University of Oxford offer-holders' thread 2015

Hi! I'm just curious, why is it that Singaporeans won't have to pay? I'm actually Singaporean and struggling to find funding to go to Oxford.

Is it possible to get feedback on your interview performance?

I think the most you'll receive is your score and a short comment saying that you've done extremely well to get an offer, rather than specific/detailed feedback

Okay, thanks. To be honest, I think I probably won't - ignorance is bliss!

I had the same thought. Although it only lasted two days before my curiosity got the better of me and I found myself emailing to find out how I managed to get an offer

A belated Congratulations on your offer for Earth Sciences too!

Okay, thanks. To be honest, I think I probably won't - ignorance is bliss!

Don't be a knob and ask for feedback after getting an offer

Plenty of people who seem to be doing that at Cambridge to no bad effect... I'm not going to do that but I don't see why it's being a "knob". Interviews are a very confusing experience, I don't see what's so bad about wanting to know what went well and what didn't.

I'm not saying don't do it because it'll have a bad effect (although I know several tutors who hate having to give any kind of feedback to successful applicants) it's just pretty nonsensical asking "How did I do?" when you've got an offer, especially because the feedback you get is unlikely to be specific enough to tell you where you didn't do so well. Also because, generally, interviews aren't structured in a way you can easily pinpoint where someone does badly - you are expected to struggle with some things, and in a lot of respects this is better than having a flawless interview (although a flawless interview is usually at the fault of the interviewer).

Also, this is completely forgetting about the fact that most feedback is just generic nonsense and actually tells you very little.

Thank you. It would have been nicer if you could have said this without calling me a knob first though.

I didn't call you a knob, I warned you against becoming one

I have an offer for French and Philosophy at St John's - AAA including French

Although I'm v proud of myself I can't help but feel disappointed that everyone I befriended at Ox during interviews weren't made offers

Thanks! Did you get any feedback?

Yes I did. My school found it helpful to see whether the extra help they gave paid off with all the Oxbridge applicants

Same here, was a bit of an awkward chat as well. :/

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My friend also didn't get into Cambridge despite being the smartest guy in school, just hope he's not going to be bitter about it

Although I'm v proud of myself I can't help but feel disappointed that everyone I befriended at Ox during interviews weren't made offers

Did it? Our school gave us quite a bit of help in terms of interview advice but to be honest I don't think any of it helped in the interview.