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Oxbridge - school preventing me from applying. Should I rebel against it?

Heya. This sounds really stupid and I think it is but bascially, as the title suggests, my teacher won't let me apply to Cambridge. For my GCSEs, I got 9A* and 2 As. My AS weren't too good AABBBC where two of the B's were three marks of an A (no excuse i know) I attended a summer school at Cambridge and I really liked it. I e-mailed one of the ppl at cambridge to ask them about my grades and they told me to apply. When I told this to my teacher, she said that she wishes cambridge were more honest because they won't accept me with those grades. She said the school's reference won't be able to support me. I have asked my subject teachers and they say they will predict me 3 A's for A2. Since reading some of the cases on this site, it has really questioned whether my teacher can make that decision for me. I know my grades are useless but I feel ... confused because I really want to go there. When people say if you don't apply, then you'll always regret it and I don't want that to happen. I would really appreciate other people's opinion on this. Thanks!

go for it

You beat me in your GCSEs! No problems there.

As for your ASs, 6 is a lot. Which subjects did you do? Was one of them General Studies or Critical Thinking? For your A2s you might be best doing the 3 or 4 which you are most confident in as hopefully with less subjects you will get a better grade. Also back up you application with lots of background reading.

Which subject do you want to apply for?

Based on what you've posted I would say you should apply, and that your teacher is being an idiot.

Reply 3

leannemarie

11

If you look through the various threads then you will see that there are people who got offers with AABB at AS, so it is possible. I would ignore what your school says, if you don't try then you will never know, and you can also reapply after a gap year once you have your final A Level grades. Your GCSEs are very strong and they may question why your AS grades are not so strong, but in the end, if you are predicted AAA then you are a suitable candidate. Also Cambridge will get your UMS marks which means that they'll know how far off you were getting As in those two subjects. What subject do you want to study?

Reply 4

RogueTrader

15

Clarks_snuffed

Heya. This sounds really stupid and I think it is but bascially, as the title suggests, my teacher won't let me apply to Cambridge. For my GCSEs, I got 9A* and 2 As. My AS weren't too good AABBBC where two of the B's were three marks of an A (no excuse i know) I attended a summer school at Cambridge and I really liked it. I e-mailed one of the ppl at cambridge to ask them about my grades and they told me to apply. When I told this to my teacher, she said that she wishes cambridge were more honest because they won't accept me with those grades. She said the school's reference won't be able to support me. I have asked my subject teachers and they say they will predict me 3 A's for A2. Since reading some of the cases on this site, it has really questioned whether my teacher can make that decision for me. I know my grades are useless but I feel ... confused because I really want to go there. When people say if you don't apply, then you'll always regret it and I don't want that to happen. I would really appreciate other people's opinion on this. Thanks!

Im in exactly the same position as you- except i have 6a*, 3 a's at gcse and AABBC at as level and am applying to oxford. Oxford arguably looks less at as results than cambridge does due to the other factors it looks at (subject specific tests, written work etc) and the fact that it doesnt ask specifically to see your results. Either way, my school has been trying to talk me out of it, saying I have no chance, but today I had my 3 A prediction confirmed, and said I am 100% applying. Its your choice, not theirs.

Reply 5

Clarks_snuffed

OP

Thanks guys. The problem is one of my As was in general studies - a faffy subject. Therefore, one A isn't good enough is it? My teacher is really adament that I won't apply cos I kinda of, well, not argued but persisted her to let me into the early entry group but she won't. She won't write me a good reference. She's like the oxbridge guru at our school too so I really don't know what to do. Can the school legally stop you from applying?

Reply 6

thefish_uk

14

Clarks_snuffed

Thanks guys. The problem is one of my As was in general studies - a faffy subject. Therefore, one A isn't good enough is it? My teacher is really adament that I won't apply cos I kinda of, well, not argued but persisted her to let me into the early entry group but she won't. She won't write me a good reference. She's like the oxbridge guru at our school too so I really don't know what to do. Can the school legally stop you from applying?

It's not really that much of the school's business, except for them having to write your reference of course!

Can't you get another teacher to write it for you?

Reply 7

Clarks_snuffed

OP

I don't think so because as I mentioned, this teacher (da oxbridge guru) is like a really good, respected teacher and shes also a deputy head. She's the only one that deals with the oxbridge. It seems like all my teachers like my head of year don't support me. I feel lost and lonely. Last week, people were called to get da cambridge application form and I wasn't one of them. I'm doomed.

