Advice for Oxbridge Foundation Year
10
Can someone give me some advice for the Oxford/Cambridge Foundation Year programmes?
I achieved BBB in my A-levels, underperforming due to medical issues and I meet the eligibility requirements for the Foundation Year.
I am retaking my A-levels this year not for the sole purpose of applying to Oxford or Cambridge as I already meet the BBB entry requirements for their Foundation Year programme but to apply to other universities and to realise my true potential.
My predicted grades are 3A*s (which is actually above the requirements for direct undergraduate study). I was predicted this last year but due to medical issues underperformed.
Would I be disadvantaged applying with such high predicted grades as the only reason I didn’t apply for direct undergraduate study is because I thought BBB was too low for it? So, I was in a bit of a pickle with grades too low for direct study and predicted grades too high for the Foundation Year. Also, it’s too late to apply for direct undergraduate study.
I achieved BBB in my A-levels, underperforming due to medical issues and I meet the eligibility requirements for the Foundation Year.
I am retaking my A-levels this year not for the sole purpose of applying to Oxford or Cambridge as I already meet the BBB entry requirements for their Foundation Year programme but to apply to other universities and to realise my true potential.
My predicted grades are 3A*s (which is actually above the requirements for direct undergraduate study). I was predicted this last year but due to medical issues underperformed.
Would I be disadvantaged applying with such high predicted grades as the only reason I didn’t apply for direct undergraduate study is because I thought BBB was too low for it? So, I was in a bit of a pickle with grades too low for direct study and predicted grades too high for the Foundation Year. Also, it’s too late to apply for direct undergraduate study.
Reply 1
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Reply 2
11
In another thread you mentioned you achieved A*A*B. Anyways it doesn't really matter because your options are the following:
So long story short, in your case right now it doesn't really matter that you achieved BBB or A*A*B or A*A*A*. With such predicted grades (A*A*A*) you can apply to top unis while also applying to the FY, in your case you might want to apply to the Cambridge one for reasons mentioned above. Or another valid option into Oxbridge is to apply next year, either way you would be starting the undergrad course in 2026 regardless. So it depends on what you want.
Hope this was useful.
1.
If you decide to go for the Cambridge one you don't have to worry about your grades being too high, for the Oxford one they mentioned a few times that if you meet the undergrad entry requirement you should apply for the direct entry instead
2.
It doesn't cost anything to try, you meet the grade requirement for both FY programmes and I am assuming you meet the eligibility criteria, so apply and see how it goes, from there you might consider the following routes:
3.
you get rejected >> you can decide to wait till Oct 2025 to apply to the direct entry to Oxbridge for 2026-2027 when you get your new grades (that would require you to take what will basically be another gap year, but there is nothing wrong with that, you can use that time to work, revise, travel etc..)
4.
you get a place >> you can accept your place for the FY, go onto achieving your new A level grades, spend a year on the FY at whichever university you decide to apply to and then if you pass the FY at the required level you can enter the undergrad course in 2026-2027.
Hope this was useful.
Reply 3
m_040106
OP
10
Original post
by anonycatt In another thread you mentioned you achieved A*A*B. Anyways it doesn't really matter because your options are the following:
So long story short, in your case right now it doesn't really matter that you achieved BBB or A*A*B or A*A*A*. With such predicted grades (A*A*A*) you can apply to top unis while also applying to the FY, in your case you might want to apply to the Cambridge one for reasons mentioned above. Or another valid option into Oxbridge is to apply next year, either way you would be starting the undergrad course in 2026 regardless. So it depends on what you want.
Hope this was useful.
1.
If you decide to go for the Cambridge one you don't have to worry about your grades being too high, for the Oxford one they mentioned a few times that if you meet the undergrad entry requirement you should apply for the direct entry instead
2.
It doesn't cost anything to try, you meet the grade requirement for both FY programmes and I am assuming you meet the eligibility, so apply and see how it goes, from there you might consider the following routes:
3.
you get rejected >> you can decide to wait till Oct 2025 to apply to the direct entry to Oxbridge for 2026-2027 when you get your new grades (that would require you to take what will basically be another gap year, but there is nothing wrong with that, you can use that time to work, revise, travel etc..)
4.
you get a place >> you can accept your place for the FY, go onto achieving your new A level grades, spend a year on the FY at whichever university you decide to apply to and then if you pass the FY at the required grades you can enter the undergrad course in 2026-2027.
Hope this was useful.
I just want to know if I made a mistake by not applying for direct entry in October 2024?
I did my LNAT exam for law as that’s what I want to study and it went so well and my personal statement is so good as well and I have strong extenuating circumstances to back up why I underperformed.
I was so scared they wouldn’t accept A-level resits and would look down on the BBB grades. From what you know, do you think I could have stood a chance if I applied for normal entry this year?
Reply 4
11
Original post
by m_040106I just want to know if I made a mistake by not applying for direct entry in October 2024?
I did my LNAT exam for law as that’s what I want to study and it went so well and my personal statement is so good as well and I have strong extenuating circumstances to back up why I underperformed.
I was so scared they wouldn’t accept A-level resits and would look down on the BBB grades. From what you know, do you think I could have stood a chance if I applied for normal entry this year?
I did my LNAT exam for law as that’s what I want to study and it went so well and my personal statement is so good as well and I have strong extenuating circumstances to back up why I underperformed.
I was so scared they wouldn’t accept A-level resits and would look down on the BBB grades. From what you know, do you think I could have stood a chance if I applied for normal entry this year?
If I have to be honest I highly doubt that they would have considered you with BBB, regardless of your extenuating circumstances, that's what the foundation year is there for now.
