What Unis could I get in to?

I am surprised Durham will offer a place for someone with 2Bs & 2Cs. I was told these top universities will expect minimum 5A*. Many schools do not disclose/cash in students AS results, universities can only decide their offer on GCSE results and personal statement. Check with your school, if you did well at AS, request school to disclose your results, it might help to show your potential.


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Rubbish. I've got an offer from two Russell group universities (Durham and Southampton) with four gcses (BBCC).

I have really bad GCSEs, but I feel like I've improved alot this year and I think I can get AAA.

If my GCSEs are:
AA - English Lang and Lit
BBBB - Welsh Lang (first language), History, Biology, Religious Studies.
CCCCCC - Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Welsh Literature, I.T, Drama

As:
AAA - History/Sociology/Psychology


Could I get into good/top universities with these for Law or History? If so what ones?

Mainly speaking for Law.

Can you get into some? Undoubtedly. Do you have a shot at any you like? No.

For example don't apply for Manchester for law. They ask for 5 As at GCSE and a B in Maths (Source). Given you have neither applying to Manc would be just p***ing away a UCAS slot.

Ditto Nottingham who have a policy about 'establishing an academic record' which means 'outstanding grades' of As and A*s at GCSE. Source.

Also given you appear to have only 3 AS (why?!?) you won't be able to apply to unis like Warwick, which asks for a C in your fourth AS. Source.

Finally, and this is just hearsay, apparently LSE are GCSE obsessed.

If you apply to Oxbridge it would seem logical to go for Cambridge, who go for AS percentage in a big way and thus probably aren't as fussed about GCSEs as Oxford, though this does depend on you getting your 90% average and not applying to Churchill who ask for 4 A2s.

Other Law Schools may also have similar policies, so just go through all the admissions stuff with a fine tooth comb.

Also, remember that policies depend on the Deprtment not the Uni, so for Manchester (who shaft you twice for law) you could do History. Source.

When choosing between the two if you choose Law make sure you do want to study it. It can be quite a boring subject at times due to the nature of the Qualifying subject system. You can always be a lawyer with a History degree and, as it's a bit less competitive, you're likely to get a 'better' uni n your CV for History.

I'll have a C in english Lit

Ah OK, in that case just make sure you check the various GCSE requirements.

And don't apply to Notts or Manchester of course

Really? That's v. impressive. But did you have different circumstances/are you a mature student.....cos I thought Durham liked loads of A* at GCSE.

I am surprised Durham will offer a place for someone with 2Bs & 2Cs. I was told these top universities will expect minimum 5A*. Many schools do not disclose/cash in students AS results, universities can only decide their offer on GCSE results and personal statement. Check with your school, if you did well at AS, request school to disclose your results, it might help to show your potential.


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English Language is the one that counts.

Edit: Sorry, should have quoted ther person above you!

I have really bad GCSEs, but I feel like I've improved alot this year and I think I can get AAA.

C - Maths

If you believe you have improved from then, and get them grades at A-Level - then you may want to consider taking maths again? I'm sure your college let you do this? I presume you're in the first year at college?

Look on UCAS first though to see what the requirements are for specific universities you are looking at (for GCSE). However, be aware that the top universities are often really competitive - meaning that someone with higher GCSE's may get in over you on this fact, if you both have a good application.

You get 5 University offers, so try going for a few top ones in the russell group, then a few less great ones as back up.

Thing is law obviously needs AAA at top Universities, meaning that if you had these grades exactly, (e.g. not higher than what they're asking for) - they might look at your GCSEs more

Warwick - History
Cardiff - Law
Cardiff - History
Liverpool - Law
Bangor - Law

Be careful when doing this. The personal statement should be tailored to one subject to be specific enough, if the Universities hint you are applying for something else, they are unlikely to give a place, as it suggests you don't have "the passion" if you understand me.

It is doable, but you'll have to work really hard on your personal statement to fit both subjects

Oh crap really I thought I could adapt my PS for each application

All state schools have to do this now and the overwhelming majority of private schools do.

Oh crap really I thought I could adapt my PS for each application

No, you only get one ps for all five applications. For subjects as competitive as history and law, you would really be shooting yourself in the foot by trying to cover both in one, thereby making it irrelevant to all of them. Decide what you really want to study and then apply.

Awh I don't know.

I want a career in law but in terms of education I love History, but I hear from TSR it hasn't very good prospects.

TSR doesn't know what it's talking about, the majority of the time. History is a very strong degree, and whilst law gets you into a specific field, you can do a lot with history.