Grammar school

[Mo-Zaki]

Hi,

I was just wondering if going to a grammar school affects your chances of getting into a university. Some people have told me that going to a grammar school could disadvantage you in some way. I was wondering if this was true and how?

Thanks, in advance.

[Hughman]

Though people deny it, there are quota systems in place at some unis. Namely Bristol and Nottingham, and there are statistics and lots of anecdotal evidence to prove it (plus a big investigation by the Times). This may but you at a small disadvantage. But dont apply to unis based on just statistics...go with your gut instinct.

[Singh.Simran]

This is new....


I'm coming with an open mind - can we see some evidence? My default position is they wouldn't get away with it in this day and age, but shoot anyway - because i'll happily change my mind...

[Hughman]

My head of sixth form has some stats in hard paper - grammars are underrepresented at Bristol. At our school, we noramlly have 5-6 ppl apply there. In those five years 2 have got offers. One guy who failed to get in to do law was Head Boy, Cricket captain, straght A* GCSE and As at A-level, and he passed Cambridge's interview. When our school asked for feedback from Bristol, they declined to comment because their 'assessment procedure was confidential' and they also aggressively deny prejudice or quotas, whilst other unis just shrug the accusations (because they have nothing to hide).

[Mo-Zaki]

I do agree that it definitely shouldn't happen, me going to a grammar school fuels this want, but yet I can see how universities get away with it. Nowadays, many fields of studies, especially medicine, are so competitive that a university can easily come up with an excuse as to why they did not give someone a place, even if it is purely based on some sort of prejudice?

Anyway, if, such as the example given by Hughman, someone has top grades and shows that they participate in sports and have the relevant work experience, can they somehow protest to not getting a place in a certain university if an invalid excuse is given. By this, I mean is there a law that allows students who believe that they have been unfairly judged to have the decision changed in some way.

[Mo-Zaki]

By the way, Singh Simran, did you really get 35 in the BMAT and AAAAA... (cant remember how many) in your A2s. Just wonderring if its a joke. If you did get these grades 1. youre a genius and 2. can you give me some tips

[agneishd]

seeing as the top score is 33, i'd say no, Mo-Zaki
and he will only get the five As

[Mo-Zaki]

LOL.

Thanks. I thought it was a joke, but I had to ask.

[agneishd]

I still wouldn't call someone who's accumulated 11 As a genius just yet though...

[Mo-Zaki]

Yeah. LOL. You'll probably need an extra five A's to be a genius Singh Simran.

Also, I was wondering about extra curricular activities.

When you give examples of activities that you have done, to the university, do they need proof. For example, i play tennis at an LTA standard (national level - top 5,000 in the country or something around that), I have played county level chess, basketball for my school team and I play the piano all of which I can prove. However, I also play football and table tennis but i dont play for a team so the university will have no proof that I have done this so will they accept it as extra curricular activities.

What else can I add? And, are the activities above enough to impress the unis?.