Advice on What to do: Gap Year or Clearing?
Hi everyone 👋🏻, this is my first post on the forum! I'm currently in Year 13 and am taking Maths, Physics, Further Maths, Chemistry and an EPQ. I applied Engineering at Cambridge and Imperial, whose minimum entry requirements are A*A*A or A*AAA.
I've got predicted A*s in Maths and Physics and As in FM and Chem, which might not be the best set of grades to apply to these competitive unis... Btw I think I sort of cooked in my ESAT which makes me feel horrible... I believe I don't really stand a chance of getting in either unis as I didn't have a brilliant set of GCSE grades(not all 9s).
I really want to get in either unis so I'm sure that I won't be accepting any other offers from other unis I've also applied to. So I'm now thinking about two options: Clearing or a Gap Year. I'm going to put in all of my effort in the rest of the year to get 4A*s no matter what! Do u guys know how much of a chance will I be offered a place during CLEARING?
Also, the deadlines to apply to 1-year internship(in 2026-2027) at engineering companies are mostly by the end of Dec or Jan while the offers are not made until March 2026 latest. Should I start applying to these companies if I'm not confident that I'll get an offer from both unis?
Let me know what u guys think!! Thanks 🙂
I've got predicted A*s in Maths and Physics and As in FM and Chem, which might not be the best set of grades to apply to these competitive unis... Btw I think I sort of cooked in my ESAT which makes me feel horrible... I believe I don't really stand a chance of getting in either unis as I didn't have a brilliant set of GCSE grades(not all 9s).
I really want to get in either unis so I'm sure that I won't be accepting any other offers from other unis I've also applied to. So I'm now thinking about two options: Clearing or a Gap Year. I'm going to put in all of my effort in the rest of the year to get 4A*s no matter what! Do u guys know how much of a chance will I be offered a place during CLEARING?
Also, the deadlines to apply to 1-year internship(in 2026-2027) at engineering companies are mostly by the end of Dec or Jan while the offers are not made until March 2026 latest. Should I start applying to these companies if I'm not confident that I'll get an offer from both unis?
Let me know what u guys think!! Thanks 🙂
Original post
by audacious-shuddeHi everyone 👋🏻, this is my first post on the forum! I'm currently in Year 13 and am taking Maths, Physics, Further Maths, Chemistry and an EPQ. I applied Engineering at Cambridge and Imperial, whose minimum entry requirements are A*A*A or A*AAA.
I've got predicted A*s in Maths and Physics and As in FM and Chem, which might not be the best set of grades to apply to these competitive unis... Btw I think I sort of cooked in my ESAT which makes me feel horrible... I believe I don't really stand a chance of getting in either unis as I didn't have a brilliant set of GCSE grades(not all 9s).
I really want to get in either unis so I'm sure that I won't be accepting any other offers from other unis I've also applied to. So I'm now thinking about two options: Clearing or a Gap Year. I'm going to put in all of my effort in the rest of the year to get 4A*s no matter what! Do u guys know how much of a chance will I be offered a place during CLEARING?
Also, the deadlines to apply to 1-year internship(in 2026-2027) at engineering companies are mostly by the end of Dec or Jan while the offers are not made until March 2026 latest. Should I start applying to these companies if I'm not confident that I'll get an offer from both unis?
Let me know what u guys think!! Thanks 🙂
I've got predicted A*s in Maths and Physics and As in FM and Chem, which might not be the best set of grades to apply to these competitive unis... Btw I think I sort of cooked in my ESAT which makes me feel horrible... I believe I don't really stand a chance of getting in either unis as I didn't have a brilliant set of GCSE grades(not all 9s).
I really want to get in either unis so I'm sure that I won't be accepting any other offers from other unis I've also applied to. So I'm now thinking about two options: Clearing or a Gap Year. I'm going to put in all of my effort in the rest of the year to get 4A*s no matter what! Do u guys know how much of a chance will I be offered a place during CLEARING?
Also, the deadlines to apply to 1-year internship(in 2026-2027) at engineering companies are mostly by the end of Dec or Jan while the offers are not made until March 2026 latest. Should I start applying to these companies if I'm not confident that I'll get an offer from both unis?
