92 HAT score, rejected?
Hi everyone,
I'm an applicant for History to Oxford from the States, and I made it to the interview stage with LMH but was refused an offer a couple days ago. However, the HAT score release came out today, and I found that I scored a 92 on the HAT, compared to the average successful score of 69. I didn't think my interview was too awful, although there were some spots where I was a little sluggish and one question that I definitely messed up.
I thought the rest of my application was decent, including my written work (which I interviewed a prominent figure in that period of history for) and my background stats (9 APs, 8/9 being a 5/5, 1520 SAT). My school isn't particularly competitive (public, and nobody has applied to a UK uni in years). I submitted a feedback request and I'm still waiting on that, though I'm not expecting anything too detailed.
Any idea on where I went wrong? A 92 seems pretty high, and everyone I've shown seems to agree.
Thank you for any advice or suggestions!
I'm an applicant for History to Oxford from the States, and I made it to the interview stage with LMH but was refused an offer a couple days ago. However, the HAT score release came out today, and I found that I scored a 92 on the HAT, compared to the average successful score of 69. I didn't think my interview was too awful, although there were some spots where I was a little sluggish and one question that I definitely messed up.
I thought the rest of my application was decent, including my written work (which I interviewed a prominent figure in that period of history for) and my background stats (9 APs, 8/9 being a 5/5, 1520 SAT). My school isn't particularly competitive (public, and nobody has applied to a UK uni in years). I submitted a feedback request and I'm still waiting on that, though I'm not expecting anything too detailed.
Any idea on where I went wrong? A 92 seems pretty high, and everyone I've shown seems to agree.
Thank you for any advice or suggestions!
Reply 1
I am sorry for your disappointment. It's impossible for anyone here to know the bases for the decision by LMH. At the interviews, the tutors select those applicants whom the tutors consider will be the most teachable within the tutorial system. Inevitably, good candidates are rejected because there is a finite number of places available.
Numerical scores alone do not determine the outcome of an application. The process is operated by humans and involves the exercise of judgment. It can't be a perfect process, but the tutors usually take a lot of care over it.
Numerical scores alone do not determine the outcome of an application. The process is operated by humans and involves the exercise of judgment. It can't be a perfect process, but the tutors usually take a lot of care over it.
Reply 2
I add the following:
As a graduate of Oxford's Faculty of History, the "interview" with a historical figure sounds to me a bit lightweight, gimmicky, and counterfactual. It might at least be seen as such by an Oxford historian. That might have been a factor. It also sounds like your interview went badly. The tutors prefer lively to sluggish.
But this is mere speculation on my part. You may just have encountered an incredibly tough bunch of competitors in your applicant cohort. Luck plays its part in Oxford admissions.
As a graduate of Oxford's Faculty of History, the "interview" with a historical figure sounds to me a bit lightweight, gimmicky, and counterfactual. It might at least be seen as such by an Oxford historian. That might have been a factor. It also sounds like your interview went badly. The tutors prefer lively to sluggish.
But this is mere speculation on my part. You may just have encountered an incredibly tough bunch of competitors in your applicant cohort. Luck plays its part in Oxford admissions.
Reply 3
Okay I thought I was badly done by.
I scored 82 on the HAT. As you say the average succeasful applicant scores 69. I had 4 A* in the UK system. I applied for new college, was interviewed there and then pooled and interviewed by LMH too. I felt that my new college interview was okay, and that my LMH ine was pretty good but I did not receive an offer from either.
My reflections are that tutors can make very personal decisions about who they give offers too, and this is not necessarily based on the strength of your application on paper. It can often be based on whether they would simply like to teach you in the tutorial system for the next three years. If they prefer someone else based on personality or how much they gel with the tutor in the interview, or other unpredicatble and personal elements, as there are so many good historians they can essentially pick who they want. At the end of the day Oxford is a very particular university. Extremely academic, and prestigious, but scores undeniably poorly for undergraduate student satisfaction and teaching quality (source: The Times university rankings 2025 ). There are other universities out there where you (and I) will probably have a more enjoyable and well-rounded experience.
I scored 82 on the HAT. As you say the average succeasful applicant scores 69. I had 4 A* in the UK system. I applied for new college, was interviewed there and then pooled and interviewed by LMH too. I felt that my new college interview was okay, and that my LMH ine was pretty good but I did not receive an offer from either.
My reflections are that tutors can make very personal decisions about who they give offers too, and this is not necessarily based on the strength of your application on paper. It can often be based on whether they would simply like to teach you in the tutorial system for the next three years. If they prefer someone else based on personality or how much they gel with the tutor in the interview, or other unpredicatble and personal elements, as there are so many good historians they can essentially pick who they want. At the end of the day Oxford is a very particular university. Extremely academic, and prestigious, but scores undeniably poorly for undergraduate student satisfaction and teaching quality (source: The Times university rankings 2025 ). There are other universities out there where you (and I) will probably have a more enjoyable and well-rounded experience.
