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A way for Oxbridge applicants to avoid a Durham rejection...?
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Heartbreaker
I know its stupid Itchy, but I know at least one example of this DEFINATLEY happening. (well its bristol not durham but very similar quality university, similar arguments apply etc.)
A guy on my year, (he is on tsr -- username j2k so this isnt some made up story) got rejected from bristol for economics. He has 10 A*, 5 As at AS. A superb personal statement, genuinley intrested in economics, he has everything. (Got into Cambridge, in our school with 22 oxbridge offers, i would say he is 1st or 2nd, so basically he is very very very good.)
My explanation why universities do this --- if they figure the chances of people accepting their offer is 0, (which it indeed was in this case) then it looks better for their statistics if they reject someone rather than them rejecting him.
I know its a minor thing, I know its silly, if i were the admissions officer at bristol, I certainly not reject him. But it does happen.
Why else would he get rejected?
A guy on my year, (he is on tsr -- username j2k so this isnt some made up story) got rejected from bristol for economics. He has 10 A*, 5 As at AS. A superb personal statement, genuinley intrested in economics, he has everything. (Got into Cambridge, in our school with 22 oxbridge offers, i would say he is 1st or 2nd, so basically he is very very very good.)
My explanation why universities do this --- if they figure the chances of people accepting their offer is 0, (which it indeed was in this case) then it looks better for their statistics if they reject someone rather than them rejecting him.
I know its a minor thing, I know its silly, if i were the admissions officer at bristol, I certainly not reject him. But it does happen.
Why else would he get rejected?
and i know someone who was just as good and got 6 offers, including durham and oxford. Individual cases mean sod all.
True but there are some people who will quite obviously oxbridge material who althoug not 100% definate can be seen as very likely.
Yes, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they have applied there does it. I would hate to be that good and not want to go to oxbridge, it doesn't seem I would have much choice!
Yeah I geuss it is true durham will get turned down for other places but for most people who apply to oxbridge consider durham as the next best thing (or in some cases even better).
To be fair you don't really know that for sure, do you? I personally think that stereotype is highly suspect (aware as I am that I seem to fit into it).
I geuss its unlikely that they will reject someone unless they're sure they will be rejected by that applicant. Which to be honest they could easily do through TSR. Perhaps thats why people who get oxbridge offers don't get durham offers on TSR(though I have heard of it happening to people who arn't on TSR) *sorry ramble on a bit with thought*. Point still remains
Oh be serious, that could not sound much more paraniod
Becca
All those who applied to Oxbridge and got a Durham offer say "aye".
Aye
(last year)And if any admissions tutors are reading this: the next university to make me an offer gets cake.
Perhaps when departments are deluged with amazing applications, to which only a tiny fraction they can give offers to, they only bother to read every other application to save time, or perhaps just reject people because they don't particularly like their style of writing in PS.
If you've got 1000 applicants with "perfect" grades (many of whom will have applied for Cam or Ox) applying for 100 places there's going to be 900 "unreasonable" rejections. Tough luck I'm afraid.
P.S. Guess is spelt like that <-- ;-)
If you've got 1000 applicants with "perfect" grades (many of whom will have applied for Cam or Ox) applying for 100 places there's going to be 900 "unreasonable" rejections. Tough luck I'm afraid.
P.S. Guess is spelt like that <-- ;-)
I have a rather more interesting case to put to you.
My friend, one of these dead-cert oxbridge types (10A*, 5As, all the extra curriculars you could want, and a genuinely great guy!) was rejected for Geography by Bristol and Durham, prior to his Oxford interview. He was then rejected by Oxford as well. So he then emailed Bristol and Durham asking why he was rejected. Durham gave him the generic "strong competition blah blah blah" excuse, while Bristol apologised and said they would give him an offer.
It seems to me that Bristol rejected the 'Oxbridge dead cert' after giving him a first glance. However, his email prompted them to re-examine his application, and they probably realised that if he had an Oxford offer he wouldn't be asking them, so figured that he had been rejected.
