Cambridge August Reconsideration Pool 2025
A space for any student who has been told they meet 'adjustment' criteria at Cambridge after a unsuccessful initial application to discuss the August Reconsideration Pool. 
You should have been told if you are eligible for the reconsideration pool alongside your rejection on decision day, but you can check the criteria here.
Courses available are listed HERE and the pool is now open for applications until 13:00 UK time on results day!
If you have been placed in the summer pool (you already had an offer from Cambridge and have been accepted but moved to another college today after just missing your offer) then please come and say hi in the offer-holders' thread!
You should have been told if you are eligible for the reconsideration pool alongside your rejection on decision day, but you can check the criteria here.
Courses available are listed HERE and the pool is now open for applications until 13:00 UK time on results day!
If you have been placed in the summer pool (you already had an offer from Cambridge and have been accepted but moved to another college today after just missing your offer) then please come and say hi in the offer-holders' thread!
(edited 3 months ago)
Scroll to see replies
Reply 1
Hello everyone, I am currently in school and I just got an email from Cambridge said that I didn’t got an offer, however, they said that I was put into august reconsideration pool. I am confused as to what is it and does it mean that I still have a chance for a place in Cambridge?
Reply 2
Original post
by LastyearmadnessHello everyone, I am currently in school and I just got an email from Cambridge said that I didn’t got an offer, however, they said that I was put into august reconsideration pool. I am confused as to what is it and does it mean that I still have a chance for a place in Cambridge?
It means in August you can apply to be reconsidered with your A level grades alongside your performance in the interview etc. and it will be reviewed by all colleges 🙂
Reply 3
Original post
by Saracen's FezA space for any student who has been told they meet 'adjustment' criteria at Cambridge after a unsuccessful initial application to discuss the August Reconsideration Pool.
You should have been told if you are eligible for the reconsideration pool alongside your rejection on decision day, but you can check the criteria here.
You should have been told if you are eligible for the reconsideration pool alongside your rejection on decision day, but you can check the criteria here.
I was put forth for the winter pool but no college wanted me- does this mean i have a higher chance than someone who wasnt?
Reply 4
20
Yes it would if your results were equal.It is best to treat the as a raffle ticket tbh.Proceed as if you have not got an offer and go to other uni offer days and pick your firm and insurance.Then on results day you can decide whether you want to enter the draw for the place or not.It does not affect your firm choice and if you are made an offer you get a weekend to think about it.
Reply 5
Original post
by ScotneyYes it would if your results were equal.It is best to treat the as a raffle ticket tbh.Proceed as if you have not got an offer and go to other uni offer days and pick your firm and insurance.Then on results day you can decide whether you want to enter the draw for the place or not.It does not affect your firm choice and if you are made an offer you get a weekend to think about it.
Great,,,, i applied with A*AA and if i overachieve and get an A*A*A*, my college might even take me out of the pool hopefully! What do you mean by if results are equal?
Reply 6
20
Original post
by LaylafromleedsGreat,,,, i applied with A*AA and if i overachieve and get an A*A*A*, my college might even take me out of the pool hopefully! What do you mean by if results are equal?
Well if you are up against someone who has exactly the same marks and was not in the pool you would have the edge.
Reply 7
Hi, I was rejected for maths (Peterhouse). In their email they didn't say if I was pooled; does that mean I wasn't?
Anybody knows how many usually roughly apply for August reconsideration? specifically for maths. Thank you.
Anybody knows how many usually roughly apply for August reconsideration? specifically for maths. Thank you.
Reply 8
Is there anybody here who’s actually already been through this process? I first got the rejection email from ucas track and was naturally feeling dejected but I hate how finding about the ARP in my college email instantly made me feel better it’s like the nastiest slither of false hope really. For reference I applied for HSPS at Catz. Can anybody speak to the realistic chances of me still getting in im struggling to make sense of their published statistics. Considering I hopefully get 3A*s and that I did get winter pooled are my chances looking good or it’s a luck thing really? I don’t want to keep obsessing over Cambridge and consider it still a positive potential thing for me if that’s not really that realistic? Idk I feel like the ARP is just helping me cope lol should I just act as if it’s a rejection and move on or let myself still want Cambridge and still work towards that?
Reply 9
Original post
by AnonymousIs there anybody here who’s actually already been through this process? I first got the rejection email from ucas track and was naturally feeling dejected but I hate how finding about the ARP in my college email instantly made me feel better it’s like the nastiest slither of false hope really. For reference I applied for HSPS at Catz. Can anybody speak to the realistic chances of me still getting in im struggling to make sense of their published statistics. Considering I hopefully get 3A*s and that I did get winter pooled are my chances looking good or it’s a luck thing really? I don’t want to keep obsessing over Cambridge and consider it still a positive potential thing for me if that’s not really that realistic? Idk I feel like the ARP is just helping me cope lol should I just act as if it’s a rejection and move on or let myself still want Cambridge and still work towards that?
