Why does Oxbridge do this? Do you know any Students like this?

[janeeire244]

Why are there so many students at Oxbridge who study competitive degrees like law with relatively low A-level grades such as anything below 3A*s but also including AAA or even AAB? Most of these people applied with inflated predicted grades but are let in when they get lower grades than they were predicted either because they still met the really low entry requirements (shockingly Oxford Law is at AAA) or if they miss it and get AAB, they are reprieved?

I don’t even think it’s fair to say that they shone at some other stage of the application process because I know of some students who got relatively low admissions test scores or mediocre GCSEs and got in as well.

This is all the while they reject people with much high admissions test scores or much better grades.

That being said I’ve never heard of anyone who did poorly on the interviews get an offer (poorly by Oxbridge standards not just them thinking they did badly).

Do you know anyone at Oxbridge studying a degree (especially a competitive one like law) with an average admissions test score or below average; or less than 3A*s at A-level?

It’s good that more rounded students are given a place. I’m sick to death of the A*+++ me, me, me posts. Of course academic excellence is to be praised but exam results are not the be all and end all. How a student performs on ONE DAY shouldn’t define them.

This can be contextual offers. The kid from a poverty ridden urban estate, with parents who don't speak english and a overcrowded home, who has AAB from a poor performing comp, is probably brighter than Hugo with his 3A* from an expensive boarding school, or Jemima from the home counties who's parents are lawyers who paid for tutoring and piano lessons and tennis coaching, and who sailed into the local grammar school.

I screwed up my A-levels for various reasons, but I went to a school that was obsessed with getting people into Oxbridge. I was actually 22 when I went to uni, once I'd had a chance to work out what I wanted to do, and I went to Oxford Brookes University. Haha. I realised very quickly, given the sort of person I am, that even if I could have got in, I'd have lasted about five minutes at an Oxbridge college before getting absolutely infuriated with all the traditions and formalities.

I've subsequently had a pretty successful career in my chosen field, so I'm all good.

from watching some of the youtube vids on applying to oxford, its not just about the grades, its also how much you value the subject, the passion it seems they want the next potential figures in x subjects

pritty much from what i understood from the tutorials for applying for oxford,

I think dh got an offer of two E's for Physics - long time ago now, but they put more store in the interview and their tests than A levels.

But any university can do this and do. My DD had three A stars in hand and got rejected for whatever reason. Of course there will be people admitted with lower grades.
No one who realistically applies to Oxbridge doesn’t have very good other options (perhaps medicine excepted). And as most successful people in the world did not go to Oxbridge it’s not a case of ‘there or nowhere’. And I’d say a B on A level for Oxbridge is rare. I certainly know a few who had missed their offers (Getting an A instead of A star) who lost their place. You just have to look at the admittance stats (freely available) to see how inflexible they generally are.

Op, why the obsession with oxbridge? It doesn't guarantee success nor is it the only route there. My sibling went there in a competitive course. I didn't get in, I missed my grades. Instead I went to one of the highly ranked London universities, i have the more successful career and earn more. You need to just get over it and move on.

This nonsense. There’s a very rigorous selection process including tests and an interview- Oxford don’t ask for A* grades because they trust their own processes more. It’s highly unusual for someone to still get their place if they don’t get their offer grades. In the mid 80 s my offer was 2 E grades!

Because it’s not acceptable that less intelligent people as measured by having lesser grades are taking Oxbridge spaces from more intelligent people

Anyone that thinks A level grades are the only (or major) marker of a person's intelligence is quite frankly as thick as pigshit

@janeeire244 You need to put this behind you. You have been not been treated unfairly.

The whole application process is designed to be as fair as it can possibly be. ANYONE who fails to meet their offer loses their place, especially for a competitive course, like Law, Exceptions will be made for unexpected illness/bereavement/massive catastrophe and that's it.

I am also very sure that the entry requirements for each course are set in stone. Cambridge do not drop their entry requirements for anyone. The difference between an A grade student and an A* grade student may be a few marks on paper, but the ability to score those marks means you are truly exceptional and stand out from the crowd. This is what they want. If you cannot get those grades, you are not exceptional.

You need to end this feeling of "unfairness", as it is a very damaging emotion and will devour you and your alternative university experience. You did not meet the standards. You are conflating your desire to have something really badly with your entitlement to have it. You're not entitled to that place.

