my college is awful

1

Hi,
I had predicted grades A* A*A and was thinking of applying to Cambridge for Law. I did a residential at Trinity this summer and loved it. My sixth form college which is brand new got in new tutor who doesn't believe in pushing students and refuses to give As to avoid mental health pressure. My 6 assessments in year 12 last year were all A*and As and suddenly she said she'll be predicting Bs as it is more realistic. My college aspirations are BCC and anyone aiming higher is even looked down on. I'm torn. Shall I skip applying this year and apply after my A levels? I heard Cambridge prefer straight our of college so am I decreasing my chances?

Reply 1

Stiffy Byng

19

Maybe have a polite discussion about predicted grades with your teacher and/or someone senior to her in the sixth form college. Otherwise, wait and apply with achieved grades if they are good enough. Cambridge won't mark you down for doing so, and there are many benefits to a gap year provided that you don't just rot in bed, which no doubt you wouldn't do.

Reply 2

Anonymous #1

I don't think Cambridge has any sort of preference to those applying straight out of college x Having your grades already is rather beneficial so if you do think it's better to take a gap year and put your absolute best into your A levels go for it!

Reply 3

A Light Lilt

8

Original post by Rafakurt1

Hi,
I had predicted grades A* A*A and was thinking of applying to Cambridge for Law. I did a residential at Trinity this summer and loved it. My sixth form college which is brand new got in new tutor who doesn't believe in pushing students and refuses to give As to avoid mental health pressure. My 6 assessments in year 12 last year were all A*and As and suddenly she said she'll be predicting Bs as it is more realistic. My college aspirations are BCC and anyone aiming higher is even looked down on. I'm torn. Shall I skip applying this year and apply after my A levels? I heard Cambridge prefer straight our of college so am I decreasing my chances?

If your B prediction is nonsense (i.e. you have actual timed mocks or tests done under exam conditions where you got an A or better) then you need to put your foot down on insisting on an A prediction at minimum.

I would start by clearly explaining to the teacher why you need an A/A* prediction for university. If this does not work I would go to either the head of [subject], whoever is in charge of UCAS (perhaps head of the sixth form college) or some other senior staff and/or get your parent/ guardian involved because it is nonsense for this to block your application.

As for the question "would being predicted A-Level grades below the offer matter": yes it probably would, as while predictions are often inaccurate it is usually because they are overestimating ability and not underestimating it.

Reapplying doesnt necessarily put you in a better or worse position, but for a subject competitive as law if you do want to reapply, I strongly encourage you to get A*A*A*.

Reply 4

Stiffy Byng

19

Original post by A Light Lilt

If your B prediction is nonsense (i.e. you have actual timed mocks or tests done under exam conditions where you got an A or better) then you need to put your foot down on insisting on an A prediction at minimum.
I would start by clearly explaining to the teacher why you need an A/A* prediction for university. If this does not work I would go to either the head of [subject], whoever is in charge of UCAS (perhaps head of the sixth form college) or some other senior staff and/or get your parent/ guardian involved because it is nonsense for this to block your application.
As for the question "would being predicted A-Level grades below the offer matter": yes it probably would, as while predictions are often inaccurate it is usually because they are overestimating ability and not underestimating it.
Reapplying doesnt necessarily put you in a better or worse position, but for a subject competitive as law if you do want to reapply, I strongly encourage you to get A*A*A*.

For law, you need three A levels, not four. Cambridge looks at applications in the round. Some confuse correlation with causation when they look at the sixth form exam results of Cambridge undergraduates.

Reply 5

Anonymous #2

Your lucky that you have a teacher who isn’t pushy and is understanding of student’s mental health. I had a tutor who was the opposite of that who was really pushy and when I told her I was depressed just put me in a detention and threatened to kick me off the course. As for Cambridge uni it isn’t as glamorous as you think. People do drugs there and have taken their own lives form stress. The pressure at Cambridge is high. They will push you. Not to mention the difficult entrance exam as well before you get an interview and can get in. Best of luck mate.

Reply 6

Picnicl

17

Original post by Anonymous

Your lucky that you have a teacher who isn’t pushy and is understanding of student’s mental health. I had a tutor who was the opposite of that who was really pushy and when I told her I was depressed just put me in a detention and threatened to kick me off the course. As for Cambridge uni it isn’t as glamorous as you think. People do drugs there and have taken their own lives form stress. The pressure at Cambridge is high. They will push you. Not to mention the difficult entrance exam as well before you get an interview and can get in. Best of luck mate.

My impression of Cambridge as a tourist is that I'd rather be at Oxford as a student because at least there's a sense of a separate city life to have a juxtaposition. Hence why Cambridge has more of a reputation of attracting more of the 'all work and no play' types. Cambridge arguably looks prettier on the street, with striking contrasts of architecture from different eras more easily apparent than at Oxford, but prettiness only goes so far in creating the best environment for most modern students, even most very clever ones.

(edited 10 months ago)

Reply 7

Stiffy Byng

19

People take drugs at every university. Sadly, a small number of people kill themselves while at university, although suicide is less common amongst university students than it is amongst the population as a whole. The number of suicides at Oxford and Cambridge is, contrary to popular misperception, not as high as it is at other competitive universities. One suicide is one too many, and each suicide is a tragedy, but the incidence of suicide at universities is quite low.

(edited 10 months ago)

Reply 8

Anonymous #3

Original post by Rafakurt1

Hi,
I had predicted grades A* A*A and was thinking of applying to Cambridge for Law. I did a residential at Trinity this summer and loved it. My sixth form college which is brand new got in new tutor who doesn't believe in pushing students and refuses to give As to avoid mental health pressure. My 6 assessments in year 12 last year were all A*and As and suddenly she said she'll be predicting Bs as it is more realistic. My college aspirations are BCC and anyone aiming higher is even looked down on. I'm torn. Shall I skip applying this year and apply after my A levels? I heard Cambridge prefer straight our of college so am I decreasing my chances?

I would also suggest speaking to someone more senior than her, if the way she is predicting goes against your school's predicted grade policies. If this is not possible, I feel applying next year with achieved As or higher is likely to give you a better change of getting in than with predicted Bs, though obviously it is never guaranteed either way.

Reply 9

Fibonacci28

15

Hi there,

I'm a Cambridge student who applied for a deferred offer, and got it. So I applied before I achieved my grades and got in, but then still took a gap year before going. Hence, Cambridge won't worry too much about you not going straight from school.

It would of course be easier if your school would predict better grades. I agree with some of the people above, you should see if you can talk to someone higher up, and definitely try and get the new predicted grades 'policy' in writing.
Cambridge is usually good at understanding school differences and difficulties, and if you have in writing that the only reason they're predicting that is nothing to do with your performance, they may be more open to you applying this year.

If not, then applying next year with achieved grades just gives you an opportunity for getting some experience and also earning some money in your gap year. That was part of my reason for taking a gap year, and having that additional funding cushion has been invaluable.

I'm sorry you're having to deal with this, but I'm sure you can be successful anyway. If you have any further questions about anything I've said or about cambridge in general from someone who actually goes there, then let me know.

my college is awful

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