Another rather common case (proving they aren't one offs, I know several similar); my friend applying for Law had the most perfect application you could imagine (13A*, 6As, senior prefect, ran a society and was on the county sport team, as well as being a well rounded person), recieved 5 top offers including Cambridge, and was rejected by Durham. I recieved an offer for Durham! What would make them give me an offer above him if not the fact that they were willing to bet he was going to get a Cambridge offer?
Aye over here too! Cambridge reject o'clock
, with a Durham unconditional 
.
My friend, one of these dead-cert oxbridge types (10A*, 5As, all the extra curriculars you could want, and a genuinely great guy!) was rejected for Geography by Bristol and Durham, prior to his Oxford interview. He was then rejected by Oxford as well. So he then emailed Bristol and Durham asking why he was rejected. Durham gave him the generic "strong competition blah blah blah" excuse, while Bristol apologised and said they would give him an offer.
It seems to me that Bristol rejected the 'Oxbridge dead cert' after giving him a first glance. However, his email prompted them to re-examine his application, and they probably realised that if he had an Oxford offer he wouldn't be asking them, so figured that he had been rejected.
Another rather common case (proving they aren't one offs, I know several similar); my friend applying for Law had the most perfect application you could imagine (13A*, 6As, senior prefect, ran a society and was on the county sport team, as well as being a well rounded person), recieved 5 top offers including Cambridge, and was rejected by Durham. I recieved an offer for Durham! What would make them give me an offer above him if not the fact that they were willing to bet he was going to get a Cambridge offer?
Aye over here too! Cambridge reject o'clock
, with a Durham unconditional .
As Kev and many others keep saying the deciding process is down to luck... and there are bound to be cases where there are coincidences but that's all they are....
I wasn't an Oxbridge applicant (I didn't like both towns:P) but one coicidence I did have with Kathryn was that we were both rejected by Warwick.... but I don't think there's anything in the fact that we put Durham as our firm choice-probably just that we happened to be talking about what Universities we applied to and then found out that randomly we'd both been rejected by one.
You lot do tend to worry an awful lot, but I understand this(because I'm a worrier too!) but if you want to apply for Durham go for it!
I wasn't an Oxbridge applicant (I didn't like both towns:P) but one coicidence I did have with Kathryn was that we were both rejected by Warwick.... but I don't think there's anything in the fact that we put Durham as our firm choice-probably just that we happened to be talking about what Universities we applied to and then found out that randomly we'd both been rejected by one.
You lot do tend to worry an awful lot, but I understand this(because I'm a worrier too!) but if you want to apply for Durham go for it!
Danny, have you actually read the rest of this thread?
socialist cook
As Kev and many others keep saying the deciding process is down to luck... and there are bound to be cases where there are coincidences but that's all they are....
I wasn't an Oxbridge applicant (I didn't like both towns:P) but one coicidence I did have with Kathryn was that we were both rejected by Warwick.... but I don't think there's anything in the fact that we put Durham as our firm choice-probably just that we happened to be talking about what Universities we applied to and then found out that randomly we'd both been rejected by one.
You lot do tend to worry an awful lot, but I understand this(because I'm a worrier too!) but if you want to apply for Durham go for it!
I wasn't an Oxbridge applicant (I didn't like both towns:P) but one coicidence I did have with Kathryn was that we were both rejected by Warwick.... but I don't think there's anything in the fact that we put Durham as our firm choice-probably just that we happened to be talking about what Universities we applied to and then found out that randomly we'd both been rejected by one.
You lot do tend to worry an awful lot, but I understand this(because I'm a worrier too!) but if you want to apply for Durham go for it!
I've got a Warwick and Durham offer and an Oxbridge applicant! I don't think there is any formula or anything you can use to try and work out how or why you'd be rejected, even if you are "perfect".
Danny_777
Yes...? What suggested I hadn't? I was merely adding some support to those who were arguing that Durham rejects Oxford dead certs...
Thank you we definatly need it lol. Someone asked for proof and hopefully this will convince you I don't where tin foil hat.http://thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=323693 (don't know if that will work but cam forum 06-12-2006 Warning reminder to..... page 6). There are more (can't be botherd to find them) but university posted officail anouncement sadly taken off top of forum.
