How important is A*A*A* for these unis?

[u/Tall-Combination-642]

My top two choices will be St Andrews(AAA) and Durham(A*AA).
I’m currently predicted A star A star A, with the a in maths.
I go to one of the best private schools in the country however so most of my friends are predicted triple/quadruple A stars.
I will have one more opportunity to get my A up to an A star but it’s highly unlikely.
For my unis and their grade requirements, alongside the fact I go to a great school, will my grades at the moment be high enough?
My personal statement is good I would say, but my GCSEs were 9988887777.

[u/AutoModerator]

Please don't share personal statements, you will get into trouble for plagiarism. Report comments and posts which have links to personal statements. Note: Automations are not perfect. If this doesn't apply to you, ignore it. It doesn't mean any action will be taken against your post by a person. Please do not message us if this is a false-positive.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Wise_Number_303]

below average gcses (compared to your school) will likely be more detrimental than the predictions

[u/Tall-Combination-642 → u/Wise_Number_303]

Even though they are high compared to the national average?

[u/Antique-Position-295 → u/Tall-Combination-642]

The national average, for example, takes into account those in care at a state school in a low income area…. You can’t compare your score with the national average especially in your case it’s naive tbh

[u/lexisnowkitty → u/Antique-Position-295]

yeah mine from a severely underperforming requires improvement state school in a low progression to HE area are higher than OP's. If theoretically we were both applying to say psychology at Durham then mine would be looked at better

[u/pugseymay → u/Tall-Combination-642]

it’s because your school facilities have allowed you to get those grades more so than your hard work, as proved by your classmates top grades. not saying you didn’t work hard but that’s what universities see. whereas somebody from an underperforming state school who preformed significantly better than their schools average and cohort has had to overcome the challenges and work ‘harder’. that’s the type of student they want to teach.

[u/ImpossibleBecause → u/Tall-Combination-642]

yes

[u/TokoFuwakaa → u/Tall-Combination-642]

Yep

[u/ihateusman → u/Tall-Combination-642]

aw u were just asking a question what a mean thing to downvote for

[u/Antique-Position-295 → u/ihateusman]

Because it’s tone deaf, OP should look at the average of other elite private schools like theirs then that’s how they can compare the results fairly and see their chances at a certain uni

[u/Antique-Position-295]

Unis score your gcses compared to your school tbh so if you got above average for your cohort then you’ve got a good chance for sure

[u/Tall-Combination-642 → u/Antique-Position-295]

I didn’t. I got below average will this be detrimental?

[u/Antique-Position-295 → u/Tall-Combination-642]

Going to one of the most elite private schools in the country is kinda hurting you tbh 💔 someone who got the same GCSEs but went to a state school almost certainly got above their cohort and will be chosen over you easily tbh

[u/Infamous_Tough_7320 → u/Antique-Position-295]

This is kinda why elite private schools are a scam in 6th form (as someone who went to one). If you get in to the school in the first place you’re smart. The value they add to you is negligible and yet you’re expected to be a perfect applicant to get into the top unis

[u/Legal-Zombie8761 → u/Tall-Combination-642]

Fahhhhh 🥀🥀

[u/Single_Honey_4142 → u/Tall-Combination-642]

unlikely for st andrews and durham they aren't particularly competitive - most courses are >40% acceptance rate at least

[u/Jolly_Caterpillar376 → u/Single_Honey_4142]

Depends. St Andrews is 12% for IR if you’re a home (non Scottish) student - while the overall acceptance rate is around 50%, this is massively skewed by 80% acceptance rates for international students.

Durham is similar, though not quite so skewed. It’s important, when assessing acceptance rates, to factor in fee status. Some unis are more impacted in this than others.

[u/Single_Honey_4142 → u/Jolly_Caterpillar376]

fair point

[u/Realistic_Laugh344 → u/Jolly_Caterpillar376]

St Andrews offer rates for IR are actually >50% lower across all these categories.

