Reapplying for Oxford Medicine

Original post by Science99999

Hi, I was recently rejected, post-interview to read medicine at Oxford. My heart has always been set to study here, with dilligent preparation, through my own enthusiasm, had endured significant super-curricular experiences to enhance my overall bio-medical knowledge; whilst simultaneously raising donations and volunteering for the local community. Understandably, medicine is intensely competitive, having said this however, I feel that Oxford Medical School is the only medical school I will ever feel happy being at; the environment, atmosphere, opportunities, though more importantly, the teaching style (The traditionally scientific orientated degree)- It is a perfect university. Therefore, I have been evaluating the options.
1) Contact my universities, and potentially ask them to switch to deferred entry, take a gap year and reapply to Oxford.
2) Completely withdraw all medical offers, and take a gap year, reapplying to Oxford.
3) Appeal the decision, after receving feedback from the medical tutors who interviewed me.
4) Stick with an offer. (I won't be happy being at any other university).

GCSE: 999 7A*s
AS: A
A Level Predictions: A*A*A*A* (Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics)
Super Curricular: 4 week Nuffield Research Project, Essay competition, Biology Olympiad, Cambridge Chemistry Challenge, Published articles in Young Scientist Journal, RSC Analyst Chemistry Competition, Gold Crest Award, Co-authored a published Oxford University Press book + many more.

Volunteering: 1 year at hospital, 6 months educating younger inner children on ethics and moral values, National Citizen Service (Helping disabled adults), raised donations for 5 charities.

Would appealing be a shot?
I scored 4 interviews, at Oxford, Imperial, Birmingham and Sheffield.

Sorry about the rejection - It’s unfortunate but the competition is fierce so it’s tricky.

In regards to your first option, I don’t think you’d be able to keep your deferred entry places (if any offers this year let you defer the entry) and then reapply to Oxford. You’d have to turn down your places and then reapply to everyone. You can’t hold deferred places whilst simultaneously making other applications.

Also, try and get out of the mindset that you’ll only be happy at Oxford. Doing a degree in medicine anywhere, let alone at somewhere like imperial, is huge. And when you’re working in medicine where you studied won’t matter. You haven’t studied at another university and can’t be certain you wouldn’t be completely happy there!

Reply 103

username1539513

Original post by Science99999

A disadvantaged card.

The vast majority of people applying to Oxford don't come from rubbish comprehensive schools. I do vaguely recall some stats about Oxford applicants and of the under 50% of people from state schools that get in under half of them are from comprehensives, the rest are from grammar schools. Even if you do have the ''disadvantage'' of being from a bad school/ postcode or whatever they still compare your performance to your school peers performance so it isn't any easier.

Reply 104

Original post by Science99999

After reading an article, Brampton Manor High School scored 41 offers from Oxbridge; clearly there is bias towards London schools, but more importantly this belief that "immigrants at a disadvantage who don't speak English fluently are better suited"; we should select candidates based on their ability. So I wouldn't be gutted, but it is a shame that someone who is academically inept and subpar to their competitive peers get in. Get those 4A*s, and show those "Disadvantaged card kids" wrong.

You'd think a rejection would help improve someone's attitude.

And with all due respect, doing well in exams is a lot to do with preparation, as opposed to just natural ability.
It seems that the Oxbridge application process is designed to pick people who are naturally more gifted with good grades, than someone who's less gifted but who's well prepared to sit exams and has excellent grades.

I wonder what grades you would have got if you came from a similar "disadvantaged" background.

Maybe you're both: great grades and naturally gifted but they're also looking for someone with the right attitude.

Good luck with your future interviews. I hope they go well.

(edited 5 years ago)

Reply 105

username2337287

OP

14

Original post by Maths&physics

You'd think a rejection would help improve someone's attitude.

And with all due respect, doing well in exams is a lot to do with preparation, as opposed to just natural ability.
It seems that the Oxbridge application process is designed to pick people who are naturally more gifted with good grades, than someone who's less gifted but who's well prepared with excellent grades.

Maybe you're both: great grades and naturally gifted but they're also looking for someone with the right attitude.

