Chances at Oxbridge (Law) with extenuating circumstances? Does my situation count?
Hi, I have recently received my A Level grades which I have already predicted were not going to be sufficient enough for Russell Group universities for law (they require A*AA) .
I received A*BB (Eng Lit, Maths, Physics) but I have some circumstances that have affected my studies. I might retake 2 of my A Levels and do an additional one in my gap year.
I live with a single mum and we’ve always struggled financially. When I turned 16 I was always job hunting and even trying to be a self employed music teacher to help ends meet. At 17 I found a decent part time job to help pay off her debts, food and keep the house. I was working Monday to Thursday with early morning shifts getting up at 3am and leaving for school at 8.30am. Not only that but my father who I had a complicated relationship with passed away suddenly when I was 17 and it made my existing mental health worse. My depression and work exhaustion caused me to miss many mornings and days at school. I was on a full education bursary, music scholarship and had free school meals at the private school I went to.
Before this I did have mental health issues but they were not as bad and did not affect my academic performance at GCSE.
I received: 9999999998
When I applied for Oxford (my teachers pushed up my grades at my request despite poor AS results), my LNAT was pretty good (31 on multiple choice and Oxford marked 64 for my essay)
If I reapply do you think I have a chance at Oxbridge anymore? I don’t know if my situation is bad enough since I know extenuating circumstances are more for people who get displaced or injured or suffer from something catastrophic.
Any help would be greatly appreciated 🙃
I received A*BB (Eng Lit, Maths, Physics) but I have some circumstances that have affected my studies. I might retake 2 of my A Levels and do an additional one in my gap year.
I live with a single mum and we’ve always struggled financially. When I turned 16 I was always job hunting and even trying to be a self employed music teacher to help ends meet. At 17 I found a decent part time job to help pay off her debts, food and keep the house. I was working Monday to Thursday with early morning shifts getting up at 3am and leaving for school at 8.30am. Not only that but my father who I had a complicated relationship with passed away suddenly when I was 17 and it made my existing mental health worse. My depression and work exhaustion caused me to miss many mornings and days at school. I was on a full education bursary, music scholarship and had free school meals at the private school I went to.
Before this I did have mental health issues but they were not as bad and did not affect my academic performance at GCSE.
I received: 9999999998
When I applied for Oxford (my teachers pushed up my grades at my request despite poor AS results), my LNAT was pretty good (31 on multiple choice and Oxford marked 64 for my essay)
If I reapply do you think I have a chance at Oxbridge anymore? I don’t know if my situation is bad enough since I know extenuating circumstances are more for people who get displaced or injured or suffer from something catastrophic.
Any help would be greatly appreciated 🙃
I am truly sorry to hear of the difficulties which you and your mother face.
When you applied to Oxford last year,
(1) did your school mention the circumstances you describe?
(2) did Oxford make you an offer?
If (1) yes, and (2) yes, I assume that you missed the offer. You could contact the college which made the offer, explain how circumstances weighed on you between January and June of this year and ask if the college will still accept you.
If (1) yes, and (2) no, then Oxford has already decided that your circumstances were not sufficient to support admitting you to the university.
If (1) no, and (2) no, you will face an uphill struggle to obtain an offer with A*BB, but, if you and/or your school can put forward a compelling case as to your circumstances, you might have a chance.
Re-sits may be your best option.
Good luck. I hope that things get better for you and your Mother.
When you applied to Oxford last year,
(1) did your school mention the circumstances you describe?
(2) did Oxford make you an offer?
If (1) yes, and (2) yes, I assume that you missed the offer. You could contact the college which made the offer, explain how circumstances weighed on you between January and June of this year and ask if the college will still accept you.
If (1) yes, and (2) no, then Oxford has already decided that your circumstances were not sufficient to support admitting you to the university.
If (1) no, and (2) no, you will face an uphill struggle to obtain an offer with A*BB, but, if you and/or your school can put forward a compelling case as to your circumstances, you might have a chance.
Re-sits may be your best option.
Good luck. I hope that things get better for you and your Mother.
(edited 3 months ago)
Sorry to hear of your circumstances.
Just one thing to add, be careful on resitting, not all universities will take resits and those that do, especially higher tier ones, tend to want to see all resits taken in the same year. Obviously your circumstances might change that but that’s the norm.
I would say that you have good enough grades to get into somewhere like Sheffield or York now but if that’s not your goal… If you’re wanting Oxford, LSE etc then resits would be needed. But check on their resit policy.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
Just one thing to add, be careful on resitting, not all universities will take resits and those that do, especially higher tier ones, tend to want to see all resits taken in the same year. Obviously your circumstances might change that but that’s the norm.
