Oxbridge 2020 (thread number 9)

[DadDadDad]

What a year! Just as we've all become experts (at least in our own minds ) about how to write Personal Statements, Oxford admission tests and Cambridge STEP, the complicated dance of the interview process, and how to simultaneously boost our DSs' and DDs' confidence while preparing them for the possibility of disappointment, we have a new topic to learn: statistical modelling of expected grades.

Of course, like all those previous topics, we're not in control of teacher projection and OfQual rejection, but we have this thread to support each other through the coming months.

All welcome. For the record, I have a DS with an Oxford offer for a humanities subject.

[sandybayley]

Ah thanks Dadx3. Checking in for duty. DS1 has Oxford Chemistry offer.

[Hoghgyni]

DD needs AAA for PPE at Oxford. She'll be applying for roles in the cabinet/shadow cabinet if forced to take a gap year!

[TerfTerfTerf]

Thanks Dads.
My DS is a failed Oxford PPE applicant but I can't leave this thread now, I'm far too invested

[DadDadDad]

Just being watching University Challenge with Durham v Corpus Christi Cambridge. They don't half have some clever bastards! I am pleased if I even understand the question...

[DadDadDad]

*been watching.

Maybe my problem is that I can't speak grammatical English.

[SnapSnapDragon]

I should introduce myself properly. My DS has an A*AA offer for an Oxford science subject.
It has indeed been quite a year or, rather, quite a nine months (we were late in thinking about uni applications and I had lazily not even taken DS to any open days before September). But personal statements, exam prep and interviews have been intense and now we are at the final hurdle...

[Ironoaks]

DS has an offer to study natural sciences.
He needs A in Further Maths and AA in Physics and Chemistry (in either order). He is also taking Maths, but that grade won't count towards the offer.

[JulesJules]

D has an AAA offer from Oxford.
Her college have been in touch with a financial declaration form to fill in and email back. They estimate living costs to be in the range of £10.2-£14.8k for the first year

They say that reading lists will be sent out in the summer, and in the meantime we have suggested that she just reads as much as she can. She has also knitted a top and is watching a lot of films with her mates via Netflix Party.

She is quite anxious about how the grades will be allocated as the moderation is an unknown factor.

[AChickenCalledDaal]

Morning everyone. Thanks for the new thread DadDadDad. For the record DD1 has an offer to study maths in Cambridge. She needs A* in maths and FM and an A in physics, plus grade 1 in STEP 2 & 3. So she is in the small select band that still have a very tricky exam to work for. Nevertheless she is currently spending a lot of time doing art, reading fan fiction and playing her clarinet.

She also reports being less stressed than she has in years. We suspect ASD but have never got as far as seeking a diagnosis. It's extremely interesting to find out how she approaches life when school is taken out of the equation. But I think Freshers week, if it happens, may hit her like a brick wall after six months of not dealing with people.

[Hoghgyni]

Jules we may have had the same email here. There did seem to be a considerable gap between the initial college fees and the estimated living costs. Gulp. I have (jokingly) told DD that we will be renting out her room, but she says that won't work as the terms are too short!

[Hoghgyni]

Hugo the same to your DS. I doubt if many of them will care what they get at the end of the day, as long as their grades are enough. These are such strange times that normal worries have faded into perspective.

[Pepermintea]

Thanks DadDadDad. DS has an Oxford maths offer.

Sending special thoughts to all those who work and have family working in the NHS.

[HuaShan]

Checking in. DS has an Oxford Maths offer 2× A star Maths and FM. A in either Physics or Geography. Thankfully he is quite chilled as he rightly says he can't do anything. His mocks went very well and he is right at the top of his cohort for Maths so we have every reason to be hopeful. Thoughts to all at this time.

[TerfTerfTerf]

@DadDadDad we watched that too last night! Their knowledge is astounding. Although between the three of us I think we knew four answers Did you see the interesting piece about one of the (few) female contestants? www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2018-09-03/why-are-women-still-saying-no-to-university-challenge/amp/

[TerfTerfTerf]

some of the few, not one

[gizmo]

Popping by to say hello, lovely to see how everyone is getting on, especially @DadDadDad and @HugoSpritz, fellow travellers.

DS has A, A, A offer for computer sciences at Oxford, with A needed in maths/further maths. I'm slightly anxious because DS has an open offer so we're going to be relying on his underwriting college I think. DS, in contrast is very chilled - his mocks were well over the offer so I think he feels like its job done. I don't find that reassuring, tbh

[goodbyestranger]

Coleoptera as far as assessed grades go, I have to say I've always felt a bit apprehensive with most of my DC on results day (seven A level results' days under my belt). It seems that there's always a dud or troublesome paper or two in the mix, so few of mine have ever felt completely confident of their place until the bit of paper in August has given the green light. Results have been less certain since modular exams were ditched too, so I don't actually feel any more or less concerned this time around.

[JulesJules]

Hoghgyni - yes seems like a lot given that accommodation is around £1.5k per term! The bursaries and travel allowances do seem good though, so that will help.

[SnapSnapDragon]

Hi Coleoptera, if you don't mind me asking, are your DTs now thinking it is an advantage that they didn't get in last year? I keep thinking of those poor first years and how they have missed out on some of the most fun and stress-free parts of the university experience. Certainly for me, the end of my first year was all about rowing, punting, having fun and not worrying about work at all.

[aibutohavethisusername]

Just saying hello, still following too, even though DD was rejected after interview.

[SnapSnapDragon]

Am a little envious of you Coleoptera, having A-levels behind you. But I know you’ve been through the mill so you and your boys deserve this good feeling!

DS received an email from Oxford Admissions today; I am guessing all offer holders got the same one. It said something along the lines of “we know you have lots of questions, we are still working through things and will let you know..”. I froze when he read me this, wondering if this meant that maybe they wouldn’t be trusting the allocated grades and wouldn’t honour offers… he rolled his eyes and told me he’d be absolutely fine, and then went back to researching all the sports on offer at Oxford and working out how he can maximise his chances of getting a blue.

[Flyonawalk]

Yes my son got this email today as well. I also froze when he read it out! It doesn’t say the reassuring things we’d all like to hear, such as ‘We will be honouring our offers and accepting the grades awarded in this very strange year’. Perhaps they assume this goes without saying? Dear God I hope so...