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Universities to apply to?

I am having trouble finalizing my choices for university.
For a little background, I am applying for math. I have A*A*A* predicted in math, further math and physics. I am also doing an EPQ artefact that consists of a learning resource on fairly complicated mathematical topic. This last thing related to epq is relevant since it might help differentiate me from other applicants. Also, I would say that my personal statement is quite strong as it highlights quite a lot of interest in the subject, and I feel as if the stuff I did quite stands out.

Now, my issue lies in which universities I should pick on UCAS. At the moment I am fairly confident I want to apply to Cambridge, Imperial, Warick and Durham. And for my last option I was thinking of either Edinburgh or Bath. Now I am unsure which one to pick. Edinburgh has a higher ranking than bath, but I liked bath much more when I visited. Also, bath has higher grade requirements with A*A*A (on the website it says A*AA but when I visited, they said that they changed the grade requirements but didn't update the website) and Edinburgh has A*AA -A*AB. This is important since all of the universities I'm applying to are not really safe options and I don't have any back up instead something happens.

My teacher told me to just pick what I like, and he said that what I'm aiming for are safe options for me. However, I am skeptical. I am worried of the scenario where I don't get any offers from my top picks: Cambridge, Imperial or Warick. I'm also worried that I might not meet the requirements for any university because all of my picks require A*A*A or more. Unless I pick Edinburgh as one of my options.

So, to summarize: Is Cambridge, Imperial, Warick, Durham and Bath a safe selection for myself? Is Edinburgh a much better option than Bath? Does the World ranking play a major role in the previous question?
Note I am an international student.

Reply 1

h__te

Hello, I think Edinburgh would be a suitable choice, especially given that ur an international, u never know what circumstances may occur, u may need to return home, or the exams dont go as well due to unforeseen conditions, so a uni with a higher ranking yet lower grade requirements would be better imo, if u like bath a lot you can consider swapping it with another of ur choices. Best of luck

Reply 2

McGinger

Have you been to the Open Days at any of these Unis?
If not, have you looked at any of the campus tours on their websites pr on YouTube?

Have you compared each course carefully - what are the differences?
Do all of these Uni offer Maths with a placement year - definitely worth doing.

'Rankings' etc can never tell you if you will like the course or enjoy being at that Uni.

Reply 3

UnkownAnonymous

Original post

by h__te

That makes perfect logical sense and that's why I'm hesitant to pick Bath over Edinburgh. I think I might have just placed Bath on a pedestal since I went to an open day and really liked the campus and facilities.

I will think about this more carefully, thank you

Reply 4

UnkownAnonymous

Original post

by McGinger

Have you been to the Open Days at any of these Unis?
If not, have you looked at any of the campus tours on their websites pr on YouTube?
Have you compared each course carefully - what are the differences?
Do all of these Uni offer Maths with a placement year - definitely worth doing.
'Rankings' etc can never tell you if you will like the course or enjoy being at that Uni.

So, I know the questions you pose might not require a written answer here and might act more as a way to get me thinking. However, I will still try to answer it here because I think it might be constructive.

I've went to an open day to Bath and really liked the campus and facilities. I am also a fan of the less crowded areas and cities so that might be a big reason why. I also visited Edinburgh, but no open day. I did look up online the facilities and it looked solid.

I just checked the course catalogue for each university, and this might have convinced me to apply to Edinburgh. It seems Edinburgh has way more courses and much more flexibility than Bath. I thank you very much, I never would have gone onto the course catalogue to actually see what they offered if it weren't for your question.

Also, they both offer placement years.

Again, thank you!

