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Original poster

Bristol- how hard is it to get in?

126 replies

KittyMcKitty · 15/10/2020 17:08

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.

OP posts:
Original poster
KittyMcKitty · 17/10/2020 22:09

@Needmoresleep

I’m sorry. I had no intention to upset anyone. Happy to ask for my post to be deleted if you would like.
No need to delete. I just want to stress that I didn’t call them rejects.

Anyway he doesn’t want to go there - he views it as too high brow, privileged, intellectual and somewhere he wouldn’t fit in. Were he able to visit he may feel differently but he can’t.

OP posts:
Needmoresleep · 17/10/2020 22:54

Don’t worry. T’internet is a strange beast and it is easy to get the tone wrong. It was not meant.

One thought. Though visits are not possible, some stuff has gone online, which makes it more accessible.

The LSE (sorry again, but I am an alum so get their events stuff) has put their public lecture series online. I assume others have as well. Not the same at all but if your DS were to check out what is available at the places that interest him, it might give him a bit of a feel. And indeed something to stick in a PS.

Guymere · 17/10/2020 23:56

KittyMcKitty: He really should choose somewhere HE is happy with. Forget what people think on here. LSE is fairly marmite! It certainly isn’t for everyone. Neither is the process of getting into Oxford or Cambridge and their success rate/applications is low too! Don’t forget that applicants are probably choosing 5 courses. They can only rock up to one. Universities make more offers than places. Even when they offer, they know not all students will choose them. However at top universities, many will put them first and LSE is very popular because it’s London and a world renown university. But it’s not for everyone and has a reputation for being intense.

So let him be happy with his choices and really don’t worry! He will enjoy wherever he goes because he has weighed up the options and he’s got the maturity to choose somewhere that suits him - not anyone else.

Original poster
KittyMcKitty · 24/10/2020 17:02

Thanks everyone for your help. He’s finished his PS so that’s just with his tutor whose doing his reference.

In terms of where he’s applying he’s definitely applying for:

Bristol (Phil & Pol)
QMUL pol
Liverpool Pol
Manchester Phil & Pol

But is having a last minute wobble as to whether to stick with Bristol (social policy & Pol) or try KCL (pol). Kings ask for A star AA though which is above his predictions. Anyway he has a week left t make his mind up!

OP posts:
NotDonna · 25/10/2020 01:12

Given he’s got Bristol, QMUL, Liverpool & Manchester - that’s only 4 so he could definitely pop Kings down as a 5th.

NotDonna · 25/10/2020 01:37

Apologies, he’s thinking Bristol for 2 different courses. Ignore me.

Lemonsyellow · 25/10/2020 01:54

You don’t need absolutely stellar grades for an RG university. My DC is at one and got ABB at A level, and mainly Bs at GCSE, with two As and two Cs (old grades).

Lemonsyellow · 25/10/2020 01:56

What grades universities ask for and what grades they actually accept are very different beasts.

Butterfly3105 · 25/10/2020 02:30

@KittyMcKitty Bristol is a really good Uni hope your DC gets in just incase she hasn’t done her AS levels yet make sure she gets all A’s they look for that too so it’s like AAAA
Makes sense?

Lemonsyellow · 25/10/2020 03:14

[quote Butterfly3105]@KittyMcKitty Bristol is a really good Uni hope your DC gets in just incase she hasn’t done her AS levels yet make sure she gets all A’s they look for that too so it’s like AAAA
Makes sense?[/quote]
AS levels don’t exist any more, so the DC won’t be taking them. Unless they’re in Wales.

MarchingFrogs · 25/10/2020 04:56

AS levels don’t exist any more.

Um, yes, they do... And not just in Wales. DS2's school still does them and we're definitely not in Wales. Or Northern Ireland, for that matter.

They just no longer contribute to the grade awarded for the A level in England.

Sostenueto · 25/10/2020 05:21

Dgd got a contextual offer from Bristol which she had as her insurance. Her GCSEs were 7-9s her predicted 3A" but got contextual A*BB ( which she made even with Government reduction) she liked the course a Msc in Neuroscience and psychology but was concerned it was a brand new course and info on it was very slow and bitty as to what actually was on it. But would have been happy to go there if she had not been seduced by London!

