I regret going to a funded school.

8

Guys I need help, it’s pretty annoying I now go to state school for college, I regret funded school entirely, the people were *****, and now I feel screwed on an application to top schools. I want to go to cambridge, but since I spent Year 7 —> 11 there I don’t qualify for any summer schools, any programs, and my GCSE’s weren’t even good comparatively (99888..7), I would have done better going to a state school (even my grades) but now I feel i’ve lost an opportunity now.

Reply 1

ALEreapp

21

You can’t say for certain you would have done better at a state school. Private schools have smaller class sizes and therefore you get a lower teacher to student ratio meaning students get more help.. chances are in bigger classes you probably wouldn’t have done as well 🤷🏼*♀️
If anything statistically it probably wouldn’t have benefited you to stay there if you wanted to get into Cambridge.
You’ve got to deal with the hand you have been dealt and realise what will be will be

Reply 2

wellwhakens

OP

8

Original post

by ALEreapp

You can’t say for certain you would have done better at a state school. Private schools have smaller class sizes and therefore you get a lower teacher to student ratio meaning students get more help.. chances are in bigger classes you probably wouldn’t have done as well 🤷🏼*♀️
If anything statistically it probably wouldn’t have benefited you to stay there if you wanted to get into Cambridge.
You’ve got to deal with the hand you have been dealt and realise what will be will be

Our class size was the same size I get at my college. I made the wrong decision and I’m aware, I was 11 years old that’s all. I got into tiffin so I should have gone there. It maybe wouldn’t have benefitted me to stay, but it certainly hasn’t benefitted being there for the past 5 years. I’m just struggling to find summer schools that don’t cost money, and are for people who has not been in state funded education at some point

Reply 3

philosophydude

6

Original post

by wellwhakens

Guys I need help, it’s pretty annoying I now go to state school for college, I regret funded school entirely, the people were *****, and now I feel screwed on an application to top schools. I want to go to cambridge, but since I spent Year 7 —> 11 there I don’t qualify for any summer schools, any programs, and my GCSE’s weren’t even good comparatively (99888..7), I would have done better going to a state school (even my grades) but now I feel i’ve lost an opportunity now.

What do you feel you've missed out on out of interest? I can tell you if you missed much. I got around the same results as you going to a state school (well an academy but close enough)

Reply 4

wellwhakens

OP

8

Original post

by philosophydude

What do you feel you've missed out on out of interest? I can tell you if you missed much. I got around the same results as you going to a state school (well an academy but close enough)

A range of summer school opportunities, e.g sutton trust + much more, also a range of work experience that requires you to have ALWAYS attended, also the fact that when they look at my GCSE’s they will compare to the average of my school so it will be below average, and yeah.

Reply 5

MaterialsEng

11

Where to start.... I am going to be very honest with you, as someone who has experienced both the state and private sector, has top grades, has seen both sides of the class system, applied to top schools, and the rest....

1.

Your GCSEs were amazing, you did better than 99% of children in both the state and private sector. You are already in a very privileged position when applying to University. It is very easy to get lost in this idea of perfection (aka straight 9s), but failing is okay (not that you did). You will learn more from failure than you ever will from success in life... Stating things, like I could have done better in-state school, is very controversial, especially when you got grade 9s-7s. A lot of state school kids would have fought tooth and nail to be in your position, state schools are not equal places, and getting a place in a good state school is getting harder and harder. Some state schools are wonderful, others are horrific. Be very careful when you say things like that as you grow older and have to build a career, people may resent you for it, and it doesn't look good... be grateful for what you have got, you can't change the past.

2.

Some summer schools are very much focused at students from 'unequal' backgrounds. Inequality is not only determined by whether your school is state or private, but also by how well the state school performs, what Ofsted grade it received, what your local area average wage is, if you have a disability, if you have been in care, how much your parents earn etc etc etc. This is not just a thing in the education sector, you will face this same problem in life in general, and often it's not fair, and often it doesn't even end up targeting the right people as many people will qualify despite being privileged. If you don't qualify for one summer school, move on, stay positive and find the next opportunity. No one wants to employ or give a summer school place to someone who is pessimistic.

3.

Getting into a top school like Cambridge is no guarantee of a job or a successful future. It is everything you do outside your degree that will progress you above other applicants. Going to a top school doesn't put you above other people particularly, just like how you suggest going to a private school hasn't put you above state school students.

Please re-evaluate, you are already in an amazing position, yes having additional opportunities would be nice, but welcome to life. Find other ways of demonstrating your skills and growing your knowledge. There is not one direct pathway in life for a reason.

Reply 6

study23!

Study Forum Helper

16

Original post

by wellwhakens

Guys I need help, it’s pretty annoying I now go to state school for college, I regret funded school entirely, the people were *****, and now I feel screwed on an application to top schools. I want to go to cambridge, but since I spent Year 7 —> 11 there I don’t qualify for any summer schools, any programs, and my GCSE’s weren’t even good comparatively (99888..7), I would have done better going to a state school (even my grades) but now I feel i’ve lost an opportunity now.