Reply 4
The tutorial system is central to the Oxford academic method, and tutors do choose the students whom the tutors think that they will work best with over the next few years. Tutors have the luxury of choice because so many able students apply for a limited number of places. The tutors' choices are of course fallible, because of the human error inherent in any non-automated system
I pay no attention to published university rankings because they are compiled in various shaky ways and strike me as intended mainly to sell newspapers or whatever. Each student's experience of university will vary, and people have a good time or a bad time according to circumstances. The well-rounded experience can be enjoyed at all good universities, Oxford and Cambridge included, but university is always to some extent what you make of it.
I pay no attention to published university rankings because they are compiled in various shaky ways and strike me as intended mainly to sell newspapers or whatever. Each student's experience of university will vary, and people have a good time or a bad time according to circumstances. The well-rounded experience can be enjoyed at all good universities, Oxford and Cambridge included, but university is always to some extent what you make of it.
Reply 5
it's nothing you can predict unfortunately. i applied to oxford twice and was rejected the first time, accepted the second. my first hat score was 82 while the average was 68 and i applied with 3a*'s predicted grades. my interview score was only slightly below average and my written work was above average. i was still rejected. the time i was successful my hat score was mid-60s (can't remember now but all i know is that it was below the average score). i used the same written work but i'll never know my interview score. i also applied with my actual alevel grades but they were only 3 a's which is the minimum requirement for the course. what i'm trying to say is that some of it is luck and also the interview is highly important. they search for something in you and they know what they're looking out for. there are so many other incredible unis out there so try not to get too hung up on it. statistically i should not have got in the second time, but we're not statistics we're people so it's important not to focus on them too much. i grew so much as a person from my oxford rejection.
Reply 6
Original post
by Stiffy ByngThe tutorial system is central to the Oxford academic method, and tutors do choose the students whom the tutors think that they will work best with over the next few years. Tutors have the luxury of choice because so many able students apply for a limited number of places. The tutors' choices are of course fallible, because of the human error inherent in any non-automated system
I pay no attention to published university rankings because they are compiled in various shaky ways and strike me as intended mainly to sell newspapers or whatever. Each student's experience of university will vary, and people have a good time or a bad time according to circumstances. The well-rounded experience can be enjoyed at all good universities, Oxford and Cambridge included, but university is always to some extent what you make of it.
I pay no attention to published university rankings because they are compiled in various shaky ways and strike me as intended mainly to sell newspapers or whatever. Each student's experience of university will vary, and people have a good time or a bad time according to circumstances. The well-rounded experience can be enjoyed at all good universities, Oxford and Cambridge included, but university is always to some extent what you make of it.
I hear what you're saying. I was more alluding to the fact that if tutors don't select you, then it's proabbly indicative of the fact that they didn't feel that you would fit so well as one of their students, for that specifc tutor group, and therefore you may not have such and enjoyable Oxford experience.
I disagree however with what you are saying about rankings. They can be pretty useful in my opinion to objectively compare universities. If you're not comparing any data then I'm not really sure how else to compare universities. Of course data can be misleading though.
Reply 7
Original post
by hsudonymHi everyone,
I'm an applicant for History to Oxford from the States, and I made it to the interview stage with LMH but was refused an offer a couple days ago. However, the HAT score release came out today, and I found that I scored a 92 on the HAT, compared to the average successful score of 69. I didn't think my interview was too awful, although there were some spots where I was a little sluggish and one question that I definitely messed up.
I thought the rest of my application was decent, including my written work (which I interviewed a prominent figure in that period of history for) and my background stats (9 APs, 8/9 being a 5/5, 1520 SAT). My school isn't particularly competitive (public, and nobody has applied to a UK uni in years). I submitted a feedback request and I'm still waiting on that, though I'm not expecting anything too detailed.
Any idea on where I went wrong? A 92 seems pretty high, and everyone I've shown seems to agree.
Thank you for any advice or suggestions!
I'm an applicant for History to Oxford from the States, and I made it to the interview stage with LMH but was refused an offer a couple days ago. However, the HAT score release came out today, and I found that I scored a 92 on the HAT, compared to the average successful score of 69. I didn't think my interview was too awful, although there were some spots where I was a little sluggish and one question that I definitely messed up.
I thought the rest of my application was decent, including my written work (which I interviewed a prominent figure in that period of history for) and my background stats (9 APs, 8/9 being a 5/5, 1520 SAT). My school isn't particularly competitive (public, and nobody has applied to a UK uni in years). I submitted a feedback request and I'm still waiting on that, though I'm not expecting anything too detailed.
Any idea on where I went wrong? A 92 seems pretty high, and everyone I've shown seems to agree.
Thank you for any advice or suggestions!
lol i saw you threatening someone who got like 50 on reddit 🤣 no idea why you didn't get in, but I'm pretty sure you can email the college to ask? do update if you do so because I'm at a loss.
Reply 8
hsudonym
OP
2
Original post
by Anonymouslol i saw you threatening someone who got like 50 on reddit 🤣 no idea why you didn't get in, but I'm pretty sure you can email the college to ask? do update if you do so because I'm at a loss.
