Security over ambition with uni offers?

I've got an interview for an unconditional offer to Queen Mary on Wednesday and if I get it I'll be thrilled, but I just learned that it only stays unconditional if I put it as my firm. Obviously I want to go to QM and not having to worry about grades would be amazing, but I would rather go to Manchester, for which I would need grades (and high ones at that). Would you choose security in an unconditional? Or ambition in a firm choice that you might not get? Thank you for any help :smile:

Reply 1

Kiritsugu

18

If I were you, I would think ahead.

Thinking ahead, you'll have to try and predict how your life is going to be based on what it is like currently, and if it's not going great, then what you're doing to solve your problems.

If your life is alright and you do indeed have good study habits, you've learned from your mistakes in AS, and you've been getting high marks in your recent tests, then by all means if you're really going to put in THAT much effort to reach your potential, and ONLY IF YOU REALLY ARE, then that is ambitious and I would definitely go for ambition.

If things aren't going that well, and you can accept things aren't going to be well in the next few weeks, then obviously you're going to have to make some changes anyway, but probably going with the safer option is probably better.

I think you should always aim high, because even if you aim for an A*, miss and get a A, that is in itself WAY MORE FULFILLING than aiming for a B and achieving the B. You might think it's not because you tried so hard and missed, but it is precisely BECAUSE you tried so hard that you should be proud of yourself imo - you'll know forever that at least you tried to reach your potential - and if you put in the effort, you will no doubt achieve it.

Overall, it's a difficult question, and I would certainly question the courses individually.

Reply 2

Juno

20

Original post by hrmpurser

I've got an interview for an unconditional offer to Queen Mary on Wednesday and if I get it I'll be thrilled, but I just learned that it only stays unconditional if I put it as my firm. Obviously I want to go to QM and not having to worry about grades would be amazing, but I would rather go to Manchester, for which I would need grades (and high ones at that). Would you choose security in an unconditional? Or ambition in a firm choice that you might not get? Thank you for any help :smile:

Go with whichever uni you would prefer to go to.

But before deciding, make sure it's definitely the uni you prefer. Check out the course structure and modules. Visit each campus if you can (even if you've already been, go again). Have a look at the accommodation for all years - is accommodation for 2nd and 3rd year going to be expensive/far away/oversubscribed? What are the career options for each course? Do they have a high percentage of graduates in employment/further education? Is your favourite society available? If you have to go home at short notice, is it likely to be expensive? Is the journey to uni doable with luggage?

Reply 3

Doones

21

Original post by hrmpurser

I've got an interview for an unconditional offer to Queen Mary on Wednesday and if I get it I'll be thrilled, but I just learned that it only stays unconditional if I put it as my firm. Obviously I want to go to QM and not having to worry about grades would be amazing, but I would rather go to Manchester, for which I would need grades (and high ones at that). Would you choose security in an unconditional? Or ambition in a firm choice that you might not get? Thank you for any help :smile:

An "Unconditional if Firm" offer only really helps the university - not you.

If you actually prefer that course/university firm it, but if you don't then firm one of your other offers.

On that basis your only choice is Manchester. You can still insure QMUL (without the unconditional obviously).

Reply 4

Klix88

17

I agree with jneill. Accepting an unconditional offer for a second choice uni at this point, could really come back and bite you. If you accept it and later get the grades for Manchester, you probably won't feel great about being at QMUL. It's in QMUL's interests for you to accept an unconditional this early, not yours. If QMUL's conditional offer is lower than Manchester's then it's still a good security option if you don't get the Manchester grades.

Think ahead and have the courage of your convictions and your ability. Yes, an unconditional offer will take a large chunk of pressure off you for the next eight months. But wishing you were at a different uni will last three years. Regret over a second choice degree from a second choice uni, when you had a shot at the first choice, could last a lifetime. It's not a comfortable decision I'll grant you, but many aren't.

Reply 5

Carnationlilyrose

18

In addition to the excellent advice above, I'd say that a university which is prepared to make you an unconditional offer at this point is unlikely to be picky if you slip by a grade or two in August, so you are not taking much of a risk by putting them as your insurance.

Reply 6

Anna.Karenina

20

I go to QMUL so feel free to ask any questions :-)

Reply 7

Klix88

17

Original post by Anna.Karenina

I go to QMUL so feel free to ask any questions :-)

Why are they so desperate to recruit? Are some courses struggling to survive?

Reply 8

Anna.Karenina

20

Original post by Klix88

Why are they so desperate to recruit? Are some courses struggling to survive?

What course is it? :smile:

Reply 9

Klix88

17

Original post by Anna.Karenina

What course is it? :smile:

Don't know - it's the OP who's dealing with the dilemma and they don't say.

Do you know as a general point whether some departments have trouble recruiting?

Reply 10

ageshallnot

21

Original post by hrmpurser

I've got an interview for an unconditional offer to Queen Mary on Wednesday and if I get it I'll be thrilled, but I just learned that it only stays unconditional if I put it as my firm. Obviously I want to go to QM and not having to worry about grades would be amazing, but I would rather go to Manchester, for which I would need grades (and high ones at that). Would you choose security in an unconditional? Or ambition in a firm choice that you might not get? Thank you for any help :smile:

It's far too early to waste mental energy agonising over such a scenario when you haven't had responses from all your universities.

Reply 11

hrmpurser

OP

2

Original post by Anna.Karenina

What course is it? :smile:

Okay hi sorry I should have said, it's for History.

also do you mind if I ask you loads of questions? I hope not because I'm about to write them, sorry again.

1. What course are you doing?
2. What year are you in?
3. Are you in student accomodation or private?
4. What's the campus like? Is it friendly?
5. Some people say the area isn't nice but what do you think? (please be honest)
6. Do you socialise outside of campus? Like meet people in central London etc?

Thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

Reply 12

hrmpurser

OP

2

Okay THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone who replied, it has genuinely helped. I have my interview on Wednesday and there's a campus and accomodation tour and sample lectures etc so I'll have a think then. It might turn out that I really like the course and the uni (which would be good) but YES thank you very much and I'll update with what I think about the uni etc.

Reply 13

Anna.Karenina

20

Original post by hrmpurser

Okay hi sorry I should have said, it's for History.

also do you mind if I ask you loads of questions? I hope not because I'm about to write them, sorry again.

1. What course are you doing?
2. What year are you in?
3. Are you in student accomodation or private?
4. What's the campus like? Is it friendly?
5. Some people say the area isn't nice but what do you think? (please be honest)
6. Do you socialise outside of campus? Like meet people in central London etc?

Thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

1. Linguistics
2. Final year
3. I spent all of my years at QMUL at home (I commuted from Essex), but I did hang out in the halls, and they were really lovely! Really bright and airy, very spacious, and very friendly - everybody knew each other :-)
4. The campus is wonderful! I'm off to UCL next September to study for my Masters and I'm really going to miss the campus. It has everything you need in one place (two shops, a bank, three restaurants, two coffee shops and two nightclubs) and is really spacious and modern. If you've ever been to Centre Parcs, it's kind of like that :-) Everyone is so friendly, especially the staff - I had a baby in the second year, and my lecturers were just amazingly supportive. Not to mention they're world class.
5. Because you're on a campus, you could be anywhere really. I love the area - I've never heard anyone from the university come to harm, and it's so close to other places in London that the location is great. The canal is a huge bonus - sitting by the water reading or revising is so peaceful.
6. And yes, I do socialise in Central London, but there's a lovely cafe opposite the university which my friends and I hang out in with my son.

Hope I helped :smile:

Security over ambition with uni offers?

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