Reply 5

lalexm

Original post

by UnkownAnonymous

I am having trouble finalizing my choices for university.
For a little background, I am applying for math. I have A*A*A* predicted in math, further math and physics. I am also doing an EPQ artefact that consists of a learning resource on fairly complicated mathematical topic. This last thing related to epq is relevant since it might help differentiate me from other applicants. Also, I would say that my personal statement is quite strong as it highlights quite a lot of interest in the subject, and I feel as if the stuff I did quite stands out.
Now, my issue lies in which universities I should pick on UCAS. At the moment I am fairly confident I want to apply to Cambridge, Imperial, Warick and Durham. And for my last option I was thinking of either Edinburgh or Bath. Now I am unsure which one to pick. Edinburgh has a higher ranking than bath, but I liked bath much more when I visited. Also, bath has higher grade requirements with A*A*A (on the website it says A*AA but when I visited, they said that they changed the grade requirements but didn't update the website) and Edinburgh has A*AA -A*AB. This is important since all of the universities I'm applying to are not really safe options and I don't have any back up instead something happens.
My teacher told me to just pick what I like, and he said that what I'm aiming for are safe options for me. However, I am skeptical. I am worried of the scenario where I don't get any offers from my top picks: Cambridge, Imperial or Warick. I'm also worried that I might not meet the requirements for any university because all of my picks require A*A*A or more. Unless I pick Edinburgh as one of my options.
So, to summarize: Is Cambridge, Imperial, Warick, Durham and Bath a safe selection for myself? Is Edinburgh a much better option than Bath? Does the World ranking play a major role in the previous question?
Note I am an international student.

You really need one with lower requirements, A*AA max, ideally AAA. Your teacher is correct in that you will probably get into a few of your choices, but what will do for your insurance? If your exams don’t quite go to plan and you end up with say A*AA, it would be crazy if that resulted in you missing both your firm and insurance, and ending up in clearing.

Reply 6

Labradoodle1

You're basically guaranteed an offer for Warwick Maths, but it's gonna be hard to meet. Have a choice requiring lower grades that you'd still be happy to go to, perhaps A*AA-AAB.

Reply 7

Chikenwingwong

Original post

by UnkownAnonymous

I am having trouble finalizing my choices for university.
For a little background, I am applying for math. I have A*A*A* predicted in math, further math and physics. I am also doing an EPQ artefact that consists of a learning resource on fairly complicated mathematical topic. This last thing related to epq is relevant since it might help differentiate me from other applicants. Also, I would say that my personal statement is quite strong as it highlights quite a lot of interest in the subject, and I feel as if the stuff I did quite stands out.
Now, my issue lies in which universities I should pick on UCAS. At the moment I am fairly confident I want to apply to Cambridge, Imperial, Warick and Durham. And for my last option I was thinking of either Edinburgh or Bath. Now I am unsure which one to pick. Edinburgh has a higher ranking than bath, but I liked bath much more when I visited. Also, bath has higher grade requirements with A*A*A (on the website it says A*AA but when I visited, they said that they changed the grade requirements but didn't update the website) and Edinburgh has A*AA -A*AB. This is important since all of the universities I'm applying to are not really safe options and I don't have any back up instead something happens.
My teacher told me to just pick what I like, and he said that what I'm aiming for are safe options for me. However, I am skeptical. I am worried of the scenario where I don't get any offers from my top picks: Cambridge, Imperial or Warick. I'm also worried that I might not meet the requirements for any university because all of my picks require A*A*A or more. Unless I pick Edinburgh as one of my options.
So, to summarize: Is Cambridge, Imperial, Warick, Durham and Bath a safe selection for myself? Is Edinburgh a much better option than Bath? Does the World ranking play a major role in the previous question?
Note I am an international student.

Edinburgh favor international students highly

Reply 8

UnkownAnonymous

Original post

by lalexm

Yes, I was having this discussion with my parents today and they also thought about changing one of my options with an AAA. You are totally right, and I am most likely going to do that.

However, I already have Edinburgh with A*AA but that's just what they say on the website. I'm not sure if their offer will be something as low (in comparison to my other options) as A*AA.

So, I will take your advice.

Reply 9

UnkownAnonymous

Original post

by Labradoodle1

You're basically guaranteed an offer for Warwick Maths, but it's gonna be hard to meet. Have a choice requiring lower grades that you'd still be happy to go to, perhaps A*AA-AAB.

I heard Warick gives offers to 60% or 80% applicants, but the offers are too hard for most people to meet: A*A*A and 6.5 in TMUA or 2 in STEP.

As lalexm also stated, it would indeed be ideal to have a choice with lower grade requirements. And I agree with their proposal and yours as well.

And to reiterate, Edinburgh says that they give offers with A*AA-AAB however I am not sure how true that is. So that's my back up.

So, I will most likely change Durham with something with lower requirements.

Reply 10

UnkownAnonymous

Original post

by Chikenwingwong

Edinburgh favor international students highly

If you look at the admission statistics it would seem that you're perhaps right. The highest number of offers is made towards international students. However, it could be because there are more international applicants, 1500, whilst from Scotland and UK there are only 1000.
Undergraduate admissions statistics | Student Recruitment and Admissions (ed.ac.uk)