How can I reject Durham this year and still get an offer from them next year

Hi

I have thought about this a lot and i have decided that I will reapply to Cambridge next year after I was rejected this year. My rejection was justified but I know exactly why I was rejected and how to improve my application next year, as a result I am willing to risk losing Durham in order to give Cambridge one more stab. I have an offer from Durham but I want to reject it in the most polite way possible so that Durham still want to give me an offer next year. Cambridge do not allow you to apply with a deferred offer from another university, thus I need to fully reject Durham ASAP.

I want to fall back on Durham as my second choice uni next year if Cambridge reject me again. I have heard anecdotally from UCAS and from a Durham Admissions tutor that they may reject candidates for 2019 entry who didn't accept their offer for 2018 entry. I currently have an offer from Durham and I want to reject their offer without possibly limiting my chances of getting an offer from Durham next year. Would Durham be more likely to give me an offer next year if I withdrew my entire UCAS application instead of directly rejecting their offer through normal UCAS procedure? Also is it advisable to e-mail Durham and explain my reasons for withdrawing? My only worry around contacting Durham would be that they offer me deferred entry which, as I am reapplying to Cambridge, I can't accept. Consequently Durham would recognise they were second choice to Cambridge and thus might reject me next year. I love Durham but it would be a shame to let my Cambridge dream die without any real fight.

Hi

I have thought about this a lot and i have decided that I will reapply to Cambridge next year after I was rejected this year. My rejection was justified but I know exactly why I was rejected and how to improve my application next year, as a result I am willing to risk losing Durham in order to give Cambridge one more stab. I have an offer from Durham but I want to reject it in the most polite way possible so that Durham still want to give me an offer next year. Cambridge do not allow you to apply with a deferred offer from another university, thus I need to fully reject Durham ASAP.

I want to fall back on Durham as my second choice uni next year if Cambridge reject me again. I have heard anecdotally from UCAS and from a Durham Admissions tutor that they may reject candidates for 2019 entry who didn't accept their offer for 2018 entry. I currently have an offer from Durham and I want to reject their offer without possibly limiting my chances of getting an offer from Durham next year. Would Durham be more likely to give me an offer next year if I withdrew my entire UCAS application instead of directly rejecting their offer through normal UCAS procedure? Also is it advisable to e-mail Durham and explain my reasons for withdrawing? My only worry around contacting Durham would be that they offer me deferred entry which, as I am reapplying to Cambridge, I can't accept. Consequently Durham would recognise they were second choice to Cambridge and thus might reject me next year. I love Durham but it would be a shame to let my Cambridge dream die without any real fight.

I'm in the exact same boat as you. I think I'm going to wait till results day and if I get the grades the reapply to Cam then I'll reject Durham then.

Hi. I started this thread a year ago and I did in fact reapply. I got an offer from Cambridge last month so it all worked out for me. If you want any advice for reapplying then you can always message me.

I realise this was a year ago but just wondered if you still got offers from Durham and your other choices (second time around)?

Yeah. I got offers from Durham and all the others unis. Once you get the required grades in your A Levels, it's very unlikely they would reject you as you're a safe candidate. Your personal statement would also almost certainly be better on a reapplication, you improve a lot in terms of writing and knowledge in a year.

Very helpful - thank you. Did you change your PS significantly or just enhance what was already on it?

I rewrote it completely as UCAS do a plagarism check on personal statements. The content was similar, although I change quite a lot. Honestly, if you look back on your Personal Statement a year later, you realise that it isn't actually that good, as obviously in a year you improve so much in terms of writing style and general knowledge on your subject.