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Can I get into Southampton 2nd year Computer Science with AAB?

I'm currently studying Computer Science with AI at Queen Mary's. During A-Levels I was predicted A*AA and I had Southampton as my 2nd choice, but I swapped it out for Imperial and I kind of regret it now since the A*AA was a sweet spot and Imperial's A*A*A was reaching too far. I was correct since Imperial rejected me without even giving me an interview.
In the end I ended up getting AAB in maths, computer science and physics respectively. I was 5 marks off an A* in maths and 1 mark off an A in physics, so I narrowly missed that A*AA but still made my firm choice for Queen Mary's.
I've heard that you can apply to a different university for 2nd year, so I want to try to get into Southampton again after I hesitated to apply in year 13, but the requirements are A*AA and I'm not sure if it's worth applying for 2nd year with achieved AAB. Is it worth a try, or should I stay with Queen Mary's?

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Original post
by SeriouslyAtomic
I'm currently studying Computer Science with AI at Queen Mary's. During A-Levels I was predicted A*AA and I had Southampton as my 2nd choice, but I swapped it out for Imperial and I kind of regret it now since the A*AA was a sweet spot and Imperial's A*A*A was reaching too far. I was correct since Imperial rejected me without even giving me an interview.
In the end I ended up getting AAB in maths, computer science and physics respectively. I was 5 marks off an A* in maths and 1 mark off an A in physics, so I narrowly missed that A*AA but still made my firm choice for Queen Mary's.
I've heard that you can apply to a different university for 2nd year, so I want to try to get into Southampton again after I hesitated to apply in year 13, but the requirements are A*AA and I'm not sure if it's worth applying for 2nd year with achieved AAB. Is it worth a try, or should I stay with Queen Mary's?

In recent years, Southampton have only accepted about a third of offer-holders who achieved AAB. These are likely to be candidates who were predicted A*AA (i.e. the standard offer grades) but didn't quite make those grades on results day. That percentage may not apply to andidates applying which achieved grades of AAB, or to candidates attempting to transfer from another uni.

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(source)

Do you have some compelling reason to move? Or do you just consider Southampton a "better" uni?
It sounds like you’ve carefully thought through your options, and the transfer process can indeed be a bit tricky with the requirements. Since you're considering a second-year transfer to Southampton, your AAB grade could potentially still be considered if you meet the additional criteria they've outlined.
Given that they consider each application on its merits, the fact that you've made good progress in your current studies and are interested in Southampton is a positive start. The key points to focus on are:

Achieving an Upper Second Class or higher in your current studies (which sounds achievable for you given your results).

Proving that your current studies adequately prepare you for their program.

Providing all required documentation, including a transcript, predicted grades, and a strong personal statement explaining why you want to transfer.

It might be worth reaching out to the admissions team at Southampton ([email protected]) with your current grades and academic progress to ask for more tailored advice. That way, you'll get a clearer picture of whether your current qualifications meet their needs for transfer. Here's where you can read more about transferring (Student Tranfer Policy)

If you’re passionate about studying at Southampton, applying could be a good move, but if you feel confident about your current program at Queen Mary's, you could also stay where you are and continue progressing in your field. It really comes down to how strongly you feel about the change.
Best of luck with your decision!

-Tanisha BSc Criminology and Psychology

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