Bristol- how hard is it to get in?

[KittyMcKitty]

My dc is predicted AAA and has a good GCSE profile (9’s - 7’s so exceeds what they’re looking for but not all 9’s).

They are at a state selective school. Neither my husband or I went to Uni but we are not eligible for a contextual offer.

My dc is probably going to apply for two courses at Bristol- Philosophy and Politics (standard offer AAA) and Social Policy and Politics (standard offer AAB).

Obviously no one here knows him etc etc but is it possible he may receive an offer from Bristol? I read so much about how great Bristol is etc etc that I feel we’re not special enough for it - I know that sounds pathetic but I have no idea how uni offers work etc etc.

Your DC will likely not only get offers from
Bristol but from other runiversities as well. Do go ahead and apply - use all his five choices. Good luck!

Thank you. I just read mumsnet sometimes and think every dc has 10 9’s at GCSE and predicted AAA* at A level so wonder if we’re good wy!

Yes tgey are applying for 5 courses - the other 3 are asking for AAB, ABB, and ABB so nothing exceeding his predictions.

Grrrr seems I can’t type! Should read most MN-ers children seem to be predicted 3 A stars at A level so wonder if we’re good enough

Well MN isn’t normal!!! Most DC on here seem gifted. DD went to Bristol. The majority are ordinary DC with grades like your DC should get. There are some courses that a very competitive such as medicine or vet science but your DS will be competitive for his chosen courses. He could try Oxbridge or Durham too. Why try below his expected grades for every application?

Apply for some places at predicted grade, perhaps a couple below and maybe one above. Encourage him to use all his choices and good luck. I got into a better uni than I expected as it was a brand new course.

Definitely encourage him to apply to one with grades above his expectations, if there's a course he likes. DS (post-results application, with ABC grades) was accepted onto an AAA course elsewhere and is doing very well.

3 A* is extraordinary not the norm!! Defo worth putting as a choice.

Bristol students tend to be pretty well off and live in the most expensive areas in Bristol where rent is high!!!

@Guymere

Well MN isn’t normal!!! Most DC on here seem gifted. DD went to Bristol. The majority are ordinary DC with grades like your DC should get. There are some courses that a very competitive such as medicine or vet science but your DS will be competitive for his chosen courses. He could try Oxbridge or Durham too. Why try below his expected grades for every application?

Philosophy & Pol at Bristol is his predicted grades of AAA.

These are the courses he likes - I liked Sheffield but he didn’t- sane with Exeter & LSE.

Cross your fingers for him

Obviously it depends on how popular the course is. My Ds applied there, his GCSEs where very average. He got an offer fairly quickly (though it may have been the last one in). I got the impression they were more interested in his predicted grades.

He'll get five out of five offers with absolute certainty.

@titchy

He'll get five out of five offers with absolute certainty.

Oh I hope! Bristol (Phil & Pol) and QMUL (Pol) are his favourites.

I guarantee it

My eldest daughter got in for Philosophy with AAA and she loves it there.
Actually she did switch to a different course.
Some of her Uni friends have lower grades, don’t think everyone has A*s!!
Think your son has an excellent chance of getting in and it’s a fab city and great university experience (except for bloody Covid obviously!!)
Tell him to go for it.

I find it irritating that people always say Bristol is expensive. It doesn’t have to be. It’s ludicrous to suggest every student is well off and pays high rents. There are all sorts at Bristol and no, they don’t all live in Clifton! Other areas are available and students make choices according to what they can afford. London is more expensive. QMUL is not as good as Bristol. Shame about Sheffield. Politics there is good.

I forgot to say that Bristol clearly state what data and info they are using for applications. Some courses will weight GCSEs and PS, bit others won’t and just want predicted grades. Every course has the requirements and criteria for selection listed. So read what they went. But with high grades it’s unlikely to be unattainable.

@KittyMcKitty

My dc is predicted AAA and has a good GCSE profile (9’s - 7’s so exceeds what they’re looking for but not all 9’s).

They are at a state selective school. Neither my husband or I went to Uni but we are not eligible for a contextual offer.

My dc is probably going to apply for two courses at Bristol- Philosophy and Politics (standard offer AAA) and Social Policy and Politics (standard offer AAB).

Obviously no one here knows him etc etc but is it possible he may receive an offer from Bristol? I read so much about how great Bristol is etc etc that I feel we’re not special enough for it - I know that sounds pathetic but I have no idea how uni offers work etc etc.

I wouldn't be too impressed. The only universities that really are in a league of their own are Oxford and Cambridge.

My twins just finished there and did not have contextual offers. One had to get AAB (which is exactly what he got) and his twin who did a BSc got in with AAA. This was 3 years ago (and they loved bristol as did their sister before them. One liked it so much he is back in the City for post grad law (although not with Bristol University)

@Guymere

I forgot to say that Bristol clearly state what data and info they are using for applications. Some courses will weight GCSEs and PS, bit others won’t and just want predicted grades. Every course has the requirements and criteria for selection listed. So read what they went. But with high grades it’s unlikely to be unattainable.

For the courses he’s interested in it’s 80% A levels, 20% GCSEs with PS as a tie breaker essentially.

So that’s perfectly ok. So many people think it’s just A level predictions for every course bar medics and vets!

Kris02: Are you some sort of ultra snob? The vast majority cannot get into Oxbridge. Many people would be more than delighted with Bristol. Hopefully you are not an employer with such a narrow view!?

@Guymere

So that’s perfectly ok. So many people think it’s just A level predictions for every course bar medics and vets!

Kris02: Are you some sort of ultra snob? The vast majority cannot get into Oxbridge. Many people would be more than delighted with Bristol. Hopefully you are not an employer with such a narrow view!?

I think she was referring to the fact that OP thought Bristol was some hugely elite place to be held in reverie like Ox and Cam.

Haha no I don’t think Bristol is akin to Oxbridge but I do know it’s a v popular uni and probably the most aspirational my dc is considering (others being QMUL, Liverpool, Manchester).

It’s v oversubscribed and I genuinely don’t know if they would consider my ds - it’s his fave, I just want to manage expectations 😀

I shouldn’t think they’ll be any problems getting offers from Bristol and Queen Mary. DD2 went to Bristol, loved it and stayed on for a masters.

Absolutely nothing wrong with having aspiration. My DD has a job I thought she wouldn’t get. I understand the feeling of trepidation as they set out on a path we, as parents, know nothing about. And I truly knew nothing about her chosen career other than depictions seen in tv drama! We did know hundreds of young people had similar aspirations and many failed. So it naturally leads to doubt and wondering if your DC will
make it.

We all want our DC to succeed in their university choices and careers and that they are happy. Bristol is absolutely great and it’s good he wants to give it a go. There are no negatives!

I have heard a few of ds's contemporaries say Bristol (the City) is fab but Bristol Uni is pretty poor vis a vis quality of the teaching and particularly the pastoral side.

Why aren't you encouraging your DS to aim for the stars: Oxbridge, Warwick, LSE, UCL, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Durham, St Andrews, etc, Bristol would be the backstop for politics I'd have thought.

@KittyMcKitty My dd has received an offer from Bristol and has solid GCSE grades rather than stellar ones - 9s in the subject she wants to study and related subjects, 3x8, 3x7 and a 6. If your ds likes the courses at Bristol, he should definitely apply, no question!