I got rejected from Jesus College this morning, but being someone who never expected to be able to apply let alone get anywhere near an interview, I’m still happy with it. The people who get offers are SO SO deserving and I’m proud of anyone who gets one! This video made it much easier to accept a rejection and made me more hopeful about potentially applying again in the future :))
I'm sorry to read that you were not offered a place, but really heartened by your fantastic and positive attitude. I wish you the very best in whatever you pursue for your future. Matt
@@Borisr-cg7kb I’m sorry about that, that’s really got to be difficult. I’m proud you got this far, applying to university in the current climate is such a hard thing to do so you should be proud of yourself no matter what! (But I need to practice what I preach ahah) I wish you luck in your future endeavours whatever you choose to do ☺️
the comments here are so beutiful, it really gives me confidence to continue! I'm writing this two years later (soon to be three) and I will apply next year. If I get in or not doesn't determine who I am of course, but I believe in myself and look forward to my future!
rejected today as a reapplicant and phew...im having a serious headache now because of all the sadness. This video eased my pain. I think now it's time for me to sort out the feeling and doubts abt myself
I got rejected in December (didn't get an interview) which was really tough because I'd spent 2 years building up my application and researching Oxford. I felt like such a failure because everyone else I knew had gotten an interview and my teachers were so confident I'd get one so it felt like even more of a shock that I was stopped at the very first hurdle. For anyone who was rejected recently just know it'll get better and in a few weeks or months you'll feel better about it and be able to see the silver lining; that you will have learned so much and grown as a person through the application process and even though you weren't successful that doesn't mean you failed :)
got rejected from oxford for english a few days ago, and it hurts so bad considering how i poured my heart and soul into the application. i feel like that rejection email just dropped me from the race of the most successful and intelligent people in the world. your video is so helpful and spoke my thoughts, i found myself nodding along! it’s the feeling of not having the validation that i got accepted that feels the most painful, and i feel like i couldn’t prove myself. but i find myself rewatching this video to remind myself that my abilities and personality have not been changed by this rejection, and that I’m still the same person no matter what. i wonder if this rejection will still be a sore spot years later.
Thank you for your comment. I hope you're feeling a bit better. The rejection will only be a sore spot if you allow it to be. You don't need to be defined by this, and indeed you should be immensely proud of your ability to enter the race and be competitive. I wish you all the best.
Still so many Oxford myths prevail, many of the most intelligent and successful people are at other universities, the brand does not dictate how smart you are.
Hi! I was rejected from Cambridge yesterday and I'm still feeling kind of low, especially at the thought of telling the people around me as 99% of them don't unterstand the system and how the whole process works, all they'll hear is that I was rejected by such a prestigious university as Cambridge and that is annoying. On another note, thank you for this video, I really needed it. I am holding an offer to Warwick at the moment (my 2nd choice) and because of my financial situation Cambridge would have been difficult to achieve anyways (I'm an international student and because of Brexit not eligible to any scholarships anymore). So while I am a little sad right now, I know I will be happy wherever I end up and your video has really helped my mindset. Thank you.
Thank you for your comment. I'm pleased to read that the video has been of some help. Warwick University is absolutely spectacular, and I'm sure with your positive mindset that you will achieve amazing things.
I don't go to Oxford but my ex works there and I have visited the university, he always tell me hilarious stories about the students. Since 80% or more get rejected, I honestly don't think it's a big deal if you get rejected or not. I'm someone who completely messed up my undergraduate degree and bummed around being unemployed and in debt for 2 years. Now I'm doing my postgraduate degree, got a graduate job and bought a home all at 25. There's so much more to life than getting into Oxford.
You're welcome. Very best wishes for your future. All of my family are medics, and none of them studied at Oxbridge. They're wonderful doctors, of course!
Green man you will get just as good a training in any of the UK med schools - trust me I had a very successful medical career - just retired - I have to say some of the Oxbridge bods I worked with were good at talking... not so good at medicine
I got the same decision today from Cambridge. It hurts, yeah. But we’ll end up brilliant doctors either way as long as we have the drive and passion for the subject!
@@ayeshaw2486 you're absolutely right. The institution really has very little to do with your qualities as an individual. Indeed there is a case to be made that some people become complacent on admission to Oxbridge and stop pushing themselves to be the best they can be. I wish you the very best with your future which I'm sure is bright indeed.
Rejection is tough for most people. A natural reaction. However, from watching endless Vlogs of Oxford, Cambridge Harvard etc, it became apparent that suitably qualified candidates had been rejected, and lesser able candidates had been offered a place. Admission is often subjective, selection is based on many factors, not always based simply on the criteria you woudl imagine. My advice would be to still apply and see what happens.
UK application process at least evaluate students based on academic performance. There will always be some variations to judge students accurately. But US college application is a complete mess. They stopped demanding any standardized academic records, only Transcript. It is often hard to compare one grade received from one professor to the one next door already, let alone to different schools. US college application ask for detailed information about race, gender, LGBTQ orientation, and write many essays about why this college or this major, why diversity is wonderful and how you will change the world by studying at this college. If you were black or Hispanics, you are at huge advantageous over white and Asian in college application. They want equity. It is utterly depressing to go through US college application.
I got rejected by Keble first time around and now i'm at the WONDERFUL Jesus College, Oxford! I'm personally not embarrassed to admit that because with only about 20% of people getting offers, it's really not that uncommon to get rejected lol. A rejection doesn't say anything about you or your ability to succeed in Oxford, it's more about how you can perform for an admissions test and interview.
I appreciate this video so much. Although I applied to Cambridge, this channel has helped me through every aspect of my application process (especially the interview!). I applied to Oxbridge with the mindset of "I'll try my best and see where it goes". I've spent these past few days stressed and anxious, waiting for my results. This video has calmed my nerves immensely. I'll be hearing about my results in a few weeks but I hope all Oxbridge applicants all the best :)
Just got rejected from E&M at Keble yesterday. I'm super devastated, not only as it was pre-interview, but also as I applied to pure econ elsewhere so I won't really get the chance to study management at uni anymore. Thank you so much for your honesty and supportive words- it's helped me a lot in trying to come to terms with this.
Really needed this right now as the rejection without getting an interview has knocked my confidence a lot. Thank you for making this video, appreciate it big time!
I was rejected pre-interview by Balliol for Physics, after all my friends and teachers saying I had a good chance and that they were really confident in me. For me, it wasn't the fact that I won't be going to Oxford that hurt (there are so many reasons why that course wasn't perfect for me), but more the rejection itself. I felt like I wasn't good enough and I'd somehow failed. Thanks for this video, it really helped
I sincerely hope you no longer feel like you were not good enough or that you had failed. It's great that your friends and teachers have such confidence in you. This suggests that you will be an enormous success, regardless of where you study.
Hey Matthew, thank you for uploading this video! I applied to Oxford for Classics this year, with my goal to get to the interview stage and luckily I managed with 6 interviews!! Although I am very proud to get this point and I applied with the mindset of just seeing how far I can go, recently I have been a little bit more nervous of possibly not being successful, particularly as I will find out the outcome next week; so thank you for reminding me that life does go on regardless of what happens and how there are plenty of other great universities to study at!!
I was rejected by Magdalen College School for sixth form this afternoon, so I’m glad that I was able to find this video. Everything you covered on this video spoke value to me, and I haven’t even done my GCSEs yet! I’m only getting started. I’m thankful that there’s still time for me to improve and honestly, it only fueled me to keep going. The video was truly insightful and I enjoyed it, specifically when you delved into the psychological aspects. Keep going!
Thank you for your comment. I'm so glad the video was helpful. Everybody goes through these set backs, but we so rarely talk about it. Your attitude is absolutely perfect. You will succeed if you stay positive. Best of luck to you!
I was just rejected by Cambridge this morning, and I have to admit it is really dispiriting to receive such an email after putting in so much work. However before sending my application off I had thoughts that I personally don't think I'd enjoy the lifestyle and workload, so really I am actually glad that someone else was offered my place, who would probably thrive there more than I would. Even if, Bristol's been on my mind ever since I applied! This video really helped me come to terms, thank you! :)
I'm glad it was helpful. It is dispiriting, but the work you've put in has not gone to waste. You would've taken an enormous amount out of the experience. Apart from anything, it takes a lot of guts to go through it. I wish you all the best.
