didn't get in? thinking about doing it all again

just thought id set up a thread for those who didnt get in this year but are thinking of taking a gap year and reapplying. I was wondering if other people were doing it - I applied for History/Politics at Oxford last year and failed but reapplied for SPS at cam this year and have got an offer. there are loads of factors that can lead to you not getting in one year but doing so the next year. in my case i think i applied for the wrong course wasnt keen on history really) and had really poor gcse results. when i reapplied i had very good proven a-levels, mentioned in my personal statement why i did so badly at gcse and had developed a lot in terms of what i did in my gap year.
so if you are thinking about reapplying
a) its not too late to organised a good gap year - some of us reappliers left it to march and later and still did some exciting stuff
b) doing something worthwhile in your gap year improves your employability
c) it can make you a lot richer - even wit hthe introduction of higher fees
d) makes you work a lot harder - i knew that i would need very good As rather than just scarpaing through with 3 and ended up with fairly good module results and an AEA
e) you wont have to think what if for three years

however
a) the process is daunting and if you dont do anyhting too academic you can find it difficult to get back into the swing of things coming up to interviedws (try doing an open uni course) - there is a lot less backup from school
b) apparently other unis hate you if you do this (i changed my university choices somewhat and as i had a different course i dont know how true this is)
c) if you dont get in it can really really hurt 2nd time around
d) it can be quite expensive
e) there are plenty of other good universities around

i reapplied becuase i wanted to do a different course primarily, rather than wanting to go to oxbridge and this year i was a lot less emotionally attached to going. if i hadnt got in i would have been upset but this year off has been a thorougly good thing. so think about it

Reply 1

idiopathic

15

add to the first list..
e) you wont be thinking "what if.." for 3 years...

Reply 2

Adhsur

15

I second that. I reapplied and got in this time round (Cambridge). Wow, glad I took the risk! :smile:

Reply 3

Tyler Durden

17

I did it and have been pooled. It is a gamble. And yes, it can hurt.

Reply 4

khil

15

Tempting - I do wanna reapply, however don't think it's worth it anyway cus it's not guranteed you'd get in. And I'd be wasting a place in Nottingham and Bristol.

I don't have the best of reasons for going Cambridge anyway, and my devastation is probably due to more personal things than the actual uni. So all in all, I'm settling and accepting it and basically I hope I'll fall in love with Nottingham when I go visit :smile:

my first choice.

And I could always visit my best friend in Cambridge if I wanna go to the place :redface:

She got in :biggrin:

I knew she would! :tsr:

Reply 5

jpowell

15

I got rejected from cambridge two years ago. At the time it really hurt, and especially afterwards when I got my almost perfect A2 results I knew that I could reapply and get in with a very good chance. But I decided to go to Durham instead, and two years on I don't regret my decision one bit.

Oxbridge isn't everything, and when you consider that most people who apply will be rejected then it doesn't seem all too bad.

Reply 6

kellywood_5

17

Personally I don't see the point of reapplying to Oxbridge if you don't get in the first time around. I can see the point of taking a gap year and reapplying to unis if you realise you've applied for the wrong course because it would be a waste of 3/4 years and a lot of money if you were doing something you weren't really interested in. But putting off uni for a year when you got accepted to at least one perfectly good uni just so you can try again for Oxbridge when there's no guarantee you'll get in just screams arrogance to me. If you're not good enough, you're not good enough- accept it and move on. It doesn't mean you're stupid or anything. Consider the huge number of brilliant applicants they get each year and it's obvious that a lot of very capable students have to be rejected. If you're good enough to even apply there, you're good enough to go somewhere else and get a 1st/2.1. Oxbridge isn't the be all and end all, and you'll probably have a great time wherever you go. If Oxbridge don't want you, it's their loss :smile:

Reply 7

CamSPSer

OP

kellywood_5

If you're not good enough, you're not good enough- accept it and move on. QUOTE]

However loads of people do reappply and do get in. Despite the pooling system it is a little bit of a lottery. Granted if you expect to get in and think its the biggest injustice ever seen then its probably unhealthy to go for it again but if you think what the hell, why not then theres no real harm

Reply 8

RobbieC

15

Im starting to think I should have applied to English. In terms of good unis like Imp London and Durham, my maths and physics are prob scraping the barrel, whereas I have more innate abilities in English, and even History... These are confusing times.

