please help with my oxbridge problem - demotivation after rejection

Hey! Moving on from a uni rejection can be one of the toughest things that you can go through during school, especially when you've visualised your life at a certain place and have made it your dream for several years. I speak from experience, having gone through a very similar thing. In fact, I didn't even end up going to the country I had initially planned on going to for uni. So you can only imagine the disappointment I felt after years of fixating on this one dream.
At the end, however, I promise you that I wouldn't change a single thing. I'm so happy things didn't go my way and happened the way they did. I've built an amazing life for myself and met people I would not have met. I have accomplished so much more than I would have had I been adamant about sticking to my original vision.
I think you also need to ask yourself why going to Oxbridge, beyond the prestige of those institutions, means so much to you. I understand having visited Cambridge and having fallen in love with the uni, but beyond that, it's very easy to get wrapped up in the facade of what an Oxbridge education means. I know all students do this at some point, but choosing which uni to go to based solely on rankings and prestige is not a great idea. Even worse is to let which uni you go to, and the idea of being an Oxbridge graduate, define your identity. You are so much more than the university that you go to. What will define you in the future is not going to be where you graduate from, but rather what you do after your degree. The way I see it, getting rejected is the best thing that could have happened to you because now, you're actually going to find out who you are, what you like, your aspirations, and so much more.
I don't know what course you are taking, but that should be the most important focus in choosing a programme. Look into the specific modules and teaching structure, and make your decision based on that. I have several friends who have studied at both Oxford and LSE. If I'm being honest, while Oxford was the more 'prestigious' university, it was the LSE kids who actually did better after uni. LSE prepares you very, very well for the 'real world' and that shouldn't be understated.
As for living in London, I wouldn't stress about it too much. I ended up going to uni in London (undergrad and masters), and as someone who is actively not in uni now, I can say confidently that the uni experience in London is very different to what it is like just living in London. Unless you're actively living in the Strand, right next to the LSE campus, your experience will be completely different. London is so big that going to uni in a different area makes it seem like you are in a different world. I've had friends who, just like you, grew up in London and ended up staying here for uni despite their desire to move. They have not regretted it one bit. Just moving into uni halls and avoiding the places they grew up near made such a difference.
It's going to be difficult, but what you really need to do is focus on your A-levels right now. What's paramount is doing the best you can on them. You're going to have so much time after exams to mull over university choices. Just focus on your passion for the subjects you're studying — everything else is secondary!
And remember, life doesn't end after school, it'll only get better regardless of which uni you end up going to.

hey guys
sadly i got rejected from cambridge post-interview and really have been struggling with it since the end of jan, i have cried so so much and feel super super demotivated and upset because of how badly i wanted it. i have firmed lse but really dont love the course but am gooing because it is such an incredible uni and highly ranked, but i just hate london for uni and do not want to be there (i live in london currently and just wanted to go outside for uni). i keep telling myself that i can just reapply to oxbridge but am really struggling to be motivated for my alevels, especially maths which i find hard, and have not revised at all, but if i dont smash my alevels i cant even reapply (maybe to oxford instead this time) let alone get into lse...i know this sounds silly but it really has affected me and my year and alevels. i need to revise but i just cant and im struggling. i wish so badly i got in as i completely fell in love with oxbridge and became so attached to it, and im so scared i wont be able to fulfil my dreams. if anyone who is in a similar position, has been in a similar position, or just anyone who can offer some advice that would be amazing, thank you x