The statistics aren't really relevant here. The deal is that there are a limited number of places on each course. At this point, the admissions teams have to make some very fine judgements. In doing that, they generally feel they have to go with 'the evidence/scores' which means many people miss an offer by a slither. But some of those folks who miss by a slither have had a lot of things working against them, or at least, not very much for them in their preparation. So when the grades come out in August, these folks not only have the scores in hand, but they have quite possible got better self-management/learning skills.
So the general view, which I think is now universal across Colleges and courses, is if come the summer, you have a gap, because someone missed their offer, then you should prioritize looking in the Reconsideration Pool rather than near misses. So reconsideration candidates are now more likely to be made an offer, before near miss candidates are considered. So in that aspect, being offered a reconsideration place puts you in a strong position.
The problem is, no-one knows from year to year, where the gaps will appear and where the reconsideration candidates are. That's where the randomness comes in, because it might be that 20 of you are all for English reconsideration, but come the summer the gaps are in Classics and History.
So there is no quality issue about reconsideration candidates, it's more about the timing of their evidence. Right now, all evidence considered, they are a near miss. Come the summer, if they achieve the grades, they become stronger than near misses - but the matching between courses has to work as well, and no-one can tell how that will play out until the results are out.
Reply 10
20
Original post
by AnonymousIs there anybody here who’s actually already been through this process? I first got the rejection email from ucas track and was naturally feeling dejected but I hate how finding about the ARP in my college email instantly made me feel better it’s like the nastiest slither of false hope really. For reference I applied for HSPS at Catz. Can anybody speak to the realistic chances of me still getting in im struggling to make sense of their published statistics. Considering I hopefully get 3A*s and that I did get winter pooled are my chances looking good or it’s a luck thing really? I don’t want to keep obsessing over Cambridge and consider it still a positive potential thing for me if that’s not really that realistic? Idk I feel like the ARP is just helping me cope lol should I just act as if it’s a rejection and move on or let myself still want Cambridge and still work towards that?
Having run this thread for several years now my advice is to treat it as if you have a raffle ticket for a draw to win a Cambridge.place.You do not need to enter the draw until August so until then put your energy into nailing your A levels and really looking into the courses at other unis who have offered you a place.Go to all the offer days,ask loads of questions and be open minded about what they have to offer.Choose a firm you can really see yourself thriving at amf an insurance you would also be hsppy to attend.After the A levels is the time to consider ARP as a possibility and if there are places for your course available you may choose to enter the Cambridge raffle with your ARP ticket.
Some people have moved on by that time and have reinvested in going elsewhere,some just think stuff Cambridge not going to be rejected again and some think I will give it one more spin.of thr wheel.
Cards on table I don't like this way of doing things but we have seen several people over the years get a place and many genuinely torn on what to do.We have also seen people land 4A * and get turned down and I quote 'What do they want?'reactions.
So my advice is to follow the steps above and that way come August you will be happy either ever way it goes.Sorry you were disappointed today and being sad is understandable but there is more to life than Cambridge and you will shine wherever you end up.
Reply 11
Hi Do you have to be pooled to be entered into the reconsideration pool?
Original post
by NeverstoplearnHi Do you have to be pooled to be entered into the reconsideration pool?
Nope! Just meet the Widening Participation criteria and achieve the standard offer conditions for your subject!
Reply 13
Hey, does applying for the ARP in August jeopardise my firm or insurance offers in any way?
Reply 14
Original post
by SethMathsGuyHey, does applying for the ARP in August jeopardise my firm or insurance offers in any way?
No, the process is managed swiftly by Cambridge directly and not via ucas initially. You need to apply if eligible and you meet the criteria by completing a form am on 14/8 and you will find out pm on 15/8. If successful and you accept, Cambridge will manage the ucas changes required with you.
Reply 15
heyy guys did anyone else get pooled for medicine / how many spaces were available for medicine last year for the ARP?
Reply 16
Original post
by Anonymousheyy guys did anyone else get pooled for medicine / how many spaces were available for medicine last year for the ARP?
Medicine usually has a lot because they have to meet a certain number of med students by law or something like that
Reply 17
Hello, if your school is voluntary aided does that mean it is not a maintained sector school? (One of the ARP eligibility criteria)
Original post
by NeverstoplearnHello, if your school is voluntary aided does that mean it is not a maintained sector school? (One of the ARP eligibility criteria)
I presume so – they're still a type of state-funded school
Reply 19
Do you need to have been notified about the August Reconsideration Pool in your decision email to be considered for eligibility? What if you were eligible but weren't notified anything about it in your email, would you still be eligible to apply?
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