I'm sorry to read that. It's difficult to receive those letters. But being part in such a competitive process makes you an exceptional individual. Nothing has changed in that regard.
I really appreciate your honesty in this video, thank you so much. I think it was really good to talk about the psychological effects. At the end of the day, people should be proud to make it this far anyway. I hope anyone reading this knows that as long as you work hard, success will come to you, it doesn't matter if you go to Oxbridge or not :) Good luck everyone!!
I am not even applying to oxford. Nevertheless, i truly enjoyed listening to your perspective. This is very comforting for people who feel that they need to prove themselves in order to belong in this world. Thanks
Thank u so much for this video. I have been looking forward to the result literally after the interviews. Looking back to the whole application for Oxford, it’s been a great excitement and surprise. Honestly I was so hesitant and unsure about applying until I actually did, and was rather surprised to find myself shortlisted - I didn’t even know I would apply to such a great uni. I was just starting to get nervous realising that the result will come out next week then I saw ur video. It is really helpful! And all the bests for everyone who is also waiting for the result! Hope to see you at Oxford (or Cambridge if that’s the uni u applied)
Thank you so much for this video, I was just rejected by Cambridge it’s honestly so helpful to hear an outside perspective when you automatically start doubting yourself. I applied because I really thought I would be suited to the course and university, and I thought it was the right place for me, so it’s hard to have to reevaluate myself in some ways. I currently don’t have any offers, so it is hard to stay positive as this application process has not gone how I expected, but I just have to hope that something different comes my way and that it all works out in the end. I will definitely be trying to take your advice, and use this to spur me on to keep working hard.
I wish you the very best. It's a difficult time, but it's important to stay as positive as possible. And, seek help from those around you if you need it.
I've just done my first interview for law at Oxford and have another tomorrow and am so scared of rejection even though i haven't even completed the interview process! I am preparing myself for both the best and the worst and am going to try and remain calm, thanks so much for the video! ❤
Best wishes to you. Remember that the admissions process does not affect your self-worth (unless you allow it to do so). The odds for admission to law are long. Even being invited to interview is an extraordinary achievement.
This video was recommended as I was applying for a PhDs and I watched it and it gave me great perspective. Just got word this morning that my Cambridge application was unsuccessful and came back to watch it again. Going into applications being reminded that rejection doesn't change my self-worth or affect my ability to succeed in the future is such useful advice. A part of academia is rejection and overcoming the shame we feel, even thought we shouldn't. So thank you for this video
My son rejected both Oxford and Cambridge as they couldn't offer him the academic route he wanted by combining maths and linguistics. They were most put out and quite shirty. York gave him what he wanted and he ended up with a first, a masters and now has 2 doctorates in aspects of computational psycholinguistics. Oxbridge isn't everything.
I was extremely close to not applying this year simply because I feared rejection during a very difficult time in my life. But I went for it and got rejected by jesus college yesterday. Fortunately I was offered a place at st cathrines college. Point being that you shouldn’t refrain from applying because of fear of rejection as you never know what could happen. Also thankyou for all the work you do matt your honesty and kindness is very inspiring.
Hi Matt, thank you so much for this video! I can't even put into words how much it has helped me. I was rejected before interviews and have been pushing the feeling down ever since... I needed to hear that it doesn't define me, even though it might feel like that right now. I hope to be reapplying next year, or for a postgraduate, or never (who knows?). But again, thank you. I think it's time for me to face this feeling and try to make it into something better. I hope you have a lovely day :)
What a thoughtful video. Thank you. My daughter is caught up in a post-A level Oxbridge results fallout and this is a great reminder about what defines our worth.
I saw this a few days late but this has set my mind at ease. I received a rejection from Hertford for Computer Science on the 12th and was devastated since I thought everything had gone extremely well. It had always been my dream to study at Oxford but now I'm planning on going somewhere else and applying again for a masters!
I have been watching your videos throughout the application process. First on the TSA, then for the interview practice. Unfortunately, I was rejected but I would like thank you for your videos (they are incredibly useful). Overall, despite the decision I must say that the admission process itself allows you to engage with your subject/subjects in a very rewarding way. I’m sure that the people offered will thrive there and I am confident that I’ll be able to thrive someplace else (or maybe reapply who knows !)
Thank you for your video! I just received a Cambridge rejection today and this explained some of the feelings perfectly. Feeling slightly devastated that in some sense it's over and I won't study there but hopefully I can look back at this and see it was just a part of the journey to something great, just different.
Thank you for your comment. I'm sure you will look back on this as part of something better. It's no doubt painful now, but the pain will certainly pass. Best wishes to you for the future.
Thank you for making this video and every other video! These have been immensely helpful in my entire application process, and I am now waiting on results after my interview. I am watching this exactly 1 year after the vid was released and 7 days before the results are released, and the part about letting the university define me really stuck. I feel like I am aiming, not perhaps out of my reach, but only looking at top universities while applying not because I think I would value the education, but for the name and the prestige because I want to attach value to myself. As an international student, I shouldn't be banking on oxford that much, but I have basically given up on all my US applications and Oxford is pretty much my best shot at a "really top school". I didn't do that well in the interview, and I think that I will be rejected, so this video was nice to watch to prepare.
whatever happens on the 12th, thanks so much for making this video series. this process has taught me a lot about myself and really solidified my desire to pursue my course
Hey Dr Williams! Thank you so much for all the videos you’ve produced. From the insight on a good personal statement, to the TSA and interview prep you’ve been incredibly helpful. I was fortunate enough to make it to the interview stage for PPE at St. John’s, and I honesty believe a large part of my success was due to your help. Whatever happens next week, I would like to offer my sincere gratitude for all you have done!
Just got rejected from Mansfield for PPE without interview. Feel pretty disappointed, I really put my all into it and felt good about it! But alas, it seems my application just wasn’t quite there. Still, I think I’m okay with it! Since I was applying from the US, the whole Oxford application process was actually quite a great challenge and I’m proud of how much I learned from it. I read and thought about my subjects outside of school, challenged myself to take harder classes, and forced myself to work harder at exams which ultimately paid off with good grades. I know I’m not a reject and that I’ll do great wherever I go to school next year!!
Same honestly, I didn’t do really well for my interviews at Mansfield too and expecting a rejection. But I agree it will definitely be a learning experience Thank you
My daughter got rejected from Oxford as an international student, but went to UCL for BA and LSE for MS. You just learn how to learn in universities, nothing more. The most important thing is to dedicate yourself into learning all the time. This will bring more success rather than brand. UK admission process is quite subjective similar to soviet system. Uni admission might be centralised if GCSE and A-level exams are centralised. No system is perfect, but the British admissions system is almost abysmal. There is only one reason for the massive influx of international students to UK and US universities, and that is language. It should be understood that British universities are primarily for British people. Therefore, admission of foreign students should be based on strict quota. If the selection is competitive, applying should not be easy. How true it is to create huge hopes inside youngsters children, make them to prepare for 2-3 years and then make 85 percent of the applicants gutted. There is no need to put people under your feet and rise.This is my subjective opinion.
This video makes real sense and it makes me feel less pressured to get in when I apply next year. Although the same can’t be said about family pressure (my parents are both PhDs, my cousin got into Cambridge, another into Harvard, etc). That’s what I’m the most afraid of really.
I come from a very academic family as well, and put a lot of pressure on myself as a consequence. It's difficult to manage that sort of pressure. But, in my experience of people that have secured places at universities like Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard and so on, they usually are fully aware that there is a lot of good fortune as well as hard work involved. They typically don't think less of people that have not been able to secure places there. That would certainly be my attitude if either of my kids wanted to try and apply for Oxford. I wouldn't think any less of them if they didn't get in.
