Do Oxford look at AS grades?

[Welshpoolmummy]

My daughter is going to apply, she didn't get three As but narrow missed out. Does this affect her chances if predicted AAA/AA*A?

[bojorojo]

Why don't you look at the admission guidelines Oxford publish for the course and see what they say. They can take every exam into account even GCSEs. But looking at the info is best and the courses and departments may differ. Lots of positive things may offset the AS results, such as great suitability for the course and desire to study the subject, and clearly one blip may not make a huge difference, assuming it is not in the subject she wants to study. I am sure an expert will be along soon.

[Carriemac]

watching with interest as my DD got AABB at AS and 10 A*s at GCSE, wondering if her oxford hope are still feasible?

[hellsbells99]

My DD got a B at AS level and was offered interviews at Oxford after she has sat their pre-entry Pat test. She withdrew from interview because she had already got an offer from somewhere she preferred so we don't know whether she would have got an offer or not. The B didn't seem to be an issue but what is important is their predicted grades and obviously any tests they need to sit.

[Ciutadella]

Ah - have just posted on another thread (about cambridge!). How are universities approaching the fact that some schools have dropped as s in the linear subjects and some have not? Are those students going to be at a disadvantage compared to students who have done (well in) as? And should current yr 11s be looking to change 6th form to schools still doing as if they want to maximise their choice of university?
Everything seems to have got even more complicated with the recent changes! Is this the first year of ucas applications since linear a levels were introduced?

[goodbyestranger]

Carriemac I've had a DC with AABB who got an offer but hellsbells is right about the pre-tests - this one scored extremely highly in the HAT. If she's applying for a subject with no pre-tests or written work I still wouldn't worry, especially this year when ASs are downgraded as an assessment tool, since 10A is a fabulous tally and they're far more important than ASs . The only slight concern might be a low B in one of the subjects she's continuing with in case it makes an A at A2 unlikely - but it would have to be very low. That same DC of mine ended up with a very high A in the subject at A2 (although it was a good B), and I'm sure the selectors know that that's possible.

[goodbyestranger]

I mean a low B in an unreformed subject which she's carrying on - sorry, it's a bit convoluted!

[Carriemac]

shes dropping one of the A subjuts - economics and keeping on maths B and History ( high b, no teacher for one module for 2 terms) . doing LNAT so hopefully will pull up on that

[goodbyestranger]

Two of mine have done law at Oxford recently Carriemac and it's really the LNAT and the GCSEs which count. Tell her not to worry about the ASs, they're extremely minor in the scheme of things but the LNAT is important for sure.

[Carriemac]

Thats reassuring Goodbye - any advice for her PS? we are not a law family - she is a bookish non sporty analytical type and loves the criminal courts

[bojorojo]

There was an open day at Oxford today so you could have obtained advice from them directly. In most ps's, state what you have learned from visits and why she wants to study law at the very least. Perhaps relevant reading too. Other universities may have suggestions on their web sites. Your DD will need to register for the LNAT fairly soon.

[goodbyestranger]

DS6 was helping out yesterday bojo and I don't think they do too much on personal statements except for the most generic advice.

Carriemac the Oxford website gives very good generic advice. I don't know if this helps, but my two girls were both asked questions in their interviews about things on their personal statements, although for the first it was a minor ice breaker, no more. But the second had almost the whole of one of her two interview discussing the broader aspects of a particular case she'd listened to and mentioned, so if your DD has sat in on any particular case - you say she's really interested in the criminal process - which was particularly controversial or raised significant political or legal or moral issues, then that might be something to explore. The critical thing (sorry, obvious) is that she must be able to discuss anything at all that she's put in her statement so definitely don't mention books which she's only skimmed or worse still intends to read but hasn't yet - in case the time runs out! Also, academic lawyers want to hear why someone wants to study law as an academic discipline, not that they want to earn lots of money as a commercial lawyer in the future, so possibly avoid career related stuff - not relevant at this stage.

[goodbyestranger]

DC6 not DS6!

[YellowPrimula]

Sounds odd but have you also looked at YouTube there are nots of blogs and films both official Oxford ones and students posting about their experiences .There are definately some mock Oxford law interviews and there is an Oxvlog one about what it's like to read law at Oxford and what they are looking for .

[bojorojo]

I think PS's and what they look for can come up in Q and A although I think that was on a subject day, now I recall accurately. I think the PS has to be convincing enough to get the interview in the first place so it is difficult to prepare for that experience before you write the ps.

[goodbyestranger]

bojo not quite sure what you mean, I'm probably being dense, but it is really important not to raise any areas 'of interest' in the personal statement that you're not really interested in and wouldn't be on sure ground discussing at interview, if called. I'm not convinced that the personal statement makes a difference in selecting applicants for interview at Oxford, I think that's overwhelmingly down to grades and pre-tests but of course methods of selection for interview does vary by subject, so perhaps you're correct about that for some subjects.