Anyone applied from X uni to Oxbridge?

x

Hmm, off the top of my head I only remember someone who applied to Homerton for Classics two years ago, during his first year at Manchester(?), but that's pretty much it... As far as I recall he had an interview.
On the Oxford forum, though, there are a lot of people who ask about this, but not very many of them actually end up applying - or if they do they don't seem to talk about it very much (perhaps because they're afraid of hostile reactions).


You're bound to be more help to the OP than me in this...

Thanks anyways hobnob - I'm not 100% sure I'll end up applying but I think its only worth if it I get some A*s in the bag now...

I personally know someone who started a degree at another uni, reapplied to Cambridge before the end of his/her first year, got in at the first round, started the first year again at Cam and came top of the year in his/her subject. So it can be done. Effectively you apply against the same field who apply to Oxbridge and will be admitted or rejected on the same terms. Don't make the mistake of thinking it all comes down to getting A*s though - that's what everyone gets. You have to give a killer interview and convince them that you are obsessive-compulsive about your subject.

Your place at your first choice should be safe if you ask them to defer for a year - though if it moves a 2011 start to 2012 then you'll have the higher fees (which you also will if you try for Oxbridge, as you could only get in for 2012 now). So it's not just the extra tenner you'll have to find. It's unlikely your uni would decline and may even be obliged to grant your request. I honestly don't know how it works with UCAS though and you may have to come clean. Even then, if they like the cut of your jib, they aren't likely to take your offer away (and maybe obliged, etc - esp with the personal reasons you cite).

Alternatively, if you would like to be nearer to London, have you thought about applying to ... London? I hear those colleges are pretty good.

It is possible but very rare - is it really worth it? It will be hard to settle in a place if you are expecting/hoping to move!

Go for it I say. You don't lose anything, apart from a tenner in UCAS costs, and you may end up regretting it if you don't apply. I applied from my current course for a completely unrelated subject, but one which I am more interested in. I ended up getting rejected, but now I am really relaxed about the fact I'm not doing my top choice course, because I at least tried. I don't even think about it anymore, whereas before I applied it really bothered me.

I had a friend who started Uni this year at Imperial (studying maths), but started up another UCAS and applied only for Oxford this year. He got a place and is starting there from September, so it definitely can be done.

I personally know someone who started a degree at another uni, reapplied to Cambridge before the end of his/her first year, got in at the first round, started the first year again at Cam and came top of the year in his/her subject. So it can be done. Effectively you apply against the same field who apply to Oxbridge and will be admitted or rejected on the same terms. Don't make the mistake of thinking it all comes down to getting A*s though - that's what everyone gets. You have to give a killer interview and convince them that you are obsessive-compulsive about your subject.

Your place at your first choice should be safe if you ask them to defer for a year - though if it moves a 2011 start to 2012 then you'll have the higher fees (which you also will if you try for Oxbridge, as you could only get in for 2012 now). So it's not just the extra tenner you'll have to find. It's unlikely your uni would decline and may even be obliged to grant your request. I honestly don't know how it works with UCAS though and you may have to come clean. Even then, if they like the cut of your jib, they aren't likely to take your offer away (and maybe obliged, etc - esp with the personal reasons you cite).

Alternatively, if you would like to be nearer to London, have you thought about applying to ... London? I hear those colleges are pretty good.

You can't reapply to new unis whilst holding a deferred offer in UCAS. You have to withdraw from your deferred uni (so you have no offers) and reapply during your gap year.

PS: I haven't made it v clear but I've improved in my subject already and will improve in my subject soo much over the summer and ofc when I start at uni...I understand that rejection '10 could easily be rejection '11 if I stay complacent......

Have you thought about finance? If you drop out after the tuition fee deadline (which I think is early December) then student finance may not fund your last year at Oxford if you get in. So you could have to pay the equivalent or lower qualification price upfront and not get a maintenance loan for your final year. The ELQ price can be the international price or it might just be the equivalent of the home fee price - but that would still be £9000!

I had a friend who started Uni this year at Imperial (studying maths), but started up another UCAS and applied only for Oxford this year. He got a place and is starting there from September, so it definitely can be done.

I have thought about that - it would be a huge consideration as well, and I wouldn't want to be landed with even more debt...
However, I'd have three years to work out arrangements if I did get in (as well as those months if I were to drop out, where I would be looking to save money).

Also, what's the course? (just out of interest.) Would you be able to read books you are interested in as well as keep up with your course reading at your first university?

It's a modern language. Sending my application before I get to uni so reading will be done mostly. Spending literally whole summer in the country working, and then coming back to a course which doesnt jump into literature.

edit: country eg the target country

You would've spent £1000s on your 1st year accommodation so not sure you'd be saving money (you can't usually stay in uni halls if you leave the university but still have to pay for them!) but I see what you mean. You may as well stay at the uni for the full year and get a certificate of HE - that way you're actually getting something for you tuition and accommodation fees.

I really think the gap year plan is the option personally. Trying to save up £9000 fees (minimum, could be up to £20,000!) + £4000 for accommodation + £1000ish for living costs over 3 years isn't really viable.

yup thats a lot of money but I think I could avoid this as I've seen the formula of:

(years of course (eg 4) + 1 year -previously funded years (eg 1 at the first uni) = entitlement to 4 year loan.

Oh, ok. Definitely check - probably best to ring up student finance as their website isn't that helpful. Maybe pretend you're in the situation where you want to change unis already to avoid confusion?

Also, just read your OP again and surely a gap year would mean you could stay closer to your family too? Unless there isn't really space for you to live at home or something - obviously depends on your circumstances.