How did you decide to apply for Oxford? Did you go out intending to be admitted, or did you apply in a kind of "leap of faith"? I am considering applying even though my bachelor's final GPA is slightly under the cut.
I don’t think anyone applies expecting to be admitted? & if they do, it’s due to ridiculously inflated self esteem. (The people like this at interviews are always the ones who end up rejected, it seems.)
That said, it wasn’t really a leap of faith either — I thought it was my dream school and maybe a long-shot, but that the application process suited me (interviews, test scores, & submitted writing samples are my style) and I met requirements. I also thought I could really benefit from the tutorial system & could maybe convince a tutor of that fact. I thought that if I was going to apply for a “reach” school, it might as well be Oxford, where I might have a better chance, rather than Harvard or something (where I would have had literally no chance in hell.) I don’t see what you lose from applying, unless your time is really, really valuable at the moment.
But one thing, though — Oxford is generally really, really strict about minimum requirements. It may be worth emailing graduate admissions (contact info can be found online I’m sure) and asking whether you would even be considered — that way if they say yes, you apply not feeling it’s a waste.
