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Original poster

Reapply to Oxbridge?

61 replies

HandyGirl76 · 06/07/2021 17:27

My DD just got her IB result (44) and is considering reapplying to Oxbridge. She applied to Oxford for a course she now no longer wants to study and although interviewed, got rejected.

She's desperate to go to Oxbridge and as I know nothing about it I don't know what to advise. Is worth reapplying? Do people get in second time around?

She has a place at UCL...

OP posts:
Abetes · 08/07/2021 18:32

In my dd's school year, five reapplied. Three were offered places at Oxford (where they had applied first time round), one a place at Cambridge (having applied to Oxford first time around) and one was rejected for a second time.

BigWoollyJumpers · 14/07/2021 12:34

The quick answer is, of course, it's a gamble. We will all know people who have got in first time, or second time, or an exceptional languages student, top in everything, a top score in a GCSE in the country (!), applied to Oxford, didn't get in, went abroad for a year to practice and learn extra new languages, came back, applied to Cambridge, didn't get in, went to Durham.

CinnamonJellyBeans · 14/07/2021 17:34

I think it's OK to have another go, but only if her personal statement actually demonstrates that she does indeed have the edge over other candidates for the new course she wants to study.

I think a lot of people and parents underestimate the competition.

How well can she speak/read Italian? Does she engage with this language on a daily basis? Does she have a knowledge of linguistics? Does she know any other languages? Can she compare and contrast books/poetry she has read in different languages? has she ever taught anyone else Italian or made the family converse in Italian? How has the Italian language evolved since it was Latin and why. What's the link between Latin and the spread of Christianity? Is there a difference between Italian Italian and Sicilian Italian? Are there any remnants of Italian in the languages they speak in Eritrea and Somalia. Does she know the answers to these questions?

Is she state or private?

Whats IB44?

Morag72 · 14/07/2021 17:45

My DS1 applied to Oxford this year and passed the exam, got an interview but didn’t get a place. He wanted to do E&M and was 4 A* predicted. Does your DS go to a state school or private - it does matter now - as they rightly try to balance out places. What I mean is that if she is private - she may not fair that well - even with that high IB score. You can also get the exam mark & interview score online - I think there’s freedom of information stuff online to look at. This all helps in understanding why she was rejected and whether she thinks she can improve her chances next time. On balance I agree with other poster that she can also re-apply to other top unis - so worth a shot. Would consider applying to Cambridge this time and not Oxford though.

Moonlaserbearwolf · 14/07/2021 17:45

In your daughter’s shoes I would definitely reapply to Oxford for languages. Many of my friends got in second time around.
I may be biased because I went to Oxford and my husband went to UCL - I loved my 3 years and he really struggled being a student in London. In his first year he was in halls with students from a variety of London universities. Many of the students on his course were living at home to save money. Personally I’d ‘chose’ Oxford over UCL any day for the experience (not the status as UCL is an amazing university).

Moonlaserbearwolf · 14/07/2021 17:47

I also know a couple of people who tried twice for Oxford and didn’t get in - so it’s absolutely a gamble. But they went to Bristol and Imperial so they were happy with the end result. If she applies again it’s not going to be Oxford or nothing. She’ll get in somewhere so I’d go for it.

stodgystollen · 14/07/2021 17:54

I went to Oxbridge, but not for languages. Maybe my college wasn't good at languages, but the MFL students didn't have that great a time. 3x 8week terms don't really lend themselves to consolidation of a language. You have to work through the holidays for all courses obviously, but most courses the lack of contact time doesn't matter so much during the holidays, whereas for a language it's a long time. In such a tight-knit college community, the year abroad is really tough too because friends move on. In a bigger university, you know more MFL students who are doing the same as you.

Depending which language she likes, has she looked at studying HoA abroad? Spain, Italy, France and Germany all have the most amazing mediaeval universities that rival Oxbridge, and a longer history of art to boot. Study is normally much cheaper, even paying international fees, so she could do a year and see how she gets on before reapplying to UK universities. It would probably give her an edge applying for either course.

DoorAjar · 14/07/2021 17:56

It's always been her dream to go to the best university, she's always been very academically capable (all 9s at GCSE) and curious (she taught herself Italian and reads HoA books for fun...) and is used to being at the top. She feels like UCL is failing and it's the first time she's not got where she wanted to be academically.

