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Rejected- why?!

jcevans2

I dont want to go over the top but I have just been rejected with no clue why. Im predicted 3 As, have 2 distinctions at AEA. WTF??!! :mad:

I was down to do Eastern European studies and Politics. Why could I have been rejected? Is my PS Awful- oh my god!

I got rejected today from the exact same course at UCL. I was predicted AAB and had a great reference and I was very happy with my PS. What can you do eh?
Its just as well East Anglia is my first choice really.

Reply 21

A Stranger in Moscow

12

rosa.s.

Heya,

An empathetic message- i have 12 A* at GCSE, straight As at AS and am predicted eight As at A level- and i just got rejected. I thought i had plenty of extra curricular too, so am a bit disappointed (sorry that sounds arrogant). I have applied for PPE elsewhere (have an offer from Mancs and applied to Ox) as well as pol and econ at some (LSE and Edinburgh). I have applied for feedback, and i don't think there is anything like glaringly wrong in my PS, (otherwise surely wouldn't have been offered place elsewhere). Only thing i can think is that it is my personal statement is written VERY much for a PPE...i thought this would be OK as UCL advertises ESPS as being like a PPE with learning another langauge.
A bit worried others will follow suit now...also, UCL was my 3rd preference, so i will end up at fourth if no offer from LSE and Ox...which if UCL don't want me seems probable!

8???

Reply 22

Absurd

16

It could've been your personal statement, it could've been your reference, it might just be that they had a terribly high calibre of applicants this year. Don't let this get you down too much. Good luck with your other applications.

Reply 23

nemnem

2

UCL seem to be rejecting a lot of people for EESP I nearly applied as well, I'm glad I didn't I certainly wouldn't have gotten in!
What do they want from us?!?!?! lol

Reply 24

XENOCIDE

how quickly does UCL answer back? i am planning on submitting my economics application tonite so wondering . .

Reply 25

username201971

I sent on the 6th of october, and heard today

Reply 26

darkness9999

9

omg... i hope that they wont reject me ... i also got As predicted and Aea's

Reply 27

R@f@y

Hey darkness,

what do you think about Applied ICT ????

Reply 28

shengoc

12

rosa.s.

Heya,

An empathetic message- i have 12 A* at GCSE, straight As at AS and am predicted eight As at A level- and i just got rejected. I thought i had plenty of extra curricular too, so am a bit disappointed (sorry that sounds arrogant). I have applied for PPE elsewhere (have an offer from Mancs and applied to Ox) as well as pol and econ at some (LSE and Edinburgh). I have applied for feedback, and i don't think there is anything like glaringly wrong in my PS, (otherwise surely wouldn't have been offered place elsewhere). Only thing i can think is that it is my personal statement is written VERY much for a PPE...i thought this would be OK as UCL advertises ESPS as being like a PPE with learning another langauge.
A bit worried others will follow suit now...also, UCL was my 3rd preference, so i will end up at fourth if no offer from LSE and Ox...which if UCL don't want me seems probable!

That is damn impressive man, but hey, quality not quantity matters, after all different people have different strengths and weaknesses. But no worries, i am sure your impressive results would be a good thing.

Reply 29

Paulwhy

13

rosa.s.

Heya,

An empathetic message- i have 12 A* at GCSE, straight As at AS and am predicted eight As at A level- and i just got rejected. I thought i had plenty of extra curricular too, so am a bit disappointed (sorry that sounds arrogant). I have applied for PPE elsewhere (have an offer from Mancs and applied to Ox) as well as pol and econ at some (LSE and Edinburgh). I have applied for feedback, and i don't think there is anything like glaringly wrong in my PS, (otherwise surely wouldn't have been offered place elsewhere). Only thing i can think is that it is my personal statement is written VERY much for a PPE...i thought this would be OK as UCL advertises ESPS as being like a PPE with learning another langauge.
A bit worried others will follow suit now...also, UCL was my 3rd preference, so i will end up at fourth if no offer from LSE and Ox...which if UCL don't want me seems probable!

I think it is the PS.(But then it often is. i.e. whatever your academic record (and 8 A2 is bloody impressive even by today's standards!) you do need a PS that sells your interest in the particular course the uni is offering. And this is something that high academic achievers often find extra hard. i.e. trying to avoid just appearing arrogant)

Look at this from the UCL website:

Are you tempted by Politics, Philosophy and Economics or International Relations, but aware of the importance of a second language in today’s integrated Europe? Are you a talented linguist keen to become fluent but looking for more from your university education than just the language skills? Are you enthusiastic about a humanities subject, but aspiring to something broader than a straight three-year humanities degree? European Social and Political Studies (ESPS) is a challenging, flexible and diverse four-year degree programme, which attracts students from all over the world and launches graduates into careers from investment banking to the European Commission, journalism to law, the Civil Service to academia. It combines specialisation in a humanities or social science subject, with a broad base in European history, law, politics and philosophy, fluency in a European language, and the chance to spend a year in a continental European university.

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/esps/

Sounds to me like a strong PS for ESPS would want a lot more than just PPE. e.g. it would want languages, Law, history and social studies as well. But if your PS is good and is focused on PPE then you should be in a good position for Oxford.

