So I am taking a gap year and already have my A level results. I am applying to universities again this year through UCAS but have a couple of questions.
Basically for all my other university choices I meet the entry requirements “contextually” however I am feeling a bit ambitious and may try to apply to Cambridge. The problem is I am one grade short of the standard requirement for Cambridge (I have an A* and an A but no A in my 3rd subject) so therefore I will need to take an exam in the summer if I am doing that. However I don’t want this to jeopardise my other university choices, if I enter a qualification as ‘pending’ on UCAS, my other universities may want me to take an exam for that particular subject when if I hadn’t done that I may have gotten in with my current grades. This is largely because I am assuming that if you have a chance to get better grades the university would largely give you an offer on the based on that, despite me meeting contextual lower grade requirements the year before I applied, standard requirements for Law are A*AA or AAA however last year some universities gave me two grade lower contextual offers, problem is I meet the A* and A requirement however I don’t have an A in my 3rd subject so therefore as opposed to giving me a contextual offer the uni could potentially ask me to take an exam.
Moreover if I am applying to Cambridge I will be applying without a predicted grade in my 3rd subject despite me having already having attained an A* and an A? Is it worth applying like this? Will I be advantaged\disadvantaged.
If I do this I’ll have to study for the LNAT which I have to take by October 15th. I am aware it is not required for Cambridge however I’ll have to take this for my other choices. And the problem is I haven’t studied for it yet, is it possible to study for the LNAT within 20 days of solid revision, say around 4-6 hours per day and like 7 hours leading up to the final days.
I basically can apply for Cambridge why I do aspire, however due to this my entire application may be impacted as in, I’ll have to prepare for the LNAT within a month and I may have to enter a qualification as ‘pending’ on UCAS in which universities may want me to take exam whereas if I had not they may have given me the lower requirement which I had last year.
I really need advice here I would appreciate if anyone has any tips, thank you.