Eldest DD wants to go to Oxford I fear her tribe is not there

[Pisssssedofff]

But she's determined. I want to support her I really do but I want her to meet her life long buddies at uni.

Any thoughts ?

"She's very artistic, very argumentative loves a good debate, dresses like she's homeless..." Sounds just like me (probably still.) I can promise you that she will absolutely fit in, probably at one of the less stuffy colleges like Somerville.

But do tell her that a lot of students will talk themselves up and brag about predicted grades they won't achieve. There is no harm in your DD aiming as high as they do - you just have work out what it is that she wants.

In my day Oxford Brookes used to be awash with hot blokes so it's got its compensations

No it's not Oxford Brooke's and it was by invitation only based on the predicted grades which if B's aren't good enough I'm as confused as everyone else wtf she is doing there, GCSE btw not A'Level. Better to find all this out now I guess

Well I am not even in touch with anyone I was at university with and have plenty of friends as an adult, so even if her "tribe" isn't there, so what?

her teachers invited her to this jolly to Oxford today so she can't be far off the mark can she

If it's a 'widening participation' type visit please don't read too much into it in terms of admissions predictions.

KeyserSophie she thinks she's a lesbian so that's of no interest either

HostaFireAndIce we've covered the open day

Have we? I know someone else raised it (hence my use of the word 'also'), but I don't think it's been explained what sort of day she has actually gone to.

But if she wants to go to Oxford, the likely offer will be AAA

Actually, Oxford are only slowly cottoning on to the A. Standard offers for History and PPE, for example, are still AAA. However, Maths includes A and Economics and Management (the closest thing to Business Studies) lists A*AA as its standard offer.

Part of the point of the visits is to inspire any young person who might conceivably in with a shot at any good uni to buckle down and give it their very best shot.

So she's in y11 now and predicted B's in GCSE's and wants to do business studies?

She'll need a large haul of A/A* (or level 8/9 where appropriate) to get into Oxford. She might get away with the odd B as long as it isn't related to the subject she's applying from if she is in a school that doesn't typically get great results.

She'll also need to choose a subject that is actually studied at Oxford...

hutchblue there's nothing to suggest she won't get three A* at level
Just not in physics and maths

she thinks she's a lesbian

...and you don't believe her?

FWIW, the offer may not necessarily be AAA. Mine (in the days before As at A-level) was ABB in a very competitive subject. That said, nobody is getting into a maths-y course at U of O without top grades in maths.

How old is your DD, OP?

Somerville no she is not predicted B's across the board, I think it's 6 A*, 2 A's and 2 b's off the top of my head

She can't be wanting to study business studies at Oxford University. See screenshot.

I'm so confused.

What A level subjects is she actually taking or planning to take?

there's nothing to suggest she won't get three A at level*
Just not in physics and maths

It's FAR to early to be even thinking she might get three As at A level. There might not be anything to suggest she won't get three As at A level but I'm sure at this point there's nothing to suggest that she WILL. What subjects is she thinking if?

sarahnova69 how the fuck would I know if she's a lesbian if she doesn't ? This is getting farcical now

So she hasn't taken her GCSEs yet? Is she Yr 11 now?

So confused. If she hasn't sat her GCSEs yet, surely her target grades will be in 1-9 format?

I'm so confused.

PurpleDaisies Again I don't think these are the best choices or her strengths but she's obsessed with Maths, wants to do Chemistry, Spanish and Law (I think).

The only one she likes there is Spanish

If she tells you she's a lesbian, she's a lesbian. That's the point. The "she thinks she is" was fairly eyebrow-raising and suggests you think it's "just a phase" or that you might know better than her.

A childhood friend of mine from school went to Cambridge. Lovely boy, quiet, gentle, not a big drinker, not rich, he hated it. Had an awful time as he didnt fit in at all and found it a very long and hard 3 years.