[shaunbrockhill]

Hi, basically i'm currently looking at different universities and different courses I may want to do but I have a couple of questions relating to applications, offers and the effect of AS grades.

So basically, I think (largely due to ISAs) my AS grades are all going to be a (if not 2) grades lower than I think I am capable of achieving (I take Biology, Chemistry and Physics). I also take Maths but think my AS results in that should be fine (fingers crossed!).

So in the event my AS results aren't as good as I want to be aiming for (let's say I want to apply for courses requiring AAA/AAB and I have ABCC at AS) will my application to Universities requiring these grades still be taken seriously? And can I still get a conditional offer? I'm kinda worrying about it...

Also second question, I took Further Maths, which in our school, means taking AS and A2 maths this year. Although my AS's went okay, my A2s went horrifically and I intend on resitting A2 maths, so will this count against me when applying? Or will I just be looked at the same as anybody else who applies with just AS maths so far??

Thanks in advance!

[bestofyou]

It depends on the uni and the course.

If you are English you will likely have a higher chance as I think it was the English that saw the highest % of applicant drop. Probably cause you are paying 9k wherever you go.

I'd say in today's UCAS climate you should get a conditional from most of your choices as long as the aren't too unrealistic. Where do you have in mind and what course?

Just make sure your referee includes why you didn't do as well as you were capable of and that should suffice.

Maybe just include a safe insurance choice that asks for ABB just incase and if you end up with AAB/AAA and don't want to go there you can always just take a year out and travel the mother****ing world like a boss

[shaunbrockhill]

(Original post by bestofyou)
It depends on the uni and the course.

If you are English you will likely have a higher chance as I think it was the English that saw the highest % of applicant drop. Probably cause you are paying 9k wherever you go.

I'd say in today's UCAS climate you should get a conditional from most of your choices as long as the aren't too unrealistic. Where do you have in mind and what course?

Just make sure your referee includes why you didn't do as well as you were capable of and that should suffice.

Maybe just include a safe insurance choice that asks for ABB just incase and if you end up with AAB/AAA and don't want to go there you can always just take a year out and travel the mother****ing world like a boss

I'm not entirely sure what exactly I want to do yet, but was thinking Computer Science, Sports Science, Engineering (Aerospace, Mechanical, Automotive...) or maybe Physics... Im dropping Chemistry next year so Medicine, Biochem and stuff like that isnt really an option.

As for which University it really depends on the course I choose... Lougborough would be great. I've also looked at Southampton, Exeter, Newcastle, Durham and Nottingham.

Haha and yeah, if I don't get any offers next year cos of my AS grades I'll just defer and go live in Australia with my cousins for a year (don't think i've got the funds to go properly globetrotting though!)

[Jackkkkk]

I got ABBCD I got offers from Bristol (AAA), Bath (A*AA), Exeter (AAA), Royal Holloway (AAB) !
So yeah it can be done !
And with January Modules you can try and bring the grades up - Exeter is known for giving people offers (usually quite high even those who have low AS levels)
I also did an extended project and I guess that helped getting an A* - so maybe look at doing this !


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[bestofyou]

(Original post by shaunbrockhill)
I'm not entirely sure what exactly I want to do yet, but was thinking Computer Science, Sports Science, Engineering (Aerospace, Mechanical, Automotive...) or maybe Physics... Im dropping Chemistry next year so Medicine, Biochem and stuff like that isnt really an option.

As for which University it really depends on the course I choose... Lougborough would be great. I've also looked at Southampton, Exeter, Newcastle, Durham and Nottingham.

Haha and yeah, if I don't get any offers next year cos of my AS grades I'll just defer and go live in Australia with my cousins for a year (don't think i've got the funds to go properly globetrotting though!)

Southampton has one of the best engineering schools in the country but certainly can't go wrong with any of those universities.

Also, why not try the Irish universities? I'm not sure how exactly the give offers but can't imagine they would be basing them on AS grades to the same extent that the do in the UK.

If you like chemistry maybe consider Chemical Engineering? Highest paid (starting pay) engineering discipline and only Medicine and dentistry boast higher starting wages. Of course certainly do not pick a degree based on the salary. I believe it is for this reason medicine and dentistry also boast the high numbers of suicides and alcoholics.

More to life than money and all that jazz...

[MattRay94]

AS levels are important, bear in mind that these are the most up-to-date academic achievements that a university will see. I took A2 maths in my AS year, but only managed to achieve an A (rather than an A* which would have made my life this year a lot easier!). What I did was to declare my AS maths grade on my UCAS entry form, but put my A2 grade as 'pending'. Even if the university knows that you have already taken the A2, the fact that you are taking further maths in a year WILL satisfy them that you're a competent mathematician. I did exactly this and got an offer from all my choices, including oxford, so there should be no problem in following this course of action
Other than that I guess it largely depends on your background (I.e what school you come from) and your GCSEs. Another idea might be to ask whoever is writing your reference to mention that you lost marks on the ISA but that you are very competent in the theory, the calibre of university you are looking at will be far more interested in someone who can conceptualise and put their ideas down in writing, rather than someone who can tick the boxes in a practical write up with insanely high grade boundaries because of the dubious honesty of many centres. This same issue happened at our school last year, my friends and I were getting 80/90 odd on exams and yet scraping C/D on the coursework!

Best of luck with your university applications! Hope this helped


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[charlie9872]

Its entirely down to the other applications that the University receives, if they get enough to fill their quota at the required grades, then they may reject you, but generally this isn't the case and they'll give people offers, even if they're a way off of the requirements. Me as an example, albeit much lower than your expected grades, I massively failed my AS' and got CDE but still got an offer of BBB from Loughborough (could of been down to my sporting attributes though). My mate who got CCC at AS got a AAB offer, and another got BCC and got an AAA offer for Law so they don't matter that much; they'll more likely go by your predicted grades and personal statement, so make sure your teachers predict you what you need to get into your desired course and you'll be absolutely fine.

[shaunbrockhill]

(Original post by charlie9872)
Its entirely down to the other applications that the University receives, if they get enough to fill their quota at the required grades, then they may reject you, but generally this isn't the case and they'll give people offers, even if they're a way off of the requirements. Me as an example, albeit much lower than your expected grades, I massively failed my AS' and got CDE but still got an offer of BBB from Loughborough (could of been down to my sporting attributes though). My mate who got CCC at AS got a AAB offer, and another got BCC and got an AAA offer for Law so they don't matter that much; they'll more likely go by your predicted grades and personal statement, so make sure your teachers predict you what you need to get into your desired course and you'll be absolutely fine.

Yeah thats what i´ve heard/read from other sources aswell... Thanks alot that´s reassuring!