Demoralised snob wants plenteous advice/hints/tips and a double G&T
Being but a newbie - a mere babe in swaddling clothes on here - I hope you'll forgive me for seeming the most odious sort of snob - but bear with. I've not had the best of luck with uni admissions &c., am suffering with a good old-fashioned case of #firstworldproblems and could do with some advice.
Last year I was blessed with offers from Cambridge and UCL to read their equivalent politics/anthropology/sociology courses (HSPS and ESPS respectively), conditional upon achievement of A*A*A and A*AA respectively. My predicted grades would have satisfied both, so I accepted both, rejected the others and worked away.
However, a flare of a rather nasty little blighter of a disease called Crohn's soon put paid to all that. I hadn't realised I was losing weight and displaying all the other, boring, manifold symptoms that this gastrointestinal Satan brings with it - they're fairly common symptoms and one soon learns to take them broadly for granted - so I didn't file for extenuating circumstances and wasn't awarded extra marks to account for them. I missed my firm by seven raw marks and my insurance by three. Neither gave a damn for medical evidence, so off I toddled into that clichéd abyss of gap yahs and top knots and centre-partings and 'finding onself' and all that rubbish, except the last three.
Very dull.
Took a year off to get a job, write and to press rewind and then fast-forward on the whole, wreched rigmarole; to re-apply and hope for the best. Rejected by Cambridge, alas, but offers from Durham, St Andrews, UCL (conditional upon another A* - three marks, so didn't bother retaking - arguing re above circumstances) and Bristol.
I'm very lucky. Narrowing them a tad, UCL is almost certainly out of the question, whilst friends at Bristol say it's edgy as sh*t/a bit of a drug hub, sometimes clique-y and slipping down the league tables (notwithstanding its virtues, those impressions were reinforced, rather than dispelled, when I visited). So Durham and St Andrews remain. As an ex-public schoolboy, finding that both are known for having a higher-than-average private intake I was initially disinclined accordingly. Brideshead doesn't appeal, although I'm not particularly fussy.
St Andrews is lovely, but it's a very long way from my specialist clinical team (in London), and there isn't an equivalent elsewhere in the UK. Durham is less far, but really not keen on the college (Trevs; was allocated). Unrefurbished ('period fittings') '60s brutalist hulk which made one feel as though one was living inside a luggage store, with no character and even less charisma. Its biggest boast was that its students were 'the nicest', and it felt far too much like school. Not helped by the fact the hall where we were compelled to sit for two hours to be addressed on matters great and small (mostly small) smelled unavoidably of sick, it just didn't click.
On the basis that changing college at Durham is almost impossible, having beaten the Oxbridge odds the first time and got so painfully close, the option exists (if I can line myself up plenty of work, plan my retakes &c.) to take another year off studying, ignore the humiliation, keep working away and to retry for a last time. It's a mad idea but I am keeping all options in mind. Obviously I would rather resume normality. Do I just put up with the college for a first year and then live out ASAP, or should St Andrews' Siren call be a little louder (I liked it when I went up)?
To be frank, I suspect the whole, arduous process has pi**ed me off and mucked up my judgement to such an extent that I ought to seek a little last guidance. With apologies for losing my TSR virginity to a veritable essay (and a self-indulgent, self-centred one, at that), choices abound but answers are more elusive.
I appreciate that I'm very spoilt for choice, but that doesn't make it all any less tough - so whilst you are of course entitled to jump down my throat I would ask that you take a very long, pensive run-up. Ideas - boring, kindly, mentalist, pat/maternal (any or all) - appreciated.
On that note - Hendricks, anyone?
Last year I was blessed with offers from Cambridge and UCL to read their equivalent politics/anthropology/sociology courses (HSPS and ESPS respectively), conditional upon achievement of A*A*A and A*AA respectively. My predicted grades would have satisfied both, so I accepted both, rejected the others and worked away.
However, a flare of a rather nasty little blighter of a disease called Crohn's soon put paid to all that. I hadn't realised I was losing weight and displaying all the other, boring, manifold symptoms that this gastrointestinal Satan brings with it - they're fairly common symptoms and one soon learns to take them broadly for granted - so I didn't file for extenuating circumstances and wasn't awarded extra marks to account for them. I missed my firm by seven raw marks and my insurance by three. Neither gave a damn for medical evidence, so off I toddled into that clichéd abyss of gap yahs and top knots and centre-partings and 'finding onself' and all that rubbish, except the last three.