I would say that you have good enough grades to get into somewhere like Sheffield or York now but if that’s not your goal… If you’re wanting Oxford, LSE etc then resits would be needed. But check on their resit policy.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
Original post by Ejb1774
Hi, I have recently received my A Level grades which I have already predicted were not going to be sufficient enough for Russell Group universities for law (they require A*AA) .
I received A*BB (Eng Lit, Maths, Physics) but I have some circumstances that have affected my studies. I might retake 2 of my A Levels and do an additional one in my gap year.
I live with a single mum and we’ve always struggled financially. When I turned 16 I was always job hunting and even trying to be a self employed music teacher to help ends meet. At 17 I found a decent part time job to help pay off her debts, food and keep the house. I was working Monday to Thursday with early morning shifts getting up at 3am and leaving for school at 8.30am. Not only that but my father who I had a complicated relationship with passed away suddenly when I was 17 and it made my existing mental health worse. My depression and work exhaustion caused me to miss many mornings and days at school. I was on a full education bursary, music scholarship and had free school meals at the private school I went to.
Before this I did have mental health issues but they were not as bad and did not affect my academic performance at GCSE.
I received: 9999999998
When I applied for Oxford (my teachers pushed up my grades at my request despite poor AS results), my LNAT was pretty good (31 on multiple choice and Oxford marked 64 for my essay)
If I reapply do you think I have a chance at Oxbridge anymore? I don’t know if my situation is bad enough since I know extenuating circumstances are more for people who get displaced or injured or suffer from something catastrophic.
Any help would be greatly appreciated 🙃
I received A*BB (Eng Lit, Maths, Physics) but I have some circumstances that have affected my studies. I might retake 2 of my A Levels and do an additional one in my gap year.
I live with a single mum and we’ve always struggled financially. When I turned 16 I was always job hunting and even trying to be a self employed music teacher to help ends meet. At 17 I found a decent part time job to help pay off her debts, food and keep the house. I was working Monday to Thursday with early morning shifts getting up at 3am and leaving for school at 8.30am. Not only that but my father who I had a complicated relationship with passed away suddenly when I was 17 and it made my existing mental health worse. My depression and work exhaustion caused me to miss many mornings and days at school. I was on a full education bursary, music scholarship and had free school meals at the private school I went to.
Before this I did have mental health issues but they were not as bad and did not affect my academic performance at GCSE.
I received: 9999999998
When I applied for Oxford (my teachers pushed up my grades at my request despite poor AS results), my LNAT was pretty good (31 on multiple choice and Oxford marked 64 for my essay)
If I reapply do you think I have a chance at Oxbridge anymore? I don’t know if my situation is bad enough since I know extenuating circumstances are more for people who get displaced or injured or suffer from something catastrophic.
Any help would be greatly appreciated 🙃
Given your circumstances some universities may give you a “contextual offer” that takes your adversities into account. I recommend that you contact their admissions teams directly.
Original post by Ejb1774
Hi, I have recently received my A Level grades which I have already predicted were not going to be sufficient enough for Russell Group universities for law (they require A*AA) .
I received A*BB (Eng Lit, Maths, Physics) but I have some circumstances that have affected my studies. I might retake 2 of my A Levels and do an additional one in my gap year.
I live with a single mum and we’ve always struggled financially. When I turned 16 I was always job hunting and even trying to be a self employed music teacher to help ends meet. At 17 I found a decent part time job to help pay off her debts, food and keep the house. I was working Monday to Thursday with early morning shifts getting up at 3am and leaving for school at 8.30am. Not only that but my father who I had a complicated relationship with passed away suddenly when I was 17 and it made my existing mental health worse. My depression and work exhaustion caused me to miss many mornings and days at school. I was on a full education bursary, music scholarship and had free school meals at the private school I went to.
Before this I did have mental health issues but they were not as bad and did not affect my academic performance at GCSE.
I received: 9999999998
When I applied for Oxford (my teachers pushed up my grades at my request despite poor AS results), my LNAT was pretty good (31 on multiple choice and Oxford marked 64 for my essay)
If I reapply do you think I have a chance at Oxbridge anymore? I don’t know if my situation is bad enough since I know extenuating circumstances are more for people who get displaced or injured or suffer from something catastrophic.
