Is reapplying for Oxford a really bad idea?

Hi all, I was disappointed today because I missed my offer for Cambridge history which was A*AA. I got A*AA, as well as an A* in EPQ but the A* was in French and not history, which was a requirement. I still have my offer for history at Warwick as a backup. This might be really stupid, and please tell me if it is, but what if I took a gap year and reapplied to Oxford, Durham, St. Andrews and two other unis (probably Warwick again, and somewhere else I'm not sure) for history again? Is this a really poor idea? Will I be wasting a year of my life? And will it be futile? Ultimately I want to be a solicitor but I would do a history degree first.

Moreover, I could search for degree apprenticeships as well.

I just feel really afraid that doing history at Warwick is a bad idea and won't set me up well. If I took a gap year I could work, earn some savings, etc.

Please be honest. Many thanks.

Reply 1

flowermoons

Original post

by flabadabadoodaa

Hi all, I was disappointed today because I missed my offer for Cambridge history which was A*AA. I got A*AA, as well as an A* in EPQ but the A* was in French and not history, which was a requirement. I still have my offer for history at Warwick as a backup. This might be really stupid, and please tell me if it is, but what if I took a gap year and reapplied to Oxford, Durham, St. Andrews and two other unis (probably Warwick again, and somewhere else I'm not sure) for history again? Is this a really poor idea? Will I be wasting a year of my life? And will it be futile? Ultimately I want to be a solicitor but I would do a history degree first.
Moreover, I could search for degree apprenticeships as well.
I just feel really afraid that doing history at Warwick is a bad idea and won't set me up well. If I took a gap year I could work, earn some savings, etc.
Please be honest. Many thanks.

Hi,
I think it depends on how important the actual university you study at is- warwick is pretty highly rated and overall jobs will value a first class degree from anywhere over a worse one from cambridge or oxford.
If you have a good plan for gap year like some work experience or something I would say go ahead, it won't be a waste because you'll have useful experiences and skills learned to put in your personal statement or cv.
Getting an offer from Cambridge is a huge achievement but it doesn't guarantee you'll get that far if you apply for Oxford or Cambridge next year- it just depends on your priorities if you want to reapply.
But congratulations on getting a place at Warwick and for some really good grades, you should be really impressed!

Reply 2

artful_lounger

Clearing and Applications Advisor, Universities Forum Helper

Original post

by flabadabadoodaa

Has your UCAS updated to show you have been rejected from your Cambridge offer?

Reply 3

xyz1234567

Don’t make this decision today when things are still raw. Let yourself feel disappointed and sad, and then in a few days time think through again how you feel about Warwick and whether you can see yourself studying there.

How will you feel about a gap year if Oxford doesn’t work out? Will you regret having to fill the rest of the year from January? Would a rejection from Oxford feel even worse after what happened this year? I’d say reapplying is only worth it if you feel enthusiastic about a gap year and if you don’t feel that it lets you build up Oxbridge even more in your mind. The risk is that the second time around it feels really crushing and you then feel you’re trapped in a gap year you didn’t want. But if that doesn’t apply to you and if you feel you’ll regret going to Warwick rather than one of those others, then it may be worth a go.

Reply 4

Djjddkdxk

Original post

by flabadabadoodaa

Hi all, I was disappointed today because I missed my offer for Cambridge history which was A*AA. I got A*AA, as well as an A* in EPQ but the A* was in French and not history, which was a requirement. I still have my offer for history at Warwick as a backup. This might be really stupid, and please tell me if it is, but what if I took a gap year and reapplied to Oxford, Durham, St. Andrews and two other unis (probably Warwick again, and somewhere else I'm not sure) for history again? Is this a really poor idea? Will I be wasting a year of my life? And will it be futile? Ultimately I want to be a solicitor but I would do a history degree first. Moreover, I could search for degree apprenticeships as well.I just feel really afraid that doing history at Warwick is a bad idea and won't set me up well. If I took a gap year I could work, earn some savings, etc.Please be honest. Many thanks.