Hi, I can tell this seems really frustrating for you.

1.

You have great GCSEs. Even in comparison with your school cohort, you still did well. I don't think this would go against you

2.

Summer schools mean nothing. I have been a state school student all my life and got rejected from every one I applied to (I was eligible and had top grades). I spoke to admissions teams and they basically said what I'm going to say to you. It's just a fun week away where you get a taste of Uni life and some lectures. The only thing they are good for is if you had a lecture in one which you did further research on and talked about in your statement, but you don't need to go to a summer school to do that. Read a book, listen to a podcast, google something and show your passion outside your subject.

3.

Cambridge at the end of the day will care about a levels, admissions tests and interviews now. Programmes can be handy to widen access to students on things like how to revise, but being on one doesn't mean they are any better than another student and Unis know that. Really focus on your predicteds and admissions test, this will give you a shot.

4.

I know some programmes and summer schools offer guaranteed interviews or reduced offer grades. This isn't all of them. And this promise of an interview or lower grades is not the promise of an offer. They will assess you the exact same as people on these programmes for the basis of an offer. Only difference is if you are given an offer, you'll have the standard entry requirement offer instead.

5.

My suggestion is to lots of subject exploration. Make your own club in school based on the subject you enjoy and use that as a way to introduce new topics to students and do research on your degree as well. Any olympiads or competitions or essay comps which are relevant, try them. Basically just keep exploring your subject outside of school and do well in school and you have a chance.

So yes, some things aren't available to you, but don't think of these as a lost opportunity. Think about a plain cake. This is your application. You can decorate it all you want with summer schools, programmes and all these 'I got accepted onto...' things to make it look impressive. But it's not going to actually be a good cake if you haven't baked it right. This might be an awful metaphor haha. Point is you have the skills and tools to make a very competitive application, the extra opportunities you may not have access to are just fun extras or side quests.

(edited 10 months ago)

Reply 7

wellwhakens

OP

8

Original post

by MaterialsEng

Where to start.... I am going to be very honest with you, as someone who has experienced both the state and private sector, has top grades, has seen both sides of the class system, applied to top schools, and the rest....

1.

Your GCSEs were amazing, you did better than 99% of children in both the state and private sector. You are already in a very privileged position when applying to University. It is very easy to get lost in this idea of perfection (aka straight 9s), but failing is okay (not that you did). You will learn more from failure than you ever will from success in life... Stating things, like I could have done better in-state school, is very controversial, especially when you got grade 9s-7s. A lot of state school kids would have fought tooth and nail to be in your position, state schools are not equal places, and getting a place in a good state school is getting harder and harder. Some state schools are wonderful, others are horrific. Be very careful when you say things like that as you grow older and have to build a career, people may resent you for it, and it doesn't look good... be grateful for what you have got, you can't change the past.

2.

Some summer schools are very much focused at students from 'unequal' backgrounds. Inequality is not only determined by whether your school is state or private, but also by how well the state school performs, what Ofsted grade it received, what your local area average wage is, if you have a disability, if you have been in care, how much your parents earn etc etc etc. This is not just a thing in the education sector, you will face this same problem in life in general, and often it's not fair, and often it doesn't even end up targeting the right people as many people will qualify despite being privileged. If you don't qualify for one summer school, move on, stay positive and find the next opportunity. No one wants to employ or give a summer school place to someone who is pessimistic.

3.

Getting into a top school like Cambridge is no guarantee of a job or a successful future. It is everything you do outside your degree that will progress you above other applicants. Going to a top school doesn't put you above other people particularly, just like how you suggest going to a private school hasn't put you above state school students.

Please re-evaluate, you are already in an amazing position, yes having additional opportunities would be nice, but welcome to life. Find other ways of demonstrating your skills and growing your knowledge. There is not one direct pathway in life for a reason.

Hi MaterialsEng, thank you for the response. I understand my GCSE’s were good, and I understand the privileged position I am speaking from. However my GCSE’s were in fact below average I believe for the Cohort of my year, which is why when I say they weren’t great, I was referring to the relative average grade, which is how universities that look at your grades, base it off.
I understand how saying I could have done better in a state school is controversial, but I still do believe that, and although not the case for others, but I would feel much more motivated to actually work if I hadn’t been in the position I was in. I was also referring to my personal experience in a funded school, as I personally found the people to be much worse, a lot being extremely addicted to drugs and it was very easy to be with the wrong crowd.
I obviously am grateful for the opportunity I was given, I still do believe that after getting into a school which was in fact better and state funded, I should have gone there, as I ultimately had to leave my school due to high fees and my father passing away which affected our household income greatly.
I see how you mean about pessimism, but ultimately I would argue that I can’t see one positive of going to the school I did, as opposed to the opportunity I had elsewhere.
Thank you for your response regardless, and I will look over your response and try to learn from that, I didn’t mean it in any offense, I just was merely saying that for me I believe it was most definitely the wrong choice.

Reply 8

wellwhakens

OP

8

Original post

by study23!

Hi, I can tell this seems really frustrating for you.

