Regretting not applying to Oxbridge, worth acting on or move on?

I’m looking for some general advice and perspectives from people familiar with Oxbridge admissions and transfers.

I’ve received an offer from the University of Edinburgh for AI & Computer Science, with free tuition as a Scottish student, which I’m very happy with and will likely accept. However, I didn’t apply to Oxbridge during the application cycle, and a few months later I’ve started to regret that decision. My grades are strong, and as a Scottish student from a public school, I feel I may have had a reasonable chance of securing an interview had I applied.

Part of this regret has grown over time. Two close friends who applied received Oxbridge offers, and everyone from my school who applied ended up getting an offer. In addition, I only later became aware of the Oxbridge foundation year in Chemistry, which I would have been eligible for but discovered too late to apply. All of this has added to the feeling that I may have missed opportunities simply by not taking the chance at the time, and at times it’s hard not to feel like I’m being left behind.

Unfortunately, taking a gap year isn’t really an option for me, it would risk my Edinburgh offer, and for personal and family reasons it wouldn’t be a good fit. I’ve looked into the possibility of reapplying or transferring after starting university, but one college indicated that this would only be considered in cases of exceptional circumstances or a genuine subject change. As I’d want to continue with Computer Science, this apparently wouldn’t qualify as a sufficient course change.

Another factor is the feeling that I might miss out on the “Oxbridge experience”, particularly the networking opportunities, academic environment, and long-term connections that come with doing an undergraduate degree there, and that these might not be replicated in quite the same way through a postgraduate degree alone.

I’d really appreciate insight on a few points:

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Would anyone be able to provide examples on "exceptional circumstances" I could potentially use that oxbridge would accept so that I could continue studying CS?

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How realistic is it to aim for Oxbridge after starting a strong CS/AI course elsewhere?

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Is applying for a different, less competitive course (even if it’s not my preferred subject) - like the chemistry foundation year - ever a sensible strategy to get into the oxbridge network or is that generally discouraged?

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I’ve also seen that a second undergraduate degree can be possible at Oxbridge, would this ever be recommended over applying for a Master’s or PhD, particularly in Computer Science if I were to do it after my time at Edinburgh as it would only take 2 years?

I’m not unhappy with Edinburgh and fully recognise it’s an excellent university. I’m mainly trying to understand whether this regret is something worth acting on, or whether it’s better to commit fully to the path I’m on.

Thanks in advance for any advice or perspectives, I’d really appreciate hearing from those with experience or insight into this.

Reply 1

strictlymum

Oxford Computer Science is one of their most competitive courses. I think that at this stage, it might be better to go with the Edinburgh offer and look at ways of maybe moving to Oxford for a Masters or doctorate.

Also, in the research world, it may be possible to collaborate with researchers from Oxford and maybe become part of a research team there, later in your career.

However, only you can work out what is right for you. good luck.

Reply 2

MaryamMajick

Hello!

I just want to say I fully sympathize with you missing out on all these opportunities. There are a lot of widening access opportunities but the support in Scotland from all schools for Oxbridge is dismal so a lot of students don't even hear about these opportunities until too late when they're the ones who would have benefitted from them.

I actually received an offer for that exact same course in Edinburgh last year, so first of all congratulations! You are absolutely right, Edinburgh is an excellent university. Not only that, it may not seem very real now but graduating with minimal debt is a big deal. I did take the hit and accept my Cambridge offer, and a lot of people will of course, but I would consider this deeply as it is a big financial decision (doesn't help we have to make it so early in life but that's the way the cookie crumbles). Regarding net working and things, it's true Oxbridge is useful for that but these days with the internet you have access to more opportunities than you realize. A university degree is what you make of it, so a driven and proactive student at Edinburgh will get farther than a passive and complacent student at Oxbridge. Gone are the days when simply the Oxbridge name opened every door, you need to work hard to get the most out of your degree and I'm sure you will do that no matter where you go.

In terms of what you should do - I know you said taking a gap year is not possible but is there any way you could take a year out to work? As a Scottish student you are a year younger than all your English peers at this point anyway. If it's not feasible then no worries, but I do think this would give your Oxbridge application the best chance. As others have said, it is very rare for them to consider applications once someone is already at university. I would e-mail them and ask exactly what they mean by exceptional circumstances but how they see it is you already have a university and a course and it would be bad form for them to encourage student to sacrifice that for Oxbridge.

Regarding risking your Edinburgh offer - I don't know when your birthday is regarding age cut offs, but when I received my offer they actually suggesting the could defer it since I was only 16 in the actual offer letter! I would e-mail them and ask if you can defer the offer, and from my understanding if you have an offer for an other uni you can still apply (I got into Cambridge when my offer from Edinburgh was already firmed).

If this is unsuccessful, I would actually say you could just reapply to the course again on a gap year. Depending on your grade profile you are very likely to get in. Because of fee status, Scottish universities are much less competitive for us than English students. When I went there on open day the lady practically told me that anyone with 5 As at Higher is guaranteed an offer. And sure enough a week or so after I send my UCAS in October I got an unconditional.

I hope that all makes sense. Let me know if you have any questions and I hope it works out for you.

Reply 3

xyz1234567

Oxford specifically say they won’t give an example of exceptional circumstances for transfer because each case has to be unique and assessed on its own merits. But regretting that you didn’t apply is not going to considered exceptional. It is highly unlikely they will consider a transfer from a UK student so your options are really to withdraw from your Edinburgh offer and redo the whole process next year or to forget Oxford for undergrad.

In your position I think it would be very unwise to turn down an offer from a great uni that allows you to graduate without debt. Best case scenario of withdrawing is that you have to take a gap year you didn’t want and then take out tuition fee loans you don’t need in Scotland. Worst case scenario is that you have a gap year you don’t want, don’t get a place at Oxford and potentially jeopardise your Edinburgh place too.

If you are considering applying for a course you don’t really want because it’s “less competitive”, I don’t think you’re prioritising Oxford for the right reasons. The networking etc is a bit of a myth for most people - the point of going there is because you like the teaching style and are passionate about that particular course. And in all honesty, if you apply for a course just because you think you might get in, they are highly likely to spot your lack of passion at interview.

Finally if you apply for a different course at Oxford, how are you going to write a personal statement that makes Edinburgh want to offer you a place do Computer Science? You risk losing your current offer and being stuck on a course you don’t want to do.