I applied to 20 colleges… in the US and UK…. Here’s how it went

[@ellataylor2291]

I actually used to work in admissions at a couple of top UK universities and we were pretty harsh on US students regardless of their grades, especially for science courses. Since the US doesn’t have a national curriculum it can be difficult to be confident that each student has the necessary knowledge for UK courses, so a lot of the time we would end up rejecting students with good grades. It’s most likely why you didn’t get in to Oxford, as we would typically need a pretty perfect interview to give an offer, whereas it sounds like you were middle of the pack. Seriously well done for getting into any of the UK universities, it’s a real achievement!

[@angelinasea8015]

My mum worked in admissions and she’s said pretty much the same thing to me lol. She got sooo many international students that even though they were clearly very smart weren’t right for the courses cause a lot of schools abroad teach different things 🤷‍♀️

[@JordanCarr44]

Yeah, US students aren’t generally up to the same level as UK students

[@ellataylor2291]

@@tommytse23 Canada has regional curricula so it’s easier to get an idea of what a student has studied throughout their schooling than with the US, so we tend to be much less harsh with giving offers to Canadian students. And unrelated, but I went to KCL too!

[@coinhyperion91]

I'm actually applying to Uni of Cardiff, Bristol etc.. attempting on getting my bachelors & masters in psychology. As an international student (from Qatar) do you have any tips as I am not quite sure what to expect and am fairly new to the whole thing.

[@annabethyeung8512]

While that’s true, that also applies for US universities looking at American students, so there’s really no one way of telling where a student is at

[@dilettadesimoni5119]

I am seriously impressed by the maturity and humbleness you show by posting this whole process. Specifically when you have been clearly highlighting your preferences. Chapeau to you!

[@ravenn532]

as someone who really wants to go to the UK for college, this video is really helpful and I genuinely appreciate you being real with us and showing the rejections because it makes me feel a lot better about whatever will happen next year for me

[@parisdrake8802]

Highly recommend St Andrews:)

[@lucyh6827]

I'm from Scotland in the UK and we get people from all around the world up in Scotland, especially at the university of st andrews, edinburgh and glasgow. I go to glasgow uni and honestly some of the best people you will meet are in glasgow. Just in the case you were considering us!! :)

[@ravenn532]

@@lucyh6827 That's awesome! I'm definitely applying to a few of those!

[@daftstunk-sw7uf]

@@parisdrake8802 dont, fife is in the middle of fucking no where

[@parisdrake8802]

@@daftstunk-sw7uf I just graduated with my master's from there, and the quiet and gorgeous landscape is one of the things I loved most about it! It was an absolutely stunning place to live and study.

[@user-vdjxbwkskbc]

This is such an important videos showing the ups and down. I’m from England and we can only apply to 5 universities at a time and I know so many people that got rejected from all 5 and it’s very disheartening but not the end of the world. Good luck in Edinburgh!!!

[@gabrielgrassmayrtoo]

I love how this video is way more realistic and shows the denials and the acceptances. It’s great to see, that you got into the University of Edinburgh! Good luck!

[@alissamcgowan7101]

I did my Masters at the University of Edinburgh and loved it! In my experience, they cared a lot about their students and I really felt supported by the staff/faculty that I worked with over the years. Congrats and enjoy Edinburgh!!

[@cyrennathompson6619]

the fact that you can actually get rejected from a college with a 4.0 literally perfect GPA is so insane to me

[@daisyo.6666]

I think it just shows that GPA is not a good metric of success, but also the US is huge so if there are 5 people per school with perfect GPAs, then you are not certain to get into your dream college just because of it.

[@annabethyeung8512]

The number of people with perfect GPAs is actually very high!

[@prettyprettysmart]

Not that it isn’t great, but there are a ton of people out there with 4.0 GPAs

[@niya-fe5ox]

unweighted it’s understandable cause you don’t know if the took ap/honors or not , weighted with a 4.7+ yes i don’t understand that

[@cqxzl5181]

@@daisyo.6666 gpa is a good metric of average ability, its just not only gpa that they look at?

[@ninajade6737]

Congratulations!! You'll love Edinburgh! Re: UCL, I think the reason some English uni decisions come in later is because we dont get our A Level results until late August. The deadlines for accepting offers are usually like end of May or June I think? So offers are still coming in until then 😊

[@gamer-nh9ub]

The deadline for unis to reply is on may 21st but some unis just leave the application without a decision if they’re gonna reject it anyway so it just auto rejects on may 21st if the uni doesn’t submit a decision

[@abalkkeesa]

I LOVE that you shared where you didn’t get accepted. It demonstrates your resilience and confidence in your own value, regardless of circumstances outside of your control. I think you’re setting a great example for others.

[@AbacusAxolotyl]

How on earth do you have those amazing credentials and still get rejected from some universities!? Edinburgh is my home city where I grew up and since moving away for the past 6 years I’ve realised that there’s no other city like it and I’m desperate to go back! You’ll love it there! It’s a fabulous city for students, SO much happens through the year (including the Edinburgh Fringe Festivals through the Summer, the biggest New Year’s Eve street party in the world, Christmas fairs, gigs, events and so on) and it’s a beautiful and magical place with a VERY rich history. Well done and congrats!

[@rachelcoimbra3629]

It’s crazy to me! Maybe they give more chances to in state students? I was born in MA and had way worse test scores and every else than her 😂 and got into almost all of the school I applied in MA. I ended up going to community college but it’s crazy that she didn’t get in with all of her hard work. I also know people that goes to Harvard and have very similar scores than her but they were born in MA and have lived here all of their lives, so maybe that helps? Idk

[@oliveri9407]

American universities are superior

[@andrewlowery6030]

I’m from Newcastle but have always had a soft spot for Edinburgh. It’s such a vibrant city and, like you say, ideal for students.

[@ctgctg1]

My daughter graduated with a law degree from U of Edinburgh and then did a masters there. She loved it. It’s definitely a Harry Potter haven, so if you love the books you will love Edinburgh. The law school is definitely old century gothic.😅

[@Belenshares]

The number of applications per student to top institutions in the US has exploded in the last three years, so all the top universities get applications from all the top students. Things have really gotten out of hand, but if there were caps of number of applications it would screw students over who need merit scholarships to afford going to university.

[@goldenxt]

as someone who was super ambitious and received disappointing results from US colleges, it feels good to see someone else talk about how youtube isn't a good representation of how decision season usually goes. good luck at Edinburgh and congratulations on your UK results, they were wonderful!

[@2003superstella]

thank you for sharing and being so real! finishing the college admissions process is a huge accomplishment and this random person on the internet is so proud of you :)

[@anisaromano5352]

Agree with posting rejections from top colleges. You seem smart and have a bunch of diverse interests - they are missing out but I hope you love Scotland and do videos about going there for college.

[@andrewlowery6030]

Every so often KZbin throws up some random videos and I click on the odd couple. It’s definitely interesting to see how different the process is in America as to how it is here in the UK. I’m currently considering going back to uni but I’d now be classed as a mature student, so I’m about to go on that journey and all the nervousness that’s going to bring. Anyway congrats on getting into Edinburgh, it’s a vibrant city with very friendly people so you will feel at home in no time.

[@noorshaheen4920]

Love that you posted this because I was definitely expecting another one of those “I got into every school!!!” vids

[@zofiagruszka3722]

getting accepted to Edinburgh is such a flex .... like such a cool school

[@nelynels]

from a brit, the reason it took so long for the uk unis to get back to you is likely because most of the top schools n courses take a gathered field approach to applications, meaning they don't even begin to look at apps until the ucas deadline on january 25th!! one of my friends still hadn't heard back from a place in july lol. i hope you have the most fabulous time in edinburgh, its a goooorgeous city

[@gracepountney]

Have an amazing time in Edinburgh!! Such a beautiful city. Honestly, unis like Oxford and Cambridge are so glamorised when in reality students are overworked and mental health is not prioritised. You’ll have a blast at Edinburgh, I’m sure! ❤️✨

[@Chrissyhappy]

Agree 100%. My son applied to Oxford. Got four A* and passed the entrance exam. Still never got in. Was really disappointed. People have now been more forthcoming about their experiences there and I’m honestly relieved he didn’t get in. Three eight week terms. That’s it. At the end of every term you have to move all your belongings out. Would have been a nightmare for us doing that three or four times a year! As computer science was his subject he has so much technology!😂 He’s now at a Russell group university and so settled and happy. My friends child is at Edinburgh and absolutely loves it! So much so she’s staying there to work when she’s finished. I’m sure you’ll be very happy there! Congratulations to you!🎉.

[@thing1976]

Yeah, oxford and cambridge are so overrated

[@capitalb5889]

My daughter is an Oxford and is loving it, and not overworked either. However, some subjects are very intensive.

[@thing1976]

@@capitalb5889 to be honest, it depends on the person. If your daughter is someone who maybe has different levels of intensity, stress, joy to someone else, they will feel totally different about Oxford or Cambridge.

[@muntahahaque197]

As a British student, it’s very difficult for even British students to get accepted to UCL,Kings and especially Oxford. You should be so proud though Edinburgh is a beautiful place and it’s a great uni!

[@paigelouise26]

I’m so happy you picked Edinburgh! It’s really the birthplace of medicine and such a fun city! You’re going to love it, CONGRATULATIONS!

[@Ayushr0129]

Hi Payton! Congratulations for all your acceptances! I am impressed by all your extracurriculars and your stats! It’s sad that Oxford did not accept a strong candidate like you.

[@sneakerhead6625]

as an oxford offer holder they don’t care about extracurricular stuff that i isn’t directly related to the course eg. a chemistry insight week if ur doing chem. they rejected so many amazing applicants this year and i know a lot of worthy people who got rejected. it’s unsurprising when they reject incredible students but you can’t let it reflect you as their process is very long and difficult

[@LotusBlack5]

@@sneakerhead6625 I agree - they really don't give a care about extracurriculars.

