As students hear back from university or college applications, what if you don’t get into your first choice? Source intern Olivia McCann says it’s only positive.
In November 2016, I had two interviews to read Classics at Newham College and Murray Edwards College in Cambridge.
I had been prepping for the interviews and entrance exam for almost two years, I had visited Cambridge numerous times since the age of 15 to select which college I felt suited me best and I had even spent a fortnight during the previous August at a summer school to work on the languages required for my course.
It’s no surprise then, when I found out in the following January that I had not been selected for a place at Cambridge, that I felt my world had fallen apart.
Looking back, there was no reason to be distraught – I was yet to hear back from my other universities. But, for me, my dreams of going to Oxbridge had been crushed and, admittedly, for a brief period, I felt like a complete failure and that I wouldn’t achieve anything.
NEW DIRECTION
A few weeks later, I received an offer for St Chad’s College at Durham University. Honestly, I hadn’t done much research for Durham University at all.
I think I had chosen my Durham college during a free period or lunchtime at school – I certainly didn’t give it as much careful consideration as I had devoted to selecting my dream college at Cambridge.
I didn’t even visit Durham University for an open day; I’m not even sure I knew exactly where it was.
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The email with my offer invited me to a Post Offer Holders Day in Durham, and although I was still disheartened by my recent Cambridge rejection, I decided to attend.
JOY
Fast-forward two years, and I’m entering my third year at Durham University and I absolute love it.
My course suits me just perfectly, I’ve met so many like-minded people, found plenty of clubs and societies to join and quite frankly, I can’t imagine going to another university.
That’s not to say I wouldn’t have enjoyed a place at my first-choice university – I know several people who are studying at Cambridge and have had a positive experience – and I’m sure I would have made plenty friends there, too.
On reflection, failing to pass my interview didn’t make me a failure. Instead, it taught me that it’s okay if plans don’t work out.
With Results Day coming up, it’s worth keeping this in mind: Everything happens for a reason (we know it’s probably not what you want to hear right now, but), it’s quite likely not getting into your first-choice university which will open up doors you may have not previously considered.
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No matter the outcome on Results Day, there’s no right or wrong path. Failing an interview or not getting the right results isn’t a disaster, it’s an opportunity to consider another route. It could lead you down a fantastic path.
Words: Olivia McCann
