underpredicted and want to go to cambridge

hi,
my predicted grades are likely A*AAA in maths, physics, fm and chem for studying engineering, for context, i go to a HIGHLY achieving state grammar school where the grade boundary for our chemistry mock was 92% for an A*

now, i got all 9s at gcse and so am definitely someone who works hard and does lots of supercurriculars. although i'm happy to take a gap year, i'm a bit unsure as to whether i stand a chance to even get an interview at cambridge/imperial since i'm a grade below the entry requirement (A*A*A)

Does anyone have any advice? I'm so stressed

Ask your school for increased A* for subjects where you only got A, see how many marks you are off (if its 1 or 2 then you have a rlly good chance) and show them a plan to get A* grade, talk to them about how you will achieve this and work really hard to demonstrate your 'effort' for the rest of y12 and start of y13, predicted UCAS grades can always be changed!

Be proactive in class, ask and answer Qs and ask for extension work.

Honestly I've tried but my school is EXTREMELY strict with predicteds i'm aiming for 4A*s in my real alevels but just a bit ****ed off since if I had gone to a different sixth form the outcome would likely be different.

Appreciate the advice though

Why Cambridge though? My 4 x A* students don't choose to apply as there's no year in industry so getting a job is more tricky. I'd avoid Imperial as it's very toxic ...

I've been going there since I was a kid. I'm aware the course is highly theoretical but I can truly see myself there, not to mention I've spoken to engineering students there who've all said good things!

Why Cambridge though? My 4 x A* students don't choose to apply as there's no year in industry so getting a job is more tricky. I'd avoid Imperial as it's very toxic ...

how is imperial toxic? im intrigued lol

how is imperial toxic? im intrigued lol

is there another subject that you would like to read at Cambridge and has entry grade requirements that you can meet?

please ignore if you are set on engineering

i don't know if Cambridge will accept an application with a grade below the entry requirement

i would still apply to Cambridge and see how they respond

if they reject the application based on the grades, i might retake the exams to score higher

i am not sure if you are in a position to do this

Perhaps your school has another set of mocks just b4 oct? Mine does it

You get 5 choices. Put Cambridge as one of them and see how you get on.

At the same time apply for yini placements for a gap year and visit your other 4 choices.

If you don’t get a cam offer and you get the grades you hope for yini + reapply to Cambridge.
If you don’t get a can offer and don’t get the grades you hope for then you can still take a gap year with yini but start a degree at one of your other choices either.

My advice is to drop one of your subjects and focus on getting your grades in 3 subjects instead.