[@capitalb5889]

@@sneakerhead6625 Hope you got your grades!

[@joshb5951]

As someone 3 years out of college, the place you go to school does not matter. What matters is both how you maximize your experience in school and how you continue to maximize your experiences outside of school. Creativity coupled with some intelligence will get you way further than a high IQ or fancy degree. The real benefit of getting a fancy degree is the confidence and connections you get from it. Build those two things on your own and boom you've leveled the playing field. One more thing: The fact that you were humble enough to post this and show the other side of admissions is such an amazing show of character. I appreciate it so much even though I'm already well past college :)

[@jackiehedges320]

Edinburgh is a great choice, Very well done! I'm a psych and neuro student at UNC Chapel Hill and have lived in Scotland for a few years. I'm so excited for you! BTW, you would have gotten into UNC easily if you were an NC resident.

[@hawkname1234]

I LOVE that you decided to post a much more typical admissions experience for students to be able to see.

[@maxnewsom3100]

As someone went to Edinburgh University, I can say that you will have an intensely memorable experience of a unique city. Much of it is very beautiful, especially the Georgian parts. Its climate is pretty good and the Edinburgh Festival, over the summer vacation is something you should really try to explore at least once. The landscape of Scotland is also astonishing (if often very wet). You're close to the Lake District in England (also very beautiful), Northumberland (historic castles and market towns). You also have London, Wales, Ireland and England and mainland Europe on your doorstep. Beyond that, what is important in a University are the friends you make, the books you read, some of the tutors you may encounter, the laughter, the falling in love, the additional travel you do with your friends outside the city and, above all (for the long term) the sense of your becoming you, for the first time in your life. Sometimes the rate of growth feels like you are shedding an old skin every ten days... Have a great time and hang on to your hat.

[@shesgonestella]

Edinburgh is so great, you will honestly love it! As someone who also studied in the UK (and got rejected from Oxbridge post interview, RIP) - most people don't submit their UCAS as early as October unless they're applying to Oxbridge, so the wait generally doesn't feel so long, but it's quite common to not hear back until Spring time. It's been years for me now but I think most of mine came around Easter, since we don't results until August anyway!

[@emmazordan9793]

Sitting here crying because I know my exam to get into university here in Italy went bad. But seeing you get into all these universities makes me so happy for you. In Italy there is only one national exam and you make a list of the universities where you'd like to get in and they then tell you if you passed. If you pass you get into one of your choices depending on your score. If you don't get in (very frequent since it's so difficult to enter) you basically can do nothing but wait until next year to try again. I'd love to have the opportunity to apply to each school individually like you. I am just so genuinely happy for you but at the same time so emotional because I know I don't get to experience the same kind of joy and it'll probably be till this time next year that I won't be able to try to get into university again. I wish you all the best, I've been to Edinburgh it's such a nice city, I know you'll live your best life there and make such good friends 🤍

[@genevieve_lucy]

You're incredible!! You have no idea how helpful I found seeing your ups and downs. I've been really hard on myself lately for some rejections and I'm so grateful that you posted this. I felt far less alone. Thank you, and as a fellow UK student with friends in Edinburgh, you're going to have the time of your life!! x

[@willemijn8005]

You will love Edinburgh university!! I went there myself and had the BEST time. The city is amazing, the people, culture and all the uni clubs are absolutely great!! Still miss that time every day (I graduated last year). Wishing you a great time✨🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@sophiemorrison5369]

I am from New Zealand, living in the UK when I did uni applications. I applied to unis from each country - 6 in total (St. Andrews in the UK, ICL in the UK, York in the UK, Exeter in the UK, UPenn in the US, Auckland in NZ.). Even though UPenn and Auckland are more prestigious than some of my UK options, I got into both. On the other hand, I didn't get into St. Andrews or Exeter, despite those unis having higher acceptance rates. I think UK unis are skeptical of US students because they don't have a rigid general curriculum that they can use to compare students, whereas US unis are accepting of international students because they DO have rigid curriculums. Well done for getting into any of your options, especially all of your

[@xojessi]

Thank you for being so transparent! It's been ages since I've applied to university so I understand the stress and emotion you experienced. It's something you reallly need to experience to understand. Proud of you!

[@notyourtypicalgranny]

In Australia you pick your top six courses and they allot them in order of merit. It is based soley on your academic results, no interviews or essays. If you don't get in to a university you can go to a Technical college and bring up your score for the next year. You can apply in each state to give you more choices but most students stay in their own state and many live at home.

[@mackenzielai3449]

UCAS always being down is so relatable lol.... congrats on your unconditional offer to Edinburgh though! I personally am (hopefully) about to start at Glasgow for dentistry, the accent will definitely take some getting used to but Edinburgh is a fantastic city, has a beautiful campus and great student nightlife ;) Hope you enjoy it!

[@mpm2004]

Hey Payton, I loved your video. I just went through the application process for a masters program and like you I had a hard time with the results at first. Then I realized I am exactly where I am needed to be and you will thrive.