Thank you for sharing this video and for changing my perspective. Today I was pooled by St John's College in Cambridge but ultimately I ended up not getting an offer. I'm very disappointed with the outcome as I grew really attached to the college and the university, but I'm trying to stay positive nonetheless. Hopefully I can look back on this day later in life and realize that it all turned out fine anyway.
Thank you for your comment. It's really important to look with positivity to the future. Even making a competitive application to a university like Cambridge is an enormous achievement that you mustn't downplay.
Hi Dr Williams, I just wanted to say that I really enjoy your videos. I got rejected by Christ Church for PPE two days ago, but this video made me feel a lot better. I’m taking solace in the fact that I managed to go as far as getting an interview. I really enjoyed my interviews and the whole process, so I don’t see any of this as a sunk cost. Hopefully this won’t be the end of my story with Oxford, I’ve decided that I am going to apply there for my postgraduate studies. Thank you for your amazing content! :)
I got rejected yesterday, which i expected because id handled my entrance exam poorly and panicked on my interviews. I guess im still in a sense of disbelief that the long wait is over and that unfortunately it was unsuccessful. I just hope in that whatever i decide to do whether it be to study elsewhere or reapply that i become a better academic during the process
Thank you for your comment. I'm sorry to read that you were not offered a place. All I would say is that you don't need to hope that you will become a better academic. It will happen if you want it to.
This video helped me alot when i got my rejection for undergrad. Luckily getting rejected gave me the motivation to reapply and now ive got into cambridge for masters!
There's absolutely no shame in getting rejected from Oxford. People look at me funny when they say I applied😂😩. The fact that we are in this comment section means we care about university and succeeding. See you at the top!
Now it's the end of the applications process, I wanted to thank you for your videos, Dr Williams. They've given me a much better understanding of the applications process, but beyond that they've also really helped my confidence. I didn't have anyone to ask, particularly, but your videos made the process seem much more transparent and less intimidating. (Especially the ones on the TSA, they were fantastic.) Thank you for such stellar work!
As an A level maths tutor in the private sector, I can say that many students from outside the UK want to apply to Oxford to satisfy their parents who have paid for an expensive education. Unfortunately, most have average ability. Personally, I didn't apply to Oxbridge. I did theoretical physics at Hull University, and it hasn't stopped me publishing academic physics books and books of popular logic puzzles with major publishers. Anyway, in the last analysis I think we all teach ourselves. Perhaps a good teacher can present the material in an ordered manner but in the end we still need to organise it in our own minds and put in the hours to master the material. In that sense, an Oxbrige undergraduate degree would have been little advantage to me over the one I did at Hull.
Success is relative. I have heard that students with straight As have still been rejected from these prestigious institutions. You are absolutely right re: the psychology and the psych. This does have a negative impact on mental health. But as you mention that sometimes it's just not possible to accept all the top grade students. Again it's all about relativity. Some with 'lower' grades have still gone on to university and are successful.
Thanks for this video. Just got rejected from Magdalen college today and feel quite devastated. I think It is definitely me putting pressure on myself and trying to validate myself through prestigious universities. I really, really appreciate it. I don't know whether to apply again.. I know that Oxford are very particular and during the interview process they try to determine whether you're a good match for the uni or not. I thought interview went quite well though. Anyway let me know if you think reapplying is always a good idea or if you think some people just aren't right for Oxford.
I'm sorry to read that you were not offered a place. If you were invited to interview, then you were considered to be a viable Oxford student. Whether to reapply, however, is an entirely personal choice. I decided not to reapply to Cambridge when I was rejected, because I wanted to get on with uni. You may feel differently, but bear in mind that if you reapply there's no guarantee of success the next time around.
Thank you for this video, I really needed to hear those words :) I am currently applying to an MSc at Oxford but I believe I am prepared to face rejection. As you said, a rejection does not change my current abilities. If I get rejected, it just means that my current self is not compatible with Oxford and that is okay. I believe in my abilities and talents regardless of whether I get accepted to Oxford or not (although I will still feel kind of sad about it if I do get rejected haha)
I'm waiting for the interview replies at the moment. I applied for PPE and I felt I just had a bad run when I sat the TSA, probably nerves made me panic so I've been trying to settle myself for the email. This channel has been amazing help while I applied and now its a comfortable reassurance if this hasn't worked out for me. I would love to go and I have always aspired to it as my dad went to Mansfield but if its not to be then its not to be. Thank you very much for all the advice you have provided Matt both here and the Seren network you have helped tremendously. The work you have done for the Seren Network has given a lot of people the motivation they needed to push for the top unis like Oxford, please keep it up
What was more difficult than the rejection itself, was the fact that I did not know, did not understand why :( I did not receive any feedback and it made me feel miserable, ridiculous and worthless. It still hunts me today, although it happened couple years ago...
I understand that. I also never received feedback from my rejections. Part of the issue is that feedback is fairly meaningless without info on the other applicants, which we cannot divulge. It is highly unlikely that you did anything wrong/badly, but that the other applicants did marginally better on very specific aspects of the admissions tests. In other words, you're still an exceptional individual, but the nature of the admissions assessments favoured the competition ever so slightly.
Wow. Extraordinarily powerful words precisely because they come from the heart and contain truth. It shows what power a word can have when it contains intelligence, honesty, and truth. And Dr Williams' words have just convinced me why I -- despite being an old mature student who received a rejection letter this year -- should apply again and be in this great environment!
already mentally preparing for my Cambridge rejection in January. my interview went terribly. got too nervous even though I had the tools to answer the question.
Honestly, I do apply to Oxbridge. I am a good student. I like to study. But, the atmosphere there is slightly unhealthy. Interesting people, etc., but very much stress. It should not be a goal of your life at all. I also apply to London and consider only living in Cambridge during my Ph.D., not studying there... Of course, I will accept the offer, if it should happen. But my mental health costs much more...And even now I say to myself, I will transfer, should I be depressed there (have heard horror stories).
Fantastic and very important video. Huge respect to Mr. Williams for his openness and honesty which will go a very long way to help many people. This can also apply to any other application at other universities and in other fields. I'd have loved tutors like him back in my day!!! This really should be made more widely known and / or expanded and released in other forms to a wider audience. Maybe even encourage schools and businesses to have a look at this as it could be a great help to many young (and not-so-young) people.
Thank you so much for all your help throughout this process, you're actually the reason why I finally decided to apply to Jesus (and subsequently got interviewed there too!) Hopefully will have good news coming my way on the 12th, statistically not though. Thank you so much!!
Such a great video. I do believe myself that it is so important to know that a university rejection does not change you materially or mean that you love your subject any less. I am so grateful for Oxford because attending an outreach event helped me discover the subject I love and gave me the nudge to pursue it instead of applying to medicine or a pure science just because everyone else around me was doing it. I am especially grateful to the earth science department for the excellent lectures delivered on the Physical Sciences Day at Univ that gave me the courage to pursue the earth sciences despite of what everyone around me said or was doing. It's been about a year since then and somehow I was given the opportunity to sit the interviews and regardless of the outcome this week, I can proudly say that I have learned so much about myself through the application process and grown to love my subject even more. It wouldn't have been possible without the outreach event that reminded me how I should pursue the subject that truly excited me. I wish you all awaiting decisions too, all the very best in your fields regardless of whether you'll be pursuing them at Oxford or another university : )
Dr.Williams your videos are thoroughly appreciated! I was fortunate to receive an interview for Human Science and I LOVED the entire application process - from the personal statement, TSA to the interview. Your help has been amazing.
Thank you for your video. I recently studied at Oxford as an adult learner, and am considering a post-grad Msc next, and realise it will be very challenging. Whether I am successful or not, I will be proud either way.
WOW!!! Thanks so much!!! I just applied to Oxford and this is just what I need to hear. As to what comes of my application, we will see, but this is valuable life advise in general :)
cheers these videos are very helpful and I have found using them great with my personal university applications this year. Have a great 2021 and good luck to anyone who may have also been applying for university this year :)
Hi Matt, thank you so much for making this amazing video!!!! As an 2022 applicant who has been anxiously waiting for decision day to come, this video is such a lifesaver!
