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Anyone regret not taking a gap year and reapplying to Oxbridge?
Purely out of interest, do any of you regret not taking a gap year and reapplying to Oxbridge? Obviously this is aimed at the Durhamites who applied to Oxbridge, got rejected and went to Durham.
I’m most likely going to Durham next year (assuming I get AAA
), but am wondering whether I will regret not reapplying for Oxbridge, given that my original application was to the wrong course at the wrong college and generally under prepared in the areas that mattered, while over prepared in those that didn’t. I know I could have made a far stronger application and even if I didn’t get in 2nd time I’d at least have the knowledge that I tried as best as I could. So… I’m wondering whether anyone’s really glad they didn’t reapply for Oxbridge and if anyone’s wishing they had.
I’m most likely going to Durham next year (assuming I get AAA
), but am wondering whether I will regret not reapplying for Oxbridge, given that my original application was to the wrong course at the wrong college and generally under prepared in the areas that mattered, while over prepared in those that didn’t. I know I could have made a far stronger application and even if I didn’t get in 2nd time I’d at least have the knowledge that I tried as best as I could. So… I’m wondering whether anyone’s really glad they didn’t reapply for Oxbridge and if anyone’s wishing they had.Scroll to see replies
Wez
Purely out of interest, do any of you regret not taking a gap year and reapplying to Oxbridge? Obviously this is aimed at the Durhamites who applied to Oxbridge, got rejected and went to Durham.
I’m most likely going to Durham next year (assuming I get AAA), but am wondering whether I will regret not reapplying for Oxbridge, given that my original application was to the wrong course at the wrong college and generally under prepared in the areas that mattered, while over prepared in those that didn’t. I know I could have made a far stronger application and even if I didn’t get in 2nd time I’d at least have the knowledge that I tried as best as I could. So… I’m wondering whether anyone’s really glad they didn’t reapply for Oxbridge and if anyone’s wishing they had.
I’m most likely going to Durham next year (assuming I get AAA
), but am wondering whether I will regret not reapplying for Oxbridge, given that my original application was to the wrong course at the wrong college and generally under prepared in the areas that mattered, while over prepared in those that didn’t. I know I could have made a far stronger application and even if I didn’t get in 2nd time I’d at least have the knowledge that I tried as best as I could. So… I’m wondering whether anyone’s really glad they didn’t reapply for Oxbridge and if anyone’s wishing they had.I'm in the same situation as you...I'm wondering whether I should give Oxbridge another go if I get AAA...
Nope, not for a second. Having come here and met many other people who were rejected, most of which are much brighter and more motivated than me, I have concluded that Oxford were right to reject me. I don't think reapplying would have made much difference.
I don't regret it, I love it here and don't think I'd have really fitted in to Oxford.
It's an interesting question. I never really had the option of taking a gap year. My teachers, parents etc. all seemed against it, and I didn't know anyone from my school doing it. Now that I'm nearing the end of my second year of uni, with the prospect of entering 'real life' in a year's time, I wish I had taken time out to do something different before coming to uni. And if I had reapplied to Cambridge in the mean time, I know I'd have had a much better chance after having been through the application process and interviews once already. So yeah, I do ask myself 'what if?', and wonder how things would be different if I'd done that.
On the other hand though, I'm having a fantastic time at Durham so it doesn't really bother me
. And I might have ended up having a crap time at Cambridge of course.
On the other hand though, I'm having a fantastic time at Durham so it doesn't really bother me
. And I might have ended up having a crap time at Cambridge of course.i wondered exactly the same but u know... 'everything happens for a reason'. oxbridge isnt everything and everyone says how much fun durham is. i think there may be less work pressure, and u will still end up with a really good degree. plus, i reckon u wont be stuck with as many people who are way way cleverer than you.
Well, I went to Durham and I've graduated. I do wish that I'd been able to go but at the same time, I wouldn't want to give up the fact that I studied at Durham and I am very proud of that achievement. In terms of career, going to Durham has not meant any difference to me compared to the prospects that I would have had for my chosen profession were I to have read for my degree at Oxbridge. Of course, it depends what you want to do, what you want to do afterwards etc.
Remember it isn't all about the University and the Course.
Think about the location, where do you want to be? What do you want to do (non-curricular) whilst you're at Uni?
Personally I think there is a lot of differences between Oxbridge and Durham, for instance Durham seems more relaxed (in a good way).
Durham is a great city, just be prepared to bring a raincoat :P (... well it is England)
Ian
Think about the location, where do you want to be? What do you want to do (non-curricular) whilst you're at Uni?
