Summary
19 January 2012
Oxford University, which has sent out thousands of rejection letters in the past, has found itself the subject of a joke played by a student applicant, who decided to turn the tables.
Reporter
John McManus
Magdalen College, Oxford
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Report
Nineteen-year old Elly Nowell from Winchester in the south of England applied to the Oxford college of Magdalen to read law, but when she was invited for interview she decided she didn't like what she saw.
Elly, who is finishing her A-levels, told the 大象传媒 that Oxford resembled the British Monarchy in that it was what she called ridiculous and elitist, but unlike the Royal Family, was rarely mocked.
Her actions may well change that. Following her interview at Magdalen college, Elly wrote a rejection letter to the University, using the kind of language that officials employ when they're trying to let somebody down gently.
Elly admits that her letter of rejection to the university was not entirely serious, but it has raised some serious points.
Oxford, and Cambridge universities are often accused of elitism, and of having entrance procedures that favour students from private schools.
Yet Oxford says it's changing, and that last year, more than half of its academic offers went to pupils from state schools.
As for Elly, she now hopes to gain a place at University College London. The admissions staff there may well be watching the mailbox very closely.
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Vocabulary
- A-levels
exams taken by 18 year-olds in England and Wales
- resembled
seemed like
- ridiculous
very silly
- elitist
for the interest of a small group of people who want to exclude others
- mocked
joked about
- rejection letter
letter which tells someone they are not wanted
- employ
use
- let somebody down
disappoint someone
- procedures
set of actions considered normal in a certain situation
- state schools
schools funded by government rather than paid for directly by parents