I am 14 now and I see oxford as an comfortable place to study. I might apply to it when I am 16 to 18, which means I have much time to prepare. I see this video to remind myself there's still possibility I got rejected although I prepare for 2 years or more. I hope I won't get rejected and I can continue my studying there. I wish myself the best. ~ Ken
I can understand that. I too was devastated by being rejected by Cambridge. But, with the benefit of hindsight, I'm now convinced that it's one of the best things that ever happened to me. It spurred me on to work harder, and deepen my skills and knowledge. If I had been admitted to Cambridge at 17, who knows, but I may have just taken my foot off the pedal and not fully explored my love of politics. Very best wishes to you. Give yourself some time to heal, and then show them that they made a mistake!
I studied at Cambridge in the 1990s….and I honestly feel the selection process was and must still be rather random. While he says the process is as fair as possible there just aren’t enough places for all the good candidates… I ended up hating my degree and got a 2:2 - so I know I took the place of someone who’d have benefitted more. I think I worked too hard to get in and couldn’t sustain it/should have taken a gap year. Anyhow not getting in shouldn’t be seen as a rejection when luck plays a big part in whole process especially now given all international competition as well.
I get my decision for Maths and Philosophy in two days. During the waiting period I’ve found it helpful to think about my subjects, and remember why I want to do them, rather than Oxford.
This is an amazing video. thank you so much for sharing your experience on the other side of the application .. and for the insight you are sharing here .. I can tell that you've put so much thought into this and it honestly soothed my fears and anxieties today 👍🏼
rejected today by Bristol today. now waiting for a decision from Oxford. A million thanks to this video. Thank you for preparing me for any impending eventualities. I will not give up anytime soon
Great video. I teach secondary and university STEM, and I like to think of university applications as opportunities, all educational opportunities are better than nothing (including receiving only rejection letters and doing self study until you are ready). The university system (along with business and life in general) is all about trying for something you want. If the examiners don't think you're quite ready, you go away, work hard somewhere else (or perhaps on your own), then apply again when you are a little better.
As an applicant, I really appreciate this! Thanks so much for the video, as well as all of your helpful content about the application process as a whole :)
I was rejected from Queen's college yesterday and I reacted in a way I didn't even know I had within myself. I was devastated and realised that for me it really was an egotistical safety net - in terms of how I viewed my own intelligence and capabilities. Thank you for making this video, it's helped me to alleviate the shame Im feeling and have the confidence to move on to other things.
Give yourself some time to heal. Make sure you're kind to yourself as well. It's completely understandable to feel devastated. But you can grow back stronger from this. I've seen some examples where being admitted to universities like Oxford at a young age is more of a curse than a blessing. This is because some people lose the struggle in their life and dampen their fire to achieve. They feel that they have already achieved everything they need to in life simply by being admitted to a prestigious university and they take their foot completely off the gas. Feeling a need to keep striving can mean you go on to achieve more.
The analysis about individual will on terms of the psychological reaction is similar to existentialism by Sartre to a certain degree when I think of it.
Thank you so much for sharing all of this, especially some of the more personal things! I got rejected pre-interview unfortunately which I guess in a way was expected because my TSA’s were never outstanding, only ever close to it. (66-69points) I was really excited to potentially have an interview but it just wasn’t meant to be! Would you recommend reapplying to Oxford in my first year of University? Will it damage my chances? (I know that I would have to restart from Year One again). Can my TSA really ever break through that ceiling into the 70’s? Many thanks
You can reapply in the first year of university, but you may find that putting your energy into your degree will be more profitable. It's a very personal decision, so I can't give specific advice. It won't damage your chances if you do apply. Yes, I believe that with practice it is possible for most people to improve their TSA results. There is a likely ceiling beyond which some people will not be able to advance, but I think most people can go further than they realise. Best wishes, Matt
Hey Matthew thanks for the video! Amazing analysis. My only addition is that all who apply at this kind of unis (including me back in the day) are competitive themselves; so the argument of "there is limited place we cannot have you, all you super intelligent individuals" that rejections letters include has no real meaning: why her/him/them and not me? I feel and most probably I am (in my competitive mind) better than this 80-90% of the applicants. So you are gonna get angry and admit that yeah someone is playing with a fan and randomly selects a CV around the room of the 20-30 candidades still standing at the end. This is also connected to self-esteem of course but I will avoid a long comment. (for those who may read this I am not bitter or anything I had been admitted to a post-grad degree at a top uni but also it didnt really matter at the end - only gave me a better professional network (and an awesome huge library to be fair) so dont sweat about it). Thanks again for the video you are amazing!
I wish I'd had this video when I was dealing with my Oxford rejection! Thank you for the shoutout :)
Plz apply again Jack🥺❤️ 3rd time the charm? Just like him^^ I really do see u getting into Oxford x
Pleasure Jack. Your channel is fantastic and will have helped thousands of students. Keep it up!
That's a great point Jack! Raza =)
who is this video for? failed applicants or public self councellng for an academic?
@@newhailes why so rude?
I got rejected from Jesus College this morning, but being someone who never expected to be able to apply let alone get anywhere near an interview, I’m still happy with it. The people who get offers are SO SO deserving and I’m proud of anyone who gets one! This video made it much easier to accept a rejection and made me more hopeful about potentially applying again in the future :))
I'm sorry to read that you were not offered a place, but really heartened by your fantastic and positive attitude. I wish you the very best in whatever you pursue for your future. Matt
Don’t worry pal, your pain is shared by many, I too got rejected by Pembroke today. Onwards and upwards!
@@Borisr-cg7kb I’m sorry about that, that’s really got to be difficult. I’m proud you got this far, applying to university in the current climate is such a hard thing to do so you should be proud of yourself no matter what! (But I need to practice what I preach ahah) I wish you luck in your future endeavours whatever you choose to do ☺️
@@arthurjones1991 I wish you the best of luck too !
the comments here are so beutiful, it really gives me confidence to continue! I'm writing this two years later (soon to be three) and I will apply next year. If I get in or not doesn't determine who I am of course, but I believe in myself and look forward to my future!
rejected today as a reapplicant and phew...im having a serious headache now because of all the sadness. This video eased my pain. I think now it's time for me to sort out the feeling and doubts abt myself
I wish you all the best. It is painful being rejected, and it's okay to feel the pain. With time the pain will subside and you can grow back stronger
@@JesusCollegeOxford1571 Thank you so much for making this video. Perhaps i should apply for Jesus college's master programme Lol
I got rejected in December (didn't get an interview) which was really tough because I'd spent 2 years building up my application and researching Oxford. I felt like such a failure because everyone else I knew had gotten an interview and my teachers were so confident I'd get one so it felt like even more of a shock that I was stopped at the very first hurdle. For anyone who was rejected recently just know it'll get better and in a few weeks or months you'll feel better about it and be able to see the silver lining; that you will have learned so much and grown as a person through the application process and even though you weren't successful that doesn't mean you failed :)
Thank you for sharing. You're absolutely right in this.
wow two years! I'm planning for oxford except in reverse because I would like to enroll in 2025/2026! How did things turn out for you?
did you reapply for the second admission? thanks for sharing your thoughts by the way, it's nice
got rejected from oxford for english a few days ago, and it hurts so bad considering how i poured my heart and soul into the application. i feel like that rejection email just dropped me from the race of the most successful and intelligent people in the world. your video is so helpful and spoke my thoughts, i found myself nodding along! it’s the feeling of not having the validation that i got accepted that feels the most painful, and i feel like i couldn’t prove myself. but i find myself rewatching this video to remind myself that my abilities and personality have not been changed by this rejection, and that I’m still the same person no matter what. i wonder if this rejection will still be a sore spot years later.
same, was rejected too but as the days go on it doesn’t effect me as much. Cliche, but time heals everything 🤍
Thank you for your comment. I hope you're feeling a bit better. The rejection will only be a sore spot if you allow it to be. You don't need to be defined by this, and indeed you should be immensely proud of your ability to enter the race and be competitive. I wish you all the best.