Any help would be greatly appreciated 🙃
I received A*BB (Eng Lit, Maths, Physics) but I have some circumstances that have affected my studies. I might retake 2 of my A Levels and do an additional one in my gap year.
I live with a single mum and we’ve always struggled financially. When I turned 16 I was always job hunting and even trying to be a self employed music teacher to help ends meet. At 17 I found a decent part time job to help pay off her debts, food and keep the house. I was working Monday to Thursday with early morning shifts getting up at 3am and leaving for school at 8.30am. Not only that but my father who I had a complicated relationship with passed away suddenly when I was 17 and it made my existing mental health worse. My depression and work exhaustion caused me to miss many mornings and days at school. I was on a full education bursary, music scholarship and had free school meals at the private school I went to.
Before this I did have mental health issues but they were not as bad and did not affect my academic performance at GCSE.
I received: 9999999998
When I applied for Oxford (my teachers pushed up my grades at my request despite poor AS results), my LNAT was pretty good (31 on multiple choice and Oxford marked 64 for my essay)
If I reapply do you think I have a chance at Oxbridge anymore? I don’t know if my situation is bad enough since I know extenuating circumstances are more for people who get displaced or injured or suffer from something catastrophic.
Any help would be greatly appreciated 🙃
Do you have an innate desire to study law or is a career in law your priority? If the latter, do a degree in a subject such as history in a RG university, aim for a First, build your CV and do a conversion course afterwards (hopefully funded by an employer).
Original post by Ejb1774
Hi, I have recently received my A Level grades which I have already predicted were not going to be sufficient enough for Russell Group universities for law (they require A*AA) .
I received A*BB (Eng Lit, Maths, Physics) but I have some circumstances that have affected my studies. I might retake 2 of my A Levels and do an additional one in my gap year.
I live with a single mum and we’ve always struggled financially. When I turned 16 I was always job hunting and even trying to be a self employed music teacher to help ends meet. At 17 I found a decent part time job to help pay off her debts, food and keep the house. I was working Monday to Thursday with early morning shifts getting up at 3am and leaving for school at 8.30am. Not only that but my father who I had a complicated relationship with passed away suddenly when I was 17 and it made my existing mental health worse. My depression and work exhaustion caused me to miss many mornings and days at school. I was on a full education bursary, music scholarship and had free school meals at the private school I went to.
Before this I did have mental health issues but they were not as bad and did not affect my academic performance at GCSE.
I received: 9999999998
When I applied for Oxford (my teachers pushed up my grades at my request despite poor AS results), my LNAT was pretty good (31 on multiple choice and Oxford marked 64 for my essay)
If I reapply do you think I have a chance at Oxbridge anymore? I don’t know if my situation is bad enough since I know extenuating circumstances are more for people who get displaced or injured or suffer from something catastrophic.
Any help would be greatly appreciated 🙃
I received A*BB (Eng Lit, Maths, Physics) but I have some circumstances that have affected my studies. I might retake 2 of my A Levels and do an additional one in my gap year.
I live with a single mum and we’ve always struggled financially. When I turned 16 I was always job hunting and even trying to be a self employed music teacher to help ends meet. At 17 I found a decent part time job to help pay off her debts, food and keep the house. I was working Monday to Thursday with early morning shifts getting up at 3am and leaving for school at 8.30am. Not only that but my father who I had a complicated relationship with passed away suddenly when I was 17 and it made my existing mental health worse. My depression and work exhaustion caused me to miss many mornings and days at school. I was on a full education bursary, music scholarship and had free school meals at the private school I went to.
Before this I did have mental health issues but they were not as bad and did not affect my academic performance at GCSE.
I received: 9999999998
When I applied for Oxford (my teachers pushed up my grades at my request despite poor AS results), my LNAT was pretty good (31 on multiple choice and Oxford marked 64 for my essay)
If I reapply do you think I have a chance at Oxbridge anymore? I don’t know if my situation is bad enough since I know extenuating circumstances are more for people who get displaced or injured or suffer from something catastrophic.
Any help would be greatly appreciated 🙃
Hey! Sorry that you’ve had such a hard time, your grades are amazing considering what you have faced. You can definitely try again if it’s what you really want - just see if you can contact them about your circumstances to see if they are willing to take it into consideration. Another thing you could consider is their equivalent to a foundation year at Oxford, which would add an extra year onto your course but might mean you don’t have to resit. If you haven’t already I’d recommend checking if you are eligible: https://foundationyear.ox.ac.uk
Considering the strength of your application last time I’m sure you’ll be able to do it again!
I wish you all the best
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