Very dull.
Took a year off to get a job, write and to press rewind and then fast-forward on the whole, wreched rigmarole; to re-apply and hope for the best. Rejected by Cambridge, alas, but offers from Durham, St Andrews, UCL (conditional upon another A* - three marks, so didn't bother retaking - arguing re above circumstances) and Bristol.
I'm very lucky. Narrowing them a tad, UCL is almost certainly out of the question, whilst friends at Bristol say it's edgy as sh*t/a bit of a drug hub, sometimes clique-y and slipping down the league tables (notwithstanding its virtues, those impressions were reinforced, rather than dispelled, when I visited). So Durham and St Andrews remain. As an ex-public schoolboy, finding that both are known for having a higher-than-average private intake I was initially disinclined accordingly. Brideshead doesn't appeal, although I'm not particularly fussy.
St Andrews is lovely, but it's a very long way from my specialist clinical team (in London), and there isn't an equivalent elsewhere in the UK. Durham is less far, but really not keen on the college (Trevs; was allocated). Unrefurbished ('period fittings') '60s brutalist hulk which made one feel as though one was living inside a luggage store, with no character and even less charisma. Its biggest boast was that its students were 'the nicest', and it felt far too much like school. Not helped by the fact the hall where we were compelled to sit for two hours to be addressed on matters great and small (mostly small) smelled unavoidably of sick, it just didn't click.
On the basis that changing college at Durham is almost impossible, having beaten the Oxbridge odds the first time and got so painfully close, the option exists (if I can line myself up plenty of work, plan my retakes &c.) to take another year off studying, ignore the humiliation, keep working away and to retry for a last time. It's a mad idea but I am keeping all options in mind. Obviously I would rather resume normality. Do I just put up with the college for a first year and then live out ASAP, or should St Andrews' Siren call be a little louder (I liked it when I went up)?
To be frank, I suspect the whole, arduous process has pi**ed me off and mucked up my judgement to such an extent that I ought to seek a little last guidance. With apologies for losing my TSR virginity to a veritable essay (and a self-indulgent, self-centred one, at that), choices abound but answers are more elusive.
I appreciate that I'm very spoilt for choice, but that doesn't make it all any less tough - so whilst you are of course entitled to jump down my throat I would ask that you take a very long, pensive run-up. Ideas - boring, kindly, mentalist, pat/maternal (any or all) - appreciated.
On that note - Hendricks, anyone?
Original post by ridunian
Being but a newbie - a mere babe in swaddling clothes on here - I hope you'll forgive me for seeming the most odious sort of snob - but bear with. I've not had the best of luck with uni admissions &c., am suffering with a good old-fashioned case of #firstworldproblems and could do with some advice.
Last year I was blessed with offers from Cambridge and UCL to read their equivalent politics/anthropology/sociology courses (HSPS and ESPS respectively), conditional upon achievement of A*A*A and A*AA respectively. My predicted grades would have satisfied both, so I accepted both, rejected the others and worked away.
However, a flare of a rather nasty little blighter of a disease called Crohn's soon put paid to all that. I hadn't realised I was losing weight and displaying all the other, boring, manifold symptoms that this gastrointestinal Satan brings with it - they're fairly common symptoms and one soon learns to take them broadly for granted - so I didn't file for extenuating circumstances and wasn't awarded extra marks to account for them. I missed my firm by seven raw marks and my insurance by three. Neither gave a damn for medical evidence, so off I toddled into that clichéd abyss of gap yahs and top knots and centre-partings and 'finding onself' and all that rubbish, except the last three.
Very dull.
Took a year off to get a job, write and to press rewind and then fast-forward on the whole, wreched rigmarole; to re-apply and hope for the best. Rejected by Cambridge, alas, but offers from Durham, St Andrews, UCL (conditional upon another A* - three marks, so didn't bother retaking - arguing re above circumstances) and Bristol.
I'm very lucky. Narrowing them a tad, UCL is almost certainly out of the question, whilst friends at Bristol say it's edgy as sh*t/a bit of a drug hub, sometimes clique-y and slipping down the league tables (notwithstanding its virtues, those impressions were reinforced, rather than dispelled, when I visited). So Durham and St Andrews remain. As an ex-public schoolboy, finding that both are known for having a higher-than-average private intake I was initially disinclined accordingly. Brideshead doesn't appeal, although I'm not particularly fussy.