[@y0landa543]

honestly as much as i admire hardworking and passionate young people, the amount of sacrifice that you would have to commit to in order to dedicate your entire teenage years to grind for your college application is probably not worth it. how could you expect children to spend every waking hour doing something to impress a college? i don’t even know who even goes there at this point, so i hope you are not too disheartened given the ridiculous acceptance rate i’m sure Edinburgh will be fabulous

[@katie-po5hh]

Thank you so much for sharing this video! I'm doing research for my daughter who wants to apply for US and UK universities in the future, and I found your video much more useful and interesting than the ones where people get into all their dream schools! Thanks for being real and good luck at the University of Edinburgh!

[@MW-qf1kc]

OMG an unconditional at Edinburgh is AMAZING!!! Absolutely crazy, well done!!!

[@JagoJPiano]

4:04 (as someone in doing their undergrad at Oxford now), your admissions test and interview obviously weren’t a detriment to your application. You were probably rejected not because you lack any sort of intelligence, but just because the tutors thought you wouldn’t be a good fit for the tutorial system. On the other hand, the year we applied was very competitive, and every year Oxford has to reject capable applicants simply because of the low number of places.

[@rithikbanerjee4113]

I just want to say that I can relate so much to this video. Thank you so much for posting this! It really sheds light on how random the college admissions process is, even for someone with such amazing qualifications like you. I actually applied to exactly 28 colleges this year and I only got accepted to 4 colleges (3 of them were guaranteed because my state schools accepted almost everyone that applied). I remember feeling so devastated and depressed my whole senior year of high school because I worked so hard for my entire life just for almost every single college to reject me for seemingly not being good enough. But, I immediately broke down in tears for the first time in my life when I got into Columbia University. It's so weird to look back on the whole process with the foresight that I didn't do anything wrong and that college admissions is just so subjective. I definitely learned so much from that experience and I'm glad you are going to a really good place! Hope you enjoy your college years!

[@sarahogawa5408]

So brave to share this with everyone! Thank you so much. Parents are watching this too. In fact, parents are probably watching them more….😮

[@hwhack]

Wow, this brought back memories! The pain of those letters is real. It's been 21 years since I did this and wow, Payton's feelings cut to the bone. I remember all the work, money, organization it took when applying to schools and getting that 1 seconds decision. Heart wrenching.

[@faithlesshound5621]

As an Edinburgh grad myself, the one tiny bit of advice I can give is, don't forget the national galleries, museums, concert halls and theatres that you can find in any capital city. The university's own gallery is worth visiting regularly too. Without much effort you will find in a few years that you have acquired a decent education in all sorts of stuff you did not study. Switching to a different track, while there are many opportunities in sport and the arts, for science students it's increasingly important to get involved in research from an early stage, and to write reports, presentations and papers.

[@zacharybravo8201]

Payton! I'm glad you did post this video and shown your emotions the entire way. Being a current senior in college I see a lot of freshmens students being devastated of not getting into the school they wanted and see it as some sort of failure moment in life but in reality its just a tiny bump of many bumps in the future to come. You're gonna do awesome work at Edinburgh University good luck!!!

[@bernatmacabe]

Really needed your video. Everybody posting this stuff gets in every uni, I applied to US and UK too. You are the best ❤

[@ChronicallyBreathlessMUA]

Congratulations and welcome to the uk 🇬🇧 We don’t get our college (A-Level Results) till late August here in the uk so decisions for admission offers to university can be very late and the process is very different here in the uk which I’m sure is difficult for US students who are applying. But Edinburgh is a great university you will have a fabulous time. Congratulations and all the best with your studies. Come visit Winchester if you get a chance! X

[@jackschitt6235]

My niece went to Princeton as in the Ivy league and last I heard she's unemployed!

[@miumoments]

Lol just sharing your nieces business

[@seren4740]

😂😂

[@shaaravguha3760]

Why tf do you feel the need to share that lmao I understand your message, but that was just rude

[@mike4523]

@@shaaravguha3760 Jack's post I thought was appropriate and blended well with the ending of this video. Getting into or being rejecting from your dream school is not the end of the story. (Unlike what most of these hollywood-ending-style college reaction videos seem to convey.) Life is a long process. I'm sure Jack's niece will get back on her feet.

[@shaaravguha3760]

@@mike4523 The message is nice, but what did their niece do to get thrown under the bus like that.

[@serenity9584]

thank you so much for showing your experience with all these college apps i hope you have a great time in the university of edinburgh :D

[@keithmartin1067]

Many congratulations, Payton! The University of Edinburgh is prestigious, and it is considered, along with Bristol, to be an alternative to both Oxford and Cambridge Universities. The Prince of Wales graduated from Edinburgh. Wishing you both good-luck and success!

