Results day can be very stressful. Many people will continuously refresh their emails and UCAS throughout the morning hoping to receive an offer. This blog post aims to create a very rough guide on what to do if you have secured your conditional offer, or if you have missed out on an offer, partially from my own experiences one year ago. Remember, regardless of the email you get on decision day, you have every right to be proud of the hard work and commitment you have put into this process.

Congratulations, You’ve Secured Your Offer!

Getting the results

Securing an offer means that you have put a lot of work into your coursework and extracurriculars and that your high school teachers and University tutors believe in your ability to succeed at the best universities in the world. However, don’t be too complacent with yourself after getting the offer and don’t assume that your place is already confirmed. The offer is only the first part of getting into Oxford or Cambridge, and you have to make sure to see it to the end that you get your place confirmed.

With that being said, don’t put any unnecessary pressure on yourself. Keep doing what you were already doing with your school work and extracurriculars and don’t forget to take breaks when you are studying.

Mental health and pressure

I find that many people feel more pressure after getting their offer rather than during the application process. Personally, I felt more pressure after getting an Oxford offer as it felt that getting a place at Oxford was so close, yet so far. A bit of pressure is always good in pushing you to work hard - but too much pressure will certainly affect your ability to perform well in your final exams.

Also, if no one else around you has gone to Oxford or Cambridge - whether it is in your school, in your family, or amongst your relatives - you may feel a huge pressure from them to make sure that you get into Oxford or Cambridge. However, it is important to remember that you are doing this for yourself, and your future career. Trying to make your friends and family proud can help push you to work hard, but you have to remember that you are working hard for yourself and your future.
The competition with other applicants is over, and as long as you manage the pressure well, I am confident that your academic capabilities are more than enough to fulfil your conditions.

You Missed Out on Your Offer

Don’t dwell on it

It is very common after an interview or application rejection to dwell on what you could have done differently to secure a place. The truth is, everyone applying to Oxford and Cambridge is extremely ambitious and has many impressive extracurriculars on their personal statements. It is important to remember that even getting an interview at Oxford or Cambridge is quite an achievement. I remember listening to an Oxford tutor in charge of admissions explaining that about 98% of applicants are students who could probably do well at Oxford - and that it is extremely difficult to differentiate amongst these very bright and ambitious students. In most cases, missing out on an Oxford offer is not a testament to your abilities or intelligence, as much of this is completely beyond your control. You did the best you could, and there shouldn’t be any regrets about the effort you put into your application.

Prepare for other universities

There are plenty of universities in the UK and beyond that offer a world-class education that equips you with the skills needed to succeed in the future. Look for, and apply to other universities that offer the courses which you believe would best serve your future goals. Continue to work hard towards meeting your offers for your other choices, and don’t let this affect your determination to pursue your dream careers.

Remember that university is not the end goal

There is no denying that Oxford and Cambridge are arguably the best universities in the world. However, it is important to remember that Oxford and Cambridge are a means to an end, not the end goal itself. It is extremely unlikely that your future dreams are crushed simply because you did not get into Oxford or Cambridge, even though it may feel like that at the moment. There are likely to be many routes to pursuing your dream career which don’t involve going to Oxford or Cambridge. University is only a step in pursuing your dream, and it is what you do during university that matters more than what university you attend.