Am I good enough to get in?

So I went to a very bad state school and it performs below national average but I managed to get 3 A*s and 6 As at GCSE.
I am currently studying at a sixth form and have received 4 As at AS level in Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Economics and I am planning to drop Biology and taking the other 3 to A2 level.
I will hopefully get a prediction of A*A*A but if not then definitely A*AA.

I want to apply to:
1. Warwick - PPE - A*AA + B(at AS Level)
2. Oxford - PPE - AAA
3. UCL - Philosophy and Economics - AAA
4. LSE - Philosophy and Economics - AAA
5. Surrey - Politics and Economics - AAB

Do you think I can get into the first 4 and especially Oxford or LSE?
Does LSE take into account contextual data of school and how much emphasis do they put on GCSEs?

So I went to a very bad state school and it performs below national average but I managed to get 3 A*s and 6 As at GCSE.
I am currently studying at a sixth form and have received 4 As at AS level in Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Economics and I am planning to drop Biology and taking the other 3 to A2 level.
I will hopefully get a prediction of A*A*A but if not then definitely A*AA.

I want to apply to:
1. Warwick - PPE - A*AA + B(at AS Level)
2. Oxford - PPE - AAA
3. UCL - Philosophy and Economics - AAA
4. LSE - Philosophy and Economics - AAA
5. Surrey - Politics and Economics - AAB

Do you think I can get into the first 4 and especially Oxford or LSE?
Does LSE take into account contextual data of school and how much emphasis do they put on GCSEs?

No one can tell you for sure if you will get into those universities. That being said, your grades are excellent and they might take into account your schools poor standards. Great job going above and beyond!

I'd say definitely try for those unis.


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LSE have a widening participation programme http://www.lse.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/informationForTeachersAndSchools/wideningParticipation/home.aspx and I would assume thatcthey are aware of contextual data when considering each application.

I would also suggest that you have a decent chance of getting into LSE or Oxford, though the latter obviously involves an interview and perhaps other tests - are there any for PPE?

No one can tell you for sure if you will get into those universities. That being said, your grades are excellent and they might take into account your schools poor standards. Great job going above and beyond!

I'd say definitely try for those unis.


Posted from TSR Mobile

Hopefully they do take contextual data into account which would be beneficial for me. Oxford I think do take contextual data into account so that's good. For PPE I have to do Oxford TSA and as you mentioned interviews. I am scared about the interviews as with my sixth form we do not get any preparation or support and Oxbridge interviews are very challenging.

Hmmm, if your school don't do practice interviews, is there anyone else who could help? When my wife's nephew was applying to Cambridge to study history for entry this year, I tried to give him a feel for what would happen. I sat him down and asked him a question about something historical and whatever he said, I would immediately jump on and make him justify his ideas. Although he didn't get accepted by Cambridge, he said that even the small amount of experience he gained helped enormously. Is there anyone who could do something similar for you? A teacher? A relative? Friend of the family?

Hmmm, if your school don't do practice interviews, is there anyone else who could help? When my wife's nephew was applying to Cambridge to study history for entry this year, I tried to give him a feel for what would happen. I sat him down and asked him a question about something historical and whatever he said, I would immediately jump on and make him justify his ideas. Although he didn't get accepted by Cambridge, he said that even the small amount of experience he gained helped enormously. Is there anyone who could do something similar for you? A teacher? A relative? Friend of the family?

Thank you for the kind words.

Can I just say congratulations on performing so well! With a good personal statement, I'd be shocked if any one of them rejected you. You're the type that is classified as 'competition' for everyone else.