St Andrews is lovely, but it's a very long way from my specialist clinical team (in London), and there isn't an equivalent elsewhere in the UK. Durham is less far, but really not keen on the college (Trevs; was allocated). Unrefurbished ('period fittings') '60s brutalist hulk which made one feel as though one was living inside a luggage store, with no character and even less charisma. Its biggest boast was that its students were 'the nicest', and it felt far too much like school. Not helped by the fact the hall where we were compelled to sit for two hours to be addressed on matters great and small (mostly small) smelled unavoidably of sick, it just didn't click.
On the basis that changing college at Durham is almost impossible, having beaten the Oxbridge odds the first time and got so painfully close, the option exists (if I can line myself up plenty of work, plan my retakes &c.) to take another year off studying, ignore the humiliation, keep working away and to retry for a last time. It's a mad idea but I am keeping all options in mind. Obviously I would rather resume normality. Do I just put up with the college for a first year and then live out ASAP, or should St Andrews' Siren call be a little louder (I liked it when I went up)?
To be frank, I suspect the whole, arduous process has pi**ed me off and mucked up my judgement to such an extent that I ought to seek a little last guidance. With apologies for losing my TSR virginity to a veritable essay (and a self-indulgent, self-centred one, at that), choices abound but answers are more elusive.
I appreciate that I'm very spoilt for choice, but that doesn't make it all any less tough - so whilst you are of course entitled to jump down my throat I would ask that you take a very long, pensive run-up. Ideas - boring, kindly, mentalist, pat/maternal (any or all) - appreciated.
On that note - Hendricks, anyone?
Last year I was blessed with offers from Cambridge and UCL to read their equivalent politics/anthropology/sociology courses (HSPS and ESPS respectively), conditional upon achievement of A*A*A and A*AA respectively. My predicted grades would have satisfied both, so I accepted both, rejected the others and worked away.
However, a flare of a rather nasty little blighter of a disease called Crohn's soon put paid to all that. I hadn't realised I was losing weight and displaying all the other, boring, manifold symptoms that this gastrointestinal Satan brings with it - they're fairly common symptoms and one soon learns to take them broadly for granted - so I didn't file for extenuating circumstances and wasn't awarded extra marks to account for them. I missed my firm by seven raw marks and my insurance by three. Neither gave a damn for medical evidence, so off I toddled into that clichéd abyss of gap yahs and top knots and centre-partings and 'finding onself' and all that rubbish, except the last three.
Very dull.
Took a year off to get a job, write and to press rewind and then fast-forward on the whole, wreched rigmarole; to re-apply and hope for the best. Rejected by Cambridge, alas, but offers from Durham, St Andrews, UCL (conditional upon another A* - three marks, so didn't bother retaking - arguing re above circumstances) and Bristol.
I'm very lucky. Narrowing them a tad, UCL is almost certainly out of the question, whilst friends at Bristol say it's edgy as sh*t/a bit of a drug hub, sometimes clique-y and slipping down the league tables (notwithstanding its virtues, those impressions were reinforced, rather than dispelled, when I visited). So Durham and St Andrews remain. As an ex-public schoolboy, finding that both are known for having a higher-than-average private intake I was initially disinclined accordingly. Brideshead doesn't appeal, although I'm not particularly fussy.
St Andrews is lovely, but it's a very long way from my specialist clinical team (in London), and there isn't an equivalent elsewhere in the UK. Durham is less far, but really not keen on the college (Trevs; was allocated). Unrefurbished ('period fittings') '60s brutalist hulk which made one feel as though one was living inside a luggage store, with no character and even less charisma. Its biggest boast was that its students were 'the nicest', and it felt far too much like school. Not helped by the fact the hall where we were compelled to sit for two hours to be addressed on matters great and small (mostly small) smelled unavoidably of sick, it just didn't click.
On the basis that changing college at Durham is almost impossible, having beaten the Oxbridge odds the first time and got so painfully close, the option exists (if I can line myself up plenty of work, plan my retakes &c.) to take another year off studying, ignore the humiliation, keep working away and to retry for a last time. It's a mad idea but I am keeping all options in mind. Obviously I would rather resume normality. Do I just put up with the college for a first year and then live out ASAP, or should St Andrews' Siren call be a little louder (I liked it when I went up)?
