Oxbridge Rejects 2023 - Come this way and commiserate

[Rejects]

As mentioned on the other thread a safe space for those who'd like a bit of support while not dampening others' moods Sorry that I have gone on a lot about this rejection already on here - it's helped me keep outwardly calm and cheerful when my ds has been very upset.

I am acutely aware in the scheme of things a university rejection is not a huge deal and that amazing lives and outcomes no doubt await all our dc wherever they go, it's just getting through the time between now and A levels and/or offers from other unis arriving, keeping dcs' morale up. Good luck everyone

Congratulations @multivac! My pooled Cambridge CS reject is taking his 4 A stars (plus A star in EPQ and almost a 1 in STEP) to Imperial. I think it is where he belongs and part of me feels that Cambridge worked that out too 😂

That happened to someone my DC knew. They got all excited and were then told that Cambridge would not pursue their application as were taking someone else instead! Cambridge were clearly contacting a few near misses and took who they thought were the strongest of those that were tempted.

this person went to a US university instead and from what I have gathered are now doing a PhD also in the US at the top Uni in the world for their subject. They won’t ever consider Cambridge again sadly.

Hi everybody... was wondering if anyone was going the reapplication route this year or has done in the past.

DS wants to reapply after getting 4A* and as much as I don't want to go through the draining process again, I want to support his wishes as much as possible.

A few people hassled dd into reapplying because of her perfect grades (and O had emailed encouraging her to reapply at time of rejection) but she was adamant she couldn’t face through the process of new ps, tests, interviews again potentially for the same outcome. I didn’t mind either way but was relieved when she decided against it. She’s just started Edinburgh and even a couple of days in it’s so clearly a great place for her. She’s also met several other oxbridge rejects and they laugh about it. Is your ds fully prepared for the all the stress involved again and still ending up possibly at his second choice that he won’t feel is second best and does he have a great gap year planned that he won’t regret either way? Presumably so. If so I wish him (and you) all the luck in the world!

What course is it and what are his other options?

I think for a very competitive course it’s not something I would recommend. Too much pressure to put all eggs in the basket when statistically an offer is against the applicant.

Thank you for your well wishes Lana! Honestly after the fall out from last year I’m a bit worried about DS — of course he’ll get over it eventually should he be unsuccessful but I just don’t want to see him so hurt again.

But his mind is fixed and there’s not much I can do to deter him, so I’m just trying to support him as much as possible. His best friend is also on a gap year (albeit not reapplying) so I think it’s good that he’s at least not home alone and has a travelling partner for later in the year.

Chemistry at O so not the most competitive? And he’s got no other options at the moment as he withdrew his application from last year…

Eek! I really wish you well. If he can visit Frieda who’ve started at other unis in the next week or month maybe he will at least see that there is a great life (and education) to be had in MANY places, not just Oxbridge. He does need a second choice that is really appealing. I do totally understand how hard it is to sell an option to a sceptical teenager, hopefully his friends might be able to do it for you

FRIENDS not frieda

Ds is also at Edinburgh @LanadelSlay and though it’s very early days he has just loved it so far. Like your dd couldn’t be bothered with the faff of reapplying, not least also to Edin as well with the very real risk of rejection. A virtual handhold to you @HeartstringsLily

I realise that this thread rather old, but here goes. Oxford colleges benefit hugely from the high fees paid by foreign students, so there are many more of them selected these days.