I think this is not the best reason to reapply, because it sounds less as if it's specifically about the actual degree courses at each institution than about the prestige of Oxford and her pride being hurt at the rejection. Having said that, if she's prepared to give up the UCL place, spend a year doing something worthwhile elsewhere which will make her a stronger languages candidate, and crucially is prepared to deal with another possible rejection, then why not?

shallIswim · 14/07/2021 18:25

Sort of happened to DS... applied for one course at Oxford and was rejected after interview (appalling interview but hey ho). Went on to gain 3 A stars at A level and thought in his stubborn way 'I am bloody good enough'. But switched course. He'd been funnelled down history route and realised it was English that was his thing. Reapplied to Cambridge and got it.
It wouldn't have been the end of the world if he hadn't bc he'd sorted an excellent gap year of work, language learning and Raleigh International. And second choices of Durham or UCL who said yes second time round no problem would have been good
I actually would advise all students to apply after results - particularly if state school educated and have no preparation laid on at school for the application process. . .
But yeah. Go for it - but only if the course really interests

shallIswim · 14/07/2021 18:25

Oh and my nephew had the same experience as DS and has just sat his finals at Kings Cambridge. So it worked for him too

FlyingSquid · 14/07/2021 18:40

@CinnamonJellyBeans

I think it's OK to have another go, but only if her personal statement actually demonstrates that she does indeed have the edge over other candidates for the new course she wants to study.

I think a lot of people and parents underestimate the competition.

How well can she speak/read Italian? Does she engage with this language on a daily basis? Does she have a knowledge of linguistics? Does she know any other languages? Can she compare and contrast books/poetry she has read in different languages? has she ever taught anyone else Italian or made the family converse in Italian? How has the Italian language evolved since it was Latin and why. What's the link between Latin and the spread of Christianity? Is there a difference between Italian Italian and Sicilian Italian? Are there any remnants of Italian in the languages they speak in Eritrea and Somalia. Does she know the answers to these questions?

Is she state or private?

Whats IB44?

Hmm, well, they took DD, who doesn't know anything equivalent to that in or about her chosen language!

Somebody has to get in.

IB44 I assume is a score of 44 in the IB, which is very good indeed.

CinnamonJellyBeans · 14/07/2021 19:38

Surely your DD must have had some supra-curricular on her chosen language and its history? @FlyingSquid. None of that stuff is especially deep or taxing.

FlyingSquid · 14/07/2021 20:22

She is the queen of random facts it's reminiscent having a very tall toddler interrupting you to enquire whether you know that a Tyrannosaurus's head is the size of the family car so maybe she does and I'm misjudging her.

She does a fine line in Verlan slang, if that counts.

goodbyestranger · 14/07/2021 20:40

Cinnamon it's at least arguable that too many state school parents overestimate the competition rather than underestimate it.

Piggywaspushed · 14/07/2021 20:44

Ooh squid has she seen La Haine???

FlyingSquid · 14/07/2021 20:56

She has, yes, and I think by now even I could make a stab at some of it! Does like a bit of dark gritty drama.

Piggywaspushed · 14/07/2021 21:02

I love that film. Still feels fresh.

CinnamonJellyBeans · 14/07/2021 22:12

@goodbyestranger. Possibly, but the state school kids overestimating the competition means they prep better. It's that working-class resourcefulness put to good use.

goodbyestranger · 14/07/2021 22:20

Cinnamon what are you basing your advice on? Is your DD reading a MFL and that's the sort of stuff she looked at? FlyingSquid's DD clearly had an approach which worked, albeit more laid back sounding. I think it may be like the 11+ where parents who've tutored their kid who got a place say tutoring is essential, even though kid would most probably have got in without tutoring. And parents who haven't tutored their kid who doesn't get in says it's impossible to get in without tutoring, even though kid would most probably have not got in even with tutoring. I have to say your approach sounds exhausting - and a bit.... studied.

goodbyestranger · 14/07/2021 22:21

No that's not my point. My point is that they don't apply because of overestimating the competition. That's the problem.

shallIswim · 14/07/2021 22:24

I understood that if you play the numbers game your chances of a successful MFL application were good. In terms of offers to applicants rate. So go for it!

CinnamonJellyBeans · 14/07/2021 23:10

Not MFL. The 11+ analogy is fair. I think a lot of the parents whose DC get in to Oxbridge feel that they have cracked the code.

CinnamonJellyBeans · 15/07/2021 07:51

Good morning all. Does anyone have any stats for reapplicants?

There's a reason why people don't get in first time. The competition is very high. Many people think about the numbers game but it's not a competition of numbers. It's a competition of "best on the planet", like are you the "best on the planet", or do you have a brain that could become "best on the planet" for your subject?

It's not just a case of stellar grades. They're ten a penny, especially from private applicants. Can you converse for 25 minutes with the world's greatest minds on your subject while they chuck in curve balls? Can you demonstrate that you are able to work to a high level independently and that you have a genuine curiosity and interest in your subject which you have actively pursued?

If you don't get in first time, it's because there was 1, 2, 8, 15 people who were better than you (depending on the ratios you have looked up for your subject). Next year you might get lucky; maybe all the other applicants will be weak.

Do you feel lucky?

FlyingSquid · 15/07/2021 08:02

There are some stats here, on a quick google, but not specifically for languages. It’s a surprisingly high success rate in some subjects.

Reapply to Oxbridge?
toffeebutterpopcorn · 15/07/2021 08:16

That’s interesting! Ds is looking at chemistry but he’s not brain the size of a planet league!