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

Clarks_snuffed

No, I haven't but I feel really stupid to ask another teacher - like saying dis other one is horrible (although she is) but shes like rly top in da skwl if u get me. teachers respect her and rubbish like that. Also, asking another teacher is like, i dno, desperate. I feel im really stupid now and feel its a ridiculous idea that Cambridge will accept me. I'm worried that no unis will accept me and if i get my parents involved, den da skwl will fink Im a wimp and stupid. And, wot if I don't get in...it wud be so embarrassing. den my teacher wud hav a field day - it wud be unbearable.

The teacher who didn't seem very enthusiastic about me applying said 'well if your subject teachers back you then you can apply'- and they did. So maybe if you say to her, 'what if I have the backing of my subject teachers, can I apply then?' she will be more receptive to the idea. And you're not a wimp or stupid if you have tried yourself repetitively to ask to apply- bringing your parents into it would be the next sensible step. And if Cambridge reject you, so what? You tried and you only have to see the teacher for a few more months before you leave. It's a risk you take, but I took it, and it was worth taking.

Reply 62

Clarks_snuffed

OP

To the homor simpson guy/gal - the thing is all the people who are applying (mostly my friends) got AAAAA OR AAAA OR AAAB - really high grades. My grades were not very good so I feel I have no basis to persuade her to let me apply. I'm not too sure about my subject teachers because they wanted me to resit just to bump the UMS mark so in the summer, I wouldn't be stressed. Cambridge don't like resits do they and da fact is dis teacher will no dat so she will hav a bigger stress at me and not let me apply even more. i'm so sorry if this seems to be moaning - its not..well, it is but not. lol

Reply 63

Clarks_snuffed

To the homor simpson guy/gal - the thing is all the people who are applying (mostly my friends) got AAAAA OR AAAA OR AAAB - really high grades. My grades were not very good so I feel I have no basis to persuade her to let me apply. I'm not too sure about my subject teachers because they wanted me to resit just to bump the UMS mark so in the summer, I wouldn't be stressed. Cambridge don't like resits do they and da fact is dis teacher will no dat so she will hav a bigger stress at me and not let me apply even more. i'm so sorry if this seems to be moaning - its not..well, it is but not. lol

1) Enthusiasm, having the 'edge' in your chosen subject is worth just as much as having an extra A at A-level or whatever. That can be your basis to persuade her to let you apply.
2) Re-sit some modules. I did, and I got in. Turns out I didn't need to, as I got higher As than I thought in the end...but if you think you might drop to a B in the summer it's well worth doing. Tell your teacher re-sits could be seen as positive because they show an intention to improve on a disappointing result, and the motivation to revise a ton of work.
3) How forceful have you been in asking to apply? If you've just said 'I'd like to apply', maybe you should rephrase it as 'I'm going to apply, I'd probably do slightly better with your support, but if you're not willing to support me I'm mature enough and responsible enough to cope with it by myself. If you could sign my CAF, that would be great, if not I'll email Cambridge and ask them if it is worth applying without your support.'

Reply 64

Clarks_snuffed

No, I haven't but I feel really stupid to ask another teacher - like saying dis other one is horrible (although she is) but shes like rly top in da skwl if u get me. teachers respect her and rubbish like that. Also, asking another teacher is like, i dno, desperate. I feel im really stupid now and feel its a ridiculous idea that Cambridge will accept me. I'm worried that no unis will accept me and if i get my parents involved, den da skwl will fink Im a wimp and stupid. And, wot if I don't get in...it wud be so embarrassing. den my teacher wud hav a field day - it wud be unbearable.

Respect? I've heard other teachers bitching about my school's leadership team. Besides, if you speak to another teacher (one that you get on well with) they're likely to agree that the other teacher is a plonker. Because, she is.

At my school people simply needed to get their subject teachers to sign a slip of paper (which they generally do without any second thoughts). In fact my school generally had the attitude that if you wanted to do something, and it'd benefit you, you could always find help doing it.

Reply 65

Champagne-Dahling

10

Clarks_Snuffed, why do your posts begin in perfectly good english, only to disintegrate into "da, dis, dat fink wud"?

Reply 66

Champagne-Dahling

Clarks_Snuffed, why do your posts begin in perfectly good english, only to disintegrate into "da, dis, dat fink wud"?

Champagne-Dahling, why don't you have anything constructive to say?

