Dear Alex,
check out following biographies...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Clinton http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Thatcher http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._R._R._Tolkien http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Wilde http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rowan_Atkinson (Mr. Bean)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Smith If you don't have time, I'll explain you: those are just some of the TRULY successful people, and not just successful because they "found a good job". They entered history. And all of them have attended Oxford University.
Now read this: http://www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/courses/enreq.shtml
Considering the large, very, very, large amount of people yearly applying there, all having A averages, and the large number of people rejected (they admit only the very best), what can you say?
That those mentioned above were only exceptions? What if I want to be an exception? What if I'm seeking more than a good career? Not all people just want a job and a family and a happy life. I'm not of that stereotype. See, we have different ways of conceiving "success".
I learned "outside of the box" for a long time, and I try to make this outside bigger. But if becoming better outside (learning PR, other material, broader view of subjects, etc.) makes me worse inside (as you said two posts ago), and consequently I cannot enter a good university, what other choice do I have if not working hard on getting A+ in every subject, with every possible way?
I hope you understand my situation...