Sorry this has happened. I had a similar experience at your age.
There are two different things going on here. One is your decision about what to do with your future. The other is your current emotional state.
Your current emotional state will pass eventually. Which doesn't mean that you won't forget about your rejection completely; just that it won't be affecting your ability to function, like it is now. And then you'll need to get on with your life.
In other words: it may or may not be the right decision for you to re-apply to Oxbridge, but I would encourage you to try to unplug that decision from how you are feeling right now, because right now I think what you're dealing with is essentially grieving over a loss. And that grief passes.
I don't think any of us should be telling you whether to reapply to Oxbridge again or not. It really depends what matters to you. Personally, I did my undergrad in central London and there was a lot which I didn't like about it. There wasn't much of a community. Oxbridge has colleges which are small and make it easier to make friends, in my experience, having done a master's there. But again, I wouldn't want to push you in that direction. It's just something to consider along with other factors (like: would you manage the workload at Oxbridge? Personally, I think I'd have enjoyed the lifestyle but the workload might have burned me out)
Your immediate problem of course is not which uni to aim for: it's that you need to re-focus on your A-levels. I agree with the others that this is about what you want, not what your parents want. Please don't go to LSE/Oxford/Cambridge/wherever just because of them. It won't be them doing the degree. This is about your future, and you have to make that future yourself.
Let's see. You can't re-focus on your A-Levels right now because you are struggling with the loss of rejection. I think what you need to lift you up is a change of perspective.
You may feel, even if you don't say it out loud, like the setback you've suffered can't be fixed. But that is wrong. You are still young and you have so much life ahead of you. In particular, you can still smash your A-Levels, even though they are hard (have you asked for help with maths?) You could also delay sitting them and try again next year if your choice of uni matters that much. (That would probably cost some money, though, so you might actually need parental support for that - or failing that, get a job to pay for it). Setbacks in life are normal but they don't need to hold you back.
And I am NOT saying your A-Levels are unimportant. Most people are not Jeremy Clarkson; exam results do matter to most of us. That's why I hope you'll feel better soon and feel able to apply yourself.
I've said this on other threads on this website. When you're facing a big decision, or if there's something you are struggling to motivate yourself to do, do the future thought experiment. How will you feel in (a) six months' time, (b) one year's time, (c) three/four/five years' time if you don't get back to revising for your A-Levels? Will you feel chill and contented about that? Or will you be even more upset?
Maybe in a year's time you could be holding three As and and Oxbridge acceptance in your hand. Or an acceptance from somewhere else. When your whole life is ahead of you, it's a good idea to take a step back from how you are feeling in the moment and visualise how you'll look back in the future on your present decisions. Which is why I said you should separate your feelings from your decision.
Hope you're feeling better soon and you're welcome to keep us updated and ask for more advice if you feel like it.

I have the Oxford University Press, OUP textbook and model examiner answers for A-Level Edexcel Maths. As well as the model answers from the examiners for Pearson Edexcel A-Level Maths textbooks and all the past papers but it is a 4GB file. It may help you achieve an a A* and definitely an A grade.
I wonder which course you applied for at the LSE? Also Cambridge?
LSE is a fantastic university. I know a girl from just over a decade ago, "Lady A" and she studied Maths, French and Economics A-Levels and AS-Levels in Biology and Chemistry and obviously with 5 A grades at AS-Level she was an impressive candidate and even more so with supercurriculars and UCAS Personal Statement. However, Robinson College was so oversubscribed, and she was rejected. ☹️ Luckily, LSE offered her a place for Economic History and Economics. She then did a Masters in Economics and now works for Goldman Sachs. So, despite not getting into Cambridge undergraduate, she got into postgraduate Masters for Cambridge. LSE was a good experience nevertheless too. 🙂
So, I wonder which degree you have an offer for LSE? Because you will most likely get into a Masters degree at Cambridge in 4 or 5 years time. 😉
I would choose Passfield Hall as it has mostly Home UK students and also Carr-Saunders Hall. Hopefully you make some lifelong friends there in Year 1.
Lastly which A-Level subjects are you studying? Maths? History? Politics? Economics? English Literature?
Where else did you apply to for UCAS? What are your other offers? 😉

It sounds like you've already found lots of great advice and kind words. Still, I just wanted to add that having an "everything happens for a reason" mindset is so helpful in situations like these! We as humans are always trying to control everything in our lives, but the truth is that there is never one path to what we consider success and fulfillment. If Oxbridge didn't work out now, or if your A-levels don't work out exactly how you expected them to, it's just bc there's some lesson u need to learn through that. Every setback gives you a little nugget of resilience that can only help you later.
Ik that's super philosophical and obviously you should still try and revise to get the best grades etc, but the point is that there will be so many times in life when things don't go to plan, and you have to find a way to be at peace with it. Your future is still bright, and you get to decide what to do with it 💗

The LSE has on average 16 applicants per place overall and Cambridge 8. So, LSE is a blessing of an offer for the OP. Some courses at the LSE can have up to 40 applicants per places?! ☹️ So, the OP should be very happy with the LSE offer. 🙂

It sounds like you've already found lots of great advice and kind words. Still, I just wanted to add that having an "everything happens for a reason" mindset is so helpful in situations like these! We as humans are always trying to control everything in our lives, but the truth is that there is never one path to what we consider success and fulfillment. If Oxbridge didn't work out now, or if your A-levels don't work out exactly how you expected them to, it's just bc there's some lesson u need to learn through that. Every setback gives you a little nugget of resilience that can only help you later.
Ik that's super philosophical and obviously you should still try and revise to get the best grades etc, but the point is that there will be so many times in life when things don't go to plan, and you have to find a way to be at peace with it. Your future is still bright, and you get to decide what to do with it 💗

