Competition - post a photo you've taken of nature >>

Decline or not?

If i were to decline my offer to read philosophy at Cambridge (for unpreventable reasons), how likely do you think it is that they will accept me again for entry in 2010? Do you think i am better off applying to Oxford? I was thinking that they may favour those who achieve A*'s in preference to me! Do you recommend i do AEA'S just to be on the safe side? :eyeball:

Reply 1

olegirona

could u not ask them if they'd defer it? or is that not allowed?

Reply 2

username219321

Depending on the reasons they might let you defer your current offer until 2010.

Reply 3

Stoney12345

Without knowing too much about your circumstances it may be worth talking to them. if you have genuine and good reasons I am sure they will try to be as helpful as possible.

Reply 4

Dondokken13

You should be able to defer it dude.

Reply 5

X123

Niajaboi

No-one will have A*s by the stage of applications for 2010 as they can only be achieved after completing the second year of A2, and so applications next year will be by students still in their A2 year.

Furthermore, Oxbridge have implied that they will not make use of the new A*s until they know how well they work.

Reply 6

Good bloke

X123

Your second point is true, but you are wrong about when the first A* grades. They have already been awarded to students at schools and colleges that took part in trials of the new system.

Reply 7

X123

Good bloke

Your second point is true, but you are wrong about when the first A* grades. They have already been awarded to students at schools and colleges that took part in trials of the new system.

I was not aware of that, and maybe that is true - but what proportion of the potential 2010 Oxbridge applicants does this actually then account for?!

Reply 8

River Hippo

X123

I was not aware of that, and maybe that is true - but what proportion of the potential 2010 Oxbridge applicants does this actually then account for?!

Surely while the 2010 applicants won't have A*s, they will be predicted them? The year below is following that system right?

Reply 9

River Hippo

Anyway, It doesn't matter. OP ask them if you can defer your offer. Also, if you had to reapply, you wouldn't be disadvantaged because you don't have A*. Cambridge will know that you did the normal 'old' A levels from the date you sat your exams. They see te UMS also right, so....

Reply 10

X123

River Hippo

Surely while the 2010 applicants won't have A*s, they will be predicted them? The year below is following that system right?

Yes - but given that the universities will be aware that you would not have had the opportunity to achieve an A*, and that most schools have will have not used the new A* system their predictions would not necessarily be reliable.

Reply 11

aKarma

Niajaboi

You should be able to defer but I would think it would be best to contact them soon (assuming you're sure). I guess they prefer if they know while the pool is open so they can give someone your place.

Reply 12

llys

You should contact them right now, so that if they let you defer to 2010, someone of the pool can still get your place for this year...

Edit: ^ sorry just saw it now :smile:

Reply 13

Mia:x

Yeah i would say defer, also bearing in mind that they have now scrapped AEAs so you wouldnt be able to use them to boost your application if you reapplied!

Reply 14

im so academic

you got the offer, so what are you complaining about. work hard, get the grades, get into cambridge - don't pressurise yourself about "can I apply again?" stuff.

Did you even read his post?

Reply 15

hobnob

Cantab

Did you even read his post?

That was a rhetorical question, right? :smile:

Reply 16

The West Wing

im so academic

Yes I did. :smartass:

OP, it's up to you to decline or not. Though you should remember that getting a Cambridge offer is really special, so I'd advise you not to decline so early.

The OP has unpreventable reasons for declining :eyeball:

Reply 17

Good bloke

im so academic

Yes I did. :smartass:

OP, it's up to you to decline or not. Though you should remember that getting a Cambridge offer is really special, so I'd advise you not to decline so early.

Isn't it time you stopped advising people about things of which you haven't any knowledge, experience or insight? I think people are getting very tired of it.

OP, go for the deferral as a first port of call, but do it as soon as possible so as to be as helpful to the tutors as possible - that might help you.

Reply 18

flugestuge

The West Wing

The OP has unpreventable reasons for declining :eyeball:

If you read his posts in other forums, you will realise that his "unpreventable" reasons are that he thinks that a Philosophy degree might not be enough to get him into Investment Banking. :rolleyes: