ucl rejection
Just been rejected by UCL, Politics and IR, my grades were AAB, Politics, Economics and history. I know they wanted AAA but i’m also apart of an outreach programme and i’m basically eligible for a contextual since i’ve got contextuals from other unis. Idk i just feel stupid and lost so much motivation and feel like sobbing. I don’t wish on anybody this happens, it is a horrible feeling as i was so excited to receive an offer back. I have received an offer from QMUL Politics and IR and KCL History and IR, although im hearing so much bad stuff about QMUL and how its reputation isn’t as ‘prestige’ and that it is (I am asian btw) full of asians who basically treat it as love island. I don’t really want to study history since i’ve started leaning towards politics. So i’m just really conflicted right now and was hoping for a UCL offer to break this QMUL and KCL tie.
Reply 1
Sorry to hear that, good luck in your choice
Reply 2
Original post
by AnonymousJust been rejected by UCL, Politics and IR, my grades were AAB, Politics, Economics and history. I know they wanted AAA but i’m also apart of an outreach programme and i’m basically eligible for a contextual since i’ve got contextuals from other unis. Idk i just feel stupid and lost so much motivation and feel like sobbing. I don’t wish on anybody this happens, it is a horrible feeling as i was so excited to receive an offer back. I have received an offer from QMUL Politics and IR and KCL History and IR, although im hearing so much bad stuff about QMUL and how its reputation isn’t as ‘prestige’ and that it is (I am asian btw) full of asians who basically treat it as love island. I don’t really want to study history since i’ve started leaning towards politics. So i’m just really conflicted right now and was hoping for a UCL offer to break this QMUL and KCL tie.
You say "i’m basically eligible for a contextual since i’ve got contextuals from other unis". Different unis have different eligibility criteria for contextual offers. Do you meet UCL's contextual requirements?
Also, I assume you're aware that in recent years UCL have only made offers to 1 in 5 applicants to this particular course?
Reply 3
Were your grades predicted or achieved? I’m in a similar position but still waiting on ucl to get back to me but I’m not too hopeful tbh :/
Reply 4
11
bye first of all so real, second i got rejected too even tho i had tge grades, my course was js competitive. i got qmul but my dad would rather i go exeter and do masters (it was the only masters i applied for), and also like you said the dodgy rep but there's deffo more to the uni(qmul) than that trust. I get where the other person who replied is coming from, it probably still isnt safe to say you can get a contextual js because you did at other places, but at the same time i get where you're coming from, esp when you can check on their website and stuff, and you'v received it from other places.
i literally was so conflicted bc i lowkey suspected it happening, my statement wasn't THE most competitive, but i was still upset, and it was more me fearing what ppl would say like oh shes not going to a good uni at all etc etc. IDK HOW TO COMFORT W/OUT GIVING MY OWN EXPERIENCE SORRY, but i promise it's not the end of the world. Again that's easyf or me to say, I'm not you, but please dont stress it too much, I promise it's probably for the better. And you can always apply after undergrad, or go somewhere even better!! Good luckk
i literally was so conflicted bc i lowkey suspected it happening, my statement wasn't THE most competitive, but i was still upset, and it was more me fearing what ppl would say like oh shes not going to a good uni at all etc etc. IDK HOW TO COMFORT W/OUT GIVING MY OWN EXPERIENCE SORRY, but i promise it's not the end of the world. Again that's easyf or me to say, I'm not you, but please dont stress it too much, I promise it's probably for the better. And you can always apply after undergrad, or go somewhere even better!! Good luckk
Reply 5
Original post
by AnonymousJust been rejected by UCL, Politics and IR, my grades were AAB, Politics, Economics and history. I know they wanted AAA but i’m also apart of an outreach programme and i’m basically eligible for a contextual since i’ve got contextuals from other unis. Idk i just feel stupid and lost so much motivation and feel like sobbing. I don’t wish on anybody this happens, it is a horrible feeling as i was so excited to receive an offer back. I have received an offer from QMUL Politics and IR and KCL History and IR, although im hearing so much bad stuff about QMUL and how its reputation isn’t as ‘prestige’ and that it is (I am asian btw) full of asians who basically treat it as love island. I don’t really want to study history since i’ve started leaning towards politics. So i’m just really conflicted right now and was hoping for a UCL offer to break this QMUL and KCL tie.
Work really hard, get the results and call them on results day, they may have open places for you
Reply 6
Original post
by AnonymousWork really hard, get the results and call them on results day, they may have open places for you
Only do that if they are in clearing ...
Reply 7
Original post
by Muttley79Only do that if they are in clearing ...
Still call them even if there are no advertised spaces, they may still add additional strong applicants, just do as best as u can in ur a levels
Reply 8
Original post
by AnonymousStill call them even if there are no advertised spaces, they may still add additional strong applicants, just do as best as u can in ur a levels
No, that is terrible advice - you are wasting everyone's time. They have rejected the OP and won't have 'spare' places.
It's only worth a go if they are in clearing for that course.
Reply 9
Original post
by Muttley79No, that is terrible advice - you are wasting everyone's time. They have rejected the OP and won't have 'spare' places.
It's only worth a go if they are in clearing for that course.
It's only worth a go if they are in clearing for that course.