[@LotusBlack5]

In fact, I heard whilst I was studying at Cambridge that the engineering department of Edinburgh is greater than the same programs offered at Cambridge, for example. On a departmental level, some universities that, as a whole, rank lower than others, are actually better than the highest ranked. The University of Edinburgh is nothing to sneeze at, indeed! I think I would have done better there than at Cambridge, to be honest and if I had my time over, I'd likely not go to Cam.

[@thomasdalton1508]

The Prince of Wales went to St Andrews, didn't he?

[@keithmartin1067]

HRH Prince William, the Prince of Wales, attended Edinburgh, where Sir met HRH Princess Catherine, the Princess of Wales.

[@keithmartin1067]

My apologies, you are correct, St. Andrews.

[@keithmartin1067]

Amelia Windsor attended Edinburgh University.

[@rosieeastwood9046]

OMG THAT'S AMAZING! I go to Edinburgh and I'm going into my 3rd year in September. I study Sociology and Psychology so that's amazingly similar. You will be amazing and you will love Edinburgh and Scotland overall, I have no doubt. Don't forget your umbrella x

[@londontosf]

so great you made this video. We are west coast CA, our youngest son is 16, very intereted in Psychology, was born in the UK and very interested in applying to UK universities. Your video was great for setting realistic expecations. His top choices are Kings, U of Edinburgh, and that one starting with an 'O'. Also heard great things about UCL and St Andrews but notice you didn't apply to the latter - and sounds like UCL was a bit of chaos. In any case, we would really enjoy hearing your perspective. Heading to check out U of Edinburgh in Nov - and haven't been for 15 years since we were living in London and went up for Hogmanay. Thanks again!

[@idkpayton]

Edinburgh is AMAZING! I know people at Oxford, King's, and St. Andrew's and l really do feel like I ended up in the best spot. I know that King's, Oxford, and UCL are all very independent and intense, with St. Andrews being a very closed off and international small town. Edinburgh is, at least I think, the perfect balance! It still feels like a small town despite its size and the workload is not too intense but still challenging. I honestly have found the first two years of the psych program here a bit too broad and easy but I enjoy the data analysis modules a LOT and they're super real-world applicable. But the university is great and the city is incredible. London is of course amazing as well but I think I would've been overwhelmed with the size! I know this was totally all over the place but I hope this helped somehow!

[@michaelhogan4103]

Well done! I appreciate your comment at the end and your openness and sharing even though the experience was a bit disappointing for you. This is a valuable video for all prospective students.

[@nilcesoares9708]

Congratulations on Edinburgh! I went to Brown + I can wholeheartedly say that you're not missing anything by not attending an Ivy ... going to university abroad will transform you in so many intangible ways that would never happen if you were to attend an US school

[@poppy5501]

edinburgh is such a beautiful city to visit, even better to live there. i hope you enjoy your time there ! the higher ranked unis usually wait until last last minute to give offers, even if it is a rejection. my friend was waiting on her top choice uni until the last day they had to get back to us.

[@frankathl1]

From your video: You have a great attitude (I know it was tough), and you seem to be a highly positive, open person. I doubt you have any need to worry about your future success. I hope Edinburgh is everything you want it to be. Good luck!

[@lmbk3294]

Also you are awesome for posting this- you should be so proud of all your achievements and it shows how you can’t take these decisions personally. It’s so important to show an accurate depiction of what it’s like for so many students - too often social media is only showing best case scenario. Best of luck at Edinburgh

[@kaitlinchan7788]

You seem like the sweetest person ever, Edinburgh is super lucky to have you. All the best x

[@itsfrankie9570]

If you didn't know in the UK we don't do, deferred, waitlisted none of that. Just yes or no. Oxford is very hard to get into even for British people. The acceptance rate is only 14% but it's a misleading statistic. It's incredibly hard and often arbitrary. Don't worry my brother and sister had the same applications and one got in and the other didn't.

[@clara_rose_]

Thank you so much for posting this! I really appreciate the transparency about the whole process. I hope you have a wonderful time in Edinburgh and I can't wait to see what you do in the future!!

[@isabellaperdomo5514]

congratulations!!!! i applied to 5 UK schools + 1 US school and i’m going to University of Westminster in the fall :). so cool to see others going to the UK for college!!!!

[@Luthienne]

For some reason your video got suggested to me today. I've lived/worked in Edinburgh for the last 7 years. You will love it here, and having lived in London for 5 years before then, I think you'll like way more than any of the London universities for the much better quality of life and Edinburgh's proximity/access to rest of UK and Europe. Good luck, and have fun :-)

[@b4ilee]

ahhh, as someone who’s from edinburgh, you’ll absolutely enjoy it here🫶🏼 there is so many amazing people and so many places to see, never a dull day here. i hope you enjoy your life at Edi Uni and you make some wholesome friendships✨

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

GREAT VIDEO! I applaud you for showing the yes and the no results. I think you will LOVE Edinburgh! Congrats! And congrats on getting a ton of views on this vid! I'm on old lady with two sons who are 25 and 26. I remember this college decision experience vividly... it is so stressful! They are both graduated now, and had great university experiences. I think it's so fascinating that you applied to so many British and American unis. We currently live in Texas half the year and Edinburgh the other half. I wish you all the best at uni!

