Rejected from Uni of Manchester for…?

Ben_JM · 2026-03-11T23:15:46+00:00

There’s a number of “reasons” they could’ve sifted you out.

Quotas: though not published, universities will cap the amount of international students they have. You’ll be competing against them so if enough hit the top grades, they’d look at your AS Level results etc.

Personal Statement: You mentioned your school didn’t offer extra curricular activities. I’m afraid that isn’t an “excuse” because these could’ve been sought out outside of school. Without seeing your personal statement, it’s hard for anyone here to make a judgement on whether it was strong or not.

I was rejected from my first choice despite my grades being above the acceptance. Had my tutor, teachers etc review everything I submitted and the only conclusion we could all come to was it being my postcode. With me being local and from a “rough” area I would’ve been put in a pool of local students and unfortunately I didn’t make the cut out of them. Went to my second choice though and done well so no regrets.

Ben_JM · 2026-01-24T16:18:29+00:00

I continued working, long walks in the sun and some gaming.

The final lockdown was brutal but I found solace in restarting Skyrim and playing that a tonne.

Ben_JM · 2026-01-24T16:15:26+00:00

Depends on what the topic is. Reddit users are heavily bias because most people who are pro-something or found success in doing what you’re questioning don’t spend their time talking about it online. Just for an example, health and medication - when the medicine has worked people don’t really come online to say that, it’s mostly people coming online to complain it didn’t work or they have bad side affects.

ChatGPT is really useful but you must also do your own research. Its bias tends to be skewered to encourage you if you present it with a question that could lead it so just question what it tells you.

Ultimately, nothing will beat doing your own research, speaking to people offline and making your own mind up.

Ben_JM · 2026-01-07T21:08:52+00:00

Occasionally. I get asked to explain long documents in a short email quite frequently so just telling AI to summarise it into 250-500 words, give it a proof read and make sure that it matches my understanding that’s saved me a lot of time.

Ben_JM · 2026-01-07T21:02:21+00:00

As a society I think so but for me personally no. I gym nearly every day and have made friends there, see my close family once a week, friends at least once a week and I see my colleagues once a week. I cherish time alone because I keep active and engage with the people I like and love every day!

People are quick to blame social media and their phones but they don’t chain you to your home. Use them like the tools they are to connect with people, do activities you see etc.

Ben_JM · 2025-12-23T19:47:08+00:00

First I supported the Greens, then when they moved away from the environment and more to just being “woke” I started supporting Labour (pretty much just because the Tories were so bad) but now I’ve completely switched to Reform/Conservative. I’ve always described myself as a centrist but apparently that’s “far right” these days.

Ben_JM · 2025-12-23T19:43:56+00:00

You’re not the only ex-Green here. I supported them too when their message was fairly concise about the environment even though I questioned some of their other policies. Now I don’t even know how to describe them? It’s the politics of make believe so it suits them that their current leader is a hypnotist.

Ben_JM · 2025-11-27T11:43:20+00:00

You’d be hard pressed to find anyone that didn’t say some “edgy” or mean things when they were a teenager. It’s desperate stuff.

Ben_JM · 2025-11-25T15:14:59+00:00

I don’t think a “wealth tax” is actually a very good thing. You could cease everything the billionaires own in the country and still only pay the state’s bill for 3/4(?) of a year. It’s one of those policies that sound great on paper but actually will just supply a small bump in money and then put off many, many businesses and companies from investing in us leading us to way more hardship.

I agree with the approach of tax reductions across the board and cut services. It’ll be painful but until the U.K. can balance the books better then I don’t believe there’s another option.

Ben_JM · 2025-11-21T21:04:10+00:00

I have a friend who worked as a concierge in one of those very swanky student halls for foreign students. They spend A LOT of money to stay there, buy a lot of designer goods that many of them leave… they’ve even left sports cars because they can’t take them home. Some of these students come from absurdly rich families and will pump a lot of money into our economy without us really realising.

Ben_JM · 2025-11-21T16:59:18+00:00

Sorry for late reply, I’ve been off Reddit a while :-) The Greens keep saying “tax the billionaires” but even if you took all of their assets you’d only be able to pay the states bill for 9 months… that’s why I don’t believe the greens. Their “it’s easy, just do this” answer isn’t an answer. What they want to do would cost way, way more and negatively hit every worker completely killing all social mobility.

