Re-applying

Are you sure you want to study language and literature at Cambridge? You demonstrate no language skills in your A levels (surely a factor in your rejection), have some of your worst results in literature, and think that Jane Austen, one of the simpler and more accessible (and, therefore, highly popular) nineteenth century writers, is a convoluted writer. None of these factors augurs well.

You may have a bit of a start by having an oriental family background, but Oxford and Cambridge may well not consider this a good demonstration of your academic potential. I'm unconvinced that the year's delay would be a good investment for you.

I'm allowed my own opinion!

Don't you start - I didn't say you weren't.

I didn't say that you couldn't learn languages. My point was that you don't have an academic record that demonstrates it.

I agree. I did get an A* at French at GCSE though.

To be honest, I've pretty much got my heart set on reapplying. My real questions are whether or not it's worth giving Cambridge a shot even though my ASs have a few B grade modules (as opposed to reapplying to Oxford), and whether its worth retaking the B modules even though I got an A overall for my other courses.

Good luck! Hope you make it!

History and English Literature provide me with transferable skills in regards to language learning.

Plus, that's not to say I don't learn languages: I just didn't pursue them at A Level. I can speak French, Japanese and German (albeit no way near degree level) and can get by in Swedish and Cantonese.

As people have said, you don't really show that you can speak languages. Also, the requirement at Cambridge at least, AFAIK, is that you have one language at "Post A2 or equivalent", which you don't.

Although if you are going to reapply, good luck. Cambridge is a much better university than Oxford, I'd go there. (That was not a serious comment people)

we do look for evidence of ability to learn languages, since this is such a central part of our courses.