I want to clarify Im not saying that Durham tutors definatly look at TSR, oxbridge definatly do, and I therefor don't see it as being a big jump for durham tutors to do it as well.
I personally think there are a enough people who think the rumours true to justify sending it off later than deadline, as there will be conciquence if rumours are false but could be a small chance that if rumours are true and durham don't want to waste an offer on you it might have been worth doing.
Reasons for other unis doing it could be due to them interviewing (as an interview at cambridge could go ace wheras the one at UCL ect went terribly). Durham using PS only in most cases means they have differnt information. If the rumour is true howver I don't think durham and bristol are likely to be the only culprits.
Danny_777
Yes...? What suggested I hadn't?
I don't think people heard me the first time, so I will repeat. Individual cases mean sod all!!
spunkym0nkey
Thank you we definatly need it lol. Someone asked for proof and hopefully this will convince you I don't where tin foil hat.http://thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=323693 (don't know if that will work but cam forum 06-12-2006 Warning reminder to..... page 6). There are more (can't be botherd to find them) but university posted officail anouncement sadly taken off top of forum.
I want to clarify Im not saying that Durham tutors definatly look at TSR, oxbridge definatly do, and I therefor don't see it as being a big jump for durham tutors to do it as well.
I want to clarify Im not saying that Durham tutors definatly look at TSR, oxbridge definatly do, and I therefor don't see it as being a big jump for durham tutors to do it as well.
I just don't believe that, I certainly do not remember signing any confidentiality agreement when I applied
Reasons for other unis doing it could be due to them interviewing (as an interview at cambridge could go ace wheras the one at UCL ect went terribly). Durham using PS only in most cases means they have differnt information. If the rumour is true howver I don't think durham and bristol are likely to be the only culprits.
and hence the opinion of the strength of an application will vastly depend on the admissions tutor's opinion on the PS, which could vary hugely. Leading to some ''unreasonable'' rejections
Itchynscratchy
I just don't believe that, I certainly do not remember signing any confidentiality agreement when I applied
It only applied to one college, but some people seem to have misunderstood that and were under the impression it applied to all of them. Which it doesn't, i've been interviewed by three colleges over the last 6 weeks and not once have i signed a 'confidentiality agreement'.
^ The confidentiality agreement only holds (on our end of the bargain) untill the end of the application process. The reason you might not have signed it (as I believe no one in the pool did [thought u were in pool but might be wrong]) is becuase it was close to the end of application process. Looking through about half of the colleges did have to sign it.
The post is there! I can't make you believe but the proof that tutors look on TSR is right in front of you.
I agree that it does depend on the admissions tutor. For that reason, one or two tutors could take the opinion that people who obviously won't pick durham as there first (or are unlikely to) will save there offers for people who are more likely to have them as firms (or at least end up at durham).
The evidence isn't conclusive but I don't there is any harm putting the application out l8 to durham just in case!
I just don't believe that, I certainly do not remember signing any confidentiality agreement when I applied
The post is there! I can't make you believe but the proof that tutors look on TSR is right in front of you.
and hence the opinion of the strength of an application will vastly depend on the admissions tutor's opinion on the PS, which could vary hugely. Leading to some ''unreasonable'' rejections
I agree that it does depend on the admissions tutor. For that reason, one or two tutors could take the opinion that people who obviously won't pick durham as there first (or are unlikely to) will save there offers for people who are more likely to have them as firms (or at least end up at durham).
The evidence isn't conclusive but I don't there is any harm putting the application out l8 to durham just in case!
Yes...? What suggested I hadn't? I was merely adding some support to those who were arguing that Durham rejects Oxford dead certs...
The fact that you're just adding individual cases on, which I (and others) have shown to be meaningless. We've never denied that fantastic candidates get declined, so in essence you are setting up a straw man argument (i.e. arguing against a point that none of us have made).
How many indivauls will it take 4 it to be true? (ok perhaps a few more because we haven't gone into double figures yet but allot of indivaul senarios are proof that it happens).
I don't think you can 'prove' it quantitively. And if you're using this thread as a count for proof, I'd like to point out that I illustrated the experience of my friend not because I thought it was proof of the situation, but because I wanted to show why the idea seems more plausable for some people.
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