If I were to take a year out, it would be because Durham also reject me, and I SERIOUSLY will fail Phys and Theo Phys course, so im not doing it... Id prefer not to take a year out, though!

Reply 9

lessthanthree

1

I can't do this to myself anymore.

Reply 10

Lulani

1

I'm pooled at the moment, and seriously thinking about reapplying. Primarily because Camb. is the only place to offer ASNAC and its my dream course. I could spend my gap year abroad with friends in Norway, which would be good.... but the gamble is if I got rejected again would the other unis accept me for a second time? *gulp*

Reply 11

stephx

Lulani

I'm pooled at the moment, and seriously thinking about reapplying. Primarily because Camb. is the only place to offer ASNAC and its my dream course. I could spend my gap year abroad with friends in Norway, which would be good.... but the gamble is if I got rejected again would the other unis accept me for a second time? *gulp*

dont worry about other unis not accepting you for rejecting them last year. that one really is a myth. i reapplied and the other unis i applied to last year (bath leeds and durham) gave me offers within a few weeks (well bath are yet to finalise but i "definitely have an offer" apparently :s-smilie:

). the only one that is taking is time is warwick who i didn't apply to last year *shrugs*.

there are many risks involved in reapplying but that one sure aint one of them :smile:

anyways no need to worry about it yet, accept a place from somewhere you'd be happy going, get your results, and if you still want to go for it, withdraw and do it all again :biggrin:

for any mathematicians: if your thinking of reapplying make sure you get STEP out of the way this year. i've seen atleast two (and theres probably more) oa.waveflex profiles where people have reapplied for maths and although they had their a-level results, were given nice STEP offers instead of unconditionals. no point in giving yourself extra pressure :p:

also, it'll really increase your confidence if you do well.

Reply 12

CamSPSer

OP

stephx

dont worry about other unis not accepting you for rejecting them last year. that one really is a myth. i reapplied and the other unis i applied to last year (bath leeds and durham) gave me offers within a few weeks (well bath are yet to finalise but i "definitely have an offer" apparently :s-smilie:

). the only one that is taking is time is warwick who i didn't apply to last year *shrugs*.

there are many risks involved in reapplying but that one sure aint one of them :smile:

Yup I only applied to one university the same as last year, I got rejected by them last year and despite them saying dont bother reapplying decided to give me an offer this year!

Reply 13

gringalet

12

I'm not incredibly sure if I'd want to put myself through it all again, but I can't help thinking, 'What if I'd applied to a different college?', and that sort of thing. But in all honesty, I think I'm going to be happier at KCL – the course is actually better, and it's minus all the Oxbridge stress and pressure and stigma. However, I think I'd quite like to know why I was rejected – does anybody know the procedure for this? Do you just ring up the college and ask or what?

Reply 14

ponjavic

1

I read something about information that can be given out to applicants if they ask...
was in another thread here or cambridge forum

Reply 15

gangsta1

gringalet

I'm not incredibly sure if I'd want to put myself through it all again, but I can't help thinking, 'What if I'd applied to a different college?', and that sort of thing. But in all honesty, I think I'm going to be happier at KCL – the course is actually better, and it's minus all the Oxbridge stress and pressure and stigma. However, I think I'd quite like to know why I was rejected – does anybody know the procedure for this? Do you just ring up the college and ask or what?

I have emailed my college, asking them to give me some feedback so that 'I can make my applications to other universities stronger'. I havent had a reply yet tho.

Reply 16

CamSPSer

OP

if you get your reference writer to push you probably will get more

Reply 17

RobbieC

15

I think they automatically send some brief feedback to EVERYONES referee, if they were unsuccessful.

Reply 18

CamSPSer

OP

RobbieC

I think they automatically send some brief feedback to EVERYONES referee, if they were unsuccessful.

the original stuff i got last year was unfortunatley there were lots of good candidates and it was a a good standard this year with limited places or something along those lines

Reply 19

futurehealer

would dearly love to go to cambridge
but would only put myself through it again if all my other choices turn me down
have written asking for feedback will wait and see what turns up

didn't get in? thinking about doing it all again

Related discussions

Articles for you