Still so many Oxford myths prevail, many of the most intelligent and successful people are at other universities, the brand does not dictate how smart you are.
Hi! I was rejected from Cambridge yesterday and I'm still feeling kind of low, especially at the thought of telling the people around me as 99% of them don't unterstand the system and how the whole process works, all they'll hear is that I was rejected by such a prestigious university as Cambridge and that is annoying. On another note, thank you for this video, I really needed it. I am holding an offer to Warwick at the moment (my 2nd choice) and because of my financial situation Cambridge would have been difficult to achieve anyways (I'm an international student and because of Brexit not eligible to any scholarships anymore). So while I am a little sad right now, I know I will be happy wherever I end up and your video has really helped my mindset. Thank you.
Thank you for your comment. I'm pleased to read that the video has been of some help. Warwick University is absolutely spectacular, and I'm sure with your positive mindset that you will achieve amazing things.
I don't go to Oxford but my ex works there and I have visited the university, he always tell me hilarious stories about the students. Since 80% or more get rejected, I honestly don't think it's a big deal if you get rejected or not. I'm someone who completely messed up my undergraduate degree and bummed around being unemployed and in debt for 2 years. Now I'm doing my postgraduate degree, got a graduate job and bought a home all at 25. There's so much more to life than getting into Oxford.
I just got rejected for medicine, thank you for this video.
You're welcome. Very best wishes for your future. All of my family are medics, and none of them studied at Oxbridge. They're wonderful doctors, of course!
Green man you will get just as good a training in any of the UK med schools - trust me I had a very successful medical career - just retired - I have to say some of the Oxbridge bods I worked with were good at talking... not so good at medicine
I got the same decision today from Cambridge. It hurts, yeah. But we’ll end up brilliant doctors either way as long as we have the drive and passion for the subject!
@@ayeshaw2486 you're absolutely right. The institution really has very little to do with your qualities as an individual. Indeed there is a case to be made that some people become complacent on admission to Oxbridge and stop pushing themselves to be the best they can be. I wish you the very best with your future which I'm sure is bright indeed.
Rejection is tough for most people. A natural reaction. However, from watching endless Vlogs of Oxford, Cambridge Harvard etc, it became apparent that suitably qualified candidates had been rejected, and lesser able candidates had been offered a place. Admission is often subjective, selection is based on many factors, not always based simply on the criteria you woudl imagine. My advice would be to still apply and see what happens.
That's good advice. Many thanks!
UK application process at least evaluate students based on academic performance. There will always be some variations to judge students accurately. But US college application is a complete mess. They stopped demanding any standardized academic records, only Transcript. It is often hard to compare one grade received from one professor to the one next door already, let alone to different schools.
US college application ask for detailed information about race, gender, LGBTQ orientation, and write many essays about why this college or this major, why diversity is wonderful and how you will change the world by studying at this college. If you were black or Hispanics, you are at huge advantageous over white and Asian in college application. They want equity. It is utterly depressing to go through US college application.
I got rejected by Keble first time around and now i'm at the WONDERFUL Jesus College, Oxford! I'm personally not embarrassed to admit that because with only about 20% of people getting offers, it's really not that uncommon to get rejected lol.
A rejection doesn't say anything about you or your ability to succeed in Oxford, it's more about how you can perform for an admissions test and interview.
I look forward to meeting you! Thank you
those are rookie numbers mate - I just got into Oxford on my fifth try!
dobbo from tsr?? congrats lol
@@Jennifer-mz7lm yep
dude awesome :)
Which subject are you studying? At which level
LOL! You're a Pro. K 😃
I really appreciate this video that it makes me less nervous waiting for the result😁
Good to know. Best of luck!
good luck to u !
Back on January 12th, didn’t make it to Oxford, but this journey still makes me learned a lot, and an important one is to accept failure.😊☀️
find out on the 12th Jan good luck everyone .
Good luck!
Good luck!
Good luck!
Good luck :)
good luck !
Ahhhhhhhh I got the notification for this and thought it was the real thing and panicked
Haha imagine if the subject of the rejection email was 'Oxford REJECTION !'
@@maisie5511 don't tempt fate maisie
@@oscarswire9696 Oxford gods shut your eyes
I appreciate this video so much. Although I applied to Cambridge, this channel has helped me through every aspect of my application process (especially the interview!).
I applied to Oxbridge with the mindset of "I'll try my best and see where it goes". I've spent these past few days stressed and anxious, waiting for my results. This video has calmed my nerves immensely. I'll be hearing about my results in a few weeks but I hope all Oxbridge applicants all the best :)
I'm glad this video has been helpful. Best of luck!
Hi there! Well said and I also applied for Cambridge this year. Good luck with your application!
Just got rejected from E&M at Keble yesterday. I'm super devastated, not only as it was pre-interview, but also as I applied to pure econ elsewhere so I won't really get the chance to study management at uni anymore. Thank you so much for your honesty and supportive words- it's helped me a lot in trying to come to terms with this.
I'm sorry to read that. I wish you all the best.
Really needed this right now as the rejection without getting an interview has knocked my confidence a lot. Thank you for making this video, appreciate it big time!
You're very welcome. I hope you're feeling better.
two years later and I still feel so awful and pained. It’s changed my confidence in myself permanently
I was rejected pre-interview by Balliol for Physics, after all my friends and teachers saying I had a good chance and that they were really confident in me. For me, it wasn't the fact that I won't be going to Oxford that hurt (there are so many reasons why that course wasn't perfect for me), but more the rejection itself. I felt like I wasn't good enough and I'd somehow failed. Thanks for this video, it really helped
I sincerely hope you no longer feel like you were not good enough or that you had failed. It's great that your friends and teachers have such confidence in you. This suggests that you will be an enormous success, regardless of where you study.
Hey Matthew, thank you for uploading this video!
I applied to Oxford for Classics this year, with my goal to get to the interview stage and luckily I managed with 6 interviews!!
Although I am very proud to get this point and I applied with the mindset of just seeing how far I can go, recently I have been a little bit more nervous of possibly not being successful, particularly as I will find out the outcome next week; so thank you for reminding me that life does go on regardless of what happens and how there are plenty of other great universities to study at!!
That's it. Whatever happens, you've achieved amazing things already. Good luck!
Thank you so much for your best wishes! I would like to let you know that I found out today that I have been offered a place at St Hilda’s College!
@@arianita9703 congratulations!
@@arianita9703 congratulations 🎉
Thank you all so much!! Xx
I was rejected by Magdalen College School for sixth form this afternoon, so I’m glad that I was able to find this video. Everything you covered on this video spoke value to me, and I haven’t even done my GCSEs yet! I’m only getting started. I’m thankful that there’s still time for me to improve and honestly, it only fueled me to keep going. The video was truly insightful and I enjoyed it, specifically when you delved into the psychological aspects. Keep going!
Thank you for your comment. I'm so glad the video was helpful. Everybody goes through these set backs, but we so rarely talk about it. Your attitude is absolutely perfect. You will succeed if you stay positive. Best of luck to you!
I was just rejected by Cambridge this morning, and I have to admit it is really dispiriting to receive such an email after putting in so much work. However before sending my application off I had thoughts that I personally don't think I'd enjoy the lifestyle and workload, so really I am actually glad that someone else was offered my place, who would probably thrive there more than I would. Even if, Bristol's been on my mind ever since I applied! This video really helped me come to terms, thank you! :)
I'm glad it was helpful. It is dispiriting, but the work you've put in has not gone to waste. You would've taken an enormous amount out of the experience. Apart from anything, it takes a lot of guts to go through it.
I wish you all the best.
Just received my rejection letter an hour ago and came straight here, very helpful and reminded me that its not the end of the world, thank you:)
I'm sorry to read that. It's difficult to receive those letters. But being part in such a competitive process makes you an exceptional individual. Nothing has changed in that regard.
I really appreciate your honesty in this video, thank you so much. I think it was really good to talk about the psychological effects. At the end of the day, people should be proud to make it this far anyway. I hope anyone reading this knows that as long as you work hard, success will come to you, it doesn't matter if you go to Oxbridge or not :) Good luck everyone!!
