Should I be worried about this for Oxford?
How confident can I be that if I apply to Oxford with specific extenuating circumstances, that they will read my application carefully to notice it?
I’m just scared that they will miss it or forget what my UCAS referee says maybe because they don’t understand how UCAS references work.
I’m also scared that they won’t understand the impact of certain conditions that have previously prevented me from doing well so they won’t be able to apply their contextual process well. Maybe they won’t understand doctor’s notes etc.
Should I be worried about this?
I’m just scared that they will miss it or forget what my UCAS referee says maybe because they don’t understand how UCAS references work.
I’m also scared that they won’t understand the impact of certain conditions that have previously prevented me from doing well so they won’t be able to apply their contextual process well. Maybe they won’t understand doctor’s notes etc.
Should I be worried about this?
Reply 1
Original post
by janeeire244How confident can I be that if I apply to Oxford with specific extenuating circumstances, that they will read my application carefully to notice it?
I’m just scared that they will miss it or forget what my UCAS referee says maybe because they don’t understand how UCAS references work.
I’m also scared that they won’t understand the impact of certain conditions that have previously prevented me from doing well so they won’t be able to apply their contextual process well. Maybe they won’t understand doctor’s notes etc.
Should I be worried about this?
I’m just scared that they will miss it or forget what my UCAS referee says maybe because they don’t understand how UCAS references work.
I’m also scared that they won’t understand the impact of certain conditions that have previously prevented me from doing well so they won’t be able to apply their contextual process well. Maybe they won’t understand doctor’s notes etc.
Should I be worried about this?
Universities don’t take admission flippantly and have to manage 10,000s of applications per year, this means they almost certainly won’t miss the extenuating circumstances.
They will have a formal process that makes sure they thoroughly review all part s of the documentation and almost certainly have some methodology for how to weight the impact of extenuating circumstances, universities want the best outcomes for students. The reality is they have to draw lines in the sand.
Reply 2
Original post
by janeeire244How confident can I be that if I apply to Oxford with specific extenuating circumstances, that they will read my application carefully to notice it?
I’m just scared that they will miss it or forget what my UCAS referee says maybe because they don’t understand how UCAS references work.
I’m also scared that they won’t understand the impact of certain conditions that have previously prevented me from doing well so they won’t be able to apply their contextual process well. Maybe they won’t understand doctor’s notes etc.
Should I be worried about this?
I’m just scared that they will miss it or forget what my UCAS referee says maybe because they don’t understand how UCAS references work.
I’m also scared that they won’t understand the impact of certain conditions that have previously prevented me from doing well so they won’t be able to apply their contextual process well. Maybe they won’t understand doctor’s notes etc.
Should I be worried about this?
Do you really think that academics at the University of Oxford can't understand UCAS references or doctors' notes?
I suggest that you worry about real problems, not imaginary ones.
Reply 3
Original post
by janeeire244How confident can I be that if I apply to Oxford with specific extenuating circumstances, that they will read my application carefully to notice it?
I’m just scared that they will miss it or forget what my UCAS referee says maybe because they don’t understand how UCAS references work.
I’m also scared that they won’t understand the impact of certain conditions that have previously prevented me from doing well so they won’t be able to apply their contextual process well. Maybe they won’t understand doctor’s notes etc.
Should I be worried about this?
I’m just scared that they will miss it or forget what my UCAS referee says maybe because they don’t understand how UCAS references work.
I’m also scared that they won’t understand the impact of certain conditions that have previously prevented me from doing well so they won’t be able to apply their contextual process well. Maybe they won’t understand doctor’s notes etc.
Should I be worried about this?
This isn't something to worry about. The way that Oxford runs contextual admissions is different from other unis though. You're gcse grades will be considered contextually but you won't be given a reduced offer in the same way that you would from other unis (eg at another uni A*AA might be reduced to AAB but that's not how it works with Oxford as far as I know.
Reply 4
Oxford spends about 20 hours of someone’s time on every single application. It’s hard to overstate how meticulous and time-consuming the admissions process is and how much care goes into it. That isn’t to say that it is perfect of course, but you can be confident that everything you submit will be read carefully and nothing will be overlooked.
Also, how likely is it that people involved in admissions, who are reading hundreds of UCAS references every year, won’t understand how a UCAS reference works? It is literally their job to understand that.
Also, how likely is it that people involved in admissions, who are reading hundreds of UCAS references every year, won’t understand how a UCAS reference works? It is literally their job to understand that.
Reply 5
5
Original post
by xyz1234567Oxford spends about 20 hours of someone’s time on every single application. It’s hard to overstate how meticulous and time-consuming the admissions process is and how much care goes into it. That isn’t to say that it is perfect of course, but you can be confident that everything you submit will be read carefully and nothing will be overlooked.
Also, how likely is it that people involved in admissions, who are reading hundreds of UCAS references every year, won’t understand how a UCAS reference works? It is literally their job to understand that.
Also, how likely is it that people involved in admissions, who are reading hundreds of UCAS references every year, won’t understand how a UCAS reference works? It is literally their job to understand that.
So when somebody is rejected pre-interview, it’s because they’ve checked everything and they don’t meet the standards required to be shortlisted rather than just quickly reading through things and rejecting them?
Reply 6
Of course! But It’s not about “meeting the standards” to be shortlisted - they only shortlist around 3 applicants per place, so it’s whether your application is considered in that top group when read holistically and in comparison with others. For some subjects they may get 9 or 10 applicants per place so they have to make painful decisions at that stage. Many very good people don’t get shortlisted simply because the process is competitive.
When deciding who to shortlist, everything piece of information is taken into account, ie contextualised GCSE results, test results and written work (if relevant to that course), referee statement, personal statement.
When deciding who to shortlist, everything piece of information is taken into account, ie contextualised GCSE results, test results and written work (if relevant to that course), referee statement, personal statement.
Reply 7
Just to note that there is a specific section in the UCAS reference for mitigating circumstances, so it is routinely checked before any decision is made.
Reply 8
Original post
by janeeire244So when somebody is rejected pre-interview, it’s because they’ve checked everything and they don’t meet the standards required to be shortlisted rather than just quickly reading through things and rejecting them?
I heard a rumour they entirely ignore UCAS documentation, admission is based solely on if you are a member at Annabelles, the RAC or the jacket you where to the Henley regatta. If you are a Soho house person then Cambridge is a better bet
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