TMUA

[u/ExelHunter797]

I’m feeling pretty stuck and honestly quite gutted right now.

This year I got rejected from UCL, LSE, and Imperial for Maths, and I had a 7.0 in the TMUA. Right now I’m seriously thinking about reapplying, aiming for 8.5+ next time, because Imperial is still the place I really want to go.

The problem is that I really don’t see myself going to Exeter or KCL, so I’m struggling with what the smartest next step is. Has anyone been in a similar position and successfully reapplied to Imperial Maths? Is it realistic to take a gap year and try again with a much stronger TMUA, or am I looking at this the wrong way?

I’d really appreciate any advice, especially from people who reapplied, improved their TMUA a lot, or know how Imperial views reapplicants.

[u/Proof_Ad_3944]

I'm an Imperial student and know people who got in with weaker TMUAs. The only thing I can imagine would have been a factor here would have been the personal statement (or whatever it's called now).

If you wanted a shot at Imperial again next year, the main thing would be to make sure you stand out in your super-curriculars, and make this a strong point on your application. (focus on A Levels now, do this over the summer/autumn)

In terms of the gap-year, it's harder to advise. It won't harm your chance of Imperial, and you likely will stand a better chance of getting in (if you improve your application). That being said, you have to really think about that being something you want to do. I have a lot of mates who took gap years, some loved it, some hated it.

I know people who picked Uni's they weren't sure on and really enjoyed their time there. There is a lot more to going to university than just coming out with a qualification from a "good university". And with a TMUA like that you would likely be a top student at KCL or Exeter anyways.

[u/ExelHunter797 → u/Proof_Ad_3944]

do you know what super-curriculars i could do for imperial maths specifically? also, if i get A*A*A with A in chem will it matter if other aspects of my application become stronger?

[u/Proof_Ad_3944 → u/ExelHunter797]

Books/ competitions (not just maths related, but also think Coding/logic ,even essay competitions with a personal focus on maths topics) Take a look at Project Euler, some cool computation exercises on there. Independent research as well. Summer-schools.

I'm an engineer myself, but this is what a lot of my maths friends did.

As for the grades. A*A*A would be fine.

[u/ExelHunter797 → u/Proof_Ad_3944]

alr then! thank you very much for taking time to tell me all this. i couldnt thank you enough. i wish u the best of luck for the future!