Reapplying to oxbridge

Achieved grades: GCSE 10 9/A*, AS level 4A, 1A* in A Level Maths
Offers received: Imperial biological sciences, UCL biomedical engineering
I will be sitting my exams for A Level biology, chemistry, physics, further maths this summer.
I would like to reapply to oxbridge, should I go for Oxford biology again or Cambridge natural sciences?
I prefer the former but the latter has ESAT, and doing well on it might boost my application so that there's one more piece of evidence for my ability.
Thank you.

Reply 1

davros

16

Original post by grandmasterx

Achieved grades: GCSE 10 9/A*, AS level 4A, 1A* in A Level Maths
Offers received: Imperial biological sciences, UCL biomedical engineering
I will be sitting my exams for A Level biology, chemistry, physics, further maths this summer.
I would like to reapply to oxbridge, should I go for Oxford biology again or Cambridge natural sciences?
I prefer the former but the latter has ESAT, and doing well on it might boost my application so that there's one more piece of evidence for my ability.
Thank you.

What do you mean by "reapply" here? Did you apply to one of Oxford or Cambridge before with predicted grades, and were you rejected without interview? Do you know why you were rejected if this is the case?
Is there a "good" reason why you wouldn't take up one of the offers you have?

Reply 2

grandmasterx

OP

8

Original post by davros

What do you mean by "reapply" here? Did you apply to one of Oxford or Cambridge before with predicted grades, and were you rejected without interview? Do you know why you were rejected if this is the case?
Is there a "good" reason why you wouldn't take up one of the offers you have?

I was rejected by Oxford this January after interview
I really want another shot at oxbridge

Reply 3

User20250220

2

In answer to your question:

"would like to reapply to oxbridge, should I go for Oxford biology again or Cambridge natural sciences?"

There are too many unknowns to predict which is likely to be more successful. It is likely to at least partly come down to the interview(s) and the luck of the draw over who interviews you, which college etc. I would suggest going for the course you most want to do. However, also consider, after committing to a year out, the pressure/expectations/disappointment could be amplified. So, it might be wise to have a plan for the year out that is not (entirely) focused on Oxbridge.

(edited 3 weeks ago)

Reply 4

davros

16

Original post by grandmasterx

I was rejected by Oxford this January after interview
I really want another shot at oxbridge

Did you ask for feedback on why you were rejected?

Imperial is a perfectly respectable Uni - you'd be taking a big risk turning down an offer that you already have just on the possibility that you might get accepted by Oxford second time around!

Reply 5

grandmasterx

OP

8

Original post by davros

Did you ask for feedback on why you were rejected?
Imperial is a perfectly respectable Uni - you'd be taking a big risk turning down an offer that you already have just on the possibility that you might get accepted by Oxford second time around!

merton said they will not give any feedback

Reply 6

Anonymous #1

Just got to imperial my dawg

Reply 7

Anonymous #1

*go

Reply 8

random_matt

20

What a waste of time.

Reply 9

nwar

Study Forum Helper

13

Original post by grandmasterx

Achieved grades: GCSE 10 9/A*, AS level 4A, 1A* in A Level Maths
Offers received: Imperial biological sciences, UCL biomedical engineering
I will be sitting my exams for A Level biology, chemistry, physics, further maths this summer.
I would like to reapply to oxbridge, should I go for Oxford biology again or Cambridge natural sciences?
I prefer the former but the latter has ESAT, and doing well on it might boost my application so that there's one more piece of evidence for my ability.
Thank you.

Imperial is an excellent university. There is no guarantee that you will receive an offer next year and generally speaking, the competition will increase. Unless there is a reason you adamantly don't want to go to Imperial (or any of your other choices), reapplying is not a great idea.

i.e. reapplying for the sole purpose of hoping to get into Oxford/Cambridge is going to be a lot of pressure. Statistically speaking, most people do not get in. If you devote an entire year to this, there is still a very high chance that you will be unsuccessful. And you might lose your Imperial offer.

Why not do your undergraduate at Imperial and apply for postgraduate at Oxford? If you want to take a gap year, take a gap year. But I wouldn't advise a gap year for the sole purpose of reapplying to Oxford/Cambridge.

Edit - if you decide to reapply, pick Oxford's course as you said you prefer it. Undergrad will be very difficult and you'll probably do much better on a course you enjoy more.

(edited 3 weeks ago)

Reply 10

Wired_1800

20

Original post by grandmasterx

Achieved grades: GCSE 10 9/A*, AS level 4A, 1A* in A Level Maths
Offers received: Imperial biological sciences, UCL biomedical engineering
I will be sitting my exams for A Level biology, chemistry, physics, further maths this summer.
I would like to reapply to oxbridge, should I go for Oxford biology again or Cambridge natural sciences?
I prefer the former but the latter has ESAT, and doing well on it might boost my application so that there's one more piece of evidence for my ability.
Thank you.

Here are some suggestions:

•

Seriously consider Imperial or UCL, they are peer unis. You wont go wrong there.