Very well said!
I am not even applying to oxford. Nevertheless, i truly enjoyed listening to your perspective. This is very comforting for people who feel that they need to prove themselves in order to belong in this world. Thanks
Thank you. That's very kind of you!
Thank u so much for this video. I have been looking forward to the result literally after the interviews. Looking back to the whole application for Oxford, it’s been a great excitement and surprise. Honestly I was so hesitant and unsure about applying until I actually did, and was rather surprised to find myself shortlisted - I didn’t even know I would apply to such a great uni. I was just starting to get nervous realising that the result will come out next week then I saw ur video. It is really helpful! And all the bests for everyone who is also waiting for the result! Hope to see you at Oxford (or Cambridge if that’s the uni u applied)
Thank you so much for this video, I was just rejected by Cambridge it’s honestly so helpful to hear an outside perspective when you automatically start doubting yourself. I applied because I really thought I would be suited to the course and university, and I thought it was the right place for me, so it’s hard to have to reevaluate myself in some ways. I currently don’t have any offers, so it is hard to stay positive as this application process has not gone how I expected, but I just have to hope that something different comes my way and that it all works out in the end. I will definitely be trying to take your advice, and use this to spur me on to keep working hard.
I wish you the very best. It's a difficult time, but it's important to stay as positive as possible. And, seek help from those around you if you need it.
I've just done my first interview for law at Oxford and have another tomorrow and am so scared of rejection even though i haven't even completed the interview process!
I am preparing myself for both the best and the worst and am going to try and remain calm, thanks so much for the video! ❤
Best wishes to you. Remember that the admissions process does not affect your self-worth (unless you allow it to do so). The odds for admission to law are long. Even being invited to interview is an extraordinary achievement.
same here! first interview was fine, but the second…oh :(
This video was recommended as I was applying for a PhDs and I watched it and it gave me great perspective. Just got word this morning that my Cambridge application was unsuccessful and came back to watch it again. Going into applications being reminded that rejection doesn't change my self-worth or affect my ability to succeed in the future is such useful advice. A part of academia is rejection and overcoming the shame we feel, even thought we shouldn't. So thank you for this video
Absolutely agree. Thank you for your kind comments. All best wishes to you.
My son rejected both Oxford and Cambridge as they couldn't offer him the academic route he wanted by combining maths and linguistics. They were most put out and quite shirty. York gave him what he wanted and he ended up with a first, a masters and now has 2 doctorates in aspects of computational psycholinguistics. Oxbridge isn't everything.
Absolutely.
I was extremely close to not applying this year simply because I feared rejection during a very difficult time in my life. But I went for it and got rejected by jesus college yesterday. Fortunately I was offered a place at st cathrines college. Point being that you shouldn’t refrain from applying because of fear of rejection as you never know what could happen. Also thankyou for all the work you do matt your honesty and kindness is very inspiring.
Congratulations on your place! Thank you for your kind words.
Hi Matt, thank you so much for this video! I can't even put into words how much it has helped me. I was rejected before interviews and have been pushing the feeling down ever since... I needed to hear that it doesn't define me, even though it might feel like that right now. I hope to be reapplying next year, or for a postgraduate, or never (who knows?). But again, thank you. I think it's time for me to face this feeling and try to make it into something better. I hope you have a lovely day :)
I'm very glad the video has been of some help. All best wishes for your future
What a thoughtful video. Thank you. My daughter is caught up in a post-A level Oxbridge results fallout and this is a great reminder about what defines our worth.
Thank you. I really appreciate your comment. All best wishes to you and your daughter.
I saw this a few days late but this has set my mind at ease. I received a rejection from Hertford for Computer Science on the 12th and was devastated since I thought everything had gone extremely well. It had always been my dream to study at Oxford but now I'm planning on going somewhere else and applying again for a masters!
All best wishes to you. Thank you for the comment
I have been watching your videos throughout the application process. First on the TSA, then for the interview practice. Unfortunately, I was rejected but I would like thank you for your videos (they are incredibly useful). Overall, despite the decision I must say that the admission process itself allows you to engage with your subject/subjects in a very rewarding way. I’m sure that the people offered will thrive there and I am confident that I’ll be able to thrive someplace else (or maybe reapply who knows !)
Thank you for your kind words. I wish you all the very best in your future, which I'm sure is bright indeed.
Thank you for your video! I just received a Cambridge rejection today and this explained some of the feelings perfectly. Feeling slightly devastated that in some sense it's over and I won't study there but hopefully I can look back at this and see it was just a part of the journey to something great, just different.
Thank you for your comment. I'm sure you will look back on this as part of something better. It's no doubt painful now, but the pain will certainly pass. Best wishes to you for the future.
If you truly 'deserve' to go to a good university as such, you do not need such university to do great things
Absolutely right
really grateful for this video. Really helps to calm our nerves before the special date. Wish everyone best of luck:)
Thank you for making this video and every other video! These have been immensely helpful in my entire application process, and I am now waiting on results after my interview.
I am watching this exactly 1 year after the vid was released and 7 days before the results are released, and the part about letting the university define me really stuck. I feel like I am aiming, not perhaps out of my reach, but only looking at top universities while applying not because I think I would value the education, but for the name and the prestige because I want to attach value to myself. As an international student, I shouldn't be banking on oxford that much, but I have basically given up on all my US applications and Oxford is pretty much my best shot at a "really top school". I didn't do that well in the interview, and I think that I will be rejected, so this video was nice to watch to prepare.
whatever happens on the 12th, thanks so much for making this video series. this process has taught me a lot about myself and really solidified my desire to pursue my course
You are so welcome!
I absolutely agree!!!! I have learned so much.
Hey Dr Williams! Thank you so much for all the videos you’ve produced.
From the insight on a good personal statement, to the TSA and interview prep you’ve been incredibly helpful. I was fortunate enough to make it to the interview stage for PPE at St. John’s, and I honesty believe a large part of my success was due to your help.
Whatever happens next week, I would like to offer my sincere gratitude for all you have done!
You're very welcome. Thank you for your kind message!
How’d it go?
@@krishvids608 Unfortunately didn’t get in :/
But life goes on!
Just got rejected from Mansfield for PPE without interview. Feel pretty disappointed, I really put my all into it and felt good about it! But alas, it seems my application just wasn’t quite there. Still, I think I’m okay with it! Since I was applying from the US, the whole Oxford application process was actually quite a great challenge and I’m proud of how much I learned from it. I read and thought about my subjects outside of school, challenged myself to take harder classes, and forced myself to work harder at exams which ultimately paid off with good grades. I know I’m not a reject and that I’ll do great wherever I go to school next year!!
That's exactly right. You've taken all of the positives from the experience, and you'll grow from it as a result. Best wishes to you.
Same honestly, I didn’t do really well for my interviews at Mansfield too and expecting a rejection.
But I agree it will definitely be a learning experience
Thank you
My daughter got rejected from Oxford as an international student, but went to UCL for BA and LSE for MS. You just learn how to learn in universities, nothing more. The most important thing is to dedicate yourself into learning all the time. This will bring more success rather than brand. UK admission process is quite subjective similar to soviet system. Uni admission might be centralised if GCSE and A-level exams are centralised. No system is perfect, but the British admissions system is almost abysmal. There is only one reason for the massive influx of international students to UK and US universities, and that is language. It should be understood that British universities are primarily for British people. Therefore, admission of foreign students should be based on strict quota. If the selection is competitive, applying should not be easy. How true it is to create huge hopes inside youngsters children, make them to prepare for 2-3 years and then make 85 percent of the applicants gutted. There is no need to put people under your feet and rise.This is my subjective opinion.
This video makes real sense and it makes me feel less pressured to get in when I apply next year. Although the same can’t be said about family pressure (my parents are both PhDs, my cousin got into Cambridge, another into Harvard, etc). That’s what I’m the most afraid of really.