To be frank, I suspect the whole, arduous process has pi**ed me off and mucked up my judgement to such an extent that I ought to seek a little last guidance. With apologies for losing my TSR virginity to a veritable essay (and a self-indulgent, self-centred one, at that), choices abound but answers are more elusive.
I appreciate that I'm very spoilt for choice, but that doesn't make it all any less tough - so whilst you are of course entitled to jump down my throat I would ask that you take a very long, pensive run-up. Ideas - boring, kindly, mentalist, pat/maternal (any or all) - appreciated.
On that note - Hendricks, anyone?
firstly having worked with and discussed crohns disease with 2 ex colleagues the first issue that comes to mind is that you would be better off with private facilities and in self catering. it might also help to be fairly close to home. Given the fact you have had offers from such prestigious unis I would suggest going to neither and looking into either kings to be near your consultant or Exeter which has a lot of self catered halls with private facilities. the rd and e also has an expert consultant in crohns. it might also looking into other unis with this kind of accommodation. the other alternative is to speak to durham explain you need self catering and private facilities for your condition and see if they can accommodate you. contact kings exeter or any other uni before withdrawing and applying under extra
Ouch, that's painful. I can sympathise about Crohn's - I was diagnosed with it a couple of years ago and it cost me my first career. You've not said how much it still affects you, but if you can I wouldn't necessarily follow the above poster's advice - I've found it's much better to virtually ignore it and not make decisions based on it, but it's well controlled for me. (The consultant I see is also in London - I'm spending a year 5,000 miles away, so you don't necessarily need to be round the corner)
Sounds like the first thing you need to do is establish precisely what your options are. Write to Oxford/Cambridge and ask them if they're prepared to consider your application again, and try and get their response in writing. I had a slightly bizarre situation with Bristol (a few years back) where I was offered a place with CCC (without interview, and typical offer was AAA) and got BBD. I was rejected and had no insurance (CCC was my lowest offer anyway). I was dead set on Bristol and was told if I resat my exams and re-applied I would be considered as though I were a new applicant - but got flat out rejected straightaway. Expensive lesson that.
Once you've established your options you can work out what your preferred option is. To be blunt the quality of college accommodation isn't something to get too worked up over - it needs to be habitable, but beyond that you're only living there for 8 months or so, and probably 6 weeks of that will be holiday anyway. After that you can find somewhere else with your friends. I was deeply unimpressed by Southampton both times I visited, but decided to go anyway and had a great time there and don't regret it one bit. I can't say anything for St Andrews but my brother had a great time at Durham. Within reason I think if you're going to have a good time at uni you'll have a good time wherever you go.
Anyway good luck. I can understand the situation you're in, I've been in similar myself, but if you stay positive and work towards the things you want (even if you have to modify those aims a little) then actually life can turn out pretty great.
Lastly, Hendricks? I'd love some!
Sounds like the first thing you need to do is establish precisely what your options are. Write to Oxford/Cambridge and ask them if they're prepared to consider your application again, and try and get their response in writing. I had a slightly bizarre situation with Bristol (a few years back) where I was offered a place with CCC (without interview, and typical offer was AAA) and got BBD. I was rejected and had no insurance (CCC was my lowest offer anyway). I was dead set on Bristol and was told if I resat my exams and re-applied I would be considered as though I were a new applicant - but got flat out rejected straightaway. Expensive lesson that.
Once you've established your options you can work out what your preferred option is. To be blunt the quality of college accommodation isn't something to get too worked up over - it needs to be habitable, but beyond that you're only living there for 8 months or so, and probably 6 weeks of that will be holiday anyway. After that you can find somewhere else with your friends. I was deeply unimpressed by Southampton both times I visited, but decided to go anyway and had a great time there and don't regret it one bit. I can't say anything for St Andrews but my brother had a great time at Durham. Within reason I think if you're going to have a good time at uni you'll have a good time wherever you go.
Anyway good luck. I can understand the situation you're in, I've been in similar myself, but if you stay positive and work towards the things you want (even if you have to modify those aims a little) then actually life can turn out pretty great.
Lastly, Hendricks? I'd love some!
I can only tell you that the people I worked with have suffered with crohns for 20 years and have great knowledge. this is a link to the gut in Exeter I was referring to
http://www.nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/exeter/30829/consultants/dr-tariq-ahmad
http://www.nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/exeter/30829/consultants/dr-tariq-ahmad
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