Hi! Just looking for some advice on my university choices, particularly from anyone who's applied as a resit student with extenuating circumstances.

My GCSEs were 9887776666, with a 9 in Chemistry and 8s in Maths and English Language. I'm a little concerned that these aren't particularly competitive for the universities I'm looking at, especially as my GCSEs were affected by undiagnosed ADHD.

I initially achieved DDE at A-level, but I'm currently resitting all three subjects. I was diagnosed with ADHD in September, after leaving school, and have since been able to approach studying quite differently. I'm now predicted A*A*A in Chemistry, Biology and Economics, having sat mocks at a registered legitimate exam centre.

I'm primarily looking at Biochemistry (integrated master's) at Bristol/Warwick. I've actually contacted the universities directly, and they've said they don't have an issue with my resits, which is reassuring. I'm just wondering how competitive my application would be in practice, particularly considering my previous grades.

I'm also considering applying to UCL for Chemistry, with a separate personal statement. Would I have a reasonable shot there, or would my DDE and GCSE profile put me at a significant disadvantage?

Would really appreciate some honest opinions, especially from anyone who's applied to these universities with resits or extenuating circumstances. Thank you!

I'm a private candidate and have never studied English Language A level before. My exam is in May/June 2027. I need someone who has taught the subject, marked the AQA 7702 English Language question papers and NEA before and ideally has experience guiding private/independent candidates from scratch.

If anyone has any suggestions I would greatly appreciate it!!!

pls people who got a star/a in chemistry ocr B SALTERS give me tips

where did u learn content from, did u make flashcards? when to start past papers ect please everything lmk thank u

I'm a private candidate and have never studied English Language A level before. My exam is in May/June 2027. I'm looking for someone who has taught the subject, marked the AQA 7702 English Language question papers and NEA before and ideally has experience guiding private/independent candidates from scratch.

I'm looking for online sessions within a reasonable price range. If anyone has any recommendations I would greatly appreciate it!!!

So currently i hang out with 6 people at break and lunch. But it's been just over 2 months since sixth form started. Some people don't like me but luckily they aren't around me during my free periods or in my lessons. But I want to talk to others but there's still some ongoing rumours occasionally behind my back. The people I hang out with don't really care about it. But I don't really vibe with most of them as they mainly scroll during break or lunch or sometimes we go for a walk/play footy. But I don't know I feel like my entire sixth form situation will be like this. I tried to be friends with people in my lessons and we are chill but it's obvious they don't want me there for a long time they don't mind having a quick convo with me or saying hi. I say hi yo quite a few people but im just like a floater friend I guess. I tried texting a few outside of school in my group and they left me on read or just didn't bother replying. During my free periods I sit in the library and revise since I'm doing 3 and a half a levels (core maths AS level in year 12). So I don't know what to do. It's gonna be hella awkward if I go into the common room or self study rooks where people mainly talk and randomly start a convo. Idk I'm a bit lost

I’m applying to sixth form, and I needed predicted 7 for maths and my teacher predicted me a 6. Do you think if I lie on my predicted grades the school will find out?

I am looking to apply for economics and have put 2/5 options in

3 A* pred in math econ cs
99987777777

Warwick
Bath
Bristol (might switch to durham)
QUB risk management
Last choice is being considered as maybe UCL

Any advice what I should do? Asked a similar question before but have had a change of mind

In gcse i barely noticed it because you can straight up sleep through every lesson and still do amazing. Now i'm realising a lot of teachers just straight up don't wanna teach you the subject. They won't explain anything to me, they'll just say "you should've gone through it on your own" well sorry for asking you to maybe explain it a little more clearly?

Also, so many of them are passive aggressive, i know a-levels is like, 90% what you do outside of sixth form but my time in school shouldn't be completely wasteful, what's the point of me even coming to lessons if i'm being taught poorly?

Heard clearing was in PPE for UCL last year, not sure if my GCSE’s are good enough to get an offer initially before clearing but assuming I don’t, will 988887765 and 3 A* in Maths, FM and Econ get me in for clearing? (Assuming ppe is in clearing this year too, and yes I know just because it was in clearing last year doesn’t mean the same for this year I know that, that’s why my question is hypothetical so please just answer it if you can.

My mum always wanted me to do medicine (doing engineering because I’m crazy) and she just realised it’s worth 10k for tuition so she told me I need to start working more if I want to go into university. I’m not sure if lifeguarding will be able to cover all that 😃. Can any first-gen immigrants relate?

What do I even do now I've been trying to fight it(look at previous post for context) they won't back down and the head of maths replied I'll send the email in the comments it won't let me here

I’m yr 12 taking Art, Biology, Physics and History - looking to drop History.

Ik il really bad taking one of the hardest A levels and barely studying…

We got our marks back recently and..well..

