Oxbridge - worth trying again?

[susie4]

My son dodn't get into Oxford last December. Hei is currently considering offers he has from Durham and UCL. Is it worth having another try next year. Does anyone know the success rate for doing this?

I didn't get in first time round either - I'd applied for English at one of the 'powerhouse' colleges. Took a gap year, which I didn't want to do, but am v v glad I did as I went to art college and learnt a hell of a lot (this is pre tuition fees...). I felt v pressurised into reapplying by school and my dad, and left to myself wd probably have gone for my 2nd choice, but now I am very glad that I did reapply - I ended up at a college that I wouldn't have chosen, loved it, was taught brilliantly and got a first. It wasn't until I got a first that I finally stopped feeling as though I probably shouldn't be there, which is why I mention it, in case your son's taken this as a bit of a knock - it really shouldn't be, there are a lot of people who reapply and do really well. It is, unfortunately, always going to be a bit of a lottery.

As far as college choice goes, if I was doing it all again now I would probably make an open application, so you do at least get 'sent' to a college that isn't massively oversubscribed. TBH, it's pretty much impossible to make a really informed decision just from open days, etc - most people are v happy where they end up. I was, even though I didn't expect to be, and I think that's nearly everyone's experience.