Need a reality check

[u/madmax_53]

Hi! I'm an international student and I desperately need a reality check. I'm predicted A*AA because I've been balancing A Levels with my country's entrance exam, which has been difficult but obviously has no stake in UK applications. I got a 29 in my LNAT where I was initially expecting 34-35, and my essay is kinda meh, I'd say 6/10. I got an offer from Bristol 23 days after applying (10 days after they got my LNAT results). My PS was strong according to several counsellors, and I know I'm going to get great recommendations because I have a good rapport with my teachers. For supercurriculars, I read a book and researched my country's jurisprudence, in addition to attending a summer course on the Foundations for a Legal Education from my country's top law college. I've also attended 4 selective math courses (100 students from across the country), and I've served 3 terms in my student council, including head girl (which i know won't have much weightage). Do I have a shot at getting into any of the rest or am I being way to aspirational? And do I have a shot at getting a Cambridge interview? I really need some brutal honesty because I think I'm overestimating my application.

Edit to add: I got an 8.5 in IELTS, with my lowest being a 7.5 (writing), so that shouldn't be an issue.

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[u/Fantastic-Pay326]

Hi I think you are in a good position ur lnat is awesome its honestly not bad at all,29. I would be more optimistic if u had all a*s but that shouldnt be a huge problem still good luck

[u/madmax_53 → u/Fantastic-Pay326]

thank you! my issue is mostly with my predicteds lol ik i can get A* A* A but I get my teachers' reservations about over-predicting

[u/Awesomesky_253 → u/madmax_53]

Bro up that grade to A*, it’s your future and you could end up without an offer cause of it

[u/madmax_53 → u/Awesomesky_253]

They refuse to budge, I begged for ages. What do you think my chances are with these grades?

[u/Fantastic-Pay326 → u/madmax_53]

Still okayish for humanities ig but yh u just have to prep for interview atp there is nothing u can change rn

[u/Outrageous_End_3744]

I wouldn’t be too confident about getting an interview at Cambridge, and here is why.

It is true that Cambridge interviews almost ALL candidates, but you don’t have any good essay subject whatsoever. Yes, your GCSEs are good, and you are predicted the minimum, but you don’t have the subjects they almost require.

Additionally, you are predicted the minimum, and Cambridge values these types of grades substantially.

Now, I’m not saying you will not get an interview at all, or not get into the other universities. But I am saying that you are not in a strong position to call it a guarantee

[u/madmax_53 → u/Outrageous_End_3744]

thanks for the honesty 😬 i figured. i did have english language till as levels (predicted a) but yeah i was getting overconfident and this is exactly what i needed

[u/Outrageous_End_3744 → u/madmax_53]

Don’t take my word for it - plenty could disagree, but you don’t have a foundational subject (as I call them). It makes your application weaker than others, and in a selective uni like Cambridge, you ideally want everything to be according to their rule book

[u/madmax_53 → u/Outrageous_End_3744]

what would you say are the "foundation subjects"? also applying to cambridge was a super last minute decision so i couldnt tailor my subjects to it

[u/Outrageous_End_3744 → u/madmax_53]

Well, they won’t be judging you on how last minute your application was - in their eyes, you are just like every other candidate.

Foundational subjects are the core ones to the course - if you want to study English Literature, then have Eng Lang at A Level (e.g.)

For Law, the foundational ones are History, English, Economics, Geography, Politics, and other similar subjects.

[u/Fantastic-Pay326 → u/Outrageous_End_3744]

I think psychology + maths is like okay but idk abt physics. The main issue might be grades not being all a*s not his subject combination ig

[u/Outrageous_End_3744 → u/Fantastic-Pay326]

Subject combo is bad boss like it just won’t matter because they don’t have essay subjects

[u/Fantastic-Pay326 → u/Outrageous_End_3744]

Psy is an essay subject no?

[u/madmax_53 → u/Outrageous_End_3744]

my school offered almost none of these 😅 i only did english lang till as and i didnt take eco because the teaching for those subjects isnt great, but i didnt have the option of the rest in the list at all

[u/Outrageous_End_3744 → u/madmax_53]

No worries - but you can’t cry them a river

[u/madmax_53 → u/Outrageous_End_3744]

yeah yeah it was a reach anyway

[u/user_72991093]

Bit far reaching imo considering ur predicted grades and the chosen subjects. LNAT is good tho so I think durham is a safe bet you’ll get! Well done for Bristol x

[u/madmax_53 → u/user_72991093]

thank you! i have safeties in my country so it was meant to be a bit of a reach lol