My Cambridge University Rejection Story 

Few things I'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'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't think I even need to say why that system is not infallible. 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't get to know anyone! Interviewers are very, very good at seeing through polish and training, incidentally. It's why they're such an important part of the system. To prospective applicants: I wouldn't worry too much about any polished, overconfident peers! 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.

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

Just got rejected by Cambridge today and i feels so lucky that i'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.

If it makes you feel any better, I didn't get into Cambridge either. That may have had something to do with the fact that I didn't apply to Cambridge but, to make you feel better, don't focus on that part - just focus on the fact that I didn't get in.

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'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)

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 :-)

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'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.

I think the idea that eventually things will work out for you even if things do not reach that point you were aiming for is important. I applied to the US and UK this year, 20 colleges overall, and got into 10, but my rejects were my top choices. But now, I'm going to a uni I love, and I know if I work hard and balance my activities, I can thrive there. I will say I was lucky with my UCAS application, having gotten 4 acceptances, and 1 pending offer (from LSE). Best of luck to any future students entering the admissions cycle!

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 :)

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.

I went to both Cambridge and Durham and got my postgraduate degrees from both. You should consider it yourself lucky that you were not admitted to Cambridge. Cambridge makes you feel like you are an idiot until you graduate, whereas Durham treats you as one full of potential for success and helps you to achieve your goal in every way. Go Durham!

Thanks for sharing this story Debt2Millionaire. I had a similar situation that I would love to share sometime. I am glad you enjoyed your time at Durham university. I am sure it was a better choice for you, especially since it allowed you to have a social life and not have tests like that Math test everyday LOL.

Did maths at liverpool uni. In the interview, i had to draw a graph on a whiteboard then use calculus - integration with limits to solve area under the curve. This was 28 yrs ago! Run my own business now and life is good. You'll get there too 👍🏻👍🏻

In 2006 I could hardly tell you what a mortgage was , by 2016 I had achieved CeMAP , advanced CeMAP, DipMAP and a level 4 qualification in financial advice. I also attained the level 7 in teaching financial capability coupled with a professional chartered associateship of the LIBF.

Muchhhhh needed motivation thanks 💞

I left school at 16 with no qualifications. I have no degree but have two level 7 post grads and a chartered fellowship in banking and finance. All roads lead to Rome.

I’m in the same position this year, I applied to cambridge for natural sciences but I was rejected. I later received offers for imperial and ucl for physics so those are my firm and insurance choices for september. Fingers crossed!

All depends on how good you are in the interview your grades and subject you are doing.Your family background also makes up if you get in or not.

I'm in the exact same situation currently, rejected from Cambridge to study CS and will be going to Durham next year.

I’m in year 12, didn’t get as good gcse grades as you and would have hoped to get a bit better (I got 7s and 8s). I am studying maths, further maths, computer science and business do you have any tips for applying for CS in top uk unis and what I should do now to get the best chance?

great video, really honest and open insights

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

Hi I want to apply at Durham. But as it’s a collegiate one, in the degree certificate when I graduate will the name of Durham be mentioned or only the name of college will be mentioned?

100% agree that Durham gives a more rounded and balanced experience for high performing people. Althought they keep trying ( or saying they keep rying ) to prevent Oxbridge being an old boys club it very much still is. I am sure you were heartbroken at the time but sometimes things do just work out better.

Literally just got rejected and, considering that I was in the winter pool even after bombing my interviews, it's left me so frustrated that if I had just been a little less nervous, had more insight into what an interview was actually going to be like (was led to think it was going to be those obscure, make-you-think questions when I wasn't asked a single one), and just didn't run my mouth in panic, I might have had a real shot at an offer.

I can feel you bro...

My niece gained a degree in pure maths and stats from Hertford. She had always wanted to be a teacher and was offered a place at HOMERTON Univ of Cambridge. We all said take it, but because my niece went to a comprehensive she had the limiting belief that she was not worthy. The moral of the story is NEVER PUT YOURSELF DOWN. Believe in your ability. My niece 10 years on was offered the role of HEAD OF MATHS AT A LARGE SIXTH XORM ACADEMY.