I have the Oxford University Press, OUP textbook and model examiner answers for A-Level Edexcel Maths. As well as the model answers from the examiners for Pearson Edexcel A-Level Maths textbooks and all the past papers but it is a 4GB file. It may help you achieve an a A* and definitely an A grade.
I wonder which course you applied for at the LSE? Also Cambridge?
LSE is a fantastic university. I know a girl from just over a decade ago, "Lady A" and she studied Maths, French and Economics A-Levels and AS-Levels in Biology and Chemistry and obviously with 5 A grades at AS-Level she was an impressive candidate and even more so with supercurriculars and UCAS Personal Statement. However, Robinson College was so oversubscribed, and she was rejected. ☹️ Luckily, LSE offered her a place for Economic History and Economics. She then did a Masters in Economics and now works for Goldman Sachs. So, despite not getting into Cambridge undergraduate, she got into postgraduate Masters for Cambridge. LSE was a good experience nevertheless too. 🙂
So, I wonder which degree you have an offer for LSE? Because you will most likely get into a Masters degree at Cambridge in 4 or 5 years time. 😉
I would choose Passfield Hall as it has mostly Home UK students and also Carr-Saunders Hall. Hopefully you make some lifelong friends there in Year 1.
Lastly which A-Level subjects are you studying? Maths? History? Politics? Economics? English Literature?
Where else did you apply to for UCAS? What are your other offers? 😉

Look in your inbox.

I have sent you the URL inbox on TSR PMs. Every eBook for Edexcel and IAL exams too. So you should get an A grade guaranteed and more likely A* when I upload the past papers in 10 days or so as I need to organise the files. 🙂

Please could I have the file too? Thanks

hi, i cant find the files in my inbox/ your message. are you sure you sent it through? xx

hey guys
sadly i got rejected from cambridge post-interview and really have been struggling with it since the end of jan, i have cried so so much and feel super super demotivated and upset because of how badly i wanted it. i have firmed lse but really dont love the course but am gooing because it is such an incredible uni and highly ranked, but i just hate london for uni and do not want to be there (i live in london currently and just wanted to go outside for uni). i keep telling myself that i can just reapply to oxbridge but am really struggling to be motivated for my alevels, especially maths which i find hard, and have not revised at all, but if i dont smash my alevels i cant even reapply (maybe to oxford instead this time) let alone get into lse...i know this sounds silly but it really has affected me and my year and alevels. i need to revise but i just cant and im struggling. i wish so badly i got in as i completely fell in love with oxbridge and became so attached to it, and im so scared i wont be able to fulfil my dreams. if anyone who is in a similar position, has been in a similar position, or just anyone who can offer some advice that would be amazing, thank you x

hey thank you that means a lot, i would say that however my course at lse is super niche and i hate the structure sadly. it doesn'thelp that i have got super pushy parents who really want me to go to lse. anyway thank you for the advice i appreciate it

I have the Oxford University Press, OUP textbook and model examiner answers for A-Level Edexcel Maths. As well as the model answers from the examiners for Pearson Edexcel A-Level Maths textbooks and all the past papers but it is a 4GB file. It may help you achieve an a A* and definitely an A grade.
I wonder which course you applied for at the LSE? Also Cambridge?
LSE is a fantastic university. I know a girl from just over a decade ago, "Lady A" and she studied Maths, French and Economics A-Levels and AS-Levels in Biology and Chemistry and obviously with 5 A grades at AS-Level she was an impressive candidate and even more so with supercurriculars and UCAS Personal Statement. However, Robinson College was so oversubscribed, and she was rejected. ☹️ Luckily, LSE offered her a place for Economic History and Economics. She then did a Masters in Economics and now works for Goldman Sachs. So, despite not getting into Cambridge undergraduate, she got into postgraduate Masters for Cambridge. LSE was a good experience nevertheless too. 🙂
So, I wonder which degree you have an offer for LSE? Because you will most likely get into a Masters degree at Cambridge in 4 or 5 years time. 😉
I would choose Passfield Hall as it has mostly Home UK students and also Carr-Saunders Hall. Hopefully you make some lifelong friends there in Year 1.
Lastly which A-Level subjects are you studying? Maths? History? Politics? Economics? English Literature?
Where else did you apply to for UCAS? What are your other offers? 😉

The LSE has on average 16 applicants per place overall and Cambridge 8. So, LSE is a blessing of an offer for the OP. Some courses at the LSE can have up to 40 applicants per places?! ☹️ So, the OP should be very happy with the LSE offer. 🙂