Personally I think there is a lot of differences between Oxbridge and Durham, for instance Durham seems more relaxed (in a good way).
Durham is a great city, just be prepared to bring a raincoat :P (... well it is England)
Ian
I did take a gap year and reapply, but only because I decided I really wanted a gap year and Durham wouldn't let me defer my place. Otherwise, I would have been tempted to reapply anyway, but I don't think it's worth the risk - I know that if Durham had rejected me the second time I applied, I would have kicked myself for taking the gap year (even though it was a really worthwhile experience). Durham is a very competitive university and everyone knows that nowadays admissions end up a lottery. If you didn't get into Durham or Cambridge the second time, how would you feel? If you think you wouldn't mind going elsewhere, then you might want to try again. If Durham is your second choice above other universities, I'd think very carefully about taking the risk.
I did think Cambridge was for me, and I was confident that I'd cope academically and with the pressure, and I was really upset at being rejected - but now that I'm at Durham I really love it here. I won't deny that sometimes I still think about Cambridge, but mainly in the sense of the ego bruising rejection and not because I wish I were there. I've met great people here and am having a fantastic university experience.
I did think Cambridge was for me, and I was confident that I'd cope academically and with the pressure, and I was really upset at being rejected - but now that I'm at Durham I really love it here. I won't deny that sometimes I still think about Cambridge, but mainly in the sense of the ego bruising rejection and not because I wish I were there. I've met great people here and am having a fantastic university experience.
I, too, took a gap year and reapplied - but to Durham. First time around I applied to Cambridge, got rejected, but also didn't get into Durham. Took a year out, reapplied to DURHAM, got in 
Why? Because I fell in love with the place on my open day and knew it was where I would enjoy spending the next 3 years of my life, unlike Cambridge where I hated the time I spent down there, both on my interview and on a taster day a few months earlier!
Why? Because I fell in love with the place on my open day and knew it was where I would enjoy spending the next 3 years of my life, unlike Cambridge where I hated the time I spent down there, both on my interview and on a taster day a few months earlier!
arkbar
To be fair, Cambridge is colder than Durham (windchill) and places like Lancaster are a lot more wet.
Yep, west coast is far wetter than Durham. Trust me.
No I didnt.
I was always meant to get into Cambridge. I was going to get the grades (and then some), I was the smart, accomplished one at school. And a little bit of an eccentric idiot (that was always going to work in my favour).
I got to the interview, they set me a test - a ridiculous, pretentious thought experiment of an exam paper... and then they talked to me about it, as if I were a child, for about 20 minutes.
I was rejected, but told I had come rather close (my head of college was rather indignant about it and instantly appealed to ask why I had been rejected).
The admissions tutor, very kindly!!, even suggested I might try again next year if I felt hard done by.
I quickly grew to realise it was entirely their loss, and I don't think they really deserved another chance at snapping me up. It's rather disillusioning, after all, to see that the nation's finest academic institute can't spot a little gem like me.
Since I got here, I've spent about as much time longing for Cambridge as I have doing non-compulsary work.
**** 'em. I'm pretentious enough without that load of *******s.
I was always meant to get into Cambridge. I was going to get the grades (and then some), I was the smart, accomplished one at school. And a little bit of an eccentric idiot (that was always going to work in my favour).
I got to the interview, they set me a test - a ridiculous, pretentious thought experiment of an exam paper... and then they talked to me about it, as if I were a child, for about 20 minutes.
I was rejected, but told I had come rather close (my head of college was rather indignant about it and instantly appealed to ask why I had been rejected).
The admissions tutor, very kindly!!, even suggested I might try again next year if I felt hard done by.
I quickly grew to realise it was entirely their loss, and I don't think they really deserved another chance at snapping me up. It's rather disillusioning, after all, to see that the nation's finest academic institute can't spot a little gem like me.
Since I got here, I've spent about as much time longing for Cambridge as I have doing non-compulsary work.
**** 'em. I'm pretentious enough without that load of *******s.
RobbieC
No I didnt.
I was always meant to get into Cambridge. I was going to get the grades (and then some), I was the smart, accomplished one at school. And a little bit of an eccentric idiot (that was always going to work in my favour).
I got to the interview, they set me a test - a ridiculous, pretentious thought experiment of an exam paper... and then they talked to me about it, as if I were a child, for about 20 minutes.
I was rejected, but told I had come rather close (my head of college was rather indignant about it and instantly appealed to ask why I had been rejected).
The admissions tutor, very kindly!!, even suggested I might try again next year if I felt hard done by.
