As a working class graduate of a very ordinary Polytechnic (now a University) I have a child who might be applying to Uni for 2022 entry. He’s a bit overwhelmed about what to do Uni-wise as are we.
We live in Scotland but are not averse to him leaving Scotland if he finds a course he likes. He did well in his exams last year (8 As at Nat 5) and is hoping to get awarded 5 As in his Highers - but we have no idea what’s happening in terms of testing/exams so that could all go pear shaped.
I’ve been looking at Oxbridge but thinking he’s got no chance because he’s not very confident and/or obsessed with a subject in that driven way that I see many private educated or well educated kids are. But he’s bright and I don’t want him to discount anything.
I know nothing about Oxbridge - none of my immediate family have connections. I was the first in my family to go into Higher Education but I don’t want that to hold him back.
He’s interested in philosophy and psychology (although his school don’t do either as a subject) and he’s also going to be Grade 8 in Music in 2 instruments by end of next year (fingers crossed). I looked at Cambridge and don’t understand something. As an example, for Psychological and Behavioural Sciences it says that ‘Applications per place - 6, Number accepted - 96’. Does that mean that only 576 people apply to do this subject at Cambridge? Surely there are more than 6 applications per place on this course? Or am I misinterpreting what this means? Does this only include the people they interview or who pass a test. Is there an additional test they have to do on top of exams?
He might decide to do a Music course instead but is not sure a 100% Music course would be suitable and would like to mix it with something else like philosophy, politics, history?
Of course he’ll be looking at Scottish Universities too but I’m asking on here because I know his school will give him lots of information on these but not on studying at Oxbridge. I think a couple of kids have gone there each year from the school but they are very exceptional.
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Stupid question about Oxbridge
36 replies
WaysintoUni · 23/03/2021 20:40
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