Reply 30

astonish99

if unis are certain that u are gena get into either oxford or Cambridge they may turn u down. Happened to a mate of mine. Maybe they thought u'd make Oxbridge and turned u down cos of that.

Reply 31

darkness9999

9

R@f@y

Hey darkness,

what do you think about Applied ICT ????

to be honest... ict is a black listed subject ... and for competetive courses it isnt a "strong" subject either :nah:

Reply 32

Galatea

11

Paulwhy

I think it is the PS.(But then it often is. i.e. whatever your academic record (and 8 A2 is bloody impressive even by today's standards!) you do need a PS that sells your interest in the particular course the uni is offering. And this is something that high academic achievers often find extra hard. i.e. trying to avoid just appearing arrogant)

With this case I can't imagine that personal statement is so important that a lack of attention to one element of the course would overule an absolutely outstanding academic record; there is no way there would have been that many more stronger applicants on paper.

My brother applied for a politics course at bath (with 10 A*s and AABB at AS), which in fairness is not UCL (where he is now studying medicine) but is still bloody good, and got an offer even though he didn't mention politics anywhere on his personal statement, or even an interest in it (he was applying for medicine everywhere else, and this was his fifth choice). I really can't see the ps being that decisive, especially for a course that is particular to the univeristy anyway. It may possibly be the case that with rosa that UCL simply thought it unlikely she'd ever accept an offer from them, but that would still be a bit bizarre. hmm

Reply 33

Paulwhy

13

Galatea

With this case I can't imagine that personal statement is so important that a lack of attention to one element of the course would overule an absolutely outstanding academic record; there is no way there would have been that many more stronger applicants on paper.

My brother applied for a politics course at bath (with 10 A*s and AABB at AS), which in fairness is not UCL (where he is now studying medicine) but is still bloody good, and got an offer even though he didn't mention politics anywhere on his personal statement, or even an interest in it (he was applying for medicine everywhere else, and this was his fifth choice). I really can't see the ps being that decisive, especially for a course that is particular to the univeristy anyway. It may possibly be the case that with rosa that UCL simply thought it unlikely she'd ever accept an offer from them, but that would still be a bit bizarre. hmm

Bath is one thing UCL another (atleast for economics. Check out my sig threads if you want to know more).Yes ESPS is unique for UCL. But they will want mentions of languages, Law, history and social studies as well.

Reply 34

nellied

6

i would ask for some feedback and also ask your school/college if you can see your reference.

Was you PS geared directly for your course - sometimes they don't like a PS that is too general, although my bet would be on the ref.

Reply 35

username201971

Yeah, i've applied for feedback (don't know about jcevans2). The thing is i've seen my reference, and infact my whole application, so i'm sure predicted grades are right etc. and i was very happy with all of it....i think/HOPE(!) Paulwhy is right and it is just because my personal statement is not written for ESPS, though i did mention eastern europe when i talked about some reading on immigration (but that was literally all i did for ESPS...and i did reference specifically how well i think philos and eco go with pol;the whole thing reads totally as a PPE statement)...hopefully i'll find out why soon, though i've no idea how long it takes.

Reply 36

Emily246

on a similar note...i was also rejected from ucl yesterday, applied for esps, predicted AAA, got 4As at AS, 8A* and 3 As at GCSE, thought my personal statement and reference were both pretty good(!)....what went wrong!?
applying to cambridge durham bristol and lse so was relying on ucl but clearly no longer..gutted!

Reply 37

Paulwhy

13

rosa.s.

Yeah, i've applied for feedback (don't know about jcevans2). The thing is i've seen my reference, and infact my whole application, so i'm sure predicted grades are right etc. and i was very happy with all of it....i think/HOPE(!) Paulwhy is right and it is just because my personal statement is not written for ESPS, though i did mention eastern europe when i talked about some reading on immigration (but that was literally all i did for ESPS...and i did reference specifically how well i think philos and eco go with pol;the whole thing reads totally as a PPE statement)...hopefully i'll find out why soon, though i've no idea how long it takes.

Some courses give some feedback and some give none. i.e. they do not want to get involved in a debate or end up in a situation long term when applicants know what they need to say. So you may well never get an answer or atleast not a satisfactuary answer. :frown:

But hopefully you will get offers from the places you really want (e.g. Oxford) and then it all will be academic.

Reply 38

flugestuge

3

Emily246

on a similar note...i was also rejected from ucl yesterday, applied for esps, predicted AAA, got 4As at AS, 8A* and 3 As at GCSE, thought my personal statement and reference were both pretty good

Dont worry.
After all, would you really want to go to UCL ?

UCL probably realised that you are far too academically capable for them.
They realise that excellent candidates like you just use UCL as a safety/insurance choice and have no real intention of going there unless their applications to Oxford/Cambridge, LSE/ICL fail.

Reply 39

Ed.

17

flugestuge

Dont worry.
After all, would you really want to go to UCL ?

UCL probably realised that you are far too academically capable for them.
They realise that excellent candidates like you just use UCL as a safety/insurance choice and have no real intention of going there unless their applications to Oxford/Cambridge, LSE/ICL fail.

Ha ha, no. They are not going to reject candidates as part of an inferiority complex, UCL will want the best bloody candidates not the rejects.

Rejected- why?!

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