You are forgetting to realise that 41 offers for a selective state school with a dedicated Oxbridge Programme should not consider the students attending their as disadvantaged- These students are placed under ACORN 1 & 2 and Polar 3 & 4.

Reply 106

username2337287

OP

14

Although we need to consider that these state schools exploit the number game. A local State Sixthform has over 2000 students in one academic year, henceforth privelleged middle upper class students who attend this school can use this statistic to their advantage. It only takes 20-30 (Although only around 8 students get into Oxbridge), to apply, although comparing to their peers the A* rate may be lower, a sizeable portion do receive specialised Oxbridge support.

Reply 107

Original post by Science99999

You are forgetting to realise that 41 offers for a selective state school with a dedicated Oxbridge Programme should not consider the students attending their as disadvantaged- These students are placed under ACORN 1 & 2 and Polar 3 & 4.

I would be curious to know how well you'd do if came from the same disadvantaged background, or how well these students would do in your position.

Just because you're from a disadvantaged background, doesn't mean you're not capable.

Reply 108

username4407912

6

Original post by Science99999

You are forgetting to realise that 41 offers for a selective state school with a dedicated Oxbridge Programme should not consider the students attending their as disadvantaged- These students are placed under ACORN 1 & 2 and Polar 3 & 4.

i really don't see how you can complain about a school offering a dedicated oxbridge program when you went to ****ing harrow, a school known for being wildly disproportionately represented at oxbridge due to the sheer amount of resources provided for the students. the brampton manor students are under those disadvantaged criteria because of their backgrounds. they come from families and areas which are not conducive to elite higher education, and I think it is disgusting of you to insinuate that they don't deserve oxbridge places because they are considered disadvantaged. these are people who come from areas and ethnicities that are under represented at oxbridge, and quite frankly i'm chuffed that oxbridge have decided to offer more places to them and fewer places to elitist ********s like yourself

Reply 109

taytayshaki

8

Science99999. I originally was very sympathetic regarding your plight especially because I thought you truly were set on Oxford. I have since seen you on the Cambridge site stating that you would consider applying there, which made me wonder whether it was just being a student in an Oxbridge establishment rather than a doctor that was your main aim. It also made a mockery of your Imperial offer (which I know most of us would jump at!) as you hinted it was second best for you. You then continued to annoy quite a few of those Cambridge applicants and also made derogatory comments about your so called “friend,”finally ending with the conclusion that Cambridge is not good enough for you! and you would rather consider Imperial (??????)
I seriously think you need to seek some help from a councillor as it is not doing your mental health any good having this over the top negativity and resentment towards students that have received Oxbridge offers. If it makes you feel better to deride everyone who has succeeded where you have failed, for reasons that you think are unjust, fair enough as you are entitled to your opinion (as am I.)
However, when you consistently insult more and more people with your ranting I think you need to stop.

Reply 110

username1539513

Original post by Science99999

Although we need to consider that these state schools exploit the number game. A local State Sixthform has over 2000 students in one academic year, henceforth privelleged middle upper class students who attend this school can use this statistic to their advantage. It only takes 20-30 (Although only around 8 students get into Oxbridge), to apply, although comparing to their peers the A* rate may be lower, a sizeable portion do receive specialised Oxbridge support.

I am talking about students who do genuinely come from bad socio-economic backgrounds as measured by ACORN and POLAR; in 2017 only 10.6% of successful Oxford applicants came from a disadvantaged background, leaving the other 89.4% from advantaged backgrounds. They're definitely a minority

https://www.ox.ac.uk/sites/files/oxford/Oxford%202018%20Annual%20Admissions%20Report.pdf (page 10)

Reply 111

Doones

Original post by Science99999

After reading an article, Brampton Manor High School scored 41 offers from Oxbridge; clearly there is bias towards London schools, but more importantly this belief that "immigrants at a disadvantage who don't speak English fluently are better suited"; we should select candidates based on their ability. So I wouldn't be gutted, but it is a shame that someone who is academically inept and subpar to their competitive peers get in. Get those 4A*s, and show those "Disadvantaged card kids" wrong.

