Academia 27: I was rejected by Oxford.
Hello my beautiful friends!
Today is the 23rd November and today I was rejected by Oxford. I am writing this on the day of my rejection to ensure my feelings are raw because I aim to be as realistic as possible through this blog. My rejection came pre-interview, so the rejected me on the grounds of my admissions test. I felt my admissions test went okay (not terribly), so either my judgement was wrong and my admissions test went awfully or the candidates were strong this year. Either way, this year was not my year.
Initially, although I tried to focus on the positives, I felt so upset and cried hysterically. I've had ambitions to attend Oxford from a young age, so to see my dream crumble in a moment was honestly heartbreaking, even if it is just a university. Also, I felt like I had failed my teachers and peers, who have believed in me and supported my Oxford application. I felt a sort of responsibility to get in, so felt guilty and embarrassed for when they found out.
Although I'm super disheartened, I am trying to focus on the positives, which I will list here in the hope that this may help others through rejection. Firstly, regarding teachers and peers, my teachers and peers will not judge me for getting rejected. If anything, they will be upset on my behalf and most of them will have forgotten that I am going through the Oxford application process anyway.
On a more personal level, Oxford is a high-pressure environment. With my mental health issues, this pressure may have had a negative impact on my time at the university, causing me to not enjoy my university experience. Some people do thrive in the more pressured environment, but I feel I may be better-suited to a more relaxed university.
From what I've heard, Oxford is very much a 'work hard, play hard' environment, which is competitive both academically and in the various clubs and societies. Again, whilst some people may enjoy this, I feel I'd enjoy a university with a better work-leisure balance more. Further, I feel I'd enjoy participating in more casual clubs and societies.
As superstitious as this sounds, I do believe that everything happens for a reason. Maybe Oxford was not the right place for me. Maybe life has a different path and I am supposed to go to another university where I will truly thrive.
The Oxford application process has been time-consuming, but I do not regret applying and I am so proud of myself for being in a position in which I could even consider applying. However, obviously MAT revision and interview preparation (even though I did not end up getting an interview) have taken up a lot of my time. Now that I do not have the pressure of an interview, I can fully focus on my A Levels and I honestly feel more motivated to achieve 4 A*s to prove Oxford wrong. This application process has equally increased stress, which has diverted my attention off things I love such as my blog. I feel I have particularly neglected my blog and I now have time to put more effort into it, which I am really excited about.
I would like to thank everyone for their supportive messages on Instagram. Experiencing support from people who are essentially strangers has been amazing and means so, so much. I have had the opportunity to connect with other people in my position, who were rejected pre-interview, which I believe has been helpful to all of us.
Remember, being rejected from Oxford or any other university does not define you nor your academic ability. Wherever you end up, even if its not at your first-choice university, your own willpower will bring you success. Believe in yourself and good things will come.
I am sending love and support to others in my position, I know how upsetting it is. I hope this blog post helps. Please do leave your own positives that you have found from being rejected in the comments.
Today is the 23rd November and today I was rejected by Oxford. I am writing this on the day of my rejection to ensure my feelings are raw because I aim to be as realistic as possible through this blog. My rejection came pre-interview, so the rejected me on the grounds of my admissions test. I felt my admissions test went okay (not terribly), so either my judgement was wrong and my admissions test went awfully or the candidates were strong this year. Either way, this year was not my year.
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| My real rejection email. |
Initially, although I tried to focus on the positives, I felt so upset and cried hysterically. I've had ambitions to attend Oxford from a young age, so to see my dream crumble in a moment was honestly heartbreaking, even if it is just a university. Also, I felt like I had failed my teachers and peers, who have believed in me and supported my Oxford application. I felt a sort of responsibility to get in, so felt guilty and embarrassed for when they found out.
Although I'm super disheartened, I am trying to focus on the positives, which I will list here in the hope that this may help others through rejection. Firstly, regarding teachers and peers, my teachers and peers will not judge me for getting rejected. If anything, they will be upset on my behalf and most of them will have forgotten that I am going through the Oxford application process anyway.
On a more personal level, Oxford is a high-pressure environment. With my mental health issues, this pressure may have had a negative impact on my time at the university, causing me to not enjoy my university experience. Some people do thrive in the more pressured environment, but I feel I may be better-suited to a more relaxed university.
From what I've heard, Oxford is very much a 'work hard, play hard' environment, which is competitive both academically and in the various clubs and societies. Again, whilst some people may enjoy this, I feel I'd enjoy a university with a better work-leisure balance more. Further, I feel I'd enjoy participating in more casual clubs and societies.
As superstitious as this sounds, I do believe that everything happens for a reason. Maybe Oxford was not the right place for me. Maybe life has a different path and I am supposed to go to another university where I will truly thrive.
The Oxford application process has been time-consuming, but I do not regret applying and I am so proud of myself for being in a position in which I could even consider applying. However, obviously MAT revision and interview preparation (even though I did not end up getting an interview) have taken up a lot of my time. Now that I do not have the pressure of an interview, I can fully focus on my A Levels and I honestly feel more motivated to achieve 4 A*s to prove Oxford wrong. This application process has equally increased stress, which has diverted my attention off things I love such as my blog. I feel I have particularly neglected my blog and I now have time to put more effort into it, which I am really excited about.
I would like to thank everyone for their supportive messages on Instagram. Experiencing support from people who are essentially strangers has been amazing and means so, so much. I have had the opportunity to connect with other people in my position, who were rejected pre-interview, which I believe has been helpful to all of us.
Remember, being rejected from Oxford or any other university does not define you nor your academic ability. Wherever you end up, even if its not at your first-choice university, your own willpower will bring you success. Believe in yourself and good things will come.
I am sending love and support to others in my position, I know how upsetting it is. I hope this blog post helps. Please do leave your own positives that you have found from being rejected in the comments.
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