[lk2011]

Hey,

I went for interview at Cambridge last year and got pooled and then rejected. Is it possible to still get interview feedback on my performance and where I was in relation to other applicants?
Its just I got my results the other day and I still can't decide if it's worth taking the year out and re- applying or if I should just let go of the idea (which, I have to admit, is still hard and its been months.. )

I was considering calling my college today that I applied to and requesting feedback, but I just want to check that I won't look like a complete idiot ringing this late about them if there was some kind of deadline.

Thanks for any help.

[grovichik]

(Original post by lk2011)
Hey,

I went for interview at Cambridge last year and got pooled and then rejected. Is it possible to still get interview feedback on my performance and where I was in relation to other applicants?
Its just I got my results the other day and I still can't decide if it's worth taking the year out and re- applying or if I should just let go of the idea (which, I have to admit, is still hard and its been months.. )

I was considering calling my college today that I applied to and requesting feedback, but I just want to check that I won't look like a complete idiot ringing this late about them if there was some kind of deadline.

Thanks for any help.

They keep applicant info on file for years so I think you'll get answers if you give them a call. They should be happy to help I think!

xx

[lk2011]

I'm in a bit of a funny situation now- I rung the admissions office at my college twice and left a message once. I also emailed... but I've received no response at all? I've no idea what to do but I need the feedback pretty urgently because I need to make a decision about next year! Am I doing something wrong?

[reesesgal]

Hey, not directly about the feedback, but i was in the same position of pooled, rejected and i did take a year to reapply. I'll be at my original first choice college in oct. I can't tell you how it would feel to be rejected again, but in the circumstances its been worth it and I thought I'd mention what i considered in my decision. If you did better than predicted that's a good start, and i can't see why having your grades i hand wouldnt help. if you and a predicted candidate are identical, then by common sense accepting you would minimise risk and the admin of checking results filling places or using the pool on results day etc. Applying to the same college i had one of the same interviewers and already knew he was very distant while it obviously freaked a few people out that they hadnt impressed. Also year off even with work also give a lot more time for reading and extra work on you subject and interview content than a packed school timetable with an extra subject.

Of course the big difference was i made this decision before applying and only applied to cam. If you turn down offers from your 2nd choice uni this year they may not want to make you an offer next year, so you might end up at one lower down your preference list!

its a hard one to weigh up i know but there may be reason to think you have a slightly better shot, only you will know if its worth it

[lk2011]

(Original post by reesesgal)
Hey, not directly about the feedback, but i was in the same position of pooled, rejected and i did take a year to reapply. I'll be at my original first choice college in oct. I can't tell you how it would feel to be rejected again, but in the circumstances its been worth it and I thought I'd mention what i considered in my decision. If you did better than predicted that's a good start, and i can't see why having your grades i hand wouldnt help. if you and a predicted candidate are identical, then by common sense accepting you would minimise risk and the admin of checking results filling places or using the pool on results day etc. Applying to the same college i had one of the same interviewers and already knew he was very distant while it obviously freaked a few people out that they hadnt impressed. Also year off even with work also give a lot more time for reading and extra work on you subject and interview content than a packed school timetable with an extra subject.

Of course the big difference was i made this decision before applying and only applied to cam. If you turn down offers from your 2nd choice uni this year they may not want to make you an offer next year, so you might end up at one lower down your preference list!

its a hard one to weigh up i know but there may be reason to think you have a slightly better shot, only you will know if its worth it

Your reply has been so incredibly helpful thank you so much! Luckily, as an overseas applicant, I'd never really considered applying to England and applying to Cambridge was a bit of a last minute decision. Because of this, I never looked at other colleges and only applied to Cambridge. After getting my results I realised I really wanted to look abroad for university and have decided this year that I am definitely going to fill out a full UCAS this time (all 5 places!) and after reading your post I really think I'll give Cambridge a shot again!
I've taken the year out and, as you said, I do feel confident that I'll be able to perform infinitely better at interview with all the extra time I'll be able to dedicate.

However, on a side note, I never was able to get that interview feedback back . I rang twice and emailed as well and they just never got back to me... I'm too embarassed to try again...
I know I wasn't autopooled because I don't think that applies to international applicants, so I think my missing out on a place must have been by narrow enough margins to make a re- application not really foolish, am I right in thinking this?

Also, does anyone know if some colleges are really turned off by reapplications? I like the sound of Queen's because they're really positive about students taking gap years, but beyond that I feel really nervous about the whole thing. Also, what happens with regards to school work?

[lk2011]

(Original post by Groat)
Don't apply to the same college.

Yeah I definitely won't! But I just wonder if there's some that are particularily against people who re- apply or against people who take gap years? Just so I know! Thanks

Sorry, just adding in that I just read over my previous post and I realise now how unclear I was being! I meant are colleges in general really turned off by re- applications