In 2017 Brampton Manor had 46 applicants to Cambridge, they "scored" 8 offers. 17% is hardly an overwhelming success rate. The university average is 20%.

In 2016 it was 3 from 12. In 2015 it 2 from 9.

There is no "bias" towards London at Oxford or Cambridge. There *is* a bias towards good applicants wherever they are from (and yes, taking contextual factors into account).

(edited 5 years ago)

Reply 112

Simbasoul

19

Original post by medapp29

i really don't see how you can complain about a school offering a dedicated oxbridge program when you went to ****ing harrow, a school known for being wildly disproportionately represented at oxbridge due to the sheer amount of resources provided for the students. the brampton manor students are under those disadvantaged criteria because of their backgrounds. they come from families and areas which are not conducive to elite higher education, and I think it is disgusting of you to insinuate that they don't deserve oxbridge places because they are considered disadvantaged. these are people who come from areas and ethnicities that are under represented at oxbridge, and quite frankly i'm chuffed that oxbridge have decided to offer more places to them and fewer places to elitist ********s like yourself

....it may be known for being wildly disproportionately represented at Oxbridge now (and I agree that it is)...but back in my day, they were known as "the fools on the hill"....seemingly, some of them still are.....

Reply 113

Original post by Doonesbury

In 2017 Brampton Manor had 46 applicants to Cambridge, they "scored" 8 offers. 17% is hardly an overwhelming success rate. The university average is 20%.

There is no "bias" towards London at Oxford or Cambridge. There *is* a bias towards good applicants wherever they are from (and yes, taking contextual factors into account).

Hear! Hear!

Reply 114

Mcgreggorrrrrrrr

13

Original post by Science99999

Hi, I was recently rejected, post-interview to read medicine at Oxford. My heart has always been set to study here, with dilligent preparation, through my own enthusiasm, had endured significant super-curricular experiences to enhance my overall bio-medical knowledge; whilst simultaneously raising donations and volunteering for the local community. Understandably, medicine is intensely competitive, having said this however, I feel that Oxford Medical School is the only medical school I will ever feel happy being at; the environment, atmosphere, opportunities, though more importantly, the teaching style (The traditionally scientific orientated degree)- It is a perfect university. Therefore, I have been evaluating the options.
1) Contact my universities, and potentially ask them to switch to deferred entry, take a gap year and reapply to Oxford.
2) Completely withdraw all medical offers, and take a gap year, reapplying to Oxford.
3) Appeal the decision, after receving feedback from the medical tutors who interviewed me.
4) Stick with an offer. (I won't be happy being at any other university).

GCSE: 999 7A*s
AS: A
A Level Predictions: A*A*A*A* (Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics)
Super Curricular: 4 week Nuffield Research Project, Essay competition, Biology Olympiad, Cambridge Chemistry Challenge, Published articles in Young Scientist Journal, RSC Analyst Chemistry Competition, Gold Crest Award, Co-authored a published Oxford University Press book + many more.

Volunteering: 1 year at hospital, 6 months educating younger inner children on ethics and moral values, National Citizen Service (Helping disabled adults), raised donations for 5 charities.

Would appealing be a shot?
I scored 4 interviews, at Oxford, Imperial, Birmingham and Sheffield.

Someone in the year above dropped out of med school already ( he was 1st year med) because it wasn’t his first choice. He went to King’s, and his first choice was Cambridge, but he didn’t get the Cambridge offer. You could reapply obv, as you wouldn’t want to be dropping out of med school and then not even being allowed to apply again.

Reply 115

Maya20

7

oh good God! This kid is in the best position in the world, he already has a med offer from Imperial, while some of us are rocking back and forth refreshing our emails every few minutes hoping for a glimmer of an interview!
You seem smart obviously, to have applied to Oxford, but please avoid being narrow sighted. In the end, you'll be a doctor like anybody else, and your patients won't give a rat's damn where you studied from. In fact, it hardly every impacts the trajectory your career takes.

Reply 116