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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Oxbridge Rejects 2023 - Come this way and commiserate

485 replies

Rejects · 20/02/2023 13:57

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

OP posts:
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Original poster
Rejects · 17/03/2023 09:15

Nope, not a word, but thank you for asking.

Brilliant for everybody getting news, yay! 🎉 🙌

OP posts:
LanadelSlay · 21/03/2023 14:15

DD finally has an offer from Edinburgh A star, A, A which she should be able to hit without too many problems. Big relief. Hope other Scottish offers now start flowing for everyone.

Aurea · 21/03/2023 14:39

Congrats Lana! 🎉
Which subject is that for? Did it come through today as the Scottish unis are on Strike til Thursday.

LanadelSlay · 21/03/2023 14:57

Thank you, it's for English and it came today, I didn't know about the strikes, is that for all staff? Obviously someone is still working.

She does now want to change to English with an MFL (which is what she should have applied to Oxford for in the first place, long story ...) so will have to ask to change. I am reasonably optimistic they will let her as Bristol and Newcastle did within the blink of an eye. If not, she may reapply next year (but almost certainly not to Oxford, understandably she doesn't want that grief twice).

Again, really hope this means all the other Scottish offers will arrive quickly for everyone! Dd's mood has been transformed since half term by great mock results and a lot of fun at school and outside and her rejection seems a world away now ....

ACJane · 21/03/2023 15:29

Edinburgh offer has arrived here too.

LanadelSlay · 21/03/2023 15:38

That's great @ACJane - was that the first (well second but ykwim) choice?

ACJane · 21/03/2023 15:40

Ha yes we did have that other first choice originally. It's probably going to be their insurance option.

yoyo1234 · 21/03/2023 16:06

@ACJane and @LanadelSlay that's brilliant news 👏

Original poster
Rejects · 21/03/2023 16:25
Well Done Reaction GIF

Fabulous @LanadelSlay and @ACJane

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WEEonline · 21/03/2023 18:13

Please to see that this community is alive and doing rather well. Have any of you ever hand any second thoughts about Oxbridge?

I am just asking as I had worked in the City for a tier 1 investment bank and we used to hire summer interns from all the usual suspects: Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, Imperial, Cass, with the occasional HYP and UoC.

and I cannot say that Oxbridge was a favourite of UK unis (neither was H of US unis by the way)

RecommendedForYou · 21/03/2023 18:43

Good to hear Scottish university offers coming through. My brother’s son is waiting for History from Edinburgh. Would love to hear of any offers coming for that.

Karmacat · 21/03/2023 18:49

St Andrew's offer just came in. Thank goodness! Huge sigh of relief I'm so pleased as it was his first choice after Cambridge.

yoyo1234 · 21/03/2023 18:51

😃brilliant news @Karmacat . DS had rejection from Imperial but seems okay (I was worried about the cost there).

Youdoyoubabe · 21/03/2023 19:00

mirii · 15/03/2023 14:14

When DD applied, they said the interview was (as far as possible) intended to replicate a tutorial. They sent through two (quite lengthy) papers for her to read about two days before the interview. She didn't just read those two papers though, she also read some of the literature referenced in the texts or in the bibliographies to help her understand the context of the research and opposing arguments. For this course at this college, I think it was 45 who applied for 5 places - I don't know how many were interviewed (probably most of them as this was C), but, in retrospect, I think it's possible they were looking for students who not only read what was put in front of them, but also enquired further and read around the articles. They asked her to summarise each paper initially and then the questions went from there.

She also had a general interview with a senior admissions tutor who taught a related subject. This was all about the PS. She talked about her EPQ and how this research sparked the concept for another essay which she had published (the tutor said he would be off to read it) and how this, in turn, led her to enter an essay competition where she had won a prize. She talked about overseas voluntary work she was doing in her gap year which was relevant to the course. She talked about money she had raised and other voluntary work and how she could contribute in a similar sphere at the college. She really enjoyed both interviews.

She was applying post A-level with all 9s at GCSE, three A stars and A star EPQ. Most people in her course have similar. She has a friend who got in for English and has written fiction books. Another friend who got in for MFL had started some kind of interactive language website. Lots of them have done things like this, over and above A-level and it's not at all unusual to apply post A-level.

@mirii so did your dd not get in?

Mine had all As predicted and A EPQ and lots of reading around the topic etc. Didn't even get invited for interview. I was quite relieved really as the thought of getting to interview and not getting in seemed worse to me.

I am a 'ticking along' kind of person rather than a 'reach for the stars' type so it all seemed a bit stressful to me.

My friends kid just got in from overseas. She is super brainer and will do well.

I know universities do make more money from the overseas contingent though, do you think they take more overseas than from UK?

BackToWhereItAllBegan · 21/03/2023 20:29

@Youdoyoubabe my son's Oxford college took 5 from the UK and one overseas for his subject last year. I'm sure it differs across the colleges and subjects but still skews towards UK students (as it should)

Original poster
Rejects · 22/03/2023 13:12

Again, brilliant to hear of the offers now arriving! May they keep coming! These universities are very lucky to get these fantastic students.

Ds has offers now from St A and Edin. So all good. He was keener all along on St A but is now leaning to Edin, he's going to go to the offer holders' day and decide. He's incredibly excited, he's going on a date this weekend (!), enjoyign school and all the gloom of January and Feb half term is gone.

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lovefizzycolabottles · 22/03/2023 15:23

@Rejects yeah!! Great news. We’ll be at St A offer day too. Still waiting on UCL….

yoyo1234 · 22/03/2023 15:38

@Rejects brilliant news x2 , so pleased for your ds😁. Can he get to both of the offer holders days? Both in Scotland so hopefully only 1 trip needed (are you England based?).

Original poster
Rejects · 22/03/2023 16:52

Thanks all, @lovefizzycolabottles here's massively hoping for UCL!! We're in England and will prob only go to Edin offer holders day as we went to SA last year. I have to say, I'd prefer Edin as it's closer ... but entirely his shout and both are fab options.

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yoyo1234 · 22/03/2023 17:01

Edinburgh's beautiful 😍

yoyo1234 · 22/03/2023 22:22

@WEEonline not sure what : "Cass, with the occasional HYP and UoC" means 🤔.

HoneyMobster · 22/03/2023 22:57

Harvard, Yale and Princeton = HYP

WEEonline · 23/03/2023 00:14

UoC is Chicago, Cass is called Bayes now

yoyo1234 · 23/03/2023 03:01

Spotted Cass (or formerly known as Cass) on google , UoC though I came up with loads of possibilities!

Peacefullythoughtful · 23/03/2023 17:18

@Rejects fantastic news! congratulations! have been following to see how he got on and am delighted for him and you! hope the date goes well !!

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