University of Oxford 2022 Applicants Official Thread II

Hey, congrats to everyone with an offer! I've got one for law at LMH, anyone else?

I got English at LMH

Yes. My son got an open offer so I did some research. Don’t feel disappointed. Open offers are never given to the lowest ranked candidates- if colleges have nine great candidates and can only take eight they will pick one more highly ranked candidate to give an open offer too. You are there to fill in the gaps at other colleges for offer holders who don’t meet their offer. So first of all if someone at Christ Church fails to get the grades for history and you get yours you will immediately take that place. If everyone gets their grades you will be put on the open market! If there is another college with a gap ( and no open offer holders themselves) you will be exported. If there are no gaps elsewhere then you will go to Christ Church- they are underwriting your offer and have a firm commitment to you. There is some uncertainty. But try not to be anxious. Be assured that you are not a second class citizen. You are a very strong offer holder who they think would do well at any college. History tends to have quite a few open offers as does physics. My son had a very circuitous route! He applied Somerville but got reallocated to Christ Church for interview. Then he got an open offer underwritten by Worcester ( which he didn’t interview at). Then on results day he found out he was going to Jesus! He loves his college now ( which most people do) and feels it was the right place for him. I am sure you will too. He did have moments of frustration like you. But it will all work out. There was a WhatsApp for open offer holders his year though he chose not to join it. About 400 people a year get open offers- so a not insignificant number. You are certainly in good company. And so many people didn’t get offers. So be happy! You’ve done great!

Thank you so much for your words of encouragement, hopefully, I'll get back into Christ Church or be just as happy somewhere else if I
make the grades.

Anyone Mansfield or geography?!

I got an offer for English at Mansfield too!

Anyone going Pembroke?

im keble !!

me!

Has anyone received an offer for history or a subject at Hertford? I’m so excited!!

guys i have very very good reason to believe that i got the lowest mat score out of everyone who got an offer for maths 😭😭😭 i feel really bad now i definitely do not deserve an offer 💀

guys i have very very good reason to believe that i got the lowest mat score out of everyone who got an offer for maths 😭😭😭 i feel really bad now i definitely do not deserve an offer 💀

Is anyone on here doing medicine or going to queens college ?

Hi ! congrats on your offer I have one at queens for spanish and beginner's italian

guys i have very very good reason to believe that i got the lowest mat score out of everyone who got an offer for maths 😭😭😭 i feel really bad now i definitely do not deserve an offer 💀

Hi there!

I’m a reapplicant. This time last year I was feeling so distraught and frustrated at myself, and honestly did not know what I would do with my life because Oxford had always been ‘my future’. I thought Oxford was over for me, but I’m here now, counting down the days until I get to start this October at my dream college (Oriel) to study English (my dream subject) and last year feels so distant. Sorry for that very romanticised introduction- I am, of course, an English student- but what I want to say is GO FOR IT.

We have one jaunt on this Earth and if you can’t imagine going anywhere else, then why should you? Seeing as you already got far on your application this year, imagine how much further you will get ie receiving an offer after a whole year of prep, maturity, and learning undistracted by A Level responsibilities and sixth form? I have improved so much since last year because, with a gap year, you have the time to.

Some things I did on my gap year to get into Oxford:

- Started tutoring A Level and GCSE in my subject. This is a great opportunity to practice talking about your subject and also a great way to earn money.

- I used the money I earned tutoring to then pay for my own tutor for the admissions tests. Having someone to guide me with what the mark scheme is really asking for and also to give feedback on my essays was fantastic. I would say not to settle for any random tutor, but to go for someone who specialises in the admissions test, as I worry that having someone else could actually be distracting from the mark scheme and may not actually be the best way to spend your money. I recommend Keystone tutors, which is where I found my tutor, Andy, who was fantastic.

- I read A LOT. The wonderful thing about a gap year is that you have the time to. I spent most of my time though not actually reading but doing work that engaged with what I’d read- writing essays, making arguments, watching online lectures, listening to podcasts, reading essays on JSTOR.

This is what then shapes your personal statement and then your interview.

- I completed an online course. Using more tutoring money, I signed up to an online course organised by ‘Oxford’s department for continuing education’ which related to my subject. This course gave me access to loads of exercises, ideas, further reading, and lectures that related to my subject. And, as I love my subject, which you hopefully do too as you want to do it at Oxford, was really enjoyable.

- I kept in touch with my school. I offered to help with revision clubs, teaching etc on my subject. This was not only great practice for me, but also meant that my old school was very willing to help me in return. This meant I had teachers to read my personal statement and people to give me mock interviews.

- I was lead to the charity Zero Gravity by the helpful @Oxfordmum and this was so so important for my journey too. If you are a state school student you can be allocated a mentor who is already at Oxford and doing your course, and they will have weekly zoom calls with you. In these calls, we discussed texts and ideas which was great practice for an actual interview situation. It was also really helpful to have their guidance and advice.

If you do not go to a state school, another way to find a mentor could be, if you go to a school with lots of oxbridge students, asking the school to reach out to alumni for you. You might find someone willing to help you and guide you. If not, I’m sure there are people online who offer this kind of service for money.

Now, to address some of the things you mentioned:

Was it sad watching my friends all go off to uni?
At times, yes. Of course it is. You can’t help but feel as if everyone is moving on whilst you are left behind. However, this is not the case. You are not being left behind you’re moving forwards to, as this gap year is getting you a step closer to your destination, Oxford.

Obviously, seeing everyone on social media out at freshers having the time of their lives whilst you sit at home reading can be hard. Again, I think it’s just important to remember what you’re doing it for and to remind yourself that this will be you this time next year (hopefully at Oxford). Time will go so quickly and before you know it you’ll be there too, having the time of YOUR life at YOUR dream uni. Just keep thinking of that when things feel hard. There is also obviously the option to visit friends at freshers and later on too, so you can still get some of that experience this time round if you want to.

The best tip though is to just keep busy. Work on your subject, tutor/get a part time job to earn some money, spend time with relatives ie grandparents who may also be at home all the time too because they’re retired, learn to drive (if you cannot already), watch the series and films that you want have time for once you start uni. With the internet and social media, it’ll be easy to make friends with people going through the same experience as you who are also reapplicants on a gap year. They’ll be great comfort when you feel like none of your uni friends relate to what you’re doing at the moment. And whilst I mentioned keeping busy earlier, it is also an opportunity to relax. Lay in the sun and go on walks and just enjoy life without the pressure of school, a 9 to 5, or uni. There is something great about sitting in a coffee shop all day with a pile of books and a notepad, daydreaming about oxford as you sip coffee and research for your personal statement. Also, remember that uni holidays are long. Friends will be home sooner than you think and more frequently than you think, so with everyone going on in your life too you’ll barely get a chance to miss them before they’re back again.

I hope this was of some help. My PMs are always open if you have advice. And please, stay positive. I improved my admission test score from 37/60 to 52/60. There is no reason why you will not get in next year because you have the time and you have the brain. Once this year’s rejection is hurting less, get excited. Research the colleges and I mean REALLY research the colleges, weighing them all up until you have found one that is everything you could ever want. Get excited about it and get ready to work hard and fight for it. It will be worth it <3. See you in Oxford next October !

What will you be studying? I got into E&M