Real problems! Please help...

First of all, I am a new member so please excuse any of my newbie-ness! I need help so I came to the Student Room after briefly browsing the boards during AS Exams.

MY PROBLEM:
I am in a bit of a dilemma between choosing History and Computer Science. However, lately I'm leaning slightly more towards History. Thing is, I want to apply for History at Sussex, (I'm going to the open day on 13/09.) But my parents are insistent on my trying to go for UCL, Imperial etc. Hey, I'd love to go to these Unis but my grades are just not good enough. But the parents are not having any of it, in the sense that they genuinely believe that I can get in.

My AS grades:

. History A (I got 120/120 for a Russia paper :biggrin:

)
. ICT C
. Maths C
. Further Maths (AS over two years)

My GCSE's - 6As, 3Bs, 2Cs.

So basically, I flopped my AS and need to REALLY work for A2.

Surely it is impossible for me to get in the UCL's etc. right :confused:

PS. Do you think I am making the right decision in going for History?

Reply 1

Jackathon

Well, at the end of the day its your choice and if you end up getting stuck somewhere your parents want you to go to, you wont be happy! ACC is better than me, and I'm applying to History at:

Chichester
Bath Spa
Roehampton
Swansea
Hertfordshire

So, I would apply to BBBs, maybe one ABB, but then play the rest safe thats if I were you.

And you have to decide if its the right decision for you, if you enjoy it, (you're obviously good at it.) and you think you will enjoy a further three years of it, go for it! If you don't then do something you will enjoy.

I hope this helps.

Reply 2

Josho

Cool name Shadow-Wolf.
Something clicked reading your post - you are studying Russian history and you're being forced to apply to a top London uni. Might you have a deep interest in Russian/ East European History? If so then there is a course at UCL (V101) which specialises in these areas and has a much lower grade boundary than the normal UCL history course. Its ABB which is attainable given some hard work. If you're interested then have a look at this site:

http://www.ssees.ac.uk/uhistory.htm

Reply 3

Arnie Pie In The Sky

Hmmm...Thank you Umbrella and Josho.

Well, I've had a look at the UCL website and they do History at ABB. And I also found out from another thread that Computer Science is also ABB. (But you need Maths at an A :frown:

) It poses me more questions...

One thing is for sure I need to pull my finger out!!!

Reply 4

Ilyusha

Does anyone knoe if you can apply to both the V101 course and the V100 course at ucl? Because I know that you're allowed to apply to more than one course at some unis (eg durham) but not at others (eg oxford).

Anna

Reply 5

Josho

I've applied too two different courses at UCL and received both offers so I don't think it would be a problem. There are also cases where if you don't interview well enough for the V100 course then they ask you if you might consider the V101 course - but to be sure I'd apply for both.

Reply 6

lastsamurai

i was thinking... cant you resit some of your AS modules? and boost your grades up to Bs? or even As?

Reply 7

Fairy.Dust.Forever

Yep, if you're looking at the stricter/ more prestigious uni's go for a retake... as far as i'm aware only the highest grade (out of your original paper or retake) will count - so what is there to loose? I don't think universities can descriminate on the basis of your application saying 'pending' as there are a million reasons for this. AS retakes are often easier because you have already started your A2 and you generally have a broader knowledge (even though you think you've forgotten half the stuff from your AS exam). I did an Ethics retake and moved my low C up to a 100/100. It really saved my bacon when it came to my A2 results, takes the pressure off... a little bit. Give it a think!