Reapplication Oxford

[ipredictariot5]

After some advice for my DS. He was rejected post interview for a STEM subject. Grades should not have been a problem- predicted all A stars and A levels seem to have gone well so hopeful he will meet them.
He cannot focus on going to a different university and in his heart wants to re apply.
would he be wasting his time or is it worth another shot if he does get top grades?

So he would be taking a year out?

Quite a few of DD’s friends reapplied to Oxbridge during their gap year and got in second time round - if his heart is absolutely set on it then it’s worth a try. You’d obviously need to invest time and money into further interview practice though if this is where problems seem to have occurred last year.

He’ll also be asked about his gap year and he needs to be doing something ‘interesting’ as opposed to just sitting around and doing interview prep!

To be fair a friend’s son was literally just doing interview prep and working at Tesco in his gap year - got into Cambridge just fine!

If he thinks he can improve his test results and interviews next time round, then yes it may be worth applying again if he is very keen. If he has actually got the A stars in hand when he applies, rather than just predicted, then that is probably worth something too, but not necessarily that much.

But try to persuade him that other University options will be perfectly good too. It would be sad if he staked everything on this and then got disappointed.

He doesn't have to do anything particularly "interesting" on his gap year as far as his Oxford application is involved. But obviously it will be more fun for him, and possibly beneficial for the future, if he does.

He probably won't. He'll get the same academic interview as everyone else, but there might be a little concern about de-skilling in Maths etc. So the only thing he might want to say is that he is doing something to keep that up.

Yes, they can’t be seen to penalise against those who maybe needed a gap year to earn money to go. The ones who are using it for ski instructor courses or to trek round Peru are not necessarily any more likely to get into Oxbridge than those who spent it in Sainsbury’s earning money to help pay for their halls.

My only concern would be what if he doesn’t get in again? DD didn’t get in post interviews, absolutely would destroy her to ‘fail’ again, so is going elsewhere. I know a lot of people do reapply but you need to be pretty sure you’ll nail it this time, or be robust as hell. Personally it’s not a gamble I would want to do so would look at somewhere else.

It can be so hit and miss even with 4*s as so many applicants for Oxbridge have them. Has he considered how he'd feel if he didn't secure a place next year and was in the same position a year on? Where does he have for his firm and insurance this year? Are they really not acceptable? Perhaps a chat with students who are already there? Does his college have an Oxbridge tutor or programme leader he might speak with? I realise he'll already have left. Good luck to him with whatever he decides to do.

One of my DC reapplied & is off to Oxford in October. Doing a STEM subject for which you often hear tutors don’t like a gap year. They did have strong evidence that they would be keeping the subject up during the gap year, and had ‘perfect’ A Level results. Although they had offers last year from 4 other top unis their heart was in Oxford and it was a no brainer to reapply. So we would say go for it!

I should have been more clear. By ‘interesting’ I meant literally anything that shows they’re doing more than preparing for oxbridge entry- that their gap year wasn’t purely to take the opportunity to apply again.

It's risky. Some reapplicants will get in, but a lot won't. STEM subjects are hugely competitive with plenty of candidates with 3 A stars so that's no guarantee, even grades in hand.

Why is he so set on Oxford, has he really thought about whether it is the place he will best thrive and enjoy or is it more to do with the prestige?

There are downsides to taking a year out: loss of momentum, getting out of the habit of studying, seeing all your mates go off to independence. None insurmountable but it can be a long and tedious year waiting on an application if the gap year is solely for that reason.

Ultimately he has to weigh up whether he's so set on it he's willing to take the chance.