Have I Made A Big Mistake? What should I do?

[sarahlayton06]

So, last year I had an offer from Cambridge and was predicted to achieve 3A*s. However, I ended up getting ill during my exams and underperforming, ending up with BBB.

This led me to take an impromptu gap year to retake my exams privately. I retook my entrance exams for the universities I wanted to apply to and it went really well. I also had extenuating circumstances and had evidence for this from my doctor and old school.

I wanted to reapply to Cambridge as I had an offer last year and really like the course. However, I was so nervous about them discriminating against me and rejecting me based on me resitting my A-level exams and originally achieving BBB. They claim that they officially accept resits and accept extenuating circumstances but I wasn’t sure if they truly meant it or were just saying so.

I discovered a Foundation Year course that they offer to those who have been disadvantaged and would be unable to make competitive applications normally and considered applying to it. Deep down, I know that I don’t want to do the course as I don’t want to delay my education by another year and because I don’t need any foundational support as I’m more than ready to start undergraduate studies right now; I only underperformed in my A-level exams due to medical issues. Also, the minimum entry requirement for the Foundation Year is BBB so I’ve already met this but with my resits will far surpass it in all likelihood.
This is supported by how I did mock exams at a private tutoring agency to get new predicted grades and got 3A*s again.

However, I was still worried that Cambridge would just reject me based on my resits. This indecision about what to do led me to miss the UCAS deadline for Oxbridge.

I have now come to really regret my actions and regret not directly applying. This is as I’ve heard of others who got in with resits and because otherwise my application (Personal Statement, Reference, Predicted Grades, Test Score etc) were really strong.

Now, I only have the Foundation Year open to me (deadline is in late January). I am eligible for this but as mentioned I really don’t want to do it as I don’t need it and it would be a waste of my time.

However, it’s the only pathway open for me to get into Cambridge as you can progress onto a normal course of your choice if you pass it. My parents probably won’t allow me to take a second gap year just for Oxbridge and I wouldn’t want to either.

I really don’t know what to do. I can’t stop regretting not applying normally as I think I would have stood a chance based on my offer from last year and after talking to some admissions tutors from different Cambridge Colleges and how they consider resits.

What should I do?

My advice would be go and visit some other universities. So many beautiful and interesting places to study. Don’t worry about the open days. Just go and wander around the buildings and campuses that you can. You can always apply for cam another time. Even start at a different uni and reapply.

Please don’t start at another uni with the aim of reapplying elsewhere.
This is an expensive way to navigate your way through as you will use up part of your allocation for student finance.

If you lack the organisation, self motivation and understanding of consequence to get your Cambridge application in on time (after managing it the previous year so well aware of the process) I am not sure the rigorous nature of a Cambridge course would be right for you.

You might be better looking at other high ranking but not so rigorous universities.

I think OP’s question at 15.24 was for @traininthedistance

At my place the late autism diagnosis would not be in the same category as the examples listed by @traininthedistance . However when I have sat on Mitigating Circumstances and Appeals Committees, the reason a diagnosis has been late has sometimes been relevant.

I don't think that is quite fair. The OP had a late diagnosis that has given her extra time, and she seems to be navigating everything with zero family (or college?) support. It is a lot to take on.

Thanks for your comment. My adoptive parents are immigrants. My adoptive father came here at a young age but neither of them went to university so have no idea about autism or about UCAS or about A-levels etc and it’s so frustrating having to do everything by myself.

I would 100% apply for the foundation year route. It was ease you in and be gentle and supportive. If you get high a level resits too then well done!

I don’t think not getting extra time will be considered extreme extenuating circumstances. My son has had severe headache that means he has missed a year of school and a lot of unis don’t consider this a reason for contextual offers. The criteria is often very narrow.

Put the foundation year down as one of your 5, pick 4 other awesome places and move on with your life.

That is a significant burden, OP. Only Cambridge Law can tell you what Cambridge Law would make of it. Admissions tutors are generally helpful so you might want to ask, via email.

I am in STEM, a very different kind of subject. We also have a very high offer. If you really wanted to come to us, all things considered we would probably recommend the FY as the best starting point.

Cambridge doesn’t do STEM Foundation Years, so what would you recommend for a prospective STEM applicant in my shoes?

Thought you wanted to take Law?

It seems that getting into Cambridge is more important to you than the subject that you study. That shouldn’t be the case. As many posters have said before you need to have other options as there is every chance that you won’t get into Cambridge. You can’t assume that you will simply because you got a conditional offer before and for which you did not meet the requirements.
Also, on a previous thread you stated that you received the grades ABB. But now you say it’s BBB. Your arguments are quite confusing and inconsistent.