Hi, Sorry to hear you missed your offer. This is coming from someone who fortunately did meet my Cambridge offer, so I’m admittedly biased, but if I were you I’d be inclined to reapply if Warwick doesn’t feel right. As many admissions officers say, if you received an offer first time you are quite likely to second time, and while Warwick is a top university, I understand that you still want Oxbridge. However, if you don’t use a year out at least somewhat productively (I.e volunteering at history museums, history reading and related internships etc…), then your chances will be likely slimmer. Although a year out could also be fun too and great preparation for university when it arrives. If I were in your shoes and did reapply, I’d also consider re-thinking my insurance so that if Oxbridge wasn’t successful again, I wouldn’t feel I had wasted a year only to end up with the same insurance choice. Maybe consider some of the top London universities like LSE or UCL or even Scotland (St Andrews/Edinburgh). Not that league tables and prestige are the be all and end all, those are all top ranked universities which arguably look more impressive than Warwick for a humanities subject like History. Just my thoughts. Good luck with whatever you decide and go with your gut.

Reply 5

Scotney

Did you go and visit Warwick at all.If not I would suggest a visit just to get a feel for the place.I presume you liked the course and it is well regarded for History .Niece did her English Lit degree there and loved it.You have a few weeks grace here so use it.

Reply 6

flabadabadoodaa

Original post

by artful_lounger

Has your UCAS updated to show you have been rejected from your Cambridge offer?

No, I'm in the summer pool, but I'm not hopeful. I asked this just in anticipation.

Reply 7

artful_lounger

Clearing and Applications Advisor, Universities Forum Helper

Original post

by flabadabadoodaa

No, I'm in the summer pool, but I'm not hopeful. I asked this just in anticipation.

Ah I see - I think realistically then, wait and see how the summer pool shakes out - no point making all sorts of plans if you end up getting accepted in the end anyway!

Then you can think about your options and decide on the best route forward. However if your goal is going into law anyway I don't think where you do your undergraduate degree in history will make much difference, if you otherwise like the structure and content of the Warwick course then no reason not to go there I think.

Reply 8

Lisastan

Original post

by flabadabadoodaa

Hi all, I was disappointed today because I missed my offer for Cambridge history which was A*AA. I got A*AA, as well as an A* in EPQ but the A* was in French and not history, which was a requirement. I still have my offer for history at Warwick as a backup. This might be really stupid, and please tell me if it is, but what if I took a gap year and reapplied to Oxford, Durham, St. Andrews and two other unis (probably Warwick again, and somewhere else I'm not sure) for history again? Is this a really poor idea? Will I be wasting a year of my life? And will it be futile? Ultimately I want to be a solicitor but I would do a history degree first.
Moreover, I could search for degree apprenticeships as well.
I just feel really afraid that doing history at Warwick is a bad idea and won't set me up well. If I took a gap year I could work, earn some savings, etc.
Please be honest. Many thanks.

Sorry to hear you missed your offer, I hope you’re proud of the amazing results you got though. Is your plan to re-sit history A Level again to hopefully get the required A*?

Reply 9

thegeek888

Original post

by flabadabadoodaa

Hi all, I was disappointed today because I missed my offer for Cambridge history which was A*AA. I got A*AA, as well as an A* in EPQ but the A* was in French and not history, which was a requirement. I still have my offer for history at Warwick as a backup. This might be really stupid, and please tell me if it is, but what if I took a gap year and reapplied to Oxford, Durham, St. Andrews and two other unis (probably Warwick again, and somewhere else I'm not sure) for history again? Is this a really poor idea? Will I be wasting a year of my life? And will it be futile? Ultimately I want to be a solicitor but I would do a history degree first.
Moreover, I could search for degree apprenticeships as well.
I just feel really afraid that doing history at Warwick is a bad idea and won't set me up well. If I took a gap year I could work, earn some savings, etc.
Please be honest. Many thanks.

You could always consider studying French and Spanish/German/Russian/Portuguese/Italian at either Oxford or Cambridge? So many millionaire solicitors at the top American and British firms studied a languages degree and then did the Postgraduate Diploma in Law. Also, languages applicants are almost always shortlisted for interview. Not to mention that there are just 2 applicants per place compared to 8 for History and 20 for Computer Science and 18 for Economics and Management!!! 🙂 lol

I wonder what your other A grade was achieved in this year at A-Level? A* in A-Level French is exceptional and an A grade in A-Level History is a top achievement too.

What novel and film did you do for A-Level French? Because I am doing La Haine and No Et Moi.

Lastly, what topic did you choose for IRP Independent Research Project? 😉

(edited 8 months ago)

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