stressful.

And no prob :P

But that just feels impolite

Haha yh that'd be awesome, but actually achieving the offer is another story! So don't you wanna apply? :O

[silentlife]

(Original post by Llewellyn)
I was going to reply to everyone... but I have so much to say about the books (both good, bad and massive opinion-bombs (though it's 99% good)) that I think I could be sat here forever I really hope Paolini writes stories set in Alagaesia again though.

Everyone go and read the inheritance cycle if you haven't already. Also, read the power of 5 series and read the Lord of the rings, and read his dark materials and put references to them all in your Personal Statements

I probably need to read more non-fiction right now though

Yay, me and you bookbuddies at Cambridge studying how to read fictional books. We'll get a zero class in the art of using a knife to travel through different worlds.

Edit: I like Keys to the kingdom series too.

Further edit: although I do disagree with inheritance

This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[Llewellyn]

(Original post by Oromis263)
Seconded.

That's a very good list of books you've got there. I'm not sure how they would stand up against those, I read them years ago so they may actually be quite childish, but Mortal Engines is an amazing series of books.

As well, the Isabel Allende trilogy for younger (but not too young) readers is fantastic.

Bah, I've missed a number of series off there. I must say, I did enjoy Harry Potter for what it was also. Mortal Engines is pretty spectacular, although too short

I think Ben Elton (although not fantasy) always writes brilliant stories.

In fact, I rarely dislike books of any kind

[iCiaran]

Anyone going to the Durham open day on saturday? Looked at train tickets today and it was £72 for a return from liverpool to Durham could probably get to london and back a few times for that kind of money! So looks like I'm going to have to beg a lift from someone xD

Edit: Negged for that, what did I say?

[Oglogski]

(Original post by iCiaran)
Edit: Negged for that, what did I say?

wouldn't have negged you but it is the Cambridge forum...

[iCiaran]

(Original post by Oglogski)
wouldn't have negged you but it is the Cambridge forum...

I suppose, but hey, gotta fill those other 4 places with something, unless people are that confident of getting into Cambridge that they don't apply anywhere else

I'm going somewhere much much worse tomorrow