[Elitist1991]

This is mainly aimed at current Oxford undergraduates:

So, today, I was emailed by Merton College for E+M. Below is the email:

Dear [name removed]

I regret that we are unable to offer you a place at Merton College, but I understand that another college is likely to accept you. If you have not already received such an offer, or do not receive one within the next couple of weeks, please write to me.

I trust that the outcome of your Oxford application will indeed be successful.

[Yours sincerely etc etc]

Anyway, the question is whether I have a guarenteed offer at some college or is it still not certain- (its the 'likely' and 'trust' parts which I'm not 100% on).

Also, I was interviewed at another college, does this mean that the offer will be from that college? Or is most likely to be from that college? Or could be an open offer? etc etc.

[dawgnut]

I think you recieved an open offer?

Likely to be certain.

[Laconic]

That essentially means you have a 99.9% chance of an offer from whichever college also interviewed you. You'll be fine, good luck!

[i_bring_you_fire]

This has been discussed a lot
You're 95% certain to get an offer from another college.

[Mithra]

Colleges are fairly autonomous in their admissions processes so I guess what has happened is your original college said "we won't be giving X an offer" and so some other college has told them that they would be interested in doing so, however obviously Merton can't just tell you outright since they can't be sure exactly what the other's decision will be.

[Elitist1991]

OK, and is this always the college that you have extra interviews with, or have been many cases where its an offer from a completely different college?

[Bezzler]

You've pretty well definitely got an offer from another college, and should hear before Christmas. It's likely to be, but isn't definitely, a college you were interviewed at, but with arts subjects in particular it tends to be.

Sorry you didn't get into Merton though One of the spaces had already been taken by a deferrer!

[around]

I think the letter is pretty unambiguous personally. My friend got it last year and then got a letter the next day informing him of his place at a different college.

[Elitist1991]

(Original post by around)
I think the letter is pretty unambiguous personally. My friend got it last year and then got a letter the next day informing him of his place at a different college.

Its just that there is a lack of certainty in it. As if there is a small chance that I will get no offer at all. What I would like is an open offer

[Swayum]

Two of my friends got this (from different colleges) 2 years ago and they both went on to get offers from different (specific) colleges. Don't worry

[pf1]

(Original post by Elitist1991)
Its just that there is a lack of certainty in it. As if there is a small chance that I will get no offer at all. What I would like is an open offer

It's because Merton don't want to take responsibility for your application any more, just in case there has been a communication breakdown with the other college (i.e. if the other college ***** up with their letter & you don't hear until after Christmas). You have got an offer, though.

It will probably be from the other college you were interviewed at, although it's not unheard of to get an offer from a college which didn't see you. I doubt this'd happen for E&M though since their decisions aren't very centralised. I can't remember off the top of my head if E&M make open offers or not. This letter doesn't necessarily mean it's open (or it's not), though.

[Elitist1991]

(Original post by Swayum)
Two of my friends got this (from different colleges) 2 years ago and they both went on to get an offers from different (specific) colleges. Don't worry

Thanks. Do you know whether they had interviews with these different colleges?

[Swayum]

(Original post by Elitist1991)
Thanks. Do you know whether they had interviews with these different colleges?

I'm not sure, nope, but I'd imagine not.

[deathtoalevel]

All that matters (things all in check) is that you are in
Just get your AAA, if the Uni says you're in, however they say it, you are in , even if it is by the scruff of your neck, you are in, even if you doubt you are in, you are in, even if you know your in but still want to know if you are in in, you are in, if you are in but want to be in a glamorous way, remember, at the end of the day, being in, is the same thing as beign in has ever been ; but if you worry and think you didn't get in, remember, you did get in, and you are in because your application was good enough for them not to reject you fully, so if they haven't rejected you, they have accepted you, meaning you are in, you are in
and be happy smile
you have achieved an outstanding, outstanding thing, an offer from Oxford, the thing to dream for

[Elitist1991]

(Original post by deathtoalevel)
All that matters (things all in check) is that you are in
Just get your AAA, if the Uni says you're in, however they say it, you are in , even if it is by the scruff of your neck, you are in, even if you doubt you are in, you are in, even if you know your in but still want to know if you are in in, you are in, if you are in but want to be in a glamorous way, remember, at the end of the day, being in, is the same thing as beign in has ever been ; but if you worry and think you didn't get in, remember, you did get in, and you are in because your application was good enough for them not to reject you fully, so if they haven't rejected you, they have accepted you, meaning you are in, you are in
and be happy smile
you have achieved an outstanding, outstanding thing, an offer from Oxford, the thing to dream for

Its just that I would much rather an offer from any other another college that the one I was given an extra interview at. I really didnt like it when I got there. Nevertheless, I still grateful for the offer- should i get one. If I was to be given this offer, I'd like to have some degree of control over which college.