Yeah, but I have to wait 20 days. I don’t even know what I’m expecting out of this. I guess I’m hoping they ****ed up so I can appeal? But I really doubt they actually ****ed up, more likely I just rubbed them the wrong way and there’s nothing I can do about it.
Reply 9
Original post
by hsudonymYeah, but I have to wait 20 days. I don’t even know what I’m expecting out of this. I guess I’m hoping they ****ed up so I can appeal? But I really doubt they actually ****ed up, more likely I just rubbed them the wrong way and there’s nothing I can do about it.
Well at least once they give you answers you wont be left wondering. Hope they've messed up for your sake, but if not you're obviously intelligent and I'm sure whatever uni you go to will be a great one
Reply 10
hsudonym
OP
2
Original post
by AnonymousWell at least once they give you answers you wont be left wondering. Hope they've messed up for your sake, but if not you're obviously intelligent and I'm sure whatever uni you go to will be a great one
Thank you for the kind words and best of luck to you as well!
Reply 11
Original post
by AR4747r7e8I hear what you're saying. I was more alluding to the fact that if tutors don't select you, then it's proabbly indicative of the fact that they didn't feel that you would fit so well as one of their students, for that specifc tutor group, and therefore you may not have such and enjoyable Oxford experience.
I disagree however with what you are saying about rankings. They can be pretty useful in my opinion to objectively compare universities. If you're not comparing any data then I'm not really sure how else to compare universities. Of course data can be misleading though.
I disagree however with what you are saying about rankings. They can be pretty useful in my opinion to objectively compare universities. If you're not comparing any data then I'm not really sure how else to compare universities. Of course data can be misleading though.
The rankings are not based on reliable objective data. They present quantitative measures as qualitative. They rely on subjective views. They all produce different results. They are mostly just journalistic fluff.
Reply 12
Original post
by hsudonymYeah, but I have to wait 20 days. I don’t even know what I’m expecting out of this. I guess I’m hoping they ****ed up so I can appeal? But I really doubt they actually ****ed up, more likely I just rubbed them the wrong way and there’s nothing I can do about it.
I suggest that you focus on the future and don't dwell on a disappointment. You might be able to compete for a Rhodes Scholarship a few years down the line. When I was an undergraduate at Wadham, the Sub-Dean was a Rhodes Scholar who had studied history at Princeton. He taught us how to speak Preppy. He was supposed to break up illegal parties but he was too busy partying to do so.
https://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/scholarships/the-rhodes-scholarship/
Reply 13
I add that an appeal could only succeed on the basis of a serious procedural error or irregularity. A challenge to academic judgment won't succeed. The admission process involves academic judgments by professional university teachers and researchers. The process doesn't operate on a formula, and a high score in an entrance test is not determinative. The interviews are often the decisive factor in the decision to make or not make an offer to a candidate.
Reply 14
hsudonym
OP
2
Original post
by Stiffy ByngI add that an appeal could only succeed on the basis of a serious procedural error or irregularity. A challenge to academic judgment won't succeed. The admission process involves academic judgments by professional university teachers and researchers. The process doesn't operate on a formula, and a high score in an entrance test is not determinative. The interviews are often the decisive factor in the decision to make or not make an offer to a candidate.
Got my feedback back, scored a 6/10 for the interview. Is this about normal for a rejection? I'm not planning to appeal, but I feel a bit down.
(edited 10 months ago)
Reply 15
Original post
by hsudonymGot my feedback back, scored a 6/10 for the interview. Is this about normal for a rejection? I'm not planning to appeal, but I feel a bit down.
yeah that's pretty normal. i was rejected with 7/10 in my interview. sorry you're feeling down. 6/10 in an oxford interview is still an amazing score so please do try to remember how well you have done. you worked hard and put in lots of effort but this route didn't work out - you should still be proud of the effort you put in. there are lots of other great paths and i am sure you will do incredibly well wherever you go. take some time to mourn this loss but remember it does not define your worth at all 🙂
Reply 16
Original post
by hsudonymGot my feedback back, scored a 6/10 for the interview. Is this about normal for a rejection? I'm not planning to appeal, but I feel a bit down.
I don't know the answer to that question. I am sorry that things didn't go better for you.
Reply 17
Original post
by hsudonymGot my feedback back, scored a 6/10 for the interview. Is this about normal for a rejection? I'm not planning to appeal, but I feel a bit down.
did they not include the average successful interview score or any written feedback, that seems quite unhelpful for reapplicants
Reply 18
hsudonym
OP
2
Original post
by Anonymousdid they not include the average successful interview score or any written feedback, that seems quite unhelpful for reapplicants
Had to look for it a bit, average for accepted was 7.81. So it seems I did quite mess up the interview. Shame.
Reply 19
Original post
by hsudonymHad to look for it a bit, average for accepted was 7.81. So it seems I did quite mess up the interview. Shame.
I'm in a similar position with the admissions test but haven't received my feedback yet, are you thinking of reapplying?
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