Should I give up on Cambridge?

Honestly speaking I am not sure. I also want to go into Oxford or Cambridge but if I don't get into them it really wouldn't matter because although they have a big reputation, there are a lot of other good colleges. I am going into year 11 in September, so I am not sure if I will give you the best advice but if you don't mind me asking, What did you get in your GCSE'S?

Reply 2

OP

Original post by Leader9!

Honestly speaking I am not sure. I also want to go into Oxford or Cambridge but if I don't get into them it really wouldn't matter because although they have a big reputation, there are a lot of other good colleges. I am going into year 11 in September, so I am not sure if I will give you the best advice but if you don't mind me asking, What did you get in your GCSE'S?

Ok, I got:
9s in English Lit and RS
An 8 in English Language
7s in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Media Studies and French
6s in Latin, Maths, Geography

Reply 3

Leader9!

Original post by A*Wannabeee

Ok, I got:
9s in English Lit and RS
An 8 in English Language
7s in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Media Studies and French
6s in Latin, Maths, Geography

I think it also depends on what course you want to do. By the way your GCSE grades are really good 🙂.

Reply 4

Ben Stirling

13

Unfortunately based on your AS grades they would most probably not give you an interview but you could complete your a levels & then apply after you have them!

Reply 5

Rawr789

Can you drop a subject? I think you've actually done quite well considering you're doing 4 subjects. It really depends on what you're going to do at uni, but I'd think about dropping classical civilisation.

Reply 6

OP

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by Leader9!

I think it also depends on what course you want to do. By the way your GCSE grades are really good 🙂.

Thanks, I would like to do Natural Sciences at Jesus College.

Reply 7

username4499734

20

Honestly, they sometimes even reject those with 4 A*s so if you know you can get similar grades then apply or perhaps visit some other unis as oxbridge aren’t the only options.

Reply 8

artful_lounger

21

Cambridge doesn't weigh GCSEs that heavily, however the AS results they will consider a great deal more. If you wanted to apply to Cambridge you would probably need to plan to take a gap year and apply once you have your results (which meet the entry criteria). That said, if you are predicted A*A*A, and do extremely well on the NSAA, they may just take the AS results as a blip. I think the gap year route is probably the more realistic scenario though.

Reply 9

OP

Original post by OR321

Honestly, they sometimes even reject those with 4 A*s so if you know you can get similar grades then apply or perhaps visit some other unis as oxbridge aren’t the only options.

I know that I can do better in my actual A Levels, I just don’t know if Cambridge is more of a pipe dream with my AS results.

Reply 10

STEM.lover

10

You are probably unlikely to get an offer with those grades as the entry requirements are A*A*A. You could maybe redo year 12, in which case if you do get A’s you could probably make a competitive application but they might not look kindly on resitting. Cambridge isn’t everything though and I’m sure they are many other universities with atmospheres that will appeal to you.

Reply 11

Leader9!

Original post by A*Wannabeee

Thanks, I would like to do Natural Sciences at Jesus College.

I think that would be a competitive course but let me give you an advise even though you think it's not worth it you should STILL apply to Cambridge just to tell yourself that at least you tried. Maybe, you will be accepted if there is little or no competition.

Reply 12

OP

Original post by artful_lounger

Cambridge doesn't weigh GCSEs that heavily, however the AS results they will consider a great deal more. If you wanted to apply to Cambridge you would probably need to plan to take a gap year and apply once you have your results (which meet the entry criteria). That said, if you are predicted A*A*A, and do extremely well on the NSAA, they may just take the AS results as a blip. I think the gap year route is probably the more realistic scenario though.

How could I be predicted A*A*A though??

Reply 13

STEM.lover

10

Are the AS exams external?

Reply 14

OP

Original post by STEM.lover

Are the AS exams external?

Yes.

Reply 15

OP

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by Rawr789

Can you drop a subject? I think you've actually done quite well considering you're doing 4 subjects. It really depends on what you're going to do at uni, but I'd think about dropping classical civilisation.

I could, but I don’t want to be a one trick pony if that makes sense — I want to be more than a science student and show that I can also form arguments and debate. Plus I really enjoy classics — it lets me think in a different way than my other subjects do.

Reply 16

STEM.lover

10

I don’t think you are able to get an A* unless you resit. From what I’ve been told to get an A* at A level you require 90%+ UMS in A2 modules AND an A in AS. But that might just be my exam board, you should check.

Reply 17

artful_lounger

21

Original post by A*Wannabeee

How could I be predicted A*A*A though??

I have no idea, but that's what you would need to be predicted to apply to Cambridge anyway (since those are the minimum entry criteria for the course). Your teachers are the ones making the predictions, and know you and your work best; they may decide that your AS results are not representative and predict you those grades. That said, Cambridge might look at the significant difference and be concerned by it, if there isn't other evidence (e.g. excellent NSAA results) to support them.

Like I said, the most realistic route would be to wait until you have your A-level results and apply in a gap year.

Reply 18

OP

Original post by STEM.lover

I don’t think you are able to get an A* unless you resit. From what I’ve been told to get an A* at A level you require 90%+ UMS in A2 modules AND an A in AS. But that might just be my exam board, you should check.

I think that’s just your exam board — for mine AS grades don’t really contribute to anything other than predicted grades. What exam boards are you doing?

Reply 19

OP