What if I don't meet the grades on my conditional offer

While my re-mark is pending, I am wondering what is the maximum one can miss in IB points? As in anyone know of any interesting cases? And who is put into the 'summer pool'? God im in agony :frown:

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Reply 1

Stick Man

First of all, I'm sorry to hear you've had such bad luck. I know you've been working zehr hard to meet your offer.

The official policies for last year's summer pool are at www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/admissions/handbook/appendices/summerpool.doc, and may be of some help. In particular I found this clause to be of some relevance:

"With the exception of applicants for Mathematics (with Computer Science/Physics), all applicants who have achieved three A grades (excluding General Studies) at A-level, who do not meet your conditions, should be pooled"

Of course, you are not studying A-levels, but if AAA is taken to be equivalent to 38 IB points and you have surpassed that, it is probable that the same policy will apply to you. Of course, I can't guarantee that, nor can I say that this information from last year will apply to this year at all.

(EDIT: the clause in question goes on to give offers dependent on STEP or AEAs *as an example*, but there is nothing to suggest that this would not apply to a high number of IB points).

Hopes this is of some use, and I'll see if I can hunt out something from student profile websites that can show as 'case studies'.

Reply 2

metaphysical

Oh thanks so much for the info stick man. I know i was shocked and appalled at my grades. HL 776, so thats amazing considering i didnt expect a 7 in history, but the SLs are screwed up. Really hope theres been an error as it applies to our whole class. I might still be getting 40 therefore, but not 42. Man this is just so bad, im really gutted.

Thanks agin though, u seemed to gather i tried **** hard :frown:

And it really was bad luck i reckon.

Reply 3

allanboy

I have been accepted at Cambridge, but I panicking if I don't make the required grade.
Are Cambridge likely to accept me anyway.

Reply 4

samba

No. You'll likely get pwnd.

Reply 5

Craghyrax

If you miss your offer by a very small number of marks you might be ok, but there's absolutely no guarantee. Nobody here can predict that for you.

Reply 6

bisou797

40 should be enough to get you in though, isnt it? i wouldve thought that if they liked you enough at interview to offer you a place, they would only reject you if you got under 38 or so (which is still a great mark...lucky you that youve finished forever, ive got another half a year of toil to go :wink:

)

Reply 7

samba

ouch. bad bad luck :frown:

Reply 8

metaphysical

yea with remarks itsdef gonna be no less than 39/40. Also my school is calling them like mad asking to wait for remarks.

Not really helping me as i am continuously in tears

Reply 9

Craghyrax

Don't be in tears. Especially as you don't know the final outcome yet ;console; I know it sounds horrible, but you can always reapply. I was rejected first time round.

Reply 10

metaphysical

Yea i know, its not the end of the world, but still feels a bit like it if u know what i mean.

I am just stupidly hoping and praying they still take me in. And that those bloody remarks hurry up!

Reply 11

Craghyrax

Yep. Been there. Not fun.

Reply 12

shinyhappy

Depends on the college and tutors in question. They will have people from the pool/whatever the Cambridge equivalent of open offers are though, so you're unlikely to be accepted. In previous years at my school, I know of one person who missed his offer, and wasn't let in, and one person who missed their offer but did get in - although he did have (somewhat dubious imo) 'extenuating circumstances'.

Reply 13

FadeToBlackout

I can't comment on the likelihood of it, but it does happen. I missed my offer but Clare still had me. Nevertheless, I'm probably a member of the small minority.

Anyone who doesn't meet their offer, if their original collage can't have them, is placed in the summer pool where all the colleges look at the applicants. I think half of the people who are pooled are "fished" into another college.

So, basically, there's a reasonable chance you'll still be able to go to Cambridge, albeit at a different college to where you applied, and a small chance you'll be able to go to that college, along with a reasonable chance you'll be rejected.

www.cam.ac.uk

In a few cases, applicants who have not quite met the conditions of their offer may still be offered a place, either at their original College, or at another College as a result of a small ‘summer pool’.

Reply 14

epitome

Metaphysical, do not panic.
1) You've informed Newnham about the situation. They know what's going on. That's fine.
2) A Level results come out on the 3rd Thursday of August (16th?). A decision won't be made until all the A Level candidates have been sorted. You've just got to wait & have patience.
3) You've applied for a remark. Your offer at Newnham hasn't been thrown in the bin - but you'll have to wait and see about the outcome. More waiting.

Try not to agonise over it too much (easier said than done, I know!) - and try to occupy your time with something suitably distracting to take your mind off it! Don't panic. :smile:

Reply 15

metaphysical

Thanks epitome- you have a way with calming people down i guess :smile:

It is true though, I'm leaving back to Moscow for a week so I am going to (unsuccessfully) try and NOT wreck my brain over it. Just hope really.

Thanks for feedback guys!

xx

Reply 16

v11

FadeToBlackout

Anyone who doesn't meet their offer, if their original collage can't have them, is placed in the summer pool.

Are you sure? I always thought that it was only those applicants who very narrowly missed their offer who were entered into the summer pool.

Reply 17

coldfish

I know of one person who, on not meeting his offer at Jesus, was offered a place at Homerton. Another person missed his offer from Homerton, and was accepted by them anyway. Make from this what you will.

Also, didn't Vanessa (Pikasomething on these boards) get fished by Queen's from Downing after she narrowly missed her IB offer? I might be remembering that wrongly.

So whilst it's not something you should rely on or expect, it -does- happen. And, in my experience, not all that uncommonly (but obviously I'd be more likely to know people who did get fished/taken anyway than people who didn't).

Reply 18

v11

I just wanted to say best of luck. I'm sure it will work out fine in the end, but it must be so annoying having to wait until mid August. I'm so scared I will miss my offer. :frown:

Reply 19

bourbon_creams

that's just a horrible thing to think about
but it's so likely because i did awfully.. i missed a whole question out on the latin literature paper..

hey.. and my teacher was off all year for my french literature class so i don't know my mark for my coursework...
if i fail french but get good in french advanced extension, would i be able to make a case ?