I'm expecting critisism over what I have now written

[deathtoalevel]

(Original post by Elitist1991)
Its just that I would much rather an offer from any other another college that the one I was given an extra interview at. I really didnt like it when I got there. Nevertheless, I still grateful for the offer- should i get one. If I was to be given this offer, I'd like to have some degree of control over which college.

I'm expecting critisism over what I have now written

Hey , anything is possible
If oxford really wanted to 'reject you' they would be far more clear cut than that . and they dont because they speicifed that you are in! but for formality's sake perhaps they ddn't slap it on your face and say you are in in , they said it in a polite way lol

Just take it with a pinch of sugar (sugar cos an Oxford offer can never be salty) and just work to your AAA ; and you will get the offer, that means, you have / will get it, there is no way around it. Oxford will give you the offer , because if they haven't rejected you, what else could it mean apart from the college of your first choice not wanting you, but the other ones out there that will want you?
Remember, you are applying for Econ Management ; which is THE most Competitive Oxford course of them all , 1 in 10, post interview, so you must must must remember, that it seems to pretty common that you wont find places at another college directly, just because the college hasn't immediately gotten back to you doesn't say anytihing about you getting rejected tehre could be many other reasons. but i think one can fully imply from the text of the email that you have gotten the place.
ttrust me, youd expect oxford to be the least evasive when it comes to offers and rejections. tehres no skullduggery in that email, what transpired from perhaps lack of communciation or just sheer mass of rejections and applications is all evident to see from the bones of the letter; you are in, and there is no worry just chill , at worse, Give them a call on monday, merton, and see what they say. who knows, they might be able to shed more light on this.

[around]

(Original post by Elitist1991)
Its just that I would much rather an offer from any other another college that the one I was given an extra interview at. I really didnt like it when I got there. Nevertheless, I still grateful for the offer- should i get one. If I was to be given this offer, I'd like to have some degree of control over which college.

I'm expecting critisism over what I have now written

You misunderstand the point of an open offer: a college which has spaces left to fill gives you a place, not that you get to choose a college you desire to go to.

[Elitist1991]

(Original post by around)
You misunderstand the point of an open offer: a college which has spaces left to fill gives you a place, not that you get to choose a college you desire to go to.

true, but I in all honesty, I wish that the college that it may be is not the one I was given the extra interview at- I really didnt like it. Hence why I'm wondering if people have been offered places at colleges which did not give them an extra interview.

[Bezzler]

(Original post by Elitist1991)
true, but I in all honesty, I wish that the college that it may be is not the one I was given the extra interview at- I really didnt like it. Hence why I'm wondering if people have been offered places at colleges which did not give them an extra interview.

Everyone's wondering now - which college was it?

Also, you really don't get a true picture of a college based on a second interview there - I had an interview at Brasenose (because my tutor is there) and hated it, but I go there for tutorials all the time now and actually quite like it. Everyone ends up liking their college - there was a guy who applied to Merton, got sent to St Hilda's and almost rejected them because he hated it, but now is really happy there.

[Elitist1991]

(Original post by Bezzler)
Everyone's wondering now - which college was it?

Also, you really don't get a true picture of a college based on a second interview there - I had an interview at Brasenose (because my tutor is there) and hated it, but I go there for tutorials all the time now and actually quite like it. Everyone ends up liking their college - there was a guy who applied to Merton, got sent to St Hilda's and almost rejected them because he hated it, but now is really happy there.

I rather not say because its unfair on those at that college. But an interesting fact about it is that it takes on av. 2 per year for my subject. Why on earth should they be taking effectively half from the pool?