I really, REALLY want to go to Cambridge...but I lost my chance.

I did AS Sociology and A2 English Literature, History and Philosophy. Not hard sciences, I warrant.
It doesn't really matter, I guess it's pertinent to the discussion to point out I obtained and declined an offer from Cambridge. If that helps "purplestar8" out in any way.

I did AS Sociology and A2 English Literature, History and Philosophy. Not hard sciences, I warrant.



It doesn't really matter, I guess it's pertinent to the discussion to point out I obtained and declined an offer from Cambridge. If that helps "purplestar8" out in any way.

I'd probably have to be a bit mean here and say let it go. Cambridge very much dislike students who've had to retake, so your chances of getting in even if you took a gap year, retook and got A*A*A* may be even lower than now.

Edit: If you say that to get A's you'd have had to 'slave away', then perhaps Cambridge wouldn't be right for you anyway.

lol how did you know i took sociology AS, did i mention it anywhere?

but yeah, i'm taking that subject and I really don't see what's so easy about it. You must have an IQ of 160+ or something.

I study at LSE and can think of at least 7 people off the top of my head to have rejected Oxford or Cambridge (mostly Cambridge).

Cambridge really isn't all that.

But your subjects are essay based and theres nothing wrong with that and nothing to compare with science imo.
Don't worry - You don't need to demonstrate anything

Most students would kill to go there, I can't see how anyone could reject an offer.

oh well, if youre happy where you are its fine i guess...

Lol. I don't wish to seem like I'm trying to demonstrate anything, which is why I'm not really happy that we've taken a turn into discussing my A Levels in particular. But yeah I can't imagine finding A Levels unbelievably difficult and being a surefire Oxbridge candidate. The interviews were way, way more difficult than anything relating to a levels. Blah. I just sound like a **** in this thread now. I think I'll go back to my reading.

Most students would kill to go there, I can't see how anyone could reject an offer.

Hi,

since I came to London to do my A levels I've always had it clear that I wanted to to go Cambridge University. Unfortunately, my AS results (AEECC if you must know) were not favourable to my choice despite the fact that I've heard stories about students with grades lower than a tripple A going on to Cambridge afterwards.

Anyway...today this classmate was telling me that she wasn't going to be in tomorrow because she was going to the Open Day for those going to study Politics, Psychology and Sociology at Cambridge. I envied her so much I almost lost my mind! I kept thinking that it could have been me, and it was all too much to bear. PPS is also the course I would have applied for. She's already had her interviews and she's been accepted.
My only option would be to reject all 5 offers I've recieved, take a gap year and retake all my AS and A2 subjects. I would do anything in order to go there, but even to me this sounds like a risky decision and I'm afraid of how my dad and others would react.
I'm in desperate need of some advice about what to do and I don't know who to turn to. All my teachers last year told me it would be impossible with my grades, it really got me down.

For some extra information, here's my UCAS:

Leicester University: Conditional offer, ABB
Kent University: Conditional offer, ABB
Brunel University: Conditional offer, 350 tariff points.
Nottingham Trent University: Conditional offer, 280 tariff points.
Buckinghamshire New University: Conditional offer, 240 tariff points.

I didn't take GSCE's because I was living in spain before, but I got A's in both English and Maths.

Anyway, please keep it neat, no insults because I already know how terrible my grades are.

Thanks. Rant over.

You probably got asked this question a million times so a link to another explanation on TSR would be more than fine (no answer at all is fine as well if you're sick of answering it :P), but why did you reject Cambridge?

1) The tutorial system is more than what most people can handle. Going one on one or two on one with a tutor would be so embarrasing if you've not done your work or not done it to a high standard. There's a girl on TSR from Cambridge who's needed therapy.2) The workload is insane. At LSE, I think law students have 4 essays every 5 weeks and no other marked work. At Cambridge, I'm not sure if it's law or what, I'm pretty sure some courses have pretty intense essay writing. Problem sheets at Cambridge for maths are insanely difficult compared with ones I've seen at LSE and Imperial. Given that, ultimately, a first from LSE/Imperial is considered to be just as good as a first from Cambridge, is it worth doing such hard work?

3) There are social aspects to consider. Cambridge is a dead town.

4) The Cambridge environment (i.e. students that are exceptionally clever) isn't for everyone.

5) For something like economics/finance, politics etc, being in London is a huge advantage at times. I've had so many opportunities fall at my lap at LSE and that's primarily because LSE is in London.

6) The course at Oxbridge can suck depending on what you really want to do (e.g. you're forced to do history modules in Economics at Cambridge, where as at LSE it's much more flexible).

7) Saturday lectures. Enough said.

i lolled at this. poor girl.