2017 Oxford Prospective Students [part 2]

I'll keep a lookout for them! Did you apply to schools in the US as well?

It's meant to be a letter... I already emailed Brasenose and they said they'd email me the decision tomorrow if it still didn't come... The post can't be that slow though, I've received other letters since!

No, I live in the UK now, so I decided not to (I think I'd have to take more tests, which is too much).

Yeah, I don't know what the US colleges expect for tests from international students. Usually they look at SAT's or ACT's and the SAT Subject Tests, although some don't require any tests at all, just your transcript grades. By this point I'm sick to death of tests! Best of luck in choosing your uni! I can't wait for this Oxford torment to be over. Not knowing is excruciating.

I can only comment on Durham and London (not UCL specifically). They will be very different university experiences. Durham is a very pretty, small city with an amazing cathedral (some of Harry Potter filmed there) and castle. You have a similar college system to Oxford although it is not as rigid. Because the town is so small it is easy to socialise with people right across the university regardless of your course or college. The uni facilities are fantastic and it is particularly known for its sport, again facilities are amazing and everything is close so it's easy to participate. Nightlife etc will be a bit more limited although you are very close to Newcastle (10 minutes on a train) which has some of the best nightlife the country. It is also near 2 national parks and the coast with some stunning beaches. It has one of the best reps of any English uni.

London is, well, London with some of the best museums and culture in the world. However it is very expensive to live in and people can live an hour or more from the uni so to meet up with friends you may find yourself travelling 4 hours there and back. Equally sports facilities are out of the centre so you have to be keen otherwise it just be a hassle. Have I said it is expensive?

Both will offer fantastic education so for it is me it is more about what type of student experience you are looking for. Hope that helps.

Fair. Just something to consider I suppose as some people re-apply for the heck of it and to be fair there's nothing to lose save 24 pounds for UCAS, some dignity and the expense of a Skype call/train journey.
The 'known-ness' of a uni shouldn't matter so much unless you're going to be immediately applying for top end jobs afterwards in the US. But yes, I get the concern.

They want a reference from a professor and a statement of 'release'. I would say however it's probably more advantageous to get a reference from high school teacher (who would know you far better) and submit the UCAS app as normal without much if any reference to undergrad.

In limbo, still waiting to hear back definitively from Oxford, and pondering St. Andrews, Edinburgh, UCL and Durham in the meanwhile... I'm from the US so would appreciate any insights about them. Thanks.

Rejection from Brasenose for History, received the letter this evening. Really gutted, trying to reassure people that I'm okay but honestly I'm really not. Just feel like a huge disappointment, and feel like I've let everyone down who had their hopes up for me. Feel like I've let myself down too, because I really thought I could do it. Now praying for an offer from St Andrews and hopefully everything will be alright in the end.

Congratulations to everyone who got offers! Have strangely enjoyed this really stressful journey.

Ayy I'm from the US too and visited Durham UCL and Edinburgh while I was in uk for interviews. Out of those 3 I liked UCL the most (I applied for archaeology btw) because I toured their department/some of their labs and really liked the course. Their campus is city based so even though the main buildings are generally together it's spread out (I'm from NYC so it really reminded me of NYU but with pretty Victorian style buildings). Durham was really lovely, the people there were super approachable and nice (my tour guide invited me out with her friends after showing me around) which I didn't expect. Durham is really small and seems quiet, and life seems pretty university centered but is really pretty and tranquil (and Newcastle is 15 minutes by train and has great nightlife). Edinburgh, like UCL, is a city uni and is more spread out and feels much larger. The city is absolutely gorgeous I walked around for like 4 hours just looking at the buildings and wandering through cobbled streets and felt very lively. However, the actual university didn't make the best impression on me: when I toured the department people there didn't seem as interested in the subject (though in fairness this was end of term so everyone was probably wiped out) and the facilities at UCL seemed better. There also didn't seem to be as much of a community as I saw at Durham, where while walking around with my guide she would see a lot of people she knew and wave/say hi to them and it felt like people rly knew each other , but again this is probably due to the size of Durham + the collegiate system. Anyways, I hope this helped a bit I just wanted to put my 2 cents in and good luck with hearing back from Oxford!!!

Speaking from the personal experience of being rejected from my first choice uni after missing the grades... it's less than great initially, and I totally get the disappointment aspect when you've probably been receiving that caustic, throwaway 'you're going to get in' type of comment.

But this is short lived. Dramatically stick a middle finger up to the world, and move on, and prove that you've way more to offer. People know that you do too - else they wouldn't have hopes for you in the first place. To get an interview was a huge achievement, and you could have done it - **** happens, and Oxford loses countless brilliant candidates every year.

I feel Oxford is regarded as being more venerable than it actually is. Whole grass is greener thing. Really, humans are all just blobby atomic masses with no idea what we're doing.

St. Andrews is a fantastic university, I have a friend studying there who's having the best time, but wherever you go, whatever you do, will be fantastic. Good luck!

(This applies to anyone who's disappointed over Oxford. It'll be okay.)

Did you receive your decision letter from Oxford?

Yeah I got an offer at st. Hugh's!!! (still can't quite believe it tbh)

Is that considered cheating to omit the fact that you are attending another university?

Offer for chemistry at teddy hall hmu chemistry people

Yeah I got an offer at st. Hugh's!!! (still can't quite believe it tbh)

The fact is that I don't think (could be wrong) UCAS has any necessary section to say whether you are studying at another university or not.

Yeah I got an offer at st. Hugh's!!! (still can't quite believe it tbh)

Thank you for the message

Are you currently at Durham? (from your profile)

Or did you go breed alpacas
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