Can I still go to a top university?

If you do well in your AS, yes. Also, I've seen this type of post a lot recently. You guys did brilliantly in your GCSE's, now do well in your AS exams and you'll get into the top institutions you desire

This. People seem to think 4/5 As are bad how

If you are only talking about Oxbridge, probably not, but there are plenty of universities ranked in the top 20 that you could easily get into if you work hard at college and get A grades

I did terrible in my GCSE, which were 4A 2B 4C. My a levels that I chose were maths,physics,chemistry,electronics and economics. I aiming for a least an A in 4 of them as I have started studying early in the summer.

But my question is , do I have a chance to become a successful applicant to the likes of imperial or Durham etc.


Thanks

I meant imperial college in ,particular for mech or Chem eng.?

It is quite clear that it's very rare for people with such GCSEs to receive offers from top Universities though. Of course such grades aren't an absolute barrier, but one would be much worse off than having strong GCSEs. I think in the context of applying to a top University (especially STEM) it is somewhat misleading to suggest that these grades are absolutely nothing to be concerned about.

just my two cents, not suggesting that you have absolutely no chance, but you'd need a hell of a set of AS-Levels.

It is quite clear that it's very rare for people with such GCSEs to receive offers from top Universities though. Of course such grades aren't an absolute barrier, but one would be much worse off than having strong GCSEs. I think in the context of applying to a top University (especially STEM) it is somewhat misleading to suggest that these grades are absolutely nothing to be concerned about.

just my two cents, not suggesting that you have absolutely no chance, but you'd need a hell of a set of AS-Levels.

But they arent bad GCSEs? Forgetting top universities and what they want. People get into Cambridge with those grades so its also misleading to pretend its going to be pointless applying.

I didn't say it was pointless, I just said that success was unlikely which is an empirically verifiable fact. And they may be bad, depending on the standard by which we judge them. By the standard of an average top 10 University applicant, even in less competitive subjects, they are not strong results.

And yes, people get in Cambridge with those results, but one boy also got into Oxford with BCC, what does that prove?

I didn't say it was pointless, I just said that success was unlikely which is an empirically verifiable fact. And they may be bad, depending on the standard by which we judge them. By the standard of an average top 10 University applicant, even in less competitive subjects, they are not strong results.

And yes, people get in Cambridge with those results, but one boy also got into Oxford with BCC, what does that prove?

That it does happen. So apply. Theres no reason why that cant be this person.

All I'm saying is As arent bad. It's stupid to think they are and AS Levels would make up for any poorer GCSEs if you did very well.

AS Levels do not totally make up for poor GCSEs, particularly not in subjects such as medicine etcetera, although overall they can never be fully compensated for (of course I'm talking top 10 in this case).

There is is a good reason why you can't be that person though, which is that the chances are infinitesimal. Besides the fact that the example I cited was a person who had a place guaranteed by a social-mobility scheme. If you were correct and it was wise to apply to a top University despite such results, most people would qualify for Oxbridge, but they don't, so it must be false.

And okay, in some circumstances As at GCSE are not bad, however in others they are. It's not stupid to think they are when statistic from top Universities consistently affirm that people with higher GCSE grades get more offers and places.