Brockenhurst College Public School student Elly Nowell rejects the University of Oxford.
Oxford interviewed Elly for a place to study jurisprudence (Law) at Magdalen College, but turned down the university before it had a chance to offer her a place. Elly, who clearly already has a first-class degree in sarcasm, said the college "may be disappointed by this decision, but you were in competition with many fantastic universities". She said the university "did not quite meet the standard".
Likening the University of Oxford with its dreamy spires to a glorified cathedral Elly told the BBC that the interview had left her feeling like "the only atheist in a gigantic monastery." Complaining on the lack of diversity at Oxford Elly said that the formal setting of the college "allowed public school applicants to flourish … and intimidates state school applicants, distorting the academic potential of both".
A spokeswoman from the university said the letter was "a witty way to communicate her withdrawal." Adding, "the irony is, though, that six out of the seven people offered law places at Magdalen were state-educated."
On Tuesday Oxford narrowly missed being judged as the UK’s best university by the Guardian’s 2012 University guide. Elly hopes to study at University College London which came fifth.