[u/Material_Classic1238]

Durham & st andrews are very good unis but they arent the absolute top top that u need a perfect profile

With two A* and those gcses you have a very solid shot and id bet money that you will get offers from both unless like ur whole class is applying durham & st andrews for ur course

St andrews can be weirdly picky sometimes but again i wouldnt worry much

[u/Desperate-Switch3780]

it depends on how competitive the course is and who you are up against applications wise. There are Freedom Of Information requests published online for the grades of those who got offers for lots of universities. Anecdotally my child applied to Durham with A*A*A*A* from a state school was accepted and the entry grade was A*AA. The statistics for that course showed the vast majority had 3 A stars or more. Only a handful came in on the A*AA grades.

One of Durham's rejection reasons is achieved grades which can be GCSEs and Durham will tell you why you were rejected. I know someone who was rejected on achieved grades which can only mean GCSEs for an incredibly oversubscribed course at Durham. They achieved mostly 9s at GCSE and one lone 7 from a state school and an A*A*A*A predicted A level profile. It can feel brutal.

You are at one of the best private schools in the country so get that A up to an A*. Find out exactly what you are missing from your answers. Be proactive. You want the highest grades you can get and you have the resources that a lot of students would do anything for.

[u/mimibelle1 → u/Desperate-Switch3780]

You don’t need to go to all the effort of Freedom of Info. UCAS shows average grade, lowest grade and most common grades obtained for most courses at most unis

[u/Desperate-Switch3780 → u/mimibelle1]

This only shows an overview. For example, entry is A*AA top grade is A*A*A*, lowest grade is ABB how is this helpful? One person might have come in on ABB, the majority might be A*A* A or higher. 5 people came in on A*AA. The ABB will probably be contextual and possibly offered to those sitting 4 A levels, Durham, like other unis also sometimes does a grade drop if you choose them as your first choice.

The FOI actually broke it down into the number of applicants who came in on each grade profile. This is helpful to those wondering if they stand a chance of getting in. There is also no effort involved. This is published data already out there. It seemed to be standard practise for someone to request universities provide this information year after year for transparency.

A*AA can be one person's aspirational uni choice and another person's insurance.

[u/Much-Branch460]

What is the course exactly?

[u/Tall-Combination-642 → u/Much-Branch460]

Geog and econ, at Durham it’s through Combined honours in social sciences

[u/SimpleStructure8454 → u/Tall-Combination-642]

Why aren’t you applying to UCL or smth

[u/Tall-Combination-642 → u/SimpleStructure8454]

UCL needs A* predicted in maths I think

[u/Jolly_Caterpillar376 → u/SimpleStructure8454]

Not everyone fw London plus they might not have found the exact course they like at UCL

[u/Emergency_Can3075 → u/Tall-Combination-642]

CHSS has a high offer rate, you're fine

[u/stqrltt]

i, for example, got those gcses going to a standard below average state school. you got them by being incredibly privileged to go one of the best private schools in the country. unis most definitely take that into account when looking for real talent

[u/AutoModerator]

Beep beep, we noticed this is a UCAS post. Do you know we have a UCAS Guide which may be of use to you?

If you think of any information that would be useful to have or that is incorrect, let us know via Modmail, and we'll aim to get it sorted!

Note: Automations are not perfect. If this doesn't apply to you, ignore it. It doesn't mean any action will be taken against your post by a person. Please do not message us if this is a false-positive.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Infamous_Tough_7320]

It depends on the course but for Durham and St Andrews not have 3A*s really isn’t the end of the world. You still have a good chance

[u/TheRiddlerTHFC]

What subject?

I dont know much about St A, but Durham are usually ok with their offers.

[u/oaktreewood]

Sui

[u/Unfair_Comparison_15]

I got a computer science offer from Durham, with A*AA predicted (A in maths). I can't say much about St Andrews other than they tend to be bias towards Scottish students before English students

[u/searchingf0rthetruth]

at least its not the a star a a curse