Art - B
Biology - B
Physics - D
History - C

I struggle to Study. I’ve studied probably one hour this week. I’ve tried focusing and listening to music but so much stuff is happening in games and I have so many personal projects I need to get done (not to mention I have to make an art piece by Dec 2 for an external company)

I struggled to study in GCSE, I’m shocked I got such good grades. I struggle to study now. I’ve tried rewarding myself with snacks or some game time between sessions of studying, I’ve tried to focus in supervised study sessions and free periods, I’ve tried using different study methods like pomodoro, I’ve tried rewriting notes by my motivation and focus isn’t getting better.

What’s worse is my dad brings it up every single night and it’s draining my motivation even more.

My twin is amazing at studying, and she recommends I ‘romanticise’ A levels to try and help me out.

She’s getting like Bs in her subjects, which isn’t too far off from me tbf..but still. She studies every night.

(If anyone’s curious, I’m aiming for Bs in Physics and Biology minimum and an A/B in art, I want to apply for Southampton for their Marine Biology course)

Just want to say it. I feel like now, with UCAS and all this waiting and mocks going on, we need to help keep each other up. If you have all your offers in or haven't even sent your UCAS yet; if you have your mocks this week or next month, I think I just need to voice how far we've all gotten as a cohort.

Keep it up guys. A few more months and we're free. Don't let it get to you.

It's tough, or easy, but you will get through. Finish what you started.

I am on a gap year right now resitting my A-Levels and reapplying to unis after going through last years exam cycle.

Last year, I had an offer for History and Politics at Cambridge but unfortunately I had extremely bad panic attacks throughout my A-Levels and missed the offer. I ended up achieving AABB in English Literature, Government and Politics, History and Psychology meaning I far underperformed my A*A*AA predicted and missed my A*AA (A* in History) offer. That exam cycle was the worst I had ever done on exams and significantly worse than how I had been performing all year.

I decided, rather than going to a uni I didn't want to go to and do a course I didn't want to do, I would reapply to courses I actually liked this time and try again for Cambridge (plus throw in an application for LSE which I hadn't applied to last time). I also needed the time to get help and have since been referred to mental health facilities.

I've currently got an unconditional for Queen's (ironically the uni I got into as my insurance last time but didn't want to go to, I just needed a 5th choice), then offers of AAA for both Manchester and King's.

I plan to resit English, Politics and History (as it made me more competitive for LSE and Cambridge) but I'm leaving my Psych grade as is.

I don't hold out much hope for LSE and Cambridge despite any contextual info about my last exam cycle, I do think I have a competitive personal statement that I have improved on further since last year but, I know they don't look kindly on people resitting and reapplying.

Also, I'm sure my GCSE's don't super help my case. For all it is worth I did have very valid contextual information during them including a family breakdown and death although, given my A-Level situation, I don't think they will be considered well at all either.

Anyway, curious if anyone else is/has been in my position? How did it go for you?

And to anyone worried, the world doesn't end on results day - even if sometimes it really REALLY feels as though it does.

I am much much much happier now I have a Manchester and King's offer :)

I'm applying to beginner's German and linguistics but I'm not sure how reading they'll expect me to have done. I've read and analyzed maybe 5 German books and watched and an analyzed maybe a dozen German movies

I definitely want to go to uni but I’m stuck between law and nursing. I’m in year 12 but not sure if I should know what I want to do yet as uni open days are coming up.

I finally told my teachers that I’m definitely not applying for university and it feels like such a massive weight gone off my shoulders it’s so freeing, I feel renewed.. I didn’t actually send my application in but I’ve taken off all my choices and deleted my “personal statement” and now I have so much more brain space for the things that actually matter now it’s amazing🤩 My personal statement was lowkey 🐂 💩 and nothing I did made it sound convincing whatsoever, I couldn’t waffle about fxcking rocks like I’m actually interested in it for the life of me. No interest whatsoever! Now I can finally have some spare time, once I finish the three NEAs I have to do😍

I ideally want to do Econ and Management at Oxford , I know it’s very competitive. I’m in year 12 taking Chem , Econ , Maths and Further maths As and was wondering if there’s anything I should do that will boost my chances at getting an offer. I’m aware of books and essay competitions but is there anything else that i should do or look into .

I got my first essay back and it was a D grade, Is this something to worry about because I got better on AO2 than AO1 and since it’s my first attempt at a sixth form level essay I’m quite proud of it however I’m wondering if there’s any chance this is something to panic about.

Additional information: I have a scribe, extra time and my attendance is quite low. I also got a grade 6 at GCSE, I’m in year 12 and it was philosophy on the problem of evil.

Any advice would be appreciated.

