Rejection!
Well, it was good while it lasted! This year I am applying to study medicine and as such I was allowed to apply to four British universities. I chose - Cardiff, Bristol, King's London and yes...Oxford. The application process to study medicine at Oxford is quite rigorous with many individual components being taken into account. The first component is your GCSE score (mine was good so I thought I'll give the application a whirl) and the second component is the BMAT entrance test. Again, I scored well in this component and subsequently made the shortlist for interview! I am actually quite proud to say that I made this cut as out of 1244 applicants to Oxford medicine this year, only 425 were shortlisted for interview - 819 were rejected there and then.
So, I got to spend two days and one night at Exeter College and Christ Church in Oxford. I absolutely loved the place and started thinking the impossible; that a working class boy from rural south Wales (from a family in which noone had attended university in many generations) could go on to study medicine at one of the finest academic institutions in the world.
So I had to go through four interviews in the space of two days. Two of these (both at Exeter College) I thought went reasonably well and felt comfortable. However, at the third interview, things just started to fall apart. It was an absolute grilling that sheltered and wrapped up in cotton wool ;) Jonathan hadn't received ever before! I stuttered and stammered for the duration (30 minutes) and said some of the most ridiculous things. At one point I even said that the brain is composed of white matter and "dark matter". I could have died right on the spot. The three interviewers giggled and I did as well but I was getting downhearted and uncomfortable more and more; minute by minute. Towards the end of the interview I was beginning to make little sense at all and in response to one of my "logical deductions" one of the interviewers said 'I am not quite following your logic'. I felt like saying 'well that's not greatly unexpected; logic abandoned me about 20 minutes ago'.
So after a week of waiting I received a thin letter from Christ Church which I knew was a bad sign. It said:
Dear jonnowales,
Thank you for attending for interview. I am writing now to let you know that after careful consideration it has not been possible to offer you a place at Christ Church to read medicine, and I am sorry to have to inform you that your application is no longer under consideration by any of the other Oxford colleges.
Yours sincerely,
Tutor for Admissions.
Nice christmas present eh? :P
So I am left with three universities in this cycle to take me for medicine and I have totally lost confidence that I will get an offer from any of them. I have already had an interview at Cardiff University and I felt it went ok...but, I thought that of Exeter College, Oxford also. I will find out Cardiff's decision in late March. Bristol and King's London have yet to call me for interview...I sincerely hope that they hurry up :)
Jonathan
14 Comments:
Keep the faith, you will get in somewhere. If a doctor is what you want to be, a doctor you shall become. Try the states if things don't go well in Merry Old England. Oklahoma University has a wonderful school of medicine. We love the british here, give them a try. Its located in Norman oklahoma.
By garrysouders, Dec 23 08 5:54 AM
Jon,
I am so sorry to hear that, I know how excited you were. Look at it this way, if you can. Consider that abomination (in your mind) of an interview as a *dry run* for the future ones. You'll be more prepared and more confident, I just know it. We *more seasoned* ie older people have gone through similar and come out better because of it. Please, do NOT allow what happened with Oxford to shake all your self confidence!
You are meant to be a physician and you will be one. Sometimes what WE think is best for us is not always the case and better things may actually come out of not being accepted at Oxford. There is a reason for every single thing in life, but we don't always see at at the time it is happening. You are still my hero young man! Sandy
By jordandog, Dec 23 08 7:02 AM
Thank you for posting, Jon.
They probably giggled at everyone that day. You are not the only person to fall apart in an interview! Everyone is nervous. Would you want to be at a college where interviewees get giggled at?
If you're going to be a doctor, you don't need Dreaming Spires stuck on your name to make you a good one. Sandy's right. This was a useful dry run. You will study where you're meant to study, and where you will be appreciated. Do they know you're our hero?
By lesley153, Dec 23 08 8:12 AM
Oxford did not measure up to YOUR standards, Jonno. If an interviewer giggles at the person being interviewed, how can anyone take the interviewer, or interview, seriously.
We believe in you. So should you. Frankly, in my humble opinion, Oxford is missing out on the most fantastic candidate ever. Perhaps the reason the interview fell apart is due to the people doing the interview...not you.
You will be accepted by a school which is deserving of you. An excellent school as they will not giggle.
Head up, go forward. The best is yet to be.
And yes, I also have experienced "weird" interviews. I was better off not getting the job and they missed out on someone who would have been an asset to their company.
By talentedone, Dec 23 08 8:52 AM
I'm sorry that you didn't get into your top choice but I'm with Mo and Lesley on this one. If they laughed during your interview, do you really want to go there? I know that it's a prestigious school but sometimes other places are the right fit. I go to a smaller school and feel that it's better for me because I get more one on one time from my professor's. I am sure that you will get into a good school and wish you the best of luck!
By kitkat121080, Dec 23 08 11:11 AM
Frankly, I reread their letter to you and find they do not meet my standards for correspondence. Of course they are writing you "now". If they were writing to you "later", you would still be waiting for the letter.
I shall now shake my head in disbelief.
You are better off, Jonno. Trust us on that.
By talentedone, Dec 23 08 5:51 PM
Thanks everyone :) I think my initial disappointment is subsiding now.
I'm now going to listen to "hero" and no not the X-Factor version! ;)
Mo, you are so kind - my mother said exactly the same; ie, you are their loss. I find it hard to believe that I am a loss to them because my self confidence is still down. However, I have come to realise and a few of you have pointed it out on this blog that I want to be a physician/surgeon ultimately, and, there are great universities that allow you to become one. Going to Oxford was only a temporary goal which never was really more important to me than becoming a doctor.
Mo, I thought that as well! As you'd quite imagine I have read the letter over and over (there was a little more to it but that was all that was important). I hope you are right and that I am better off...I am quite sure I'll do fine...I sure hope so.
I do hope you all have a fantastic Christmas and everyone stay safe :)
By jonnowales, Dec 24 08 5:48 AM
Jon, we know it's their loss, and we know you better than they did. Good interview technique brings out the best in the interviewee. The technique you encountered was designed to reinforce the perceived superiority of the interviewers. Not something I'd want to be part of.
Peace and joy. :)
xxx
By lesley153, Dec 24 08 7:47 AM
You are going to be accepted to a great school and from there you will be a wonderful doctor. You just need to hold onto that thought. The one taht decided that they didn't want you because you had a attack of nerves doesn't deserve you. If they can't see that you aced everything else and cut you a bit of slack then they are obviously not the best out there.
Enjoy your holidays.
By red_stone, Dec 24 08 10:34 AM
I wonder if they were the cause of the attack of nerves. Not friendly!
By lesley153, Dec 24 08 11:12 AM
You will find the perfect University, I am sure. All the best :)
By JaneMarple, Dec 24 08 12:05 PM
Oxford sucks! That's all I have to say! :-)
Anyway, I'm sorry that it didn't work out, but hopefully you'll be posting soon and letting us know about the acceptance letter you receive. :-)
By Pagiedamon, Dec 24 08 7:58 PM
I am sorry to hear about that, Jon. Hopefully you will get your acceptance letter from other college. Fingers crossed. ;)
By Matthew_07, Dec 25 08 7:18 AM
Remember what I wrote in my email, Jon; King's London didn't call me until early March. I received an acceptance letter at that time, but I was still required to go for an interview. Don't give up on King's!
By cydonia325, Dec 29 08 4:17 PM