There are smarter people than you out there who did not even get an offer and still got 4 A stars. That must be even harder for them to stomach, watching someone mediocre with A star, AA waltzing off to Cambridge in their Tom's Trunks. Look to these people to see how they overcome these feelings and move on.

Life is full of rejections. You had this idea and plan of your life and it has changed. You need to get past this anger and denial stage and move on to acceptance, look for the positives and embrace your future. This experience will make you stronger and more resilient, but only if you let it.

I would say some of those measurements of suitability sound subjective and could definitely involve personal bias, e.g observations on who would gel and fit into the culture of Oxford. That said, I don't think the OP should stress about it, ultimately, the kudos is one thing but it shouldn't be the main motivation for a university choice.

My eldest is in the last year of a state 6th form college and he doesn't know anybody that has being interested in pursuing a place at Oxbridge, despite being approached by the college as they run a programme for students they think would be suitable, this is because of the stuffy/elitist reputation associated with these universities. One of his friends is a maths genius but ultimately has not interest at all. They all have offers from other high ranking universities, my son has all five offers but coming from state school backgrounds they don't think it looks 'fun'.

To add about Liz Truss:

After her father’s Oxbridge start he moved to Leeds University where he is now an Emeritus Professor of Mathematics. Liz Truss grew up in a rather ‘naice’ area of Leeds.

Why isn’t it? The Universities have years and years of data showing the outcomes of the ‘less’ intelligent and ‘more’ intelligent students that they have admitted. Given that the drop out rates at Oxbridge is ridiculously low and that nearly everyone comes out with a degree then it suggests what they are doing is working. They know what the expected outcomes are for students with different academic backgrounds and qualifications.

I think a bigger issue is the effect of the ever increasing number of students getting extra time. I think exam formats need to be tweaked so that time is much less of a factor. There was 27.7 % of students in England getting extra time in 2023. Think how much easier it would be for everyone if exams were less time crucial.

With the availability of such videos, there is even the opportunity to master your 'passion'! I have a friend who's son has finally got a graduate position and they (him and his peers) have all mastered the character tests. Authenticity is really hard to assess now IMO!

The whole business reminds me of the Groucho Marx quote - 'I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.' The toxic lure of exclusivity should not be underestimated.

I think you are obsessing over not getting into Oxford op. Better to accept it and focus on whatever opportunities you've got that are wishing to accept you. And remember that Oxford really isnt the be all and end all. There are others that are just as awesome just different.

The don't think Oxbridge looks 'fun' enough.

As you have been told on your many other threads, this obsession is going to hold you back, it is not healthy. You’re on your gap year and clearly late at night before you go to bed at night and then when you wake up you’re ranting on mumsnet about oxbridge, you need to move on truly

Whose not 'who's'.

I enjoyed my Oxford interview even though i didnt get offered a place. I talked about things that interested me with knowledgeable people who asked probing questions that got me thinking and I was able to stay overnight at one of tge draughty colleges. I had no practice either coming from a comp but they wrote a nice letter to my school saying encouraging things about my interview. It gave me confidence for the uni experience.

I know this thread is ostensibly about Oxbridge, but really it's about obsessions. This is perhaps the first time that something you really want hasn't gone your way. But really as we get older, life is full of things not going our way, and to succeed, we learn to dust ourselves down and get on with it.

If your personality is obsessive, perhaps this event is teaching you an important lesson that will serve you in good stead further down the line. You need to work out how to get over this, then use that lesson later in life. You need to be kind to yourself, and accept what's happened, and when you have another setback in life, reflect on this to give you insight into your personality - and you'll definitely have more setbacks, because that's the human condition.

They take the best of the best. You know this. You failed to make the cut. It’s as simple as that.

Don't suppose you want to know about my unconditional offer from Oxford 30-odd years ago, then. Did the entrance exam, got one interview at my first choice college, gor the offer in January and basically pissed about for the rest of the year. I went to a decent Oxford college with ABE, and thoroughly annoyed everyone else in my year.

They take the best of the best. You know this. You failed to make the cut. It’s as simple as that.
That's a bit harsh. Much of it is down to luck, as there are so many young people who would do well there. And in the OP's case, she was offered a place, if she got her grades, so it must have seemed tantalisingly close. Worse than not having a place after the interview.