I have a DS with a high IQ and ADHD op. He struggles to convert his raw intelligence into top exam grades. He does well enough though and I see his overall ability as a combination of his natural intelligence plus his ability to remain focussed and deliver his work. It’s ok, long term I think he’ll find a career which will play to his (considerable) strengths and probably not require too much structured writing!

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, you don’t need to redeem the past by getting into Cambridge now to prove yourself. The fact you missed the application deadline due to procrastination and uncertainty makes me think you might have been feeling a lot of pressure.

Remember there are other great universities out there and establishing career as a lawyer is absolutely a marathon not a sprint.

Just to be clear, as maybe my post above was a bit confusing: the university’s “standard offer” is Astar AA . Cambridge take contextual factors into account, but don’t make contextual offers — so every applicant for the standard undergraduate degree courses is normally given an Astar AA offer (sometimes above: admissions tutors can add additional requirements above that, such as an A star in a specific subject, or Astar Astar A). What they don’t really do any more is make lower offers unless for the foundation year course. (So the phrase “standard offer” these days is used more in reference to the bottom threshold of the offer criteria, not the top. The days of the legendary low offers are well past, I’m afraid!)

This means that if you are planning to resit, you’d need to meet the Astar AA offer with the resits; but overall, the fact that you got lower grades on the first go would affect how admissions tutors and interviewers view the application — because they are careful only to give an offer (or even call for interview) candidates who look like they have an excellent chance of making the Astar AA criteria. The interview is only one part of the overall application, and I’ve seen candidates who have given very good interviews still not get an offer because either their exam grades or pre-assessment test results aren’t as good, and other candidates look better. In fact, when we decide which candidates not to call for interview, one of the deciding factors is predicted grades (we don’t usually interview anyone whose predicted grades don’t meet the standard offer grades).

This means that for a reapplication for resit A-levels, you would need some kind of unusual explanation for why the A-level grades were unaccountably low the first time around. Not many candidates apply in that position, so there would need to be a really watertight explanation, plus really good support from the school saying that the grades were an aberration and why, and that they were confident you’d definitely make the Astar AA on resits.

Just to be really frank, though, so you don’t get your hopes up too much: BBB isn’t just missing the offer by a little, but by a lot. Even though the standard offer is* Astar AA, most of our students actually come in having got higher than that in the actual A-levels - two, three or four A grades. Are you really sure you want to put yourself through the A-level exams again?

If you have complicating contextual factors and a late autism diagnosis, then thinking about the foundation year — which can and does make lower offer conditions — could be a really good thing. But, also look at other courses elsewhere - sometimes the most innovative and interesting courses aren’t at Oxbridge; or you may find you work better in a system with more coursework than an exam system. So take a look at a range of options with a realistic eye: you can do well at lots of places and don’t need to be stuck in just one course or one university.

Edited because I didn’t realise the stars were playing havoc with MN formatting!

You seem to be tying yourself up in knots about something that is fairly simple. You think you’d like to go to Cambridge, your only option to do so is the foundation year. So you need to apply for the foundation year.

It sounds like you’ve had a very difficult time, from being in care, lack of support from adoptive parents, forced contact with biological parents, late diagnosis, disappointment at your grades…so give yourself a break. A foundation year actually sounds like it could be a great option for you to ease into University life and get yourself in a good place to succeed, with a good, mentally healthy approach to things. You don’t seem to have that at the moment.

They are not “discriminating against you “ if they reject you for getting grades at resit. If someone gets all A*s at first sitting that is a much greater achievement than someone who got all Bs and then tried again. I am sure you had a difficult year but the leeway given for that kind of thing is only a grade or two, Your way of speaking makes out sound like you are a victim but you are responsible for your grades.

i don’t know why you think you are too good for the Foundation Year. The evidence says otherwise. I think you’d be lucky if you were to be offered a place. There are lots and lots of hard working, high achieving, candidates out there. And as you said, it’s not like you have any other options!

You might want to ask yourself why you are not thinking of taking this final option. Maybe you would find it difficult to be rejected ? Easier to pretend it was your choice? I know I would had have been like that when I was younger but it’s not the path to success. You need to face the possibility of failure square on. Or find yourself a plan b that fits with your grades.

The fact that you will be the first person in the family to matriculate should act in your favour. Also the fact that you are care experienced.

As others have said, apply for the Foundation Year - it's your way in.

Sorry, I just saw this post.

In general, someone who already has A levels either applies where they have met the Standard or Contextual Offer, depending on eligibility, or they apply to the appropriate FY. The latter is for when the A levels are either in the wrong subjects, or are low but the possibility of improvement is seen by the FY admissions tutors.

PS, In your personal situation again I think an e-conversation with an FY admissions tutor as I described earlier would likely be useful. People generally want to help and the facts you have presented are not unsympathetic.

Also, Student Finance will give a loan for one year beyond the length of your degree.