I come from a very academic family as well, and put a lot of pressure on myself as a consequence. It's difficult to manage that sort of pressure. But, in my experience of people that have secured places at universities like Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard and so on, they usually are fully aware that there is a lot of good fortune as well as hard work involved. They typically don't think less of people that have not been able to secure places there. That would certainly be my attitude if either of my kids wanted to try and apply for Oxford. I wouldn't think any less of them if they didn't get in.
Thank you for sharing this video and for changing my perspective. Today I was pooled by St John's College in Cambridge but ultimately I ended up not getting an offer. I'm very disappointed with the outcome as I grew really attached to the college and the university, but I'm trying to stay positive nonetheless. Hopefully I can look back on this day later in life and realize that it all turned out fine anyway.
Thank you for your comment. It's really important to look with positivity to the future. Even making a competitive application to a university like Cambridge is an enormous achievement that you mustn't downplay.
Hi Dr Williams, I just wanted to say that I really enjoy your videos.
I got rejected by Christ Church for PPE two days ago, but this video made me feel a lot better. I’m taking solace in the fact that I managed to go as far as getting an interview. I really enjoyed my interviews and the whole process, so I don’t see any of this as a sunk cost.
Hopefully this won’t be the end of my story with Oxford, I’ve decided that I am going to apply there for my postgraduate studies.
Thank you for your amazing content! :)
Thank you for your comment.
You’ve got such a good attitude, that will serve you well. All best wishes to you.
I got rejected yesterday, which i expected because id handled my entrance exam poorly and panicked on my interviews. I guess im still in a sense of disbelief that the long wait is over and that unfortunately it was unsuccessful. I just hope in that whatever i decide to do whether it be to study elsewhere or reapply that i become a better academic during the process
Thank you for your comment. I'm sorry to read that you were not offered a place. All I would say is that you don't need to hope that you will become a better academic.
It will happen if you want it to.
Jack Edwards yeahhhh
This video helped me alot when i got my rejection for undergrad. Luckily getting rejected gave me the motivation to reapply and now ive got into cambridge for masters!
Excellent -- congratulations!
I wanted to show people I am something. I got rejected today.
There's absolutely no shame in getting rejected from Oxford. People look at me funny when they say I applied😂😩. The fact that we are in this comment section means we care about university and succeeding. See you at the top!
Now it's the end of the applications process, I wanted to thank you for your videos, Dr Williams. They've given me a much better understanding of the applications process, but beyond that they've also really helped my confidence. I didn't have anyone to ask, particularly, but your videos made the process seem much more transparent and less intimidating. (Especially the ones on the TSA, they were fantastic.) Thank you for such stellar work!
You are very welcome! Thank you for your kind message
Thank you so much for your kindness in making this video! It really helps soothe and understand the pain that comes with an Oxford rejection. :)
I'm glad it was helpful. All best wishes, Matt
As an A level maths tutor in the private sector, I can say that many students from outside the UK want to apply to Oxford to satisfy their parents who have paid for an expensive education. Unfortunately, most have average ability. Personally, I didn't apply to Oxbridge. I did theoretical physics at Hull University, and it hasn't stopped me publishing academic physics books and books of popular logic puzzles with major publishers. Anyway, in the last analysis I think we all teach ourselves. Perhaps a good teacher can present the material in an ordered manner but in the end we still need to organise it in our own minds and put in the hours to master the material. In that sense, an Oxbrige undergraduate degree would have been little advantage to me over the one I did at Hull.
Success is relative. I have heard that students with straight As have still been rejected from these prestigious institutions. You are absolutely right re: the psychology and the psych. This does have a negative impact on mental health. But as you mention that sometimes it's just not possible to accept all the top grade students. Again it's all about relativity. Some with 'lower' grades have still gone on to university and are successful.
Well said!
I went to another university with someone with 5a at a level first attempt he was turned down. Chose not to reapply.
The best teacher ever..Thank you so very much
Wow, thank you!
Thanks for this video. Just got rejected from Magdalen college today and feel quite devastated. I think It is definitely me putting pressure on myself and trying to validate myself through prestigious universities. I really, really appreciate it. I don't know whether to apply again.. I know that Oxford are very particular and during the interview process they try to determine whether you're a good match for the uni or not. I thought interview went quite well though. Anyway let me know if you think reapplying is always a good idea or if you think some people just aren't right for Oxford.
I'm sorry to read that you were not offered a place. If you were invited to interview, then you were considered to be a viable Oxford student. Whether to reapply, however, is an entirely personal choice. I decided not to reapply to Cambridge when I was rejected, because I wanted to get on with uni. You may feel differently, but bear in mind that if you reapply there's no guarantee of success the next time around.
Thank you for this video, I really needed to hear those words :)
I am currently applying to an MSc at Oxford but I believe I am prepared to face rejection. As you said, a rejection does not change my current abilities. If I get rejected, it just means that my current self is not compatible with Oxford and that is okay. I believe in my abilities and talents regardless of whether I get accepted to Oxford or not (although I will still feel kind of sad about it if I do get rejected haha)
Thank you for your comment! Best wishes to you
Did you get an interview invitation
@@fatoundiaye4613 The course I applied to normally doesn't include interviews
I'm waiting for the interview replies at the moment. I applied for PPE and I felt I just had a bad run when I sat the TSA, probably nerves made me panic so I've been trying to settle myself for the email. This channel has been amazing help while I applied and now its a comfortable reassurance if this hasn't worked out for me. I would love to go and I have always aspired to it as my dad went to Mansfield but if its not to be then its not to be. Thank you very much for all the advice you have provided Matt both here and the Seren network you have helped tremendously. The work you have done for the Seren Network has given a lot of people the motivation they needed to push for the top unis like Oxford, please keep it up
Thank you for your kind message. Best of luck to you. Whatever happens next, I hope you are proud of everything you've achieved so far.
What was more difficult than the rejection itself, was the fact that I did not know, did not understand why :( I did not receive any feedback and it made me feel miserable, ridiculous and worthless. It still hunts me today, although it happened couple years ago...
I understand that. I also never received feedback from my rejections. Part of the issue is that feedback is fairly meaningless without info on the other applicants, which we cannot divulge. It is highly unlikely that you did anything wrong/badly, but that the other applicants did marginally better on very specific aspects of the admissions tests. In other words, you're still an exceptional individual, but the nature of the admissions assessments favoured the competition ever so slightly.
Wow. Extraordinarily powerful words precisely because they come from the heart and contain truth. It shows what power a word can have when it contains intelligence, honesty, and truth. And Dr Williams' words have just convinced me why I -- despite being an old mature student who received a rejection letter this year -- should apply again and be in this great environment!
Thank you, that's very kind of you. All best wishes
saving this in case I need it in a few months
already mentally preparing for my Cambridge rejection in January. my interview went terribly. got too nervous even though I had the tools to answer the question.
same lmao - messed up some really dumb questiosn
Honestly, I do apply to Oxbridge. I am a good student. I like to study. But, the atmosphere there is slightly unhealthy. Interesting people, etc., but very much stress. It should not be a goal of your life at all. I also apply to London and consider only living in Cambridge during my Ph.D., not studying there... Of course, I will accept the offer, if it should happen. But my mental health costs much more...And even now I say to myself, I will transfer, should I be depressed there (have heard horror stories).
Fantastic and very important video. Huge respect to Mr. Williams for his openness and honesty which will go a very long way to help many people. This can also apply to any other application at other universities and in other fields. I'd have loved tutors like him back in my day!!! This really should be made more widely known and / or expanded and released in other forms to a wider audience. Maybe even encourage schools and businesses to have a look at this as it could be a great help to many young (and not-so-young) people.
That's very kind of you, thank you! Please do share this video with those that might benefit from it.
Thank you so much for all your help throughout this process, you're actually the reason why I finally decided to apply to Jesus (and subsequently got interviewed there too!) Hopefully will have good news coming my way on the 12th, statistically not though. Thank you so much!!
no pressure!
Thank you for your kind comment. Best of luck!
Such a great video. I do believe myself that it is so important to know that a university rejection does not change you materially or mean that you love your subject any less.
