"Should I reapply to Oxford?" A reapplicant's opinion

My controversial answer is no.

I am extremely grateful that I was able to get an offer this year, after being rejected last year, but if I were to go back in time I would not go through with it again.

• If you wanted to take a gap year anyway, maybe to travel the world or whatnot? The process will take over your life for a third of the year and it's not worth it, since it's so incredibly draining when you're battling it on your own. It will just sour your otherwise fun year out.

• If you didn't want to take a gap year, it is quite miserable. Yes travelling and seeing your friends at uni is fun but the in-between that is often overlooked is lonely and isolating. The "quiet life" might seem desirable now in the midst of a very hectic y13, but after a couple of months it gets monotonous even for an introvert. Seeing your friends move on in life will suck!

There is no guarantee! There is always an element of luck. I worked incredibly hard to prepare for my interviews, thinking that hard work alone could game the system, but no they will still catch you offguard! I logged 500 hours on Flora of only interview prep, I had perfect grades but I was still pooled and this close to not getting in. It was such a gamble taking a year out of my life to reapply and I don't think it's worth it. And I got lucky! This is the optimistic perspective of someone who got lucky! Think of those inevitably unlucky people who will never make a post. I remember seeing tons of posts of successful reapplicants that hyped me up but that's survivorship bias, unsuccessful people are less likely to make posts.

Please at least try to imagine yourself at other universities! Stop hyperfixating on just one, I know it's easier said than done. Yes, I'm really ecstatic to have gotten in this year but I don't think it's worth how miserable I made myself over the past few months. I understand everyone's different though. I'd love to hear any other opinions or answer any questions.