[@fozzymalik]

Thanks for sharing! University of Edinburgh is a top school in the UK and globally.Hope you're having a blast! All the best-from Pakistan!

[@empoweredcoaching1888]

I studied at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh (2012-16) then stayed for work until 2022. Ended up living good 11 years in this city and got a UK citizenship. Scotland is beautiful. Now it’s my second home. 🥰 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Enjoy it!!!

[@audreyhill]

hey:) i never comment but had really similar stats and basically the same experience with the college admissions system this year, and am also going to university of edinburgh in the fall! a wild ride but so stoked to be going, you don’t know how comforting it is to see someone else go through that too haha

[@swand1383]

The EXACT same thing happened to with UCL in 2021- they took so long to get back to me that I just firmed a different uni before I found out if I got in haha

[@laurenbyars5667]

We are moving to Edinburgh soon for my fiancé's phd and I had such a funny feeling at the beginning of this video that you would go here!! A massive congratulations!!

[@HughMadBro]

I've never seen videos like this, at 31 my school didn't make it appoint to help with scholarships although a A/B strait (No less) student idk if I even took SAT's or any of the big tests. Thanks for your transparency. I wouldn't have been able to afford college anyway as I was the first to graduate in my family since the 70's. I hope you find what you're looking for & you find tons of travel in your college adventure 💜🤷🏼‍♀️

[@oliverqueen5883]

I used to live in Oxford as a young lad and I always wanted to return and go to the uni, trust me I feel your pain as I got rejected too post-interview (also got an offer-holder average MAT entrance exam score too). But congrats for the rest you did great!!! I’m also going to Scotland as well, but St Andrews not Edinburgh.

[@Emily-fm7pt]

Going through the process for Joint CS and Math right now, lets hope that they'll take pity on my slightly above average (but almost certainly below average for an offer holder) MAT score...

[@SubwayDynamite]

Have the best time in Edinburgh! I'm going there for a Masters degree next month!

[@nmitchxll305]

honestly if i'd been rejected from Ox i would've been so broken, you're so strong and you've got great options!

[@Mdb0514]

I’m shocked that you got rejected by ANY school. Your qualifications are beyond. You made a great choice. You’re going to love Edinburgh. I hope you have an amazing time.

[@kit4316]

It’s not surprising, a lot of students have a great gpa and test scores. More prestigious schools can’t accept everyone, they would loose the prestige status and it wouldn’t be sustainable on the university’s. That’s when they look at extra curriculars, community service, the interview, family income and if they can offer you extra aid. If they don’t think you can get the loans/funds for the university they’ll reject you to keep higher retention rates. It sucks but that’s academics 🤷‍♀️ especially for more disciplined degrees like science/medicine. It’s how they wash out those who can’t make it.

[@Emilyannc]

This was so cool to watch through and has really made me question the UK perception of US education. You sound like such a well rounded, independent and hard working student. I hope that if I have kids one day that they are so lucky to be as qualified as you. All the best for studying at Edinburgh! It is a beautiful city full of so many opportunities. My advice is to do your research and make a list of ALL of the amazing things you can do in Edinburgh, Scotland and the UK with price guides for each activity. It’s a great way to make friends with a similar mindset and to keep yourself from falling into a rut while you adjust to the weather (expect a lot of rain). Best of luck 🤞

[@CherryBlossomXX93]

You will absolutely adore Edinburgh - it's such a gorgeous, welcoming, exciting city to live in, whilst feeling so homely and comforting too... Screw all the unis that rejected you because you ended up exactly where you were always supposed to be. ❤

[@Ricky-es9vg]

As a recent UConn grad I am biased, but good luck with your future studies! Remember; never drop a class because it is too hard, only drop it if it is deathly boring + not necessary.

[@JaniceRafael]

Great video - congrats getting in to all the universities you got into. Well done.

[@Scarlettaiuto_]

One of the reasons u probs didn’t get a response from ucl is because you applied before October 15th so they know u applied as an early app (so they know u applied to Oxford) Russel unis can be kind of salty about it, it’s hard to explain but yeah it’s rly common lol

[@kagebunshin4380]

I was rejected from law at Cambridge and went to UCL, ended up doing a dual degree with Columbia. The guy who interviewed me at Cambridge went to Reading and then did a PhD at Cambridge, and became the one rejecting people. My friend from UCL who didn’t go to Columbia went on to do a PhD at Oxbridge (can’t remember which). My friend from UCL got unconditional from Oxford in one year, had to give up his spot, then rejected the next. My friends from UCL who didn’t go to Oxbridge went on to become barristers at top sets, magic circle firms, US firms, consultancy agencies, politics… the list goes on. My point is that tons of incredible students get rejected from Oxbridge and that has more to do with luck and also some people are just better at the admissions process,and it says nothing about your ability and potential. Tons of these incredible students go on to do incredible things and are just excellent at what they do. Not getting into Oxbridge means nothing. You are an excellent student and thanks for posting this. Also, try Edinburgh Larder, the fish hash is 🤤

[@JA-pn4ji]

Very impressive that you achieved the dual degree with Columbia, as I hear it is very competitive. Yes, rejection from Oxbridge isn't the end especially if you have a Russell University degree and a good class of degree.