I am so grateful for Oxford because attending an outreach event helped me discover the subject I love and gave me the nudge to pursue it instead of applying to medicine or a pure science just because everyone else around me was doing it. I am especially grateful to the earth science department for the excellent lectures delivered on the Physical Sciences Day at Univ that gave me the courage to pursue the earth sciences despite of what everyone around me said or was doing. It's been about a year since then and somehow I was given the opportunity to sit the interviews and regardless of the outcome this week, I can proudly say that I have learned so much about myself through the application process and grown to love my subject even more. It wouldn't have been possible without the outreach event that reminded me how I should pursue the subject that truly excited me. I wish you all awaiting decisions too, all the very best in your fields regardless of whether you'll be pursuing them at Oxford or another university : )
Thank you for your lovely comment. Best wishes to you!
Dr.Williams your videos are thoroughly appreciated! I was fortunate to receive an interview for Human Science and I LOVED the entire application process - from the personal statement, TSA to the interview. Your help has been amazing.
You're very welcome!
Thank you for your video. I recently studied at Oxford as an adult learner, and am considering a post-grad Msc next, and realise it will be very challenging. Whether I am successful or not, I will be proud either way.
Great! Thank you for your comment.
WOW!!! Thanks so much!!! I just applied to Oxford and this is just what I need to hear. As to what comes of my application, we will see, but this is valuable life advise in general :)
Thank you! Best of luck
Great advice. You should do a TedX on the topic of material and psychological rejection
That's very kind of you! Thank you
cheers these videos are very helpful and I have found using them great with my personal university applications this year. Have a great 2021 and good luck to anyone who may have also been applying for university this year :)
Hi Matt, thank you so much for making this amazing video!!!! As an 2022 applicant who has been anxiously waiting for decision day to come, this video is such a lifesaver!
Glad it was helpful! Good luck
I got rejected but honestly, I could not care less. I got into Glasgow with a full scholarship
Thank you so much for making this video, wish everyone the very best luck
Best of luck!
I am 14 now and I see oxford as an comfortable place to study. I might apply to it when I am 16 to 18, which means I have much time to prepare. I see this video to remind myself there's still possibility I got rejected although I prepare for 2 years or more. I hope I won't get rejected and I can continue my studying there. I wish myself the best.
~ Ken
Good luck to you!
This video makes me feel like Oxford is breaking up with me.
Just had a rejection from Cambridge and was quite devastated ngl
I can understand that. I too was devastated by being rejected by Cambridge. But, with the benefit of hindsight, I'm now convinced that it's one of the best things that ever happened to me. It spurred me on to work harder, and deepen my skills and knowledge. If I had been admitted to Cambridge at 17, who knows, but I may have just taken my foot off the pedal and not fully explored my love of politics. Very best wishes to you. Give yourself some time to heal, and then show them that they made a mistake!
I got an offer. I’m so happy. To read history at st Bennets hall
Congrats!
I studied at Cambridge in the 1990s….and I honestly feel the selection process was and must still be rather random. While he says the process is as fair as possible there just aren’t enough places for all the good candidates… I ended up hating my degree and got a 2:2 - so I know I took the place of someone who’d have benefitted more. I think I worked too hard to get in and couldn’t sustain it/should have taken a gap year. Anyhow not getting in shouldn’t be seen as a rejection when luck plays a big part in whole process especially now given all international competition as well.
I get my decision for Maths and Philosophy in two days. During the waiting period I’ve found it helpful to think about my subjects, and remember why I want to do them, rather than Oxford.
That's great perspective. I wish you the very best of luck in whatever you do.
Update: I got in! It feels a bit like they made a mistake, but I’ll take it!
Waiting on a decision this January! Thank you so much for this video, it's very reassuring :)
I’m glad it is helpful. Best wishes to you.
This is an amazing video. thank you so much for sharing your experience on the other side of the application .. and for the insight you are sharing here .. I can tell that you've put so much thought into this and it honestly soothed my fears and anxieties today 👍🏼
Thank you for your kind comment! All best wishes to you.
rejected today by Bristol today. now waiting for a decision from Oxford. A million thanks to this video. Thank you for preparing me for any impending eventualities. I will not give up anytime soon
Best of luck to you. Thank you for your comment. Please do not give up!
Great video. I teach secondary and university STEM, and I like to think of university applications as opportunities, all educational opportunities are better than nothing (including receiving only rejection letters and doing self study until you are ready). The university system (along with business and life in general) is all about trying for something you want. If the examiners don't think you're quite ready, you go away, work hard somewhere else (or perhaps on your own), then apply again when you are a little better.
Many thanks for your comment!
Fantastic! This helps put it into perspective. I used this to console my students who were rejected.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for the comment.
As an applicant, I really appreciate this! Thanks so much for the video, as well as all of your helpful content about the application process as a whole :)
Glad it was helpful!
Lovely. This is the level and kind of thinking that I enjoy watching. Thank you.
Thank you. That's very kind!
I was rejected from Queen's college yesterday and I reacted in a way I didn't even know I had within myself. I was devastated and realised that for me it really was an egotistical safety net - in terms of how I viewed my own intelligence and capabilities. Thank you for making this video, it's helped me to alleviate the shame Im feeling and have the confidence to move on to other things.
Give yourself some time to heal. Make sure you're kind to yourself as well. It's completely understandable to feel devastated. But you can grow back stronger from this. I've seen some examples where being admitted to universities like Oxford at a young age is more of a curse than a blessing. This is because some people lose the struggle in their life and dampen their fire to achieve. They feel that they have already achieved everything they need to in life simply by being admitted to a prestigious university and they take their foot completely off the gas. Feeling a need to keep striving can mean you go on to achieve more.
Outstanding videos. thank you for putting these out for everyone to listen and learn too.
That's very kind of you. Thank you
Thank you so much for this, really helps hearing form someone like you!
Happy to help! Thank you
Hey, I really like the way you speak. Really interesting POV - thanks :)
Glad you liked it! Thank you
Thank you very much for this. I've been anxious about next week and this really helps me not to worry.
Glad it helped! All best wishes
The analysis about individual will on terms of the psychological reaction is similar to existentialism by Sartre to a certain degree when I think of it.
I'm watching this is preparation for Cambridge results day in 10 days - its really helpful :)
Glad it's helpful. All very best
Thank you so much for sharing all of this, especially some of the more personal things!
I got rejected pre-interview unfortunately which I guess in a way was expected because my TSA’s were never outstanding, only ever close to it. (66-69points) I was really excited to potentially have an interview but it just wasn’t meant to be!
Would you recommend reapplying to Oxford in my first year of University? Will it damage my chances? (I know that I would have to restart from Year One again). Can my TSA really ever break through that ceiling into the 70’s?
Many thanks
You can reapply in the first year of university, but you may find that putting your energy into your degree will be more profitable. It's a very personal decision, so I can't give specific advice. It won't damage your chances if you do apply.
Yes, I believe that with practice it is possible for most people to improve their TSA results. There is a likely ceiling beyond which some people will not be able to advance, but I think most people can go further than they realise. Best wishes, Matt
Matt, thank you, again for your compassionate heart in guiding students to persevere on their journey.
Hey Matthew thanks for the video! Amazing analysis. My only addition is that all who apply at this kind of unis (including me back in the day) are competitive themselves; so the argument of "there is limited place we cannot have you, all you super intelligent individuals" that rejections letters include has no real meaning: why her/him/them and not me? I feel and most probably I am (in my competitive mind) better than this 80-90% of the applicants. So you are gonna get angry and admit that yeah someone is playing with a fan and randomly selects a CV around the room of the 20-30 candidades still standing at the end.
This is also connected to self-esteem of course but I will avoid a long comment. (for those who may read this I am not bitter or anything I had been admitted to a post-grad degree at a top uni but also it didnt really matter at the end - only gave me a better professional network (and an awesome huge library to be fair) so dont sweat about it). Thanks again for the video you are amazing!
Thank you for your comment. You make a great point.
interview was this morning, time to use this to cope😭
such a helpful video, good luck everybody!
Fantastic video - honest and practical advice. Much appreciated.
Thank you for your comment
Yeah, it’s that time of the year again…