I think I'm on a programme I don't deserve to be on - please help!

So I applied to an oxbridge science programme. I don't qualify for any widening participation criteria and I'm not disadvantaged in any way. Despite this, I got picked for one of the few places out of hundreds of applications, and I think I might have put the wrong information on my application, which led me to getting this place. For context, I came across the programme only an hour before the deadline, and so I really had to rush my application. In the process of rushing, I was about a minute away from the deadline when I had to fill in the widening participation criteria, as the long questions took most of my time, and in that rush I dont know whether I ticked yes or no for each widening participation criteria (e.g. free school meals). I didn't think much about it and then I got the acceptance email a few days or weeks later.

I didn't question it at first and thought that maybe they were impressed by my academic achievements (e.g. solid set of gcses) and long question answers. However, I'm already 1/4-1/2 into the programme and I've been reading the website in detail and it seems to be an access programme/a sustained contact programme, and I don't live in the link region for the programme either. This has led me to believe that I may have entered the wrong widening participation info during applying. For other programmes that I've applied, like UNIQ, I didn't get a place and I'm assuming this is likely because I didnt meet any widening participation criteria (I definitely entered the correct information for UNIQ) and theres no reason i shouldve been offered a place on this programme that im enrolled on.

I'm really terrified about how this will affect my uni application. I feel like a fraud for the possibility of having takens someone elses place because of my carelessness. I don't know what to do - I don't want to have a bad impression on my teacher reference for uni, and I'm scared whether what I've done is illegal. I've just emailed the programme leader for a copy of my application so I can check what I entered, but I don't know what to do after that. I would be okay with terminating my participation in the programme, even though I really really have been enjoying the programme so far, but I'm terrified of the consequences this will have on my uni application and reference. I'm really scared I've made a mistake I can't go back from. Someone please help? :frown:

Reply 1

random_matt

I am fairly sure they can check the details quite accurately. Personally; I feel you are being paranoid.

Reply 2

GeneticsNerd

Take a deep breath. This sounds like imposter syndrome, something a lot of people experience where you feel like a fraud. What has suddenly made you consider that you may have got this position accidentally given that you're halfway through?

When you put in a claim to some criteria that makes you disadvantaged in some way they usually check because otherwise anyone could lie their way in on purpose. It doesn't seem that likely that you could lie your way in by accident and not be found out.

Don't withdraw. Enjoy your course. You've requested your application so you can review it when you get it but in the meantime don't be telling them you think you shouldn't have got a place! Wait for the app to come back before you overthink it. I say this as a terrible over thinker.

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