I am speaking from experience, pls refrain from using that language. I know people who did this, and you dont need to decline offers to simply CALL the uni on results day to ask. I know ppl who managed to enter courses by simply calling and asking, you never know what unadvertised vacancies come up on results day for multiple reasons. Please do not undermine my intelligence because I wouldn't just say something if I didn't know what I was talking about. There is no harm in calling and asking. That being said, that shouldn't be your main hope, honestly this is more of a thing in healthcare courses due to medical offer holders declining at the last minute.
Reply 10
Original post
by Muttley79No, that is terrible advice - you are wasting everyone's time. They have rejected the OP and won't have 'spare' places.
It's only worth a go if they are in clearing for that course.
It's only worth a go if they are in clearing for that course.
Whether they were initially reject will only impact them if they were rejected because of something that excludes their predicted grades, basically something they can't change, like GCSEs. If its predicted grades, and their results exceed their expectations, they absolutely have a shot at calling them and asking.
Reply 11
Original post
by AnonymousWhether they were initially reject will only impact them if they were rejected because of something that excludes their predicted grades, basically something they can't change, like GCSEs. If its predicted grades, and their results exceed their expectations, they absolutely have a shot at calling them and asking.
Not unless they are in clearing - this is what unis says themselves @Admit-One
Reply 12
Once in a blue moon a uni might want to consider someone off the back of an unprompted call during clearing, but for UCL we have to set our expectations accordingly.
Is the course still open now? If not, the likelihood of their numbers being so far out that they would want to consider additional students is very close to zero.
Is the course still open now? If not, the likelihood of their numbers being so far out that they would want to consider additional students is very close to zero.
For reference, UCL only entered the main clearing process for the first time last year, and historically has only participated in clearing plus for a couple years before that. They've also been clear they don't consider applicants after the main deadline.
It was principally humanities and languages courses in clearing at UCL last year. For a competitive course like politics & IR I would consider it unlikely it'll be available in clearing, and if it's not in clearing then they won't be considering any other requests for entry (as now that UCL has opened the option of clearing, if there were any vacancies on the course, it will be listed in clearing).
I'd also note even if in clearing you will still need to meet all the requirements for entry, and unless you meet UCLs specific criteria for consideration for the Access UCL scheme (their contextual offer scheme) you won't be considered for an Access UCL offer and will need to meet the standard entry criteria. You can check the criteria here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate/access-ucl-scheme
Therefore you will at best have to see if it's in clearing, and if so can apply that way if you meet the requirements. If not there's no point contacting them separately to beg for a place in either event.
It was principally humanities and languages courses in clearing at UCL last year. For a competitive course like politics & IR I would consider it unlikely it'll be available in clearing, and if it's not in clearing then they won't be considering any other requests for entry (as now that UCL has opened the option of clearing, if there were any vacancies on the course, it will be listed in clearing).
I'd also note even if in clearing you will still need to meet all the requirements for entry, and unless you meet UCLs specific criteria for consideration for the Access UCL scheme (their contextual offer scheme) you won't be considered for an Access UCL offer and will need to meet the standard entry criteria. You can check the criteria here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate/access-ucl-scheme
Therefore you will at best have to see if it's in clearing, and if so can apply that way if you meet the requirements. If not there's no point contacting them separately to beg for a place in either event.
Reply 14
I’m not sure how true this is, but I’ve heard from several people at UCL that there’s a priority given to international students who pay international fees, rather than home fees (much lower). So if they find enough international applicants with AAA or AAB, they’ll be considered first. Only afterwards do they look at home students with AAA, etc. I don’t know if it’s just a rumour, but a few people from UCL have told me the same thing
Reply 15
I can’t speak for UCL, but as someone that’s worked in admissions for many years now, I’ve never made an acceptance decision based on someone’s fee status. YMMV.
Reply 16
Original post
by Admit-OneI can’t speak for UCL, but as someone that’s worked in admissions for many years now, I’ve never made an acceptance decision based on someone’s fee status. YMMV.
Yeah, sad but true
Reply 17
11
Original post
by vv444I’m not sure how true this is, but I’ve heard from several people at UCL that there’s a priority given to international students who pay international fees, rather than home fees (much lower). So if they find enough international applicants with AAA or AAB, they’ll be considered first. Only afterwards do they look at home students with AAA, etc. I don’t know if it’s just a rumour, but a few people from UCL have told me the same thing
Yeah I've heard the same, and it adds up w other posts and stuff online. That's not to say they do again only a rumour, but I'd imagine theres some element of that, because so many people have been rejected and they have better stats statement etc than some international students I've seen. again im describing it in gen, id like to assume they dont or try not to, and its not a one size fits all however the rumour does seem to line up w stats online
Reply 18
Original post
by r_4biYeah I've heard the same, and it adds up w other posts and stuff online. That's not to say they do again only a rumour, but I'd imagine theres some element of that, because so many people have been rejected and they have better stats statement etc than some international students I've seen. again im describing it in gen, id like to assume they dont or try not to, and its not a one size fits all however the rumour does seem to line up w stats online
I work in a very tourist-heavy area of London and often speak with international students, asking them to show their student ID or proof of concession. I have to admit – I’ve noticed a surprisingly high number of UCL students, especially from Asia, who either don’t speak English at all or can barely put a sentence together, saying things like “me student, I study university UCL.”
It always makes me wonder how these universities, especially one as prestigious as UCL, admit students who struggle to understand basic phrases like “concession ticket” or “your ID card is expired.” And considering they’re paying £20k–£30k a year in tuition fees, it does make you think about where the university’s priorities really lie. I don’t want to be rude, but it is my reality at work
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