I've been avoiding asking people about my chances of getting into Oxford for PPE, but I've decided to bite the bullet and ask for the honest opinion of my utmost critics: my peers.
I come from a state school in Lowestoft; both my middle and high schools were put on the Ofsted special measures, and I hated every moment I was there. In year 10, my attendance went down to about 40% because I had completely lost all motivation to learn and I was considering dropping out. However, I've always had a passion and fascination with politics and philosophy, and have keenly written fiction and non-fiction throughout my life. Now I've started A levels (even though I'm still at Kirkley) I'm much happier and I feel like I'm finally studying what I love. I took Philosophy, Politics, English Language and Law A levels, and I'm predicted AAAB at AS (although I feel like I royally messed up one of my politics papers...argh). In a couple of weeks I'm doing work experience and writing for my local paper, I voluntarily 'guest speak' in year 10 classes teaching rudimentary philosophy, and I play squash and run - so I'm getting on the extra curriculors... haha.
I'm currently on an Oxbridge access scheme with a bunch of bright kids from local schools. On Monday we went to Cambridge and one of the professors said that the 'average' Oxbridge applicant had between 4 and 8 A* GCSEs and will achieve 88-92% UMS in AS modules. My heart sunk because, despite my genuine zeal for my subjects, my previous academic credentials are far from gleaming: my GCSE's were A*AAABBCCCC. I've read up A LOT on people's admissions stories, and if people with a million A* GCSEs and like, 5A Levels at A grade have been denied, I begin to feel disparaged.
I was going to ask whether I should bother applying, but that is much too flippant for my character. Instead, do you think I have a reasonable (or any) chance of being considered for the course? I would really love to go.
Thank youuuuuuuuuu! Clare