Reply 8

Jigglypuff

16

You're predicted 3 As and that's the main thing. The predictions should be more important than AS levels because lots of people improve from AS or have a couple of bad exams at AS etc. Your GCSEs are really really good, so the only thing which is 'below average' for Oxbridge is your AS levels. People on here have received offers from Oxbridge with NO As at AS level, so if you think you will impress at interview I think you should go for it. Good luck :smile:

Reply 9

rec53

Clarks_snuffed

I don't think so because as I mentioned, this teacher (da oxbridge guru) is like a really good, respected teacher and shes also a deputy head. She's the only one that deals with the oxbridge. It seems like all my teachers like my head of year don't support me. I feel lost and lonely. Last week, people were called to get da cambridge application form and I wasn't one of them. I'm doomed.

It would be useful if you gave more information. Was the A achieved in the subject most relevent to the degree you wish to study, and was it a strong A? What does the teacher of the relevent subject think? With this information in mind, it is up to you to decide what you want to do next, and push the relevent teacher to give you the form. The school shouldn't stop you from applying, but it is understandable if they believe that you are not a suitable candidate to want to discourage you now to avoid the disappointment later.

Reply 10

Clarks_snuffed

OP

no, I want to study law so there's no particular A levels for that. The A was in Biology - nothing to do with law! That was a strong A. In terms of what does the teacher of the relevant subject think, I haven't spoken to any law teachers as I don't study law. I'm taking Biology onto A2 and he thinks I will be able to get an A overall. I'm also taking history and english literature and are predicted As

Reply 11

rec53

Athena

Could you ask for an interview with the teacher in question with some subject teachers to back you up? Or get your parents to write/come in and support you? The school don't lose anything by you applying, so I think if you show you're commited, they will eventually give way.

... unless they want to boast that x% of people who applied to Oxbridge got offers.

Reply 12

Clarks_snuffed

OP

yeah - apparently...my teacher says that they do - the school's reputation although she didn't implictly say that. She says she wouldn't be able to write a reference that is oxbridge standard because of my grades and said that it would look bad on the school.

Reply 13

thefish_uk

14

Clarks_snuffed

yeah - apparently...my teacher says that they do - the school's reputation although she didn't implictly say that. She says she wouldn't be able to write a reference that is oxbridge standard because of my grades and said that it would look bad on the school.

How would it look bad on the school?

I would find subject teachers willing to back you up and see if they can help. Anything essay writing is relevant for Law I guess.

Is your school an independent one by any chance? The kind of school that withdraws pupils from exams that they might do badly in so they can boast about xx% A*-A... they seriously seriously irritate me. In fact that any school can be rude enough to put down its students by saying "you have no chance" is just disgusting. I think if my school had taken that attitude, whether or not I was "Oxbridge material", my parents would be writing letters right now... Yes my school was a grammar (state though) and competed with other schools in the area but if a student wanted some help with something, they were sure to offer it.

Does this teacher even know you well enough to write a reference?

Reply 14

Quor?

I do wonder what qualifies your teacher to say that Cambridge are lying... I would suggest that the opinions of the admissions tutors are more important. You have nothing to lose in applying, other than 1 space on UCAS.

Reply 15

mathstudent

1

are you joking?

course you should apply! you took 6AS! and your gcse results are phenomenal.

they only look at your top 3 subjects anyway, which is AAB and by the time youve finished your alevel youll have AAA. your teacher is an idiot. apply. you can apply for 5 other uni's anyway even if you dont get in

Reply 16

rec53

Did you make it clear to the admissions office that one of the quoted Grades was General Studies (a grade which I would usually refrain from quoting with the rest of the A Levels)? Either way, your school hasn't really got a right to say that Cambridge is lying.

Reply 17

rec53

mathstudent

they only look at your top 3 subjects anyway, which is AAB and by the time youve finished your alevel youll have AAA. your teacher is an idiot. apply. you can apply for 5 other uni's anyway even if you dont get in

I'm being picky here, but things need to be kept factually correct. General studies should not be counted as a subject for these purposes (the majority of the top universities - so most offers above BBB - exclude it from offers, and Cambridge will) exclude it from their offers. So the grades for comparison are ABB, with predicted AAA.

Reply 18

Duke Flipside

They can't legally stop you from applying anywhere; it's your decision. If you want to apply, then go for it!

Reply 19

Clarks_snuffed

OP

Maybe rec53 is right...I don't think I will apply. My school is an independent school but a normal comprehensive. lol. It's just I've been set up by the school if you understand what I mean since year 9. I've been to Oxbridge conferences, visited cambridge with the school and now to say that I can't even apply is harsh but I suppose I'll get over it. The teacher said I should look at the other good ones like Nottingham and unis like that. Seeing as I live in Scotland, i might try my chances at Edinburgh and St Andrews. Thanks ppl whos replied - really apprecciate sumbody to talk to

Oxbridge - school preventing me from applying. Should I rebel against it?

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