So in my opinion you did not make a mistake, if we have to keep it real, BBB is too low for any Oxbridge course.
Also that's in the past, the deadline is gone, you cannot do anything about it, so just let it go and focus on how you can make your application stronger next year, or even this year if you decide to apply for the foundation year
Reply 5
m_040106
OP
10
Original post
by anonycatt If I have to be honest I highly doubt that they would have considered you with BBB, regardless of your extenuating circumstances, that's what the foundation year is there for now.
So in my opinion you did not make a mistake, if we have to keep it real, BBB is too low for any Oxbridge course.
Also that's in the past, the deadline is gone, you cannot do anything about it, so just let it go and focus on how you can make your application stronger next year, or even this year if you decide to apply for the foundation year
So in my opinion you did not make a mistake, if we have to keep it real, BBB is too low for any Oxbridge course.
Also that's in the past, the deadline is gone, you cannot do anything about it, so just let it go and focus on how you can make your application stronger next year, or even this year if you decide to apply for the foundation year
But if I did reapply next year even if I ended up getting 3A*s, wouldn’t they discriminate against me based on the fact that I had done the resits? Thank you for being very helpful by the way.
Reply 6
11
Original post
by m_040106But if I did reapply next year even if I ended up getting 3A*s, wouldn’t they discriminate against me based on the fact that I had done the resits?
No.
Like I am in no position to make such a blankest statement, but if you have a valid reason for resitting and you go onto achieving, lets say, A*A*A* , I don't see why they would "discriminate" against you.
There are people that got in with reseats, and I know they consider people with reseats because I asked them this question a few times
Reply 7
11
You might need to work a bit harder to convince them, but achieving 3A*, when the grade requirement for law is 3A, might do the job, also you mentioned you have extenuating circumstances, so they will probably take that into consideration.
That said, I'm sure you understand that getting 3A* doesn't guarantee you a place.
Also a question I want to ask you, is a bit more personal, and I took the liberty to look trough some of your posts to get a better idea of your situation.
I'm not exactly the first person to make these points. So I am not quite sure what answer you are looking for...
But if you are worried about your reseats, don't. Most unis accept them including Oxbridge, especially if you have a good reason.
So don't worry, you did great in school despite your circumstances and you should be proud. I don't know if what you are looking for is affirmation, because you will probably not find that here. And in all honesty you shouldn't want that in the first place, because it wouldn't allow you to grow. Going from BBB to A*A*A* is going to be hard, I wish you the best in this endeavour, and hope you end up somewhere that makes you happy.
That said, I'm sure you understand that getting 3A* doesn't guarantee you a place.
Also a question I want to ask you, is a bit more personal, and I took the liberty to look trough some of your posts to get a better idea of your situation.
I'm not exactly the first person to make these points. So I am not quite sure what answer you are looking for...
But if you are worried about your reseats, don't. Most unis accept them including Oxbridge, especially if you have a good reason.
So don't worry, you did great in school despite your circumstances and you should be proud. I don't know if what you are looking for is affirmation, because you will probably not find that here. And in all honesty you shouldn't want that in the first place, because it wouldn't allow you to grow. Going from BBB to A*A*A* is going to be hard, I wish you the best in this endeavour, and hope you end up somewhere that makes you happy.
Reply 8
m_040106
OP
10
Original post
by anonycatt No.
Like I am in no position to make such a blankest statement, but if you have a valid reason for resitting and you go onto achieving, lets say, A*A*A* , I don't see why they would "discriminate" against you.
There are people that got in with reseats, and I know they consider people with reseats because I asked them this question a few times
Like I am in no position to make such a blankest statement, but if you have a valid reason for resitting and you go onto achieving, lets say, A*A*A* , I don't see why they would "discriminate" against you.
There are people that got in with reseats, and I know they consider people with reseats because I asked them this question a few times
So is the purpose of the Oxbridge Foundation Years just to make it easier to get into Oxbridge for those who suffered disadvantage; or is it also about “bridging the gap” and teaching skills to students who may not be as academically advanced as other Oxbridge First Year students?
This is as I have suffered disadvantage and the only reason why I’d need the programme would be to make it easier to get in due to my application otherwise perhaps being uncompetitive. However, I don’t need the course to be taught how to write essays or critically analyse since I know all that already.
Reply 9
11
Original post
by m_040106So is the purpose of the Oxbridge Foundation Years just to make it easier to get into Oxbridge for those who suffered disadvantage; or is it also about “bridging the gap” and teaching skills to students who may not be as academically advanced as other Oxbridge First Year students?
This is as I have suffered disadvantage and the only reason why I’d need the programme would be to make it easier to get in due to my application otherwise perhaps being uncompetitive. However, I don’t need the course to be taught how to write essays or critical analyse since I know all that already.
This is as I have suffered disadvantage and the only reason why I’d need the programme would be to make it easier to get in due to my application otherwise perhaps being uncompetitive. However, I don’t need the course to be taught how to write essays or critical analyse since I know all that already.
Ok there you have your answer
Reply 10
11
What other unis did you apply to?
Don't focus too much on Oxbridge, is not the end all be all. A lot of people every year get rejected and go to study at another uni they end up loving.
Right now I am going to be honest with you:
So... what other unis do you have in mind?
Don't focus too much on Oxbridge, is not the end all be all. A lot of people every year get rejected and go to study at another uni they end up loving.
Right now I am going to be honest with you:
1.
You did not have the grades to apply to the direct entry (BBB is too low not matter how you slice it)
2.
With BBB you can apply for the foundation and be competitive, but you don't seem to want to, so that's out of the table
3.
You don't want to go on another gap year to apply for the 2026-27 Oxbridge entry
(edited 1 year ago)
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