Exceeded my Cambridge offer, but missed my place (THANKS EDEXCEL)

*she
but thanks! My school is looking into it I think, but I might email tomorrow anyway. Are you sure they have to ?

Forget it.

I do understand how disappointed and angry about this you are, and with good reason. However, the issue here is that Cambridge were - and actually are - under no obligation whatsoever to do anything at all about this. Edexcel clearly have let you down here, but it's not Cambridge's fault that you weren't able to show that you had met their offer conditions by 31 August, which is the UCAS deadline for all university offers to be met. Some universities don't even honour that.

I would hope that in the circumstances Cambridge will make you a deferred offer, but if they decide not to and you have any intention of reapplying to them, I would suggest that you take this decision calmly (at least when talking to them ) and don't burn any boats. Given those excellent grades, there will be many other choices for you to consider for a reapplication, with every prospect of success. Presumably you still have your place at your insurance university? If so, and you really don't want a gap year (though I would suggest you think carefully about this, as there can be many benefits even for an unplanned gap year) this remains an option.

I was joking about the suing, but not about the deferred entry being a guarantee.

Forget it.

I do understand how disappointed and angry about this you are, and with good reason. However, the issue here is that Cambridge were - and actually are - under no obligation whatsoever to do anything at all about this. Edexcel clearly have let you down here, but it's not Cambridge's fault that you weren't able to show that you had met their offer conditions by 31 August, which is the UCAS deadline for all university offers to be met. Some universities don't even honour that.

I would hope that in the circumstances Cambridge will make you a deferred offer, but if they decide not to and you have any intention of reapplying to them, I would suggest that you take this decision calmly (at least when talking to them ) and don't burn any boats. Given those excellent grades, there will be many other choices for you to consider for a reapplication, with every prospect of success. Presumably you still have your place at your insurance university? If so, and you really don't want a gap year (though I would suggest you think carefully about this, as there can be many benefits even for an unplanned gap year) this remains an option.

Thanks everyone!
After (my disappointing) results day, I've managed to get a place at UChicago for next year. I'd applied earlier in the year, but turned it down for Cambridge. It might end up being better anyway - graduating debt free, and on top of that I have a merit scholarship for holidays (for funding independent research/internships/relevent travel).

Haha, congratulations on your place at the University of Chicago! I hope I'm not being too nosy, but how come you'd graduate debt-free from an American university?

I qualify based on family income for quite a substantial amount of needs based help! American unis often work out cheaper than a lot of people expect - especially a lot of the top private ones. It helps I have US citizenship (on a technicality of birth, never having lived there), but many also operate 'needs blind' or 'full needs met' for internationals as well.

Thanks everyone!
After (my disappointing) results day, I've managed to get a place at UChicago for next year. I'd applied earlier in the year, but turned it down for Cambridge. It might end up being better anyway - graduating debt free, and on top of that I have a merit scholarship for holidays (for funding independent research/internships/relevent travel).

As PQ has already pointed out, Cambridge are not obliged to offer the OP a deferred place. We all hope they will, but they cannot be forced to do so.

I qualify based on family income for quite a substantial amount of needs based help! American unis often work out cheaper than a lot of people expect - especially a lot of the top private ones. It helps I have US citizenship (on a technicality of birth, never having lived there), but many also operate 'needs blind' or 'full needs met' for internationals as well.

But they've said they would.

In the letters I'd received from them with regards to meeting my offer it said before 31st is guaranteed that year and afterwards they'd do it for deferred if they can't accommodate the same year.

I know there's no legal obligation to, but it's what has been said I'm sure

Now that sounds an awesome plan instead tbh. I wish I could study in America hopefully can do an exchange with MIT

I think there is a Cambridge-MIT exchange programme. I'm not sure how it works though. I remember reading about it on MIT's website.

Yeah there is, not sure which subjects specifically in science though, will find out for sure

My friend did the exchange for engineering, and I know someone did it for Chemistry. But I don't know if they still do them, as last I heard they were cutting the number of places because it was expensive to run.

Chemistry? Sweet. That's what I'd go into as of now

Chemical Engineering is the other thing I might do

Damn hopefully not...

I found this article, which doesn't sound promising. The girl mentioned was in my year, so i guess my info is out of date now!

http://thetech.com/news/52556/cme-v131-n23

In my interview, he said they still do have a chance to send some. Hope he wasn't fiddling the truth

How much do you think it would cost to fund myself?