[@sorayajuste9664]

CONGRATS!! You’re going to amazing things!

[@alunisae]

watching this brought me back to my own senior year applying to 20+ schools internationally - it was awful:/ I now go to uni of edinburgh too!!! I'm sure you'll have a great time! feel free to reach out if you ever have any questions especially as an international student:)

[@sneakerhead6625]

ayy edinburgh is my backup school and my best friend is going there for chemistry! hopefully i can meet you :) good luck in scotland

[@Zombiegirl15181]

Huge congratulations and huge respect to you for sharing this with us. I wish you all the best in the future x

[@MazzaaWtubechannel]

Welcome to Scotland queen!!! Edinburgh is so beautiful and you'll love it here (bring so many jumpers) xxx

[@vansf3433]

It looks like that you're more interested in the sounds of '' going to a universe" or univs themselves than studying any of your list of possible majors of your interest, and whenever one has so many possible majors, it will mean that vone is not so sure of what one really wants to study What you should do first is to sort out or define clearly why you want to study something basing yourself on both your actual passion for it and your own abilities to see whether you are really pursuing what you want to do with your life or it's merely a transient interest. After that studying which universe can be the best choice for your own case to send your application to, instead of just sending your applications to so many of them, will serve your best interests

[@jessisamess4062]

as someone a year ahead of you who just finished doing transfer applications, I think it's really impressive that you applied to so many schools! i think i would have died if I had done so many applications lolll

[@sarahgirard1405]

Honestly so exciting for you you get to go to Edinburgh. I lived in London for 2 months and that was so long ago and back then it was already so expensive and exhausting to live at. So I feel like you will have a much better experience in Edinburgh and you can still visit London. Much better that way in my opinion. ❤ I wish you all the best in your studies!

[@LotusBlack5]

So, the thing is - and I say this to every college applicant - universities prize uniqueness and the brains to back up research proposals. I'm from Australia, and by no means am I the cream of the crop in so far as grades and GPA are concerned. I had a lot of extenuating circumstances, but still, I'm good - tend to score the highest level in the subjects that I focus on, but other core subjects I am a mixed bag of results. Let me first say, I never finished high school because of personal issues. I worked hard to sit a university entrance exam. I got in to uni to study my Bachelor of Archaeology. Again, some semesters were just a train wreck because of personal circumstances, so I didn't perform consistently. But, my lecturers could see that I had the potential to score amongst the highest despite my actually not doing so in some subjects. So, I completed my bachelor degree with a 5.28 GPA out of 7. Keep in mind I studied 1/3 of my degree cross-institutionally where I did not receive the grades for those classes (most of which I performed to a high level) and just received the credit. Furthermore, my home institute had quite a number of subjects that were NGPs (non-graded passes). These two aspects significantly reduced my ability to strengthen my GPA. In any case, I aspired to study an MPhil at the University of Cambridge in the field of Egyptology. I often visited the website 'the student room' and looked at stories of people just like you, Payton, who were so anxious about their chances of getting in to Oxbridge. They would state their GPA, the extracurricular activities they did, the volunteer work they were involved in, and would look for reassurance on their chances by consulting other Oxbridge hopefuls. I looked at my GPA, which certainly wasn't as good as most of the applicants. I didn't participate in any extracurricular activities because who has time for that unless they were passionate about it and not undertaking it as a strategy to get into uni? But, what I did have was passion for my field and a drive that would outmatch any. Despite my struggles, I kept going and refused to quit, even if it meant my GPA was shot to sh*t. In my personal statement to the university [of Cambridge} and my chosen program, I told them exactly what my weaknesses were. I acknowledged my poor (by Oxbridge's standards) grades. But, I also told them that my weaknesses were, in fact, my greatest strengths. I had to fight for every opportunity I had - I had to fight to get into uni for my bachelor degree because I never completed high school. I had to fight to finish my degree because I had a terminally ill parent and the focus that that took compromised my studies over the entirety of it. I told them that I had to create a degree structure on my own because my university didn't offer a specialisation in Egyptology, so I did what I had to to get the experience and knowledge I needed for higher degree research, even if it meant compromising my GPA to the point that I may not even be ELIGIBLE to apply to such a university as Cambridge. I told them that I was not a cookie cutter student and I could not prove to them on paper that I was worth the risk, but what they COULD be certain of and what was demonstrated through recorded history, was that I finished everything I started despite the many and severe obstacles, and I demonstrated longevity in a field little explored by society at large. I told them that I would bring those qualities to higher degree research and that it would serve them well. I also told them, respectfully, that I believed there were quite a number of gaps in both ancient and modern scholarship, including their own, that meant there was great opportunity to shed new light on new research that may change the way in which the discipline was understood. And they listened. They remember statements like that. They had thousands of applicants who all had the highest GPAs, the numerous extra skills like playing a musical instrument, and those devoted to the betterment of society - typically through volunteering to good causes. I couldn't offer them ANY of that, but, honestly, they didn't give a hoot about any of that. What they care about is that you are passionate, you strive hard and even harder when confronted with tricky challenges, and that you have great potential to SHED NEW LIGHT ON THE DISCIPLINE. All the other stuff is just cookie cutter fluff. They remembered my application because it was respectfully sassy and completely transparent. I was offered 1 out of only 5 places in my program. Now, granted, it was a masters level degree, which is slightly easier to get in to than an undergraduate degree, but regardless of the level, Cambridge is not a walk in the park to get in to. The moral of the story is that they really really don't care about all the extra stuff because it doesn't differentiate you from the thousands of other applicants who all have varying forms of the same application. They are scholars, they want to know you will contribute to the field you are applying to and that's really what it boils down to. Whatever your flaws are, or weaknesses in your application, don't try to hide them - take them head on and be transparent but also tell them how those perceived flaws are really strengths that will serve you well during your studies and will make you an asset to the university and the specific program you are applying to. Lastly, if what you want is Oxford, don't quit trying to get in - bide your time with Edinburgh and do your best, then you may be able to apply for further studies at Oxford. I have been discussing a DPhil with a potential supervisor at Oxford who, when looking at my academic transcripts and the gaps in them, stated that it's just a piece of paper and doesn't definitively prove someone's ability to carry out the highest level of research. What they look at, more than a piece of paper, is who you are, how you propose to carry out your research and does it align with their interests, can it be done within the scope of the program, and do you possess the qualities to see the research through to successful completion - regardless of your grades. Grades do matter, but only up to a certain point. So, don't be discouraged and find a way to create the opportunities you want in your life.

