Can’t get over my rejection from Cambridge

So. I got rejected from Cambridge to study Geography. I knew I would be rejected after my interview as I just felt so dim witted and unintelligent due to the pressure I felt during the interview. I fell in love with the course structure, it just felt ‘me’. I am, to some extent, academic with A*A*A grades and I am passionate about my subject. I just feel so underwhelmed and depressed about my ‘oxBRIDGE reject’ status, and I also feel guilty in the fact I now have to aim for Leeds with a course that is still good but not as good as Cambridge. I’ve been crying ever since my rejection.

What should I do?😔

I was rejected from Oxford this year, not Cambridge, but of course know how you feel.

When you are invested in an application for half a year, neglect other responsibilities to put more time and effort into it, pour all your resources and heart and soul into it, perform the best you possibly could, visit the city and become enthralled by it, and get your hopes up that you might really have a chance, a rejection really shatters you. You ask yourself, if I tried my absolute best and could not have given anything more, does that mean my best was not enough for Oxbridge? That I am not enough for Oxbridge?

Only time can heal the wound. Receiving mutual frustration and anger and sympathy and optimism and care from others can be just as painful as it is helpful at this time. Just remember that you are not alone - the boat of rejects is far bigger than the boat of offer-holders - and in a year's time, when we are all thriving in another university, we will be glad that the Oxbridge door closed. You can only walk through one door at a time, so it is important that this one is closing for us, however painful it may be, because it means we can walk through another and will meet people and have experiences we would never have got at Oxbridge.

We would have been happy and inspired and proud to study at Oxbridge, but equally, we will be very happy and inspired and proud wherever we end up. The amount of hard work we poured into our applications is a far bigger indicator of our characters and future success than the ultimate rejection is of our self worth or intelligence.

I myself am still hurting, but am constantly reminding myself that it will hurt for a while - but not forever.

Hi there, I was also rejected from Oxford this year. I was devastated when I first got the news, we’ve tried our very best in the whole application which was incredibly emotionally draining. I cried myself to sleep for the first few days and I cry whenever I watch youtube vids about oxbridge rejection. I didnt want hear people saying cliche things to try to comfort me even tho I know their intention was good. Sounds silly I know, but that’s how is. I felt unintelligent for not being able to impress the interviewers, I doubt if I was ever qualified for Oxford, I regret for not holding this opportunity tight enough, etc.

At the same time, I’m confident that we’ll thrive in other universities, as getting an interview means we’re academically brilliant enough. Also, we can always apply for postgrad after our undergrad degree, I’m actually considering to apply for postgrad! One important thing I’ve been reminding myself about — I applied to Oxford not because of Oxford, but because of the course I want to do, the subject that I am really enthusiastic about. I applied to Oxford because I love human physiology and thought that the course would really suit me, I didn’t fake my enthusiasm for Oxford and that’s why I think I would still enjoy doing biomed at another university.

I sympathise with all Oxbridge rejects, I sincerely hope that we would be able to get over this eventually and flourish at another university!