Oxbridge 2018 Reapplicants

I haven't spotted this thread before so its nice to find some other re-applicants.

Course: PPE, reapplying for HSPS
College: Wadham reapplying to Kings
Interviewed? (yes/no): yes
Feedback?: generic
School type: state
GCSE: 3 A*s, 4 As, 3Bs
AS: AAABB
A2 achieved, on a gap year: 3 A*s and 2 As
Strengths: grades and wider reading
Weaknesses: interviews and admissions tests
What you aim to work on: subject knowledge
What your plans are: got an internship at the Labour Party and a position in CND. Mainly just reading around the subjects.

You are taking 2 gap years - don't you think that you might be a bit out of it all by the time you finally go to university?

What do you mean by out of it?

When you feel like your education is in the past, and your study skills and exam technique have deteriorated from what they used to be.

I'm on my gap year now and A-levels feel like a lifetime away. I can only imagine it'd be a lot worse if you take two years out and all the people who you went to sixth form with are in their final years just as you're starting out.

You are inferior if you cannot get into Oxford

You are inferior if you cannot get into Oxford

Hello, am wondering if its worth reapplying to Cambridge.


Course: Law, reapplying for law
College: Sidney - Unsure what college to reapply to, leaning towards fitz or magdalene
Interviewed? (yes/no): yes - pooled and rejected
Feedback?: UMS + nervous interview
School type: state
GCSE: 1a*11A
AS: AAAA
A2 achieved: 2a*2a (deciding if gap or not)
Strengths: they said personal statement and cambridge law test were strong
Weaknesses: interviews and ums?
What you aim to work on: interview skills and readings
What your plans are: internship at law firm for 4-5 months, then work then internship abroad for rest of time

- Unsure if I should reapply as am not sure if Id have a competitive application, my UMS is still fairly low compared to the average offer holder so Im not sure if its worthwhile reapplying. Any thoughts would be nice! And if I am to, unsure if I should apply to oxford or not (subpar gcses and relatively low LNAT score compared to oxford applicants)

I'm debating a reapplication, because I know for a fact that my AS levels were the reason for a rejection before even interview (BCCE), but my house flooded in December very badly, leading to a disruptive home life and etc, yet I didn't submit an extenuating circumstances form. Having just got my A levels (A*AA- Art, Eng Lit, Chemistry) and already planning on doing an art foundation course, I am considering going in again. But I wanna know what other people think - am I crazy?

(Background: Last year I applied for Archaeology at Cambridge, on the recommendation of a PhD student who saw me present a paper I wrote at the National Students Archaeology Conference. I also attended a summer school at Cambridge and am being published in an academic journal. So I wasn't completely crazy to apply, I hope 😅. Worth pointing out that I'm not going in for Archaeology this time, possibly History of Art or English).

No, absolutely not crazy! You can have your referee mention your extenuating circumstances in the reference and they will take this into account (I'm going to do this to explain my lack of GCSE as I was at a disadvantaged school). Your grades look fine, especially for AAA courses. For Fine Art, the majority of applicants take an art foundation year and I imagine doing so will also be advantageous for History of Art.

Thanks! Last year everyone thought I was a bit ridiculous, and my college is very keen on Oxbridge applicants, so if it hadn't been for the PhD student telling me to apply and my experience they wouldn't have let me.

I'm going to call my college and ask their opinion tomorrow, so that I can also be on tutoring sessions and stuff, and I think I will go for it! Nothing to loose, really.

You certainly have more guts than I do! I've been trying to craft an email to my headteacher and wondering if reapplying makes me look like a stubborn masochist.

Well, I have a friend who reapplied last year, who now has a place, so I know that my college is comfortable with that. I suppose I'm also quite hopeful because of her experience.

But there's nothing wrong with being stubborn! Your school will probably be supportive too, because an application with A levels already attained and a year of extracurriculars should put you in a strong position. Plus offers will make them look good. Don't worry about it!

I've heard good statistics which is reassuring (things like 3/10 people being reapplicants at the TSR LMH officer's college). Thanks so much for the support, I needed it :] I've finally written the email, debating on whether to send it now or later when school starts back early September.

It shouldn't make much of a difference, I'm only calling now as I also want to have a breakdown of my marks (my college doesn't give them to us unless we ask) and my script for English, so 3 birds one stone haha

Because it's so close to results day they will probably be able to respond, although they're likely to be busy too. Best of luck!