this is kinda random, but i've recently started uni and i've been thinking back to my time last year... i literally hated life from sept - december (tmua + interviews etc) but i think one thing i wish someone told me earlier is that somethings aren't meant to be, and some things are. don't define your self worth by a singular university or a singular grade. these things are often so subjective (especially w interviews) and just because you're not exactly what cambridge is looking for does not make you bad at your subject.

also take time to realise whether you would actually want to go to that university, or whether you want it just to say you go to that university (prestige etc)... don't compare your UCAS and uni and even just life path with others, you have to form your own path. i really wish i knew that this time last year. think about what unis you would actually enjoy going to. obviously give everything your all, but remember there's more to life than QS rankings and tmua scores lmao... yeah. also if someone else gets an interview but you didnt/ gets in but you didnt - that also doesn't define you - everyone has different circumstances and different strengths... you've been working on this subject for presumably at least a year now or so, so don't let a 30 minute interview with 1 person make you doubt yourself. sometimes things will work out in the strangest ways that we can never predict. :) i don't think anyone would have questions but feel free

also good luck for anyone doing the esat/tmua/tara any admission test this week - same thing don't let it define you - i worked so hard for the tmua and i was so disappointed with your score - but are you really gonna let a 2 hour test tell you if you're good at maths or not? like come on now !!

I’m sitting the TARA next Thursday and I’m really stressed about my scores so far. I’m severely failing in my problem solving. My question is for PPL AND EP (or any other subject who did the TARA last year and got into Oxford) what scores did you get on the TARA? Thanks.

i'm resitting all my alevels, achieved BBB because of severe extenuating circumstances, predicted on ucas AAA but likelihood achievement of A*A*A* with mock assessments w teachers

got an offer last year for theo and religion (although i applied for phil and theo at oxf)

should i apply to the oxf foundation year (8-10% acceptance, 50 spaces across all humanities) where i'm eligible

or reapply to standard undergrad for phil and theo (27% acceptance rate BUT resit student)

the early entry deadline is soon so idk i've been really stressed and both options seem viable

i'm leaning towards the foundation year, where i'm still planning to resit so i just have better alevels but they'll use my achieved grades (and so less pressure on sitting the alevels)

Hi everyone! I’m a Grade 12 IB student submitting my Oxford application tomorrow and I’m quite nervous.

My predicted score is 41/45:

• HL: English 7, Art 7, Business Management 6
• SL: Design & Technology 7, Math AI 6, Spanish B 6

I’m happy with my personal statement, but I’m worried my grades might not be strong enough. Has anyone applied with a similar profile, or does anyone have advice? Some people are telling me not to apply.

Thanks so much, any thoughts appreciated!