My Cambridge University Rejection Story

Comments · 142

• ED

  @EdJonesVideos · 4 years ago · pinned

  Few things I&apos;d add as someone who works (however tangentially) in admissions having gone through the Oxbridge thing myself. First, the elephant in the room is just how much luck is involved in the process if I&apos;m to be completely honest. Tutors at Oxford (not too familiar with Cambs) used to have a points-based system for selecting candidates to make the process as qualitatively sound as possible. But I don&apos;t think I even need to say why that system is not infallible. <br><br>Second, some of those people who you were interviewing with probably did have special tutoring. Some were probably just very bright, and many will have gone above and beyond what was expected of them by their schools and families. Some probably went to super fancy private schools and had wealthy parents who paid for additional lessons. Some of them may have gone to those same schools on scholarship. Some went to really good state schools who get loads of people into Oxbridge, and some went to small private schools who get no-one into Oxbridge. Most importantly, some of those people will have already been rejected once or even twice before and taking a gap year is the making of some people. One of the things I quite like about the Oxford system is that you spend a few days at the college for interviews and I still have good friends from back then - Cambs only gives you one day and they fill it with tests so you don&apos;t get to know anyone!<br>Interviewers are very, very good at seeing through polish and training, incidentally. It&apos;s why they&apos;re such an important part of the system. To prospective applicants: I wouldn&apos;t worry too much about any polished, overconfident peers! <br><br><br>Thank you for sharing this perspective! I would say to prospective applicants that the Oxford and Cambridge websites are the best source for information about undergrad interviews - elsewhere on the internet is a lot of frightening misinformation that puts very capable applicants off applying.

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• SE

  @seb3209 · 4 years ago

  The fact that you even got an interview for anything maths-related at Trinity is very impressive

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• FL

  @FlameFlickers · 4 years ago

  If it makes you feel any better, I didn&apos;t get into Cambridge either. <br>That may have had something to do with the fact that I didn&apos;t apply to Cambridge but, to make you feel better, don&apos;t focus on that part - just focus on the fact that I didn&apos;t get in.

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• EA

  @eatablecharlieornot · 2 years ago

  Just got rejected by Cambridge today and i feels so lucky that i&apos;ve found this video, the story and the words really comfort me. I know it will take a long time for me accept this and to find closure but already i feels better. Thank you so much.

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• TO

  @tomatopicklee · 1 year ago

  Received my Cambridge rejection just yesterday, and I’ve been carrying such a humongous rock on my chest since. Thanks for this video. I don’t know how long before it sinks and eventually goes away, but watching this video made me feel nice, even if not entirely hopeful yet!

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• TH

  @thomasroberts2869 · 4 years ago

  Great video. Most people never show their losses, bit ridiculous when you think we all fail at things all the time. Your GCSE results were amazing! Had quite a few friends who went to Durham and loved it. I didn&apos;t get an offer at my first choice uni (Bristol) was really gutted at the time but really glad it happened now. (Took me a long time to get over it lol)

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• NE

  @NeilAnglimProperty · 4 years ago (edited)

  I had a very similar experience. Balls up my tutor interview at Cambridge for Medicine. Went to Birmingham Uni in the end and had a blast! Now an Interventional Cardiologist so all good :-)

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• IL

  @ilianahmed6046 · 4 years ago

  As a gap year student who got into LSE, Bath and Durham (withdrew Warwick and Leeds after I got into LSE), I can tell you for a fact that rejections drive us forward. I got rejected from King&apos;s and UCL the previous year so I know what it feels to have your heart torn. Nonetheless, I never gave in and kept on pushing until I got what I wanted (maybe even more). Wherever you end up going, keep the positivity alive within you.

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• ST

  @Stevenharknett · 4 years ago

  You went to Durham and got a degree. &nbsp;That is quite an achievement. &nbsp;Be proud of that.

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• RO

  @rosettegolda232 · 4 years ago

  Helpful and reassuring video. I’m planning to apply for compsci and Cambridge, because I know I’ll regret it if I don’t. I haven’t taken further maths for a level but I still want to try.

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• SA

  @Sam.Kramer · 4 years ago

  Great video man! I was rejected first time round and decided to reapply. Always great to hear more people on Yt talking about real life ups and downs :)

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• AM

  @amityboy14mo · 10 months ago

  Thank you for sharing this Jon!!! I will be hearing back from my dream university in 10 days and I will find out whether I will get my 1st choice in France or 2nd choice in Spain. I&apos;m feeling all sorts of emotions right now but you sharing your experiences really helps me!