Let me know what u guys think!! Thanks 🙂
Cambridge and Imperial don't participate in Clearing so you need to be realistic and consider other unis too.
Reply 2
Original post
by audacious-shuddeHi everyone 👋🏻, this is my first post on the forum! I'm currently in Year 13 and am taking Maths, Physics, Further Maths, Chemistry and an EPQ. I applied Engineering at Cambridge and Imperial, whose minimum entry requirements are A*A*A or A*AAA.
I've got predicted A*s in Maths and Physics and As in FM and Chem, which might not be the best set of grades to apply to these competitive unis... Btw I think I sort of cooked in my ESAT which makes me feel horrible... I believe I don't really stand a chance of getting in either unis as I didn't have a brilliant set of GCSE grades(not all 9s).
I really want to get in either unis so I'm sure that I won't be accepting any other offers from other unis I've also applied to. So I'm now thinking about two options: Clearing or a Gap Year. I'm going to put in all of my effort in the rest of the year to get 4A*s no matter what! Do u guys know how much of a chance will I be offered a place during CLEARING?
Also, the deadlines to apply to 1-year internship(in 2026-2027) at engineering companies are mostly by the end of Dec or Jan while the offers are not made until March 2026 latest. Should I start applying to these companies if I'm not confident that I'll get an offer from both unis?
Let me know what u guys think!! Thanks 🙂
I've got predicted A*s in Maths and Physics and As in FM and Chem, which might not be the best set of grades to apply to these competitive unis... Btw I think I sort of cooked in my ESAT which makes me feel horrible... I believe I don't really stand a chance of getting in either unis as I didn't have a brilliant set of GCSE grades(not all 9s).
I really want to get in either unis so I'm sure that I won't be accepting any other offers from other unis I've also applied to. So I'm now thinking about two options: Clearing or a Gap Year. I'm going to put in all of my effort in the rest of the year to get 4A*s no matter what! Do u guys know how much of a chance will I be offered a place during CLEARING?
Also, the deadlines to apply to 1-year internship(in 2026-2027) at engineering companies are mostly by the end of Dec or Jan while the offers are not made until March 2026 latest. Should I start applying to these companies if I'm not confident that I'll get an offer from both unis?
Let me know what u guys think!! Thanks 🙂
Hi Audacious,
First of all, what a fantastic set of predicted grades and general profile so far, huge kudos for all of the hard work that these must have taken!
Generally we advise people to apply for 1-2 aspirational unis (Cambridge and Imperial for you), 2-3 realistic choices (grade requirements match your predicted grades) and one insurance choice (requirements a few grades below your predicted grades, for you A*AA-AAB).
As I see it, you should defo apply for Imperial and Cambridge this year as you are clearly a very strong student, and if you get an offer from both/one of them then put it as your Firm. However I would also as above encourage you to consider other unis too - Bristol, us here at Bath, Leeds and Southampton are all very strong for Engineering/Mechanical Engineering, as are Birmingham, Loughborough and Nottingham (there are many others!) All with great cities and lovely campuses where you could get a very high quality education and have a very enjoyable student life.
If you were absolutely dead-set on Imperial or Cambridge then this is fine - just be aware that even if you do a gap year and apply with your achieved grades, both of those places are very competitive and people don't always get offers even if they meet the entry requirements. So if you were open to a few other unis this would definitely give you more options.
I would tend to advise against clearing if possible because it would be better to apply straight off for places you'd like to go to, and also going through clearing may mean you are less likely to get your top-choice accommodation.
I hope this helps and very best of luck 🙂
(edited 1 month ago)
Reply 3
Regarding engineering (depending what type, or if y want any) materials science with engineering at imperial has AAA requirement. That makes ur grades very good. I’m almost certain u would get that as it also has a high acceptance rate
Reply 4
Also, links for materials science with engineering:
https://www.admissionreport.com/imperial-college-london/meng-materials-science-and-engineering
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate/materials-science-engineering-meng/
4 year meng 63% acceptance rate, and it’s still engineering at imperial
https://www.admissionreport.com/imperial-college-london/meng-materials-science-and-engineering
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate/materials-science-engineering-meng/
4 year meng 63% acceptance rate, and it’s still engineering at imperial
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