I'm sure yr DC will get in and get all 5 offers! Bristol take from all backgrounds so no worries. My Dgd wanted to be in London and not a campus uni. She's having a great time at Kings College London loves the international vibe too. Her flatmates are Welsh, Latvian ,Russian, French and Chinese ( she says their English better than hers!)
Good luck to yr dc OP! All will be well!

Sostenueto · 25/10/2020 05:36

She also got offers from Manchester and Nottingham for Msc. She did not make Cambridge but is very glad of that as she was sure she would not have fitted in ( imposter syndrome) so was not phased by rejection. She just applied as she had the grades I think. The DC must follow where they think they will be happy at. As soon as Dgd saw Kings that was it really. She did not feel that at Cambridge or Bristol as much. She liked Manchester but again she had already ranked them by feel for her. They have to be happy with course and feel of uni. And not persuaded by parent wishes. We would have thought it marvelous if she had got Cambridge but Kings is a world leaders in her subject and precisely what she wanted After all they are the ones who are doing the studying!.

Sostenueto · 25/10/2020 05:47

Although DC can't go on open days to see unis this year plenty of research on unis will give u idea of makeup of cohort and looking at cities and locations of campuses will still help get a feel of a place.

Original poster
KittyMcKitty · 25/10/2020 08:09

[quote Butterfly3105]@KittyMcKitty Bristol is a really good Uni hope your DC gets in just incase she hasn’t done her AS levels yet make sure she gets all A’s they look for that too so it’s like AAAA
Makes sense?[/quote]
Thank you - have a school don’t do AS. He’s in year 13 so needs to submit his UCAS form to school in a couple of days so the dithering about KCL will need to stop soon!

OP posts:
DitheringDan · 25/10/2020 11:57

He can apply up to January next year, so you may not be free from the dithering yet.

One of mine quite literally rewrote his whole personal statement to apply for a different course (and four out of five different universities) the night before the UCAS deadline.

I'm not exactly recommending his technique, but it's an option!

Original poster
KittyMcKitty · 25/10/2020 11:59

@DitheringDan

He can apply up to January next year, so you may not be free from the dithering yet.

One of mine quite literally rewrote his whole personal statement to apply for a different course (and four out of five different universities) the night before the UCAS deadline.

I'm not exactly recommending his technique, but it's an option!

Oh my the stress!! School want it for the end of half term which is good otherwise he’ll never make a decision!
OP posts:
Sostenueto · 25/10/2020 14:00

Best to get in early if u can.

Lemonsyellow · 25/10/2020 14:31

My DC applied on the final date in January.

Ulelia · 25/10/2020 15:12

Sorry to add to the dithering time but he can submit it now with 4 choices and then add the fifth choice anytime up to January 15th. Sometimes it's worth doing to see if you get early offers and then make your 5th choice accordingly.

Original poster
KittyMcKitty · 25/10/2020 15:52

@Ulelia that’s good to know actually and could help with the issue of whether to apply for 2 at Bristol.

OP posts:
DitheringDan · 25/10/2020 16:00

Two years back, DS made his final choice and then the course he wanted was pulled - so he made a sixth application well after the usual deadline.

We are frequent fliers with UCAS here (and not paying nearly enough attention to the child currently applying).

Original poster
KittyMcKitty · 04/11/2020 18:46

Well tonight ds did pay and send on his UCAS form (although school still need to add their reference).

He didn’t really budge on his initial choices and ended up with:

Bristol Phil & Pol (AAA)
QMUL Pol (ABB)
Manchester Phil & Pol (ABB)
Liverpool Pol (AAB)

For the 5th choice he seriously considered KCL but in the end went for another Bristol but Pol & Int Rel (AAA) as opposed to his initial plan of Social Policy & Pol (AAB).

So hopefully school will add their bit soon and then we’ll just have to cross fingers and wait and hopefully he’ll get some offers 🤞🏻.

Thanks everyone for their help.

OP posts:
Xenia · 04/11/2020 19:21

I am glad he stuck with Bristol. 3 of my children went there and all liked it. One is still in Bristol studying although not at the university this year.

AdventCalender2 · 04/11/2020 19:23

I think the personal statement counts for a lot too not that I am bitter about getting rejected.

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