I know you are doing well now but honestly don’t know how you haven’t smashed life already. You have so many great qualities.

I remember when I did the CSAT, after the test I just sat there for 10 min staring into the wall thinking WTH was that test

You can get your degree from another university and if you really want, get into Cambridge for MPhil, MBA or PhD.

I loved history and I know I had the ability to gain a degree in Egyptology. Sadly I had no role models or belief in myself. C'est la vie. There are other opportunities and gaining a professional qualification is useful. However, formal awards are overrated and guarantee nothing.

Based on what you have said it would seem that Cambridge isn't looking for anyone other than the rare math genius (think Sheldon Cooper from the Big Bang), as this is the case they should do away with any A level requirements and just get people to sit this test - what a waste of time for you glad you ended up in a better place

Many rimes I have sat across a desk being interviewed by a person half my age with less quals and experience all in the name of employment.

Commenting late, but in the US, I went to a state school which isn't hard to get into, but I graduated with engineering and now make good money in a pretty reputable company. I was a B- math student too. It just looks a lot of hard work in college.

Great.. You Said Maths,Further Maths,Physics A level are auto Choices for Cambridge CS. I am taking these. But I am Not taking A level Computer Science. You sad that it is preferred. I am taking A level Chemistry as a 4th subject.Do you think Chemistry is a Good subjects to take for Cambridge CS?

Where do you live in uk? Great video.

Trust me, having worked at Cambridge universities, it's not all it's cracked up to be.

That's the thing about Oxbridge, you can do everything right and better than the average person who got an offer, but still not get in because the tutors liked 1 specific part of this other persons personal statement, and it matched their field of interest. After you got the grades and the test scores, it's just luck.

I didn't get into Oxford in January. But I have an offer for King's College London.

You did your best good job!

Was this the STEP? Because that exam is nasty if you haven't specifically studied extra more difficult maths beyond even Further Maths. Which you might not have known because you weren't from a school where people would have known and told you and that sucks in our system.

Didn’t get in for medicine. Don’t worry you’ll be fine. Dr now nonetheless

Good idea is to go to a less fabulous university and then try to get into your favourite university through a project or cooperation

The big money maker is Creating smart contracts, hell for a simple contract people pay 1500 to 3k$ usd , just a simple staking, withdraw, deposit . Crypto smart contracts

can someone tells me what the song is played at the end of the video?

I'm guessing you did step , that shit is so hard

Imperial College London? It is arguably the best for Computing in the uk (in my opinion :D) and It was just rated best number 1 top research on Computing 2021.

Debt2millionaire, didn't realise you was from Leeds too. where's your accent gone lol. I was gonna go to Leeds trinity but dropped it to be self employed, I educate myself interests.

You haven’t missed much mate. Plenty of other places where you’ll have a better experience

It's fine man. I got my admission offer but I can't afford Cambridge. (: #lifebeinglife

I bet my left kidney that the any questions thing at the end of the interview was the actual test. If you'd answered something like "could you teach me how to solve them" maybe they would've let u in. Schools like that definitely care about how much of an avid learner u are

Where in Leeds do you live? You don’t sound like it haha

😆

what is ur age bro?

It's not a problem you was just not good enough

yikes

I did my interview last week for law and it went horribly! I'm convinced I'll be rejected. I also applied to LSE, UCL, and Kings (Durham too but if I do get in I'm not going). I got rejected from LSE pretty early on so... 🤣 I'm quite convinced I won't be going to the UK! 🙈 it was a great experience though, although it was a lot of work. I learnt a lot about myself throughout the application process. I'm glad to hear that you still enjoyed Uni life, because I was extremely set on the UK too. 🥹

Don't take it to heart, I know for a fact they don't always pick the most intelligent people. My brother-in-law pays towards their charity, so when is comes to my nephew getting in, he will. Unless he's completely stupid. Another way of doing it is just a massive one off payment, but that would cost maybe cost around £1 million. You can totally pay your way into Cambridge if you have wealthy parents. You do have to have a certain level of intelligence still tho.

Unfortunately you probably don't tick the right ethnic or minority boxes.