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.

It might be worth considering student politics/ societies at the various unis if that’s something he wants to get involved with.
Bristol SU has a reputation of being not very active and not central to student life- is criticised in student surveys quite heavily.

“full of people who just missed Oxbridge”

Well nothing wrong with that . At least they had the grades and the resilience to give it a shot. It’s hardly an exact science as to who gets in and who doesn’t anyway.

There will be students who didn’t get in to Oxbridge or LSE at any uni obviously - including Bristol!

Also, it’s a lot less competitive to get into Oxbridge for say, MFL or Classics or various other courses, than it is for say, Economics at LSE. It really depends on the course.

I think this is because Bristol hasn’t, historically, been a politically active university. The life there doesn’t revolve around the union. It has a new union building but if students don’t like it, they should run it. DD and friends didn’t complain about it, they just ignored it and got on with their own activities. There’s plenty more to do! The Politics courses there are no doubt very good but I don’t think it’s a hot bed of political activism.

I don’t think LSE students are Oxbridge failures either! It’s ratified territory there!

If your interest is Politics, why wouldn’t you want to study at LSE?

He doesn’t think they’re failures and apologies if I implied that - I don’t think any young person who applied to any university is a failure! Just more that it wasn’t his kind of place and that everyone has an amazing CV and list of accomplishments. Tbf I’ve seen enough threads on mumsnet which seem to back this up and also a thread about Politics at Bristol (a while ago where the dc were doing all sorts of stuff) which implied the same hence me starting the thread.

@quest1on

If your interest is Politics, why wouldn’t you want to study at LSE?

All sorts of reasons I imagine!

Not clever enough, don’t think they’d fit in, too small, don’t like halls of residence spread far and wide.

Bristol students just pulled down statues of slave owners. Some political activity I presume.

My state educated, non contextual offer school, child got in to do an MSc four years ago so I'd say it was achievable. The offer was A*AA

@KittyMcKitty

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.

Tbf if you are reading threads about getting into Bristol and RG universities then that's not really likely to be surprising or exaggerated.

@nighttrains well if that’s the case he doesn’t have a clean sweep of 9’s or a prediction of 3A stars 😒

If he has AAA and this is what Bristol are asking for, I’m not sure why you think e has any less chance than the next applicant though?

Yes there may be some with all A*, but they’ll likely be going for Oxford, LSE etc as well. Bristol will know who are Oxbridge applicants because they will have already applied by now and their PS will read differently (ie all academic and no extra- curricular if it’s not related to the subject). Also, they know predicted grades are very much a guideline and schools vary in optimism!

My DD has just started QMUL and she's loving it. She's not doing politics but she does want to go into politics eventually and is politically active. She loves being on campus and the student life there even in the middle of a pandemic. Hopefully next year will be even better!

Her first choice was LSE but the almighty cock up of A levels this summer is an entirely different thread....

Well if they rank by GCSEs and predicted grades then there will be a squillion in front of him.

I don’t know about how the system works bar what I’ve read. I just wanted a little hand holding and reassurance that you may get an offer without being super clever and having millions of extra stuff to offer that’s all.

@passthemustard thank you so pleased your dd is enjoying it.

[quote KittyMcKitty]@nighttrains well if that’s the case he doesn’t have a clean sweep of 9’s or a prediction of 3A stars 😒[/quote]
Neither did my DC and they got in, I can't remember their a level prediction but they didn't have all A* or as at gcse

[quote KittyMcKitty]@nighttrains well if that’s the case he doesn’t have a clean sweep of 9’s or a prediction of 3A stars 😒[/quote]
Don't worry neither do the vast majority of Bristol applicants whatever you might read here

Yes I understand. I’m no expert, but for what it’s worth, it sounds like he had an excellent chance at Bristol. I see no reason why he wouldn’t be offered a place, as long as his PS is relevant and reasonable. It’s not as if there are any extra hurdles to trip in along the way, eg interviews or admissions tests. It’s just sending a form off and waiting. I think you should be very optimistic and good luck to him!

Also, do remind him that at LSE, students come from all over the world (isn’t it over 60% international students)? So a more varied cohort than most other unis, I suspect?

Kitty, despite fears of having further accusations of being a sock puppet, for social policy he should look again at LSE. It is ranked No 1 in the world and has a massive international reach, as well as being close to the seat of UK Government. It is also, essentially, the core subject that the Fabians wanted to teach when they founded the school.

@Needmoresleep it was you that assumed I was accusing you of sock puppetry (on another thread...). Now my direct Q to you us why, when the OP has said at least 2x that her son doesn’t want LSE, you’re suggesting it again? It doesn’t matter how good, if a DC doesn’t think it’s a good fit for them than that’s their choice.

With the DC’s predicted grades I don’t see why he isn’t clever enough for it, or Oxbridge. But he doesn’t want that. So I’m not sure how several posts from different posters advocating LSE is helpful to the OP, or anyone else reading whose child doesn’t fancy it for certain reasons. No one should have to justify those reasons. There are lots of excellent universities and courses, it’s great to hear of a range.

DD put in a bit about her hobbies and interests on her ps. We all know it isn’t important but it was “her” and it breaks the ice at interview with a settling in question if there is something beyond academics. In fact, relevant extra curricular is something Bristol look at in a tie break. You really don’t needs loads of extra stuff. However a PS which explains why you wish to study something and what you have done to support that position is what should be in a ps. So being in a political party, reading around the subject and showing the subject matters to you all helps. Hers is what Bristol want. It’s clear!

I am fairly sure it wasn’t Bristol university students who pulled the statue down. The BLM rally was organised by a student at UWE. Does anyone know who pulled it down? White male protesters I think - of varying ages!

Juno, sure, but sometimes people think an institution is “not for them” because of preconceived ideas or because they lack confidence. The OP is honest about lacking confidence e about Bristol, even though her son has a great chance, so maybe he is also lacking confidence which is causing him to write places off. Let’s face it, nobody has been able to visit anywhere this year, which obviously doesn’t help.

But yes, obviously LSE or other London unis are not for everyone.

I remember when that climbing wall opened

@Needmoresleep I’m really sorry but this is actually upsetting me - I have at no point said Oxbridge rejects - I said people who missed out on Oxbridge which has very different connotations. I even had a follow on post clarifying that I would not view people who applied to Oxbridge but didn’t secure a place as failures. Please do not attribute opinions to me which I have very clearly NOT stated.

I have also clearly stated that he is not eligible for a contextual offer. Cost is not an issue we (and grandparents have saved for this). We are not from the north (at least he isn’t).

I have looked at the LSE halls and they are up to 5km from uni in a variety of different directions.

As an international student to choose to study in London I would imagine that many are very privileged indeed!

Just because you don’t agree with his reasons (or find them convincing as you say) doesn’t make them any less valid.

I think LSE would be lucky to have him (as I said before I’m biased) he doesn’t want to go. You can’t visit anywhere - he attended their virtual open day (generic and fairly rubbish as most of them are). There will likely be fewer places available to current year 13’s across all uni’s after this years ofqual disaster and all the deferred places so even though it’s just one line on a form it’s not worth wasting a line on something you’re not sold on and likely won’t be offered - 188 applications/ 56 offers and 17 actually went in 2019.

I’m sorry. I had no intention to upset anyone. Happy to ask for my post to be deleted if you would like.