The "I'm applying to UCAS for 2012 entry" thread

Hi there, I rarely post on here and only do when I am feeling really really puzzled haha. I would love some advice from anyone, fellow 2012 entry people! or respected members or people in similar positions; basically - anyone! I am not here to boast or do anything of the sort, I am just laying down the facts and hoping for some advice!

I am wondering what sort of entry requirements I should be having as maximum/minimum grades for universities I want to apply to as I want to do History and I understand it is highly competitive and thus don't want to overreach and get 5 rejections!
At GCSE I achieved 5 A*s, 2 As, 3 Bs, and a C (in physics). I achieved 2 As in my january exams (psychology/maths C2) and I am hoping to get generally all As or 3As and 2 Bs at AS after my May exams. I do History, English Lit, Psychology, Maths and General Studies and am doing EPQ next year along with History, English and Psychology at A2.

Are my GCSE's too weak? I could have done better but I suffered with sciences, my big downfall! And I am hoping to go to Warwick or York, but is applying to AAA unis too high? I have very low confidence in myself although my history teacher did say to look at Oxbridge? Ugh I sound so pathetic but I worry lots haha!

Honestly I would LOVE to go to Durham but I understand that will probably never happen so might not waste it as an option. There history candidates seem too competitive for me!

1) No your GCSEs are not too weak.
2) Oxbridge isn't a university.
3) If you attain three As+ in your AS and have correspondingly high predictions then applying to such places is obviously fine. You should apply for a couple of choices that are easier to get into though as well.

where can we find out the acceptance rate for each course at each individual uni?

Thank you, I understand I am quite a paranoid character which is an immature quality but I hate to be rude and say how condescending that was. I probably asked for such a response though. Yes I understand oxbridge isn't a university, I didn't say it was. It's a term used for Oxford and Cambridge, a phrase commonly used by teachers, that's all. Thanks anyway for the reassurance.

To be completely honest many teachers and schools give very bad advice regarding personal statements.

And some of us have many, many years of experience, have processed many Ucas forms (and UCCA and PCAS forms before that), have been on many courses held by university admissions tutors, have advised students numbering in thousands by now and have a damn good record of getting our students into the unversity of their choice, because funnily enough, we actually care about our students and take the trouble to learn how best to serve them. Dare I say it, we also have more experience of life than some students who have just got into university themselves and we also have the ability to read newspaper articles/university websites/speak to actual university admissions tutors just as they do. Please do not encourage people on here to assume that their teachers know nothing. It is insulting and untrue.

Just an idea builder. What are you guys finding difficult when choosing universities? Finding/ordering prospectuses? Knowing where the closest universities are? Knowing where Bath actually is?

You're welcome.

Yes, and teachers that use it should know better, or shouldn't be advising anyone.

You're entitled to say it was condescending, and to think it was. It certainly wasn't said as such, and I don't personally see how it does, but it doesn't really matter.

Good luck with your course

Looking back, it wasn't as much as I first presumed it was so I owe you an apology, and also: thank you!