Got my degree marks today

[w11tho]

I know 5 people who turned down either Oxford or Cambridge. I know at least double who got rejected. I can't say I would see why anyone would lie, it would be a bit strange.

I thought I'd outlined why people would be tempted to lie about it? Anyhoo - if the 5 people you know all got offers from Oxbridge then turned them down, it is a considerable anomaly.

Conveniently, here is an example from this very forum:

Incidentally I passed the interview but ended up turning Oxford down because of the experience,

Don't know what you mean about lying either - believe it or not people do turn down Oxbridge! My decision was based on my experience, and the course content itsel

But several months previous:

Oxford/Cambridge were usually a 40-42, with 7,7,7 or 7,7,6 in Higher Levels when I applied. I got turned down even though I got 7 in all of my higher levels, and I did 4 subjects at HL instead of 3. (did English A1 & French A1 as my standard levels )

I applied for Engineering, (Magdalen College, Oxford) and they wanted 7 in Maths & Physics and 6 in a second science subject. I got turned down after the interview stage.

I applied to Cambridge to read Engineering. Answer back in Thursdays letter was a resounding 'no'.

Same happened to me a couple of years ago (Engineering at Oxford)

Note the generic reasons he mentions match the standard ones you pointed out.

 

[Nitefly]

I thought I'd outlined why people would be tempted to lie about it? Anyhoo - if the 5 people you know all got offers from Oxbridge then turned them down, it is a considerable anomaly.

You had, but 3 of those aformentioned people I knew at school before they went, and the other 2 are not the type to lie. I couldn't forsee any of my friends being so strange about being rejected. To those who were rejected, it's not a big deal either.

So, what I meant was that people who do act in the way you mention, would be very strange and I have been fortuante enough to not meet such people.

 

[w11tho]

Well if they're fibbing, the idea is that you wouldn't be aware of it. As I said - it's an anomaly of considerable proportions.

 

[Nitefly]

Well if they're fibbing, the idea is that you wouldn't be aware of it. As I said - it's an anomaly of considerable proportions.

I have the ability to judge the character of my friends, fear not.

 

[w11tho]

You don't think your friends keep certain things from you? Or have some secrets?

Anyhoo - I'm sure it's all well and above board and it's just some sort of coincidence (a coincidence that seems to happen a lot!).

 

[Heliospherez]

Really?

Realistically why on earth would someone (who we are supposed to assume is intelligent) turn down Oxford or Cambridge.

From my limited experience of working with numerous top notch doctors of physics/chemistry and science from Oxbridge and various other Unis - I have to say the ones educated at either Oxford or cambridge seemed to lack some very important skills. And this is a generalisation here - but in my personal experience......

They lacked social skills (they could communicate well in their chosen vocation, but anything else made them uneasy - they could relate to various academic situtaions & speak well on their chosen subject - but not much else)
They had less common sense than their other University counterparts. As in, they had not experienced a lot of situations they could handle or understand.
They found social situations difficult (in fact many would refrain from breakfast, dinner situations as they had little to talk about)

There are also numerous other small things I could pick at - but I'm not a shrink (and this is just a generalisation) - but one that many people I worked with seemed to relate to. It also made me wonder if the oxbridge route would be best for my own children should they be given the choice.

 

[w11tho]

From my limited experience of working with numerous top notch doctors of physics/chemistry and science from Oxbridge and various other Unis - I have to say the ones educated at either Oxford or cambridge seemed to lack some very important skills. And this is a generalisation here - but in my personal experienc......

They lacked social skills (they could communicate well in their chosne vocation, but anything else made them uneasy - they could relate to various academic situtaions - but not much else)
They had less common sense than their other University counterparts. As in, they had not experienced a lot of situations they could handle or understand.
They found social situations difficult (in fact many would refrain from breakfast, dinner situations as they had little to talk about)

There are also numerous other small things I could pick at - but I'm not a shrink (and this is just a generalisation) - but one that many people I worked with seemed to relate to. It also made me wonder if the oxbridge route would be best for my own children should they be given the choice.

This is extremely odd, as it completely contradicts my own experiences. Whilst I don't know many chemists, I know lots of physicists (well, theoretical physicists) and mathematicians. The department certainly contains a few odd balls, but they're certainly not the norm. One only need attend the happy hour at DAMTP on a Friday night to appreciate this fact.

 

[Nitefly]

You don't think your friends keep certain things from you? Or have some secrets?

Anyhoo - I'm sure it's all well and above board and it's just some sort of coincidence (a coincidence that seems to happen a lot!).

I'm making the assumption here that you go to either Cambridge of Oxford (most likely Cambridge due to your location), because you are coming across as having a superiority complex.

I have said that such people were in the minority and I appreciate they are proberly the extreme minority. However, I find your consistant accusation, that you know my own friends better than I do, incredibly patronising and arrogant.

 

[w11tho]

I'm making the assumption here that you go to either Cambridge of Oxford (most likely Cambridge due to your location), because you are coming across as having a superiority complex. I have said that such people were in the minority and I appreciate they are proberly the extreme minority. However, I find your consistant accusation, that you know my own friends better than I do, incredibly patronising and arrogant.

I don't think there's any need to get quite so defensive. As you've pointed out, you seem to be in close contact with several people from an extreme minority. This is unusual - I've simply pointed out this fact.

 

[semi-pro waster]

This thread seems to have got a rather large distance away from the original point of congratulating people on their degree marks, if there has to be a debate about the various merits of different universities and the grading system in general then why not do it in another thread? I'm sure there will be more than enough interest to make it worthwhile and means that you're not running the risk of detracting from what should be a happy day for those getting their results.