Reply 67

LatinMachine

1

Okay, Clarks_Snuffed, I've already posted but PsychologyJen is gettin' "tuff" now :wink:

me

To the original poster: please don't give up! My grades were AABBE at AS and I still got an offer. They may have to sign the CAF but they don't have to write a reference on it, fill it in yourself and take it to somebody and get them to sign it in your presence and then take it away again. There is plenty of time for you to get it all sorted - you'll never know if you don't try.

Get some backbone and apply dammit! Your GCSE grades are better than mine, as are your AS grades. I didn't get any extra help particularily, I don't go to a school where many people apply to Oxbridge. How can they refuse to sign the form??

This is *your* future. If you want to miss opportunities because someone might think you're "weird and stupid," and especially people who won't even matter in about a year's time anyway, that's your call, but I hope you're intelligent enough to see that's a total waste.

References on your CAF/OAF don't matter. You also have a right to see the reference they write for you on your UCAS form.

You're at a funny age - one where you're expected to stick up for yourself, but you're also entitled to bring in your parents. In 20 years time, will you know these teachers? NO. And believe me, a teacher you may think is "well respected" and good at their job often very much isn't (recent experience, trust me).

As Jigglypuff said, don't go in like **small voice** "Pwetty pwease let me apply," it's:
**walk in confidently with CAF all ready to go** "Can you sign this form for me please? I'm applying to Cambridge."

Reply 68

Good idea!

Get the application form. Print it out. Fill it in. (I don't think they care less whether it's printed or a proper card one by the way - in fact if anything printed shows you've gone to the effort to print it off yourself.) Attach a copy of your UCAS personal statement.

Then go into school with a cheque for the application fee, written out to the college, and hand it all in.

Reply 69

Ronove

18

PsychologyJen

You also have a right to see the reference they write for you on your UCAS form.

Is this true, anyone? I really want to see mine so I'm not worrying about it all the way through the process, but my head of sixth is fairly new to the whole thing... this'll be his third UCAS round I think (though I doubt he did much for the one in his first term) and from the look on his face whenever the reference is mentioned I think he's certain that pupils cannot look at them under any cirumstance, lol. And I don't expect telling him that "people on TSR said I could look at it" will help much, but still, am I allowed to see it or what?

Reply 70

Ronove

Is this true, anyone? I really want to see mine so I'm not worrying about it all the way through the process, but my head of sixth is fairly new to the whole thing... this'll be his third UCAS round I think (though I doubt he did much for the one in his first term) and from the look on his face whenever the reference is mentioned I think he's certain that pupils cannot look at them under any cirumstance, lol. And I don't expect telling him that "people on TSR said I could look at it" will help much, but still, am I allowed to see it or what?

Yes you are...

Under the Data Protection Act, you can ask UCAS to send you your full application, including the reference, once it's been submitted. It costs about £10. But some schools, such as mine, let you see it anyway to save you the hassle. In fact I had to correct something on mine - my form tutor said I was responsible for something that in fact I wasn't!

Reply 71

LatinMachine

1

Jigglypuff

Basically, we're a bunch of teenagers and we're more useful than a lot of teachers.

Hell yes

One of the biggest myths about Oxbridge is that you need 13A* GCSEs and 5 A AS grades to get in. For a start it's totally untrue, and I can't believe that some schools are propounding this lie! I'm going to get involved a bit with Access/Target Schools when I go , I think I'm adequately qualified to blow it out of the water :biggrin:

Reply 72

mom1

Hi yep sorry i'm a mom-but i've just registered so that i can tell you what to do-typical mom eh!! :biggrin:

(sorry guys but we do read these sites too) Law at cambridge is highly competative so it will be AAA and no general studies for sure. Still fancy it? Or another subject? Then.....

APPLY NOW.

You have to get your ucas and other uni choices sorted NOW. Fill it in online NOW.

Download and fill in the caf NOW. Yes NOW.

Your parents are paying for a service -your education- tell them NOW and get them to talk to the Head NOW so that your form can be signed off. (btw you are legally entitiled to look at the school reference- ask the school or if they won't then ucas have to ...then you can counter-act anything bad at the interview!)

Parents have their uses ---get onto them NOW!

Just apply-you know you want to!

Reply 73

Schmokie Dragon

17

STOP! Do NOT let these teachers get in the way. I was in exactly the same situation, I was told that I should not apply and that I would be given very limited support if I did. But you know what? You don't need this teacher, you don't even need the school. You could get one teacher on side (your biology one seems to be on your side) and then withdraw from the UCAS system and re-enter it as in independent candidate. Thats what I have done. You only need one reference and as long as you are predicted at least AAB, and as long as they at least mention your other subjects, you will be fine.

