Comprehensive pupil sends Oxford her OWN rejection letter saying ‘grand interview setting allows public schools applicants to flourish’
- Elly Nowell, 19, wrote Oxford ‘did not quite meet the standard of universities I will be considering’
- She writes ‘holding interviews in grand settings encourages public school pupils to flourish’
By Rob Cooper
Last updated at 8:00 AM on 19th January 2012
A state school pupil sent a rejection letter to Oxford University mocking their standards and rituals after being interviewed for a place.
Elly Nowell, 19, wrote to Magdalen College that they ‘did not quite meet the standard’ of other universities.
In a parody of the historic institution’s own letters, she wrote that she found the ‘obvious gap’ between minorities and white middle-class students ‘embarrassing’.
Rejection: A-level student Elly Nowell is predicted to get A*s in history, law and English literature
She said in her letter to Magdalen College that there were ‘significant flaws’ in their education system.
Miss Nowell – who is predicted A*s in her history, law and English literature A-levels – now hopes to study law at University College London.
She described the Oxford University interview process as ‘torture’ and the college as ‘rude’ for not even providing a glass of water.
She also criticised the ‘grand formal setting’ of the interview, saying it was ‘intimidating’ and biased towards public school pupils.
Yesterday she said: ‘It was during my interview that I finally realised subjecting myself to the judgement of an institution I fundamentally disagreed with was bizarre.
‘I spent my entire time at the university laughing at how seriously they were taking everything and felt like the only atheist in a gigantic monastery.
‘Oxford is a fairly ridiculous and prominent elitist institution, yet unlike the monarchy or investment bankers it is rarely mocked.
‘Even comedians tend to avoid Oxbridge as a subject. Being a successful student should depend on the student and not on whether or a couple of academics think you shine in a 20 minute interview.’
Rejected: Elly Nowell, 19, had applied to study law at Magdalen College but withdrew in a scathing rejection letter
Miss Nowell, from Winchester, Hampshire, finished her letter by cheekily offering ‘guidance for re-application’.
Magdalen College invited the student, from Brockenhurst College, Hampshire, for an interview in early December.
The prestigious college counts among its alumni foreign secretary William Hague, Private Eye editor Ian Hislop, documentary maker Louis Theroux and author Oscar Wilde.
Nine Nobel Laureates have also studied her.
In her guide, Elly Nowell offered four points that the college needs to improve if they wish to attract her for a law masters degree – known as an LLM.
The letter, which was sent to university admissions and the law faculty, said: ‘I have now considered your establishment as a place to read Law (Jurisprudence).
‘I very much regret to inform you that I will be withdrawing my application.
Letter in full: The rejection letter that Elly Nowell, 19, sent to Oxford University via email
‘I realise you may be disappointed by this decision but you were in competition with many fantastic universities and following your interview I am afraid you do not quite meet the standard of the universities I will be considering.
‘I encourage you to try again for my LLM but re-applicants are at a disadvantage and you are unlikely to succeed unless you become a more progressive university.
‘See below for guidelines for re-application.
‘I hope you will be successful in finding other capable candidates and I wish you every success in your future as a university.
‘Thank you for your interest in me.’
University of Oxford students today took to Twitter to vent their anger at Miss Nowell’s letter.
User ‘jpspencer2′, who is studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the university, said: ‘Elly Nowell has no idea what it is like to go to Oxford.
‘Her own stupid and narrow minded opinions show why she would not be fit to go here.’
And ‘paulcampy’ said: ‘Elly Nowell doesn’t deserve Magdalen. Signed a former Magdalen student, JCR Pres, OUSU VP and Comprehensive Sch pupil.’
But ‘cproudman’ wrote: ‘Good on you Elly Nowell for sticking-up for your beliefs – with humour.’
The guidelines included at the end of her letter were: ’1) Whilst you may believe your decision to hold interviews in grand formal settings is inspiring, it allows public school applicants to flourish in the environment they are accustomed to and intimidates state school applicants, distorting the true academic potential of both.
’2) Whilst you may believe your traditions and rituals are impressive, they reflect badly on your university.
‘As an institution that preaches academic excellence teaching your students to blindly and illogically do whatever they are told reveals significant flaws in your education system.
‘Frankly. I feel humiliated for both you and your students.
’3) During my time at Magdalen College the obvious gap between minorities and white middle-class students was embarrassing.
‘Whilst I realise you are trying to address these problems within your university, the gap between elitism and discrimination is a narrow one and one that you still do not appear to have adequately addressed.
’4) Perhaps offer a glass of water in your interviews next time it is rude to torture guests.’
An Oxford University spokeswoman said: ‘Despite what the candidate said, we would point out that the actual admissions figures speak for themselves: of the seven UK students who received offers for law and joint school courses at Magdalen, only one was from an independent school.’