Anyway congratulations to all those who have received their results recently and good luck whatever you decide to do with them.

 

[Nitefly]

I don't think there's any need to get quite so defensive. As you've pointed out, you seem to be in close contact with several people from an extreme minority. This is unusual - I've simply pointed out this fact.

No, you havn't simply 'pointed out this fact'. In a nutshell.

"I know some people who turned down an offer"
"A lot of people lie"
"Well, these are the reasons"
"Coincidence that a lot of these people lie use those reasons"
"I know the people, they are not the type to lie"
"You wouldn't know if they were lying"
".... I can judge my own friends, don't worry"
"Are you sure they aren't hiding secrets?"
"....?!"

I have already explained their situation several times, and have already stated that I know them well and trust their character twice. To then further suggest deceit and that they might be 'hiding secrets', following my previous posts, is just incredibly arrogant.

I'm sure it was unintentional, but I suggest you change your tact in the future.

snip

Good call.

 

[unknowndomain]

I got a 2:1 at 67.19% with a grade boundry at 70% I a bit annoyed but its all good as I know how close I was

 

[w11tho]

No, you havn't simply 'pointed out this fact'. In a nutshell.

Well that's some almighty paraphrasing there. We simply have a difference of opinion, and clearly you feel quite strongly about yours. I think the resort to name-calling was uncalled for.

 

[SoSolid]

I went to Imperial

It is clear that this child is up his own bottom.

 

[wozzizname]

It's a shame this thread has degenerated in this way. At the end of the day, not everyone is a genius who can get a first in a top 5 University, but that shouldn't detract from their personal achievements.

I won't be overly disappointed if I come away from Uni with a 2:2 as I'm not a genius, I'm the first member of my family to ever attend University and I'm doing it in my mid 40's while having part time care of my son. My course isn't easy (in the four or five years it's ben running no-one has yet been awarded a first) but I'm doing the best I can and at the end of the day that's all anyone can do.

 

[Nitefly]

Well that's some almighty paraphrasing there. We simply have a difference of opinion, and clearly you feel quite strongly about yours. I think the resort to name-calling was uncalled for.

It wasn't paraphrasing, as shown by these quotes in order:

They certainly were not lying *reasons for rejecting*

I'm certainly not going to suggest your friends are fibbing (now, follow your subsequent conduct), but it's very rare for people to apply, come to interview, get an offer and then turn it down (as the official admissions reports indicate).

I can't say I would see why anyone would lie, it would be a bit strange.

I thought I'd outlined why people would be tempted to lie about it? Anyhoo - if the 5 people you know all got offers from Oxbridge then turned them down, it is a considerable anomaly. Note the generic reasons he mentions match the standard ones you pointed out.

You had, but 3 of those aformentioned people I knew at school before they went, and the other 2 are not the type to lie. I couldn't forsee any of my friends being so strange about being rejected. To those who were rejected, it's not a big deal either.

So, what I meant was that people who do act in the way you mention, would be very strange and I have been fortuante enough to not meet such people.

Well if they're fibbing, the idea is that you wouldn't be aware of it.

I have the ability to judge the character of my friends, fear not.

You don't think your friends keep certain things from you? Or have some secrets?

Sorry, but there is no way I can interpret that in any other way than the way in which I did. Try to be a bit more tactful in the future if you wish to not come across as such.

Apologies to everyone else.

 

[w11tho]

Oh don't be quite so ridiculous. I'm perfectly open to the possibility your friends were all part of this extreme minority - as I've said. What I've done is provide you with an alternative explanation. An explanation that applies in many cases. You don't like the alternative explanation - that's fine, but I'm afraid you'll just have to pull up your socks and deal with it!

There's no need to be quite so overly dramatic.

 

[Nitefly]

Oh don't be quite so ridiculous. I'm perfectly open to the possibility your friends were all part of this extreme minority - as I've said. What I've done is provide you with an alternative explanation. An explanation that applies in many cases. You don't like the alternative explanation - that's fine, but I'm afraid you'll just have to pull up your socks and deal with it!

There's no need to be quite so overly dramatic.

I'm not being dramatic, I'm just irritated that you are suggesting my friends are something they are not after I have given my own reassurances more than once. If you hadn't come back and suggested their deceit a third time, I wouldn't have had a problem.

 

[w11tho]

I've suggested the possibility that your friends have told a white lie. A white lie that lots of people in a similar position tell. You feel very strongly that your friends wouldn't tell such an untruth - that's understandable, I'm fairly sure everyone feels like that about their friends. That certainly doesn't rule out the possibility though.

 

[Nitefly]

I've suggested the possibility that your friends have told a white lie. A white lie that lots of people in a similar position tell. You feel very strongly that your friends wouldn't tell such an untruth - that's understandable, I'm fairly sure everyone feels like that about their friends. That certainly doesn't rule out the possibility though.

You're right, it doesn't... from the far side of the internet where you have no pre-existing knowledge of said people.

This quibble is going nowhere. However, you are the first person from Oxford or Cambridge whom I have ever felt patronised by. Your attitude towards this, repeatedly claiming that there is a chance that people you know nothing about, are being deceitful, stinks.

If it makes you feel better, you are right, there is a chance that people I know known from my childhood and good friends at university are liars, and that I have completely misjudged their character. Just know that by suggesting so, I can equally suggest that anyone you know, is a liar too, regardless of how well you know them. In summary, you have done nothing for the image of students at your university.