The Student Room Group

Regretting not applying to Oxbridge

"Hindsight is 20/20".

I had only just realised I may have a non-zero chance of getting into oxbridge, the success rate for my subject in Oxford is 40%. The conditions are usually AAA which I could achieve, and the admission tests past papers are a walk in the park... If I had been lucky and didn't mess up the interview if offered, I could have had a decent chance to give Oxford a go.

But no, I was too self concious. I didn't even consider applying to Oxford, before I had even looked at their website.

Of course, even if I had applied, I could well have been rejected. I know I would have been rejected. But I should have taken that risk. Blaming my teachers for discouraging me from applying is futile... It is my fault and I must acknowledge this.

On this note, can anyone please comfort me?

Reply 1

Original post by kijeta
"Hindsight is 20/20".
I had only just realised I may have a non-zero chance of getting into oxbridge, the success rate for my subject in Oxford is 40%. The conditions are usually AAA which I could achieve, and the admission tests past papers are a walk in the park... If I had been lucky and didn't mess up the interview if offered, I could have had a decent chance to give Oxford a go.
But no, I was too self concious. I didn't even consider applying to Oxford, before I had even looked at their website.
Of course, even if I had applied, I could well have been rejected. I know I would have been rejected. But I should have taken that risk. Blaming my teachers for discouraging me from applying is futile... It is my fault and I must acknowledge this.
On this note, can anyone please comfort me?

Realisation is the key thing here. We all learn from experiences. Not all have to be good and not all have to be bad. Never regret a day in your life; good days give happiness, bad days give experiences, worst days give lessons, and best days give memories. The good thing here is that you might have received offers from equivalent uni's that you'll really enjoy than Oxford. You'll probably applied because of the reputation but guess what, you are amazing and you don't need an Oxford cert. to define you. Enjoy your day

Reply 2

If you are doing A levels or the IB this summer, and your family will back you, why not await your grades and apply to universities once you have your grades? If you get an offer from Oxford or Cambridge, great. If you don't, you will at least have tried, and you will have every chance of going to another of the UK's several good universities. A gap year passes quickly enough, and during the year you could, depending on resources and family support, travel, get a job, read a lot, train up in a sport or hobby, or whatever.

If you have offers now from other good universities, and the universities won't defer the offers, you can probably obtain similar offers next year.

Please bear in mind that grades and admission test scores alone are not the only relevant factors when applying to Oxford or Cambridge. You will need a strong reference, a good personal statement, and a good performance at interview.

If lack of resources or family circumstances make a gap year unviable, then enjoy whichever university you go to. Oxbridge will still be there if you ever decide you wish to study further.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

Reply 3

Original post by Stiffy Byng
If you are doing A levels or the IB this summer, and your family will back you, why not await your grades and apply to universities once you have your grades? If you get an offer from Oxford or Cambridge, great. If you don't, you will at least have tried, and you will have every chance of going to another of the UK's several good universities. A gap year passes quickly enough, and during the year you could, depending on resources and family support, travel, get a job, read a lot, train up in a sport or hobby, or whatever.
If you have offers now from other good universities, and the universities won't defer the offers, you can probably obtain similar offers next year.
Please bear in mind that grades and admission test scores alone are not the only relevant factors when applying to Oxford or Cambridge. You will need a strong reference, a good personal statement, and a good performance at interview.
If lack of resources or family circumstances make a gap year unviable, then enjoy whichever university you go to. Oxbridge will still be there if you ever decide you wish to study further.
Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

I'm most likely going to UCL (as my 1st choice has rejected me) so I guess that's equally as good in every respect other than reputation.

Reply 4

Original post by Khonection
Realisation is the key thing here. We all learn from experiences. Not all have to be good and not all have to be bad. Never regret a day in your life; good days give happiness, bad days give experiences, worst days give lessons, and best days give memories. The good thing here is that you might have received offers from equivalent uni's that you'll really enjoy than Oxford. You'll probably applied because of the reputation but guess what, you are amazing and you don't need an Oxford cert. to define you. Enjoy your day

Thank you! I'm trying to tell myself that in september, i'll have so many experiences which I wouldn't have if I had not gone to that uni

Reply 5

UCL is a very good place to study. I hope that you have a great time there.

Reply 6

Original post by Stiffy Byng
UCL is a very good place to study. I hope that you have a great time there.

thank you!!

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