1.

You have great GCSEs. Even in comparison with your school cohort, you still did well. I don't think this would go against you

2.

Summer schools mean nothing. I have been a state school student all my life and got rejected from every one I applied to (I was eligible and had top grades). I spoke to admissions teams and they basically said what I'm going to say to you. It's just a fun week away where you get a taste of Uni life and some lectures. The only thing they are good for is if you had a lecture in one which you did further research on and talked about in your statement, but you don't need to go to a summer school to do that. Read a book, listen to a podcast, google something and show your passion outside your subject.

3.

Cambridge at the end of the day will care about a levels, admissions tests and interviews now. Programmes can be handy to widen access to students on things like how to revise, but being on one doesn't mean they are any better than another student and Unis know that. Really focus on your predicteds and admissions test, this will give you a shot.

4.

I know some programmes and summer schools offer guaranteed interviews or reduced offer grades. This isn't all of them. And this promise of an interview or lower grades is not the promise of an offer. They will assess you the exact same as people on these programmes for the basis of an offer. Only difference is if you are given an offer, you'll have the standard entry requirement offer instead.

5.

My suggestion is to lots of subject exploration. Make your own club in school based on the subject you enjoy and use that as a way to introduce new topics to students and do research on your degree as well. Any olympiads or competitions or essay comps which are relevant, try them. Basically just keep exploring your subject outside of school and do well in school and you have a chance.

So yes, some things aren't available to you, but don't think of these as a lost opportunity. Think about a plain cake. This is your application. You can decorate it all you want with summer schools, programmes and all these 'I got accepted onto...' things to make it look impressive. But it's not going to actually be a good cake if you haven't baked it right. This might be an awful metaphor haha. Point is you have the skills and tools to make a very competitive application, the extra opportunities you may not have access to are just fun extras or side quests.

Hi Study23, thank you so much for your reply. What you said is really reassuring and helpful so thank you. I will now just try to focus on what I can do.
I have already made a start on a couple books and general podcast, as I’ve heard that displaying a decent chain of reasoning and interest is the most inportant application for somewhere like cambridge. Thank you again, and I see how really it’s less about getting the opportunities but more about what you do with the ones you have! Thank you!

Reply 9

MaterialsEng

11

Original post

by wellwhakens

Hi MaterialsEng, thank you for the response. I understand my GCSE’s were good, and I understand the privileged position I am speaking from. However my GCSE’s were in fact below average I believe for the Cohort of my year, which is why when I say they weren’t great, I was referring to the relative average grade, which is how universities that look at your grades, base it off.
I understand how saying I could have done better in a state school is controversial, but I still do believe that, and although not the case for others, but I would feel much more motivated to actually work if I hadn’t been in the position I was in. I was also referring to my personal experience in a funded school, as I personally found the people to be much worse, a lot being extremely addicted to drugs and it was very easy to be with the wrong crowd.
I obviously am grateful for the opportunity I was given, I still do believe that after getting into a school which was in fact better and state funded, I should have gone there, as I ultimately had to leave my school due to high fees and my father passing away which affected our household income greatly.
I see how you mean about pessimism, but ultimately I would argue that I can’t see one positive of going to the school I did, as opposed to the opportunity I had elsewhere.
Thank you for your response regardless, and I will look over your response and try to learn from that, I didn’t mean it in any offense, I just was merely saying that for me I believe it was most definitely the wrong choice.

Universities are very unlikely to sit there and compare your GCSE grades to your previous school's cohort, in fact, they are only ever likely to do this if your GCSE grades are extremely low and you qualify for more than one contextual factor. They will compare them with the other applicants they have, and the truth of the matter is they will be comparing your A-level grades, reference and personal statement before they even consider looking at your GCSE results. Then if you are lucky enough to get an interview, they will compare your interview rankings, which comes down to the excitement you express, your performance under pressure, and how well-read you are etc.

Reply 10

study23!

Study Forum Helper

16

Original post

by wellwhakens

Hi Study23, thank you so much for your reply. What you said is really reassuring and helpful so thank you. I will now just try to focus on what I can do.
I have already made a start on a couple books and general podcast, as I’ve heard that displaying a decent chain of reasoning and interest is the most inportant application for somewhere like cambridge. Thank you again, and I see how really it’s less about getting the opportunities but more about what you do with the ones you have! Thank you!

No problem :smile:

Reply 11

lanky_giraffe

16

Original post

by wellwhakens

Guys I need help, it’s pretty annoying I now go to state school for college, I regret funded school entirely, the people were *****, and now I feel screwed on an application to top schools. I want to go to cambridge, but since I spent Year 7 —> 11 there I don’t qualify for any summer schools, any programs, and my GCSE’s weren’t even good comparatively (99888..7), I would have done better going to a state school (even my grades) but now I feel i’ve lost an opportunity now.

oh get a grip

Reply 12

molly22562

9

A lot of access programs only require your sixth form the be a state school. You just need to look for them. And only certain subjects even care about work experience. The thing I wrote the most about in my personal statement was a book i had read that summer.