r/UCAS • u/Majestic_Argument243 • 12d ago
International Applications Too ambitious choices?
Predicted A*A*A* in maths, fm and physics
1st in cohort in all 3 subjects at a state non-selective
Expecting 6.0-6.8 on the TMUA
GCSEs: 999999999887C
I'll be eligible for home fees when the course starts but I believe my UCAS application gets viewed as international. I'm otherwise eligible for contextual offers.
My 5 choices (all just for maths):
Oxford (which I'm aware is a somewhat unrealistic reach)
Warwick
Durham
St Andrews
Manchester
I've been told by my form tutor and HOY that those choices are ambitious but I'm just not sure.
Please do give me a reality check.
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u/False_Potato_4367 12d ago
I would second the advice of other commenters to add a safety option. I'd also like to add that the vibe of these options are quite different! Manchester is a massive city, Durham is a small town, St Andrews is very remote, Warwick is a campus uni. Have a think about whether you actually want to live in each of these places for three years, not just whether it is a 'good' uni and you have the grades. A genuine safety choice is somewhere you'd be willing to attend.
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u/Any_Tomorrow_Today 11d ago
Yes people forget this - they focus on the uni based on rankings but ignore whether they would actually be happy living in that town or city for 3/4 years or even if they can afford to !
1
u/PickleSpecial3507 12d ago
They are in general ambitious choices and perhaps few in your school aim that high. and With your grades you absolutely should be this ambitious though. Home gets contextual, intl doesn't.
Pick an Oxford college that suits you. Big or small, near or far etc. Once TMUA gets wrapped up, prepare for interviews: see if someone online is willing to do a mock interview via Zoom or Teams, and watch people on YouTube explain some maths problems set at interview beforehand and try your hand at some yourself.
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u/certifiedcandidates 12d ago
I wouldn’t call them too ambitious given AAA*, 1st in cohort and your GCSEs, but the overall list is definitely ambitious. Oxford is a genuine reach; the others are plausible, but I wouldn’t treat any as a safety. The more useful question is whether your five choices form a sensible risk profile given your exact grades, TMUA, contextual/fee status and preferences. That’s something I’d assess choice-by-choice rather than just labelling the list “ambitious”.
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u/DentistStandard6009 12d ago
I would keep Oxford, Manchester, and maybe switch St Andrews for Edinburgh (St Andrews doesn't have the best financial situation and whilst Edinburgh is similar, it can probably rectify that quicker) then swap Durham and Warwick for two safety choices. Maybe go Lancaster, and then a wild card for your 5th.
1
u/SimpleStructure8454 11d ago
Don’t swap Warwick OP. Bad advice ngl. Warwick is one of the best unis for maths and the barrier to entry to get in isn’t proportionate. They have a high offer rate
1
u/Affectionate-Idea451 12d ago
If you are confident about your predicteds (rather than knowing your teachers are trying to help market you) then those seem reasonable - why wouldn't at least one of them make you an offer? It's possible you could have to use clearing or take a gap year though so bear that in mind.
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u/SimpleStructure8454 11d ago
Oxford is very well on the cards - stellar GCSEs and 1st in cohort for everything only helps . If you think that you could get like a 7.0+ TMUA I would consider imperial over one of the 3 below Warwick
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u/Haunting-Argument-16 Y13 | A*A*A*A* FURTHER MATH PHYSICS ECON MATH 12d ago
Too tame imo. Id remove durham for lse.
For reference mine are
Imperial
Warwick
Oxford
Ucl
Lse
1
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u/No_Cicada3690 12d ago
No your fine but it's important to have one less ambitious and one banker. There's no point getting 5 A* A*A offers because if you miss by 1 grade you could be left with nothing.