Do Oxford and Cambridge offer a pooling system for applicants that don get into their first choice colleges, but are still good?
Both universities offer a ‘pooling system’, but do so in a slightly different ways. In short: Oxford asks all the people applying for the same subject up for a few days across the whole university. This means that all the PPEists, for example, will be in Oxford for the same three day period and can then go for interviews at other colleges. This process means that you can be in Oxford for up to 3 days, but only be in interview for an hour. The upside is that all of Oxford’s decisions are finalised by Christmas. Incidentally, being asked for an interview at a second college can only be a good sign. While for some subjects it is simply policy for applicants to have 2 (or more) interviews, for others it may indicate that tutors at your first college they think you are good but would like a colleague to give them a second opinion. Cambridge ask you to come up only for your interview. All candidates who are deemed by their first choice colleges good enough to deserve a place at the universit