But, in the end, you WILL regret it if you let the school get in your way. It is only one choice out of 6. So what if you don't get in? But you DEFINITELY won't get in if you don't try. With something as big as this, never roll over and die because someone suggests you should.

Reply 74

Clarks_snuffed

OP

thanks for da posts - they're really nice and when I read them, I get so much inspiration! But i still have these doubts in my mind - my grades are not good enough. Law is competitive in its own right - let alone at Cambridge. Also, enthusiam - I've only really had a passion for it during the summer when I went to the summer school. Theres loads of people that have done A level law and have learnt it themselves without a teacher etc. My 'love' for the subject has only lasted 2-3 months or so and although I'm trying to read as many books and journals, it's not going to be any good compared to other people who have had a passion since they were born and attained straight A's. Also, I'm scared of talking to this teacher again..lol...it sounds ridiculous but everytime I see her, I try to walk the other way. The conversation I had with her (when she told me I couldn't apply) keeps on being replayed in my head. I tried to get her to change my mind and i mentioned loads of reasons for her to get me to apply but she still wouldn't budge. I just don't think she will let me..as in physically let me do it as a student at her school. The teacher is also responsible for all early entry students and my friend who wanted to go into medicine was told to do nursing now because her grades weren't good enough. So, it isn't just me - its loads of other people too. I was watching X factor last night and you know people who think they are honestly the best in the world, yet in reality, we know they aren't. I feel as if I'm like that in the context of cambridge application - maybe I'm deluding myself to think that I actually have a chance of applying when all the other people (like the teacher and admissions tutors) will think I'm rubbish. In my heart, I really want to apply because that's the only place where I really want to study but maybe I'm mixing dreams and reality together. sorry - all my posts are essays.

Reply 75

rec53

Clarks_snuffed

thanks for da posts - they're really nice and when I read them, I get so much inspiration! But i still have these doubts in my mind - my grades are not good enough. Law is competitive in its own right - let alone at Cambridge. Also, enthusiam - I've only really had a passion for it during the summer when I went to the summer school. Theres loads of people that have done A level law and have learnt it themselves without a teacher etc. My 'love' for the subject has only lasted 2-3 months or so and although I'm trying to read as many books and journals, it's not going to be any good compared to other people who have had a passion since they were born and attained straight A's. Also, I'm scared of talking to this teacher again..lol...it sounds ridiculous but everytime I see her, I try to walk the other way. The conversation I had with her (when she told me I couldn't apply) keeps on being replayed in my head. I tried to get her to change my mind and i mentioned loads of reasons for her to get me to apply but she still wouldn't budge. I just don't think she will let me..as in physically let me do it as a student at her school. The teacher is also responsible for all early entry students and my friend who wanted to go into medicine was told to do nursing now because her grades weren't good enough. So, it isn't just me - its loads of other people too. I was watching X factor last night and you know people who think they are honestly the best in the world, yet in reality, we know they aren't. I feel as if I'm like that in the context of cambridge application - maybe I'm deluding myself to think that I actually have a chance of applying when all the other people (like the teacher and admissions tutors) will think I'm rubbish. In my heart, I really want to apply because that's the only place where I really want to study but maybe I'm mixing dreams and reality together. sorry - all my posts are essays.

What else do you want people to say? - we can't do too much to judge your Oxbridge potential, apart from say that your GCSE grades are more than acceptable for an Oxbridge applicant, and your A Levels are pretty good - if things went differently you would be quoting three A's, and I would certainly expect any teacher to let you apply, it seems likely you will be able to make an offer given anyway. If you want to ignore the teachers advice, then you need to say that to them, and say you have decided you are going to apply anyway. As has been said before, its only one of 6 choices, so it isn't a terrible loss if you don't get an offer anyway.

Reply 76

I don't think A-Level Law is considered that great a preparation for a Law degree anyway. I think they much prefer good old fashioned A-levels like you're doing.

Reply 77

You know deep down you want to apply, so apply.

If it means that much to you, you might even consider not applying this year and waiting until you have your (hopefully anyway) AAA at A-level. I think your teacher would be more inclined to let you apply then. But you might as well try this year as well...don't be scared of her just go for it. I see what you mean about the X factor analogy, I felt a bit like that too...as if maybe I was deluding myself and that it was such a long-shot...but it paid off. Go for it.

Reply 78

Schmokie Dragon

17

Thats a really good point. You could always not apply this year, and save it until you know what grades you have. Or you could "test the water this year", see what unis you can get into and then re-apply next year if you get good grades.

Reply 79

Wangers