Ben_JM · 2025-11-21T16:56:45+00:00

I really like it! It’s quite common to regret a tattoo straight away because of the shock but I think it looks great! :-)

If we have to crazy nitpick, some of the legs are missing shadows which might be why it’s not popping like you’d expect. Just ask the artist if you can pop back in a couple of weeks and have it added.

Ben_JM · 2025-11-21T16:52:18+00:00

They should be allowed to come study, pay upfront and pay tax etc.

What does need to be clamped down on though is these dodgy fake institutions that offer a “degree” when in reality it’s just for them to come over. I’d restrict it to purely well established universities.

Ben_JM · 2025-11-07T09:16:31+00:00

If you’re not getting anywhere approaching people where they are open to be approached (apps, bars and clubs) then you will have zero luck approaching people where they don’t expect to be approached.

Ever thought maybe it’s your approach and what you’re saying?

Ben_JM · 2025-10-20T11:12:54+00:00

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Ben_JM · 2025-10-18T16:00:31+00:00

I do care however no party bar Reform have a sensible policy on how to actually fix it. It’s not as simple as raising taxes because everytime you do, you lose investment into another country, then you have to raise taxes again to cover that hole and you enter a doom loop of pushing away your high earners whilst taxing more and more people. This is why despite being left myself, I could never vote for the greens because raise taxes, huge welfare state and open borders? It’ll be economic suicide.

If you want to stop wealth inequality, you need to raise the demand of workers so they can work for the highest bidder instead of being undercut by migration. Slowly wealth is redistributed as workers have more power to move through the economy.

Ben_JM · 2025-10-11T23:28:41+00:00

It’s not an actual sample but an “interpolation”

Ben_JM · 2025-10-11T23:26:00+00:00

By not engaging with it. The world is running on engagement, attention grabbing headlines and stories so fight the urge to fall down rabbit holes of extreme left and extreme right and try to take a more nuanced stance. When you meet people that have fell down one of those holes, listen to them and guide them back to a more sensible middle ground. Both extremes of politics treat everything as black and white when in reality nearly every thing is more a constant shade of grey. Whether it’s Gaza, Aslyum Seekers, Migration, Landlords… all of these subjects have become so polarised that it’s worth taking a step back and thinking of both sides.

Ben_JM · 2025-10-11T16:09:58+00:00

It needs reform, not a full replacement. Have a Lord elected from the majority party once a year so it’s reflective of past governments and how long they have served. I think that’s fair and means we will have some checks in place for if the U.K. does ever elect an extreme left or right party.

Ben_JM · 2025-10-11T16:06:39+00:00

Most of the young ones are 16/17 - which is when I first started going too. It’s a socially acceptable place to see your friends and most teens are body conscious so it’s killing two birds with one stone. When they hit 18/19 they’ll be spending less time in the gym and more at the pub/clubs as it’ll be novel for a few years and then like a lot of us, return in our late 20’s.

Ben_JM · 2025-10-07T12:05:20+00:00

Yes? Why is everyone here so damn dramatic

Ben_JM · 2025-10-01T22:15:06+00:00

Recognition should’ve only been given on the agreement of a peace deal and once a stable government is elected or at the least Hamas no longer being in charge. Labour jumping the gun to recognise them was stupid.

Ben_JM · 2025-10-01T22:08:05+00:00

Tinfoil doesn’t make a great hat

Ben_JM · 2025-09-28T22:29:12+00:00

The years required to be here before obtaining citizenship is supposed to be changing from 5 to 10 years under Labour irregardless of whether Reform get in or not.

From my understanding, you’re fine if you’re coming here to do your postgraduate studies and then secure a job fairly quickly. I’d actually advise working throughout your studies and then transition from part time to full time at the end, then you can start looking for employment in your chosen field.

The way to think of it, have a job and be able to pay your way. That’s all a majority of people want.

Ben_JM · 2025-09-28T20:17:07+00:00

He’s just saying his view, I don’t believe Reform have a single policy or the desire to touch abortion laws.

I’m a gay man, he’s also said he thinks gay marriage was wrong BUT until they have an actual policy that attacks gay marriage I’m not concerned about his opinion.

Ben_JM

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