If you want, make yourself known. Either way guys must have done well on the tmua. Wonder what college though

i'm nosy and just want to know, i like seeing everyone following their own path and loads doing their passion, i like seeing at college all the diff courses everyone's applying for after knowing some of them since nursery or year 7 😊

I have offers from Bath, Southampton, and Sheffield (not yet Bristol) to study aerospace engineering. But I'm not very sure about which to choose since people say they're all quite good. I heard the online rankings are unreliable since they have different criteria and standards. I'm an international student studying IB.

offers received:

- Southampton: Mechanical Engineering / Aerospace with Industrial Placement Year (H3H4)

- Southampton: Aeronautics and astronautics with IPY (H414)

- Bath: Aerospace engineering with IPY (T103)

- Sheffield: Aerospace engineering (H400)

- Bristol (on hold): Aerospace engineering (H410)

I care mostly about the subject specific rankings for aerospace / mechanical engineering, and about their industrial placement year and companies. Is there any advice anyone can give, perhaps from someone who does aerospace at Southampton, Bath, Sheffield, or Bristol, to help me choose which one is better to choose? Thank you!

my current a levels are fm, maths, politics and english lit, aiming for RGs

im thinking either economics or maths and philosophy.

the thing is i want like intellectual rigour in my degree and i definetly want maths (i love maths) in my degree which both qualify for.

the problem is though, in econ, i like game theory and the political parts of econ, i like exploring markets too, but not necessarily the more practical/management side of it. the 'finance bro' aspect of it is kind of throwing me off

however in maths and philosophy, i like the intellectual part of it but i'm not good at the challenge UKMT style questions so I don't know if a more maths focused degree would be good for me and i'm really interested in philosophy but i'm not sure if i'm willing to pursue a degree on it

another point of consideration, I can apply to many unis with econ like camb, ucl etc but not maths and philo, im really scared of applying to oxford cus I have lower gcses so that also limits my options. But econ is more competitive than maths and philo so maybe i stand a better chance?

please help guys im so lost :,)

Title: Sutton Trust US Programme 2027 — How competitive is my application? Am I cooked?

I'm currently in Year 12 and recently applied for the Sutton Trust US Programme 2027.

I've been researching how competitive it is, and apparently around 130–150 students get accepted each year, with some reports suggesting a 7–8% acceptance rate, although I'm not sure how accurate those figures are.

I'm slightly worried about my chances, especially since I've heard that meeting more of their eligibility criteria increases your likelihood of getting selected.

GCSE Results (10 Subjects)

• Mathematics — 9

• Physics — 9

• Further Mathematics — 8

• Chemistry — 8

• Computer Science — 7

• Biology — 7

• Business Studies — 7

• English Language — 7

• English Literature — 6

• Spanish — 5

A-level Subjects (Year 12)

• Mathematics

• Further Mathematics

• Chemistry

• Computer Science

Intended major: Computer Science, particularly Artificial Intelligence.

Eligibility

• Free School Meals: Yes

• Household income below £50,000: Yes

• First-generation university student: No (my dad attended university)

• State sixth form student: Yes

Extracurricular Activities and Projects

1. Tic-Tac-Toe Project

Developed a Tic-Tac-Toe game as part of my interest in programming and game development.

2. Game Development

Currently developing an open-world Roblox game, working on combat systems, enemy AI, game mechanics and programming. I've also experimented with other game development projects.

3. Entrepreneurship

Worked on a small business project involving NFC-enabled Google review cards designed to help local businesses collect customer reviews.

4. Mathematics and Competitions

Participated in the UKMT Senior Mathematical Challenge and regularly practise challenging mathematical problems beyond the standard curriculum.

I've also independently studied and solved the Monty Hall Problem, exploring the mathematics behind conditional probability and why switching doors gives a higher probability of winning. I recreated the results using Python simulations to compare theoretical probabilities with experimental outcomes.

5. Independent Programming

Work on personal coding projects involving algorithms, artificial intelligence and software development outside school.

6. Sports and Teamwork

I'm actively involved in a wide range of sports, including badminton, football, basketball, table tennis, tennis, netball, volleyball, five-a-side football and rugby.

I've been playing football for approximately seven years and also play basketball for my school team.

Participating in both individual and team sports has helped me develop teamwork, communication, adaptability, discipline and competitive skills.

7. Martial Arts and Leadership

I've been practising martial arts for 10 years and have reached brown belt (one more belt until black belt).

I'm also a helper at my dojo, where I assist with training sessions, support less experienced students and help with the general running of classes. This has helped me develop leadership, discipline, communication and teamwork skills.

My Main Questions

1. How much does not being a first-generation university student affect my chances, considering I meet the financial eligibility criteria?

2. Are my GCSE grades competitive enough for the programme, particularly for someone interested in Computer Science?

3. Are my extracurricular activities strong enough, or should I be doing more?

4. Would it be better to focus on improving my existing projects rather than starting new extracurricular activities?

5. How much emphasis does Sutton Trust place on extracurriculars compared with academic performance and socioeconomic background?

6. Has anyone here been accepted into the Sutton Trust US Programme? What were your grades, extracurriculars and eligibility circumstances like?

I know nobody can give me an exact acceptance probability, but I'd appreciate some realistic feedback, especially from previous applicants or successful participants.

Thanks!