[@jeremybarker7577]

Spot on. Oxford and Cambridge are only interested in a person's academic potential. Doing extracurricular activities is of zero (really zero) relevance unless it's directly related to the course you're applying for - very unlike many US univesities where it can make a significant difference. Back in my day (I was applying over 45 years ago) they had entrance examinations which were designed to assess potential rather than what you already knew and they really stretched you - for example, one of the science papers I took had an error in the question (which might have been deliberate) and I suspect the way I answered it probably had a lot to do with why I was admitted without an interview.

[@fragones1237]

Nice, Enjoy Edinburgh, it’s a very good uni in a very nice city. I got an offer from UCL and the London unis do take a long time to get back, many go up till the deadline, some even after 😭

[@sneakerhead6625]

yh ucl don’t always inform u if u get rejected they just let the deadline pass so they reject u that way

[@charlottecheung7908]

i relate so hard to this video omg!!! the application process is so tough esp oxbridge but i truly believe where you end up will be the best fit for you. big congrats~!

[@charlottecheung7908]

the london shools are so late with their decisons its so annoying!!!!

[@indigosummer-n1u]

Edingburgh will be amazing. Everyone loves being there.

[@jedinetwork9985]

what u think i should have as a us student wanting to go to edinburgh in terms of gpa sat ap that stuff

[@adriana7144]

I went to Edinburgh a million years ago. I am sure you will love it and you are coming to an amazing city. Congratulations.

[@mangoliys]

well done you’re so brave for posting this!! congrats on u of e great britain welcomes you 🩷

[@Cluleyeva]

So exciting you chose Edinburgh! I’ve lived here my whole life, it's such a beautiful city I hope u love it here ❤

[@politicsinpink]

sorry about UCL (as a student there) they are NOTORIOUSLY so slow at getting back to applicants. I know some people that heard back in like May/June which is like WAYYY late compared to other UK unis. I think it's because we just have so many applicants so it takes time to. go through them! best of luck for Edinburgh, it's a great uni in a great city!

[@HaleyFunk1]

Wow this is amazing! I am so proud of you! I wish you all the best! That’ll be an amazing experience! Also, I love your mom’s support! ❤

[@natthecat1989]

Congrats!!! That’s the one I hoped you’d pick :) have a wonderful time in Edinburgh-hike up Arthur’s seat ❤

[@toraelisek]

Great video, and so cool that you're going to University of Edinburgh! I'm going there too this fall for literature, I'm just waiting for my visa.

[@filmweshoot]

I went to Edinburgh and absolutely adored it. It was the most incredible college and the most incredible city. You'll have the best time!

[@rouschkavanderplank2396]

As a Dutch person..... all the extracurricular stuff you have to do to get into a good uni is crazy to me. But congratulations!

[@jeremybarker7577]

It's very much an American thing. UK universities have practically zero interest in any extracurricular activities you do unless they're directly related to the course you're applying for.

[@Orange_creamsicle]

one thing i learned during admmissions process, is sometimes its just not the right fit. It could have everything on paper but it doesn't have the essence to match. And colleges have done a good job at determining the type of student that goes to their school - naturally not everyone will fit, and that's okay but some schools will have your essence