[GrantG]

I want to study a BA in English - but top unis are out of the question. What unis are realistic? I would love UEA, Kent or Sussex - but my GCSEs wouldn't meet their standards...

GCSEs
English Language - A
English Literature - A
Food Technology - B
French - C
History - C
Maths (Foundation) - C
Science - B
Spanish - C (RETAKING GCSES DURING A LEVEL YEAR)

Might retake Higher Maths during A2

Bold = achieved

Italics = Predicted

AABBCCCC

A levels
English Language - A
English Literature - A
Drama - A
Politics - B

AAAb

What ones should I aim for?

I really want an American year abroad (hence the UEA, Kent & Sussex choices - they all have American Studies + English (combined) degree)...

HELP ME!!!

[GrantG]

BUMP

[JosieG]

with AAA you probably could get into a really good uni to be honest, your GCSEs might hold you back but AAA is still amazing! Is there any way you could retake maths? some unis ask for minimum B. but apart from that there's no reason why you shouldnt be aiming for a top uni!

[poohat]

You need to focus on getting good A level grades and apply for top universities, the career prospects with a humanities BA from a low-tier university are going to be very bad, unless you have something else outstanding about you. If you actually got the grades you wrote in your post, Im sure you could do better than Kent or UEA.

As aside, you would perhaps be better dropping Drama and taking a more academic subject, like history

[Cigarette]

Why do you want a year in America? America's crap.

[GrantG]

(Original post by poohat)
You need to focus on getting good A level grades and apply for top universities, the career prospects with a humanities BA from a low-tier university are going to be very bad, unless you have something else outstanding about you. If you actually got the grades you wrote in your post, Im sure you could do better than Kent or UEA.

As aside, you would perhaps be better dropping Drama and taking a more academic subject, like history

I got a C at GCSE though :L (for history)

[Norbertnorbert]

(Original post by GrantG)
I want to study a BA in English - but top unis are out of the question. What unis are realistic? I would love UEA, Kent or Sussex - but my GCSEs wouldn't meet their standards...





What ones should I aim for?

I really want an American year abroad (hence the UEA, Kent & Sussex choices - they all have American Studies + English (combined) degree)...

HELP ME!!!

Are they achieved or predicted grades? Top unis aren't out of the question at all; you meet Oxford's entrance requirements.

[GrantG]

(Original post by Norbertnorbert)
Are they achieved or predicted grades? Top unis aren't out of the question at all; you meet Oxford's entrance requirements.

Barely. KCL and UCL are my dream universities - but they have hundreds of Eng apps with better grades.

I'll probably end up at London Met

EDIT: They're predicted grades (the ones I am about to italicise)

[jacery1]

Aim High. Nothing comes without hard work. If you want to go to a good uni, work for it and it will pay off.

[poohat]

(Original post by GrantG)
I got a C at GCSE though :L (for history)

Yeah thats unfortunate. Is that because you found it too hard, or because you didnt try? History would look better than drama but if you dont think you can get an A then it might be a bad idea to take it.

Honestly if you can get 3 A's at A level you should be applying to places like Bristol or Kings, especially if you can tell a convincing story about why you done badly at GCSE, and why you have now improved. The year in America is nice but going to a top university is probably better in the long run.

[GrantG]

(Original post by poohat)
Yeah thats unfortunate. Is that because you found it too hard, or because you didnt try? History would look better than drama but if you dont think you can get an A then it might be a bad idea to take it.

Honestly if you can get 3 A's at A level you should be applying to places like Bristol or Kings, especially if you can tell a convincing story about why you done badly at GCSE, and why you have now improved. The year in America is nice but going to a top university is probably better in the long run.

I did revise A LOT. I got a D in my Nazi Germany paper (in the retake a D, lower than the first time), same story with Impact of War.

[swbp]

(Original post by poohat)
You need to focus on getting good A level grades and apply for top universities, the career prospects with a humanities BA from a low-tier university are going to be very bad, unless you have something else outstanding about you. If you actually got the grades you wrote in your post, Im sure you could do better than Kent or UEA.

As aside, you would perhaps be better dropping Drama and taking a more academic subject, like history

Are you calling Kent and UEA low tier universities? WHAT PLANET ARE YOU ON

[GrantG]

(Original post by swbp)
Are you calling Kent and UEA low tier universities? WHAT PLANET ARE YOU ON

I heard good things about UEA but not Kent

[GrantG]

bump

[Alexandra's Box]

Try for a mix - if you have a browse of GCSE requirements, then choose one dream uni that you could at least apply to, a very good one that you have a moderate chance of, then two decent ones you're more likely to get in to and finally one that you'd almost 100% expect to get an offer for.
Can any more English-y person suggest any possibilities?!

[GrantG]

(Original post by Alexandra's Box)
Try for a mix - if you have a browse of GCSE requirements, then choose one dream uni that you could at least apply to, a very good one that you have a moderate chance of, then two decent ones you're more likely to get in to and finally one that you'd almost 100% expect to get an offer for.
Can any more English-y person suggest any possibilities?!

So:

1. UCL (dream uni)
2. KCL (very good uni, stand a chance)
3. UEA (decent)
4. Sussex (")
5. Kent (bound to get into?)

[GrantG]

btw thanks everyone !

[poohat]

(Original post by GrantG)
So:

1. UCL (dream uni)
2. KCL (very good uni, stand a chance)
3. UEA (decent)
4. Sussex (")
5. Kent (bound to get into?)

That seems reasonable to me. I dont know why you've singled out those 5 in particular since there are others that are around the same tier as KCL (Southampton, Glasgow, etc) that are also worth considering if you can get 3 As and explain your bad GCSEs, and then a few from lower down the ranking for backup options. UCL will be a long shot.

Sussex is around the same level as KCL, although KCL perhaps has a better brand name

[Alexandra's Box]

(Original post by GrantG)
So:

1. UCL (dream uni)
2. KCL (very good uni, stand a chance)
3. UEA (decent)
4. Sussex (")
5. Kent (bound to get into?)

Good choice to me - though bear in mind that I don't know much about the English courses...

[GrantG]

(Original post by poohat)
That seems reasonable to me. I dont know why you've singled out those 5 in particular since there are others that are around the same tier as KCL (Southampton, Edinburgh, etc) that are also worth considering if you can get 3 As and explain your bad GCSEs, and then a few from lower down the ranking for backup options. UCL will be a long shot.

Sussex is somewhere between KCL and UEA.

Do you think I could get into KCL or UEA?