Would you feel like a failure if you didn't get into OxBridge?

Of course not! Oxbridge isn't the be all and end all..

Ive never even considered them. I can only imagine there full of stuck up snobs, who think there really brainy. I bet everything is so competitive there.

I wouldn't think of myself as a failure, even though I will have failed. Since I've been on TSR I've read posts of people being very upset if they were rejected, and I initially thought it was "sad" or pathetic to feel like that just over a university. But I can see why people feel like that.

I went to the maths open day at St. John's, and I loved it. There's a large attraction to Cambridge, the town is lovely and the course is considered elite. I've told myself not to think about it or attach myself too much to a (potential) application as it'll just cut down on the disappointment. After all, it's very unlikely I'll get in. Even so, I find myself thinking about it, perhaps even subconsciously at times. E.g. a desire to get high UMS because of Cambridge. But ultimately it's an experience, and whatever happens I'll just have to accept it.

Are you holding an offer for this year, but dependent on results? Or planning to apply next (academic) year? Either way good luck; you've picked the right college

(<--Johnian)

I wouldn't think of myself as a failure, even though I will have failed. Since I've been on TSR I've read posts of people being very upset if they were rejected, and I initially thought it was "sad" or pathetic to feel like that just over a university. But I can see why people feel like that.

Being rejected by all of your universities, or at least the "top 3 and you hated the other 2" is something to be upset about. If you're only rejected by one, regardless of what that one may be, it's still pretty sad/pathetic to be upset for longer than 5 minutes.

Yeah, but what if you liked one much more than the others?

Also, with Oxbridge the application process is longer and generally more personal (ie interviews). So a rejection can hurt more. But it all depends on the person, I guess.

Then you should've thought about that before making your five choices, and chosen 5 universities you'd be perfectly happy to go to. If you're so small-minded as to tunnel-vision on any one university, especially one where it's difficult to gain entry, you deserve all the anguish you get.

Why would it hurt more? Surely a cold "unsuccessful" on UCAS track, for a non-Oxbridge top choice, could be worse?

I wouldn't think so. An expected letter seems more dramatic. But I think it's more to do with the whole application process than the final outcome. Early applications, interviews and preferential treatment (perhaps) make Oxbridge different. When talking about universities, mentioning good universities like Bristol, York, Imperial etc. doesn't elicit much response, but Oxford and Cambridge are considered the epitome of academia.

Well that's me then, but my tittishness has served me well so far.

Which course?

Your sig gives all details... except the course.

Urge to kill... rising.