I quickly grew to realise it was entirely their loss, and I don't think they really deserved another chance at snapping me up. It's rather disillusioning, after all, to see that the nation's finest academic institute can't spot a little gem like me.
Since I got here, I've spent about as much time longing for Cambridge as I have doing non-compulsary work.
**** 'em. I'm pretentious enough without that load of *******s.
I was always meant to get into Cambridge. I was going to get the grades (and then some), I was the smart, accomplished one at school. And a little bit of an eccentric idiot (that was always going to work in my favour).
I got to the interview, they set me a test - a ridiculous, pretentious thought experiment of an exam paper... and then they talked to me about it, as if I were a child, for about 20 minutes.
I was rejected, but told I had come rather close (my head of college was rather indignant about it and instantly appealed to ask why I had been rejected).
The admissions tutor, very kindly!!, even suggested I might try again next year if I felt hard done by.
I quickly grew to realise it was entirely their loss, and I don't think they really deserved another chance at snapping me up. It's rather disillusioning, after all, to see that the nation's finest academic institute can't spot a little gem like me.
Since I got here, I've spent about as much time longing for Cambridge as I have doing non-compulsary work.
**** 'em. I'm pretentious enough without that load of *******s.
Lol, great post, I must remember to rep you for that tommorow!
Could you not potentailly go to Durham and re-apply whilst there? (as you can be at university and go throught UCAS for entry to year one of another course like anyone else - check their website).
I know this does not seem fair to Durham but if you are that bothered it may give you another chance and keep the security of a Durham place.
I know this does not seem fair to Durham but if you are that bothered it may give you another chance and keep the security of a Durham place.
I am pretty sure that there is a clause somewhere along the procedure (either at the initial application stage or the place acceptance stage) that makes you declare that you are not a student at any university at the time.
EDIT: thinking about it it must be at the initial application stage, otherwise everyone would apply whilst at uni and then drop out if they got an offer.
EDIT: thinking about it it must be at the initial application stage, otherwise everyone would apply whilst at uni and then drop out if they got an offer.
Don't regret it a bit.
Wanted to go to Cambridge ever since it was little, and then when it came to choosing courses, I found that I preferred the syllabuis at Durham, but I thought 'but it's CAMBRIDGE!'.
Went on both open days, Cambridge were lovely but Durham was amazing and I didn't wanna come home from Durham afterwards, I sulked for weeks!
Then it got to the application process, and the interviews - got messed around by a snotty undersecretary at Cambridge, messed around by the interviewers starting interviews late and leaving early, and put off by the people I heard around me referring the the rest of us at the tests and interviews as 'the opposition'.
I'd already decided by then that I preferred Durham, but after the undersecretary and the prospective of having the snotty people at my test as classmates, I deliberately ruined my test, and refused to interview properly (although that was exacerbated by the interviewers' attitudes).
Cambridge is a world class university in a way I can't deny Durham isn't, but I don't regret it one bit. I'll never know whether I could have got in (although part of me feels even if I had tried, I wasn't really prepared anyway) but I wouldn't have wanted to.
I have friends at Cambridge who love it there, but I am so happy at Durham, I can't imagine it being any other way.
*sorry for the rant, it gets on my nerves when people go on about us being oxbridge rejects and some of us actually prefer Durham anyway*
Wanted to go to Cambridge ever since it was little, and then when it came to choosing courses, I found that I preferred the syllabuis at Durham, but I thought 'but it's CAMBRIDGE!'.
Went on both open days, Cambridge were lovely but Durham was amazing and I didn't wanna come home from Durham afterwards, I sulked for weeks!
Then it got to the application process, and the interviews - got messed around by a snotty undersecretary at Cambridge, messed around by the interviewers starting interviews late and leaving early, and put off by the people I heard around me referring the the rest of us at the tests and interviews as 'the opposition'.
I'd already decided by then that I preferred Durham, but after the undersecretary and the prospective of having the snotty people at my test as classmates, I deliberately ruined my test, and refused to interview properly (although that was exacerbated by the interviewers' attitudes).
Cambridge is a world class university in a way I can't deny Durham isn't, but I don't regret it one bit. I'll never know whether I could have got in (although part of me feels even if I had tried, I wasn't really prepared anyway) but I wouldn't have wanted to.
I have friends at Cambridge who love it there, but I am so happy at Durham, I can't imagine it being any other way.
*sorry for the rant, it gets on my nerves when people go on about us being oxbridge rejects and some of us actually prefer Durham anyway*
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