Top Unis - am I missing something?

[OnTheRoll]

DD is in Year 13, predicted 3 A, already has an A from a language A Level she did last year, and 11 GCSEs all 8/9. Got a great work experience in her chosen field, lots of academic reading, etc., etc. Has been working very hard and aiming for a top uni.

The problem is, it seems that unless she gets into Oxbridge, there isn't a suitable option for her?

We are in SE so decided not to go for Durham/Edinburg as the travel is just too much, 5+ hours, and she would not be able to come home more than once a term. She would very much prefer a campus experience rather than a city uni which rules out LSE/UCL in London.

There are of course great options like Warwick, Bristol, Bath, Exeter. We visited and DD loved them and so did I.

But I cannot help thinking that if she were to go to one of those unis she didn't really need to spend that much time working, studying and sacrificing her free time. Does it make sense? Entry requirements in those unis in her subject are all quite lower than her current and predicted grades.

Would appreciate some perspective.

That's ridiculous. More hand holding yes, as the previous poster said, in many cases, but it's ludicrous to say you can spoon-feed a top grade 🙈 The teachers can hardly sit the exam for them!

It’s a beautiful city and a great uni, I’m sure you’ll have a good weekend. The Christmas market isn’t that great IMO so I’d try to squeeze in some sightseeing as well.

Its a shame you didn’t take the time to go the two open days last month, I, sure your DD would have found those helpful. However you can still book up for campus tours here, there are several each week in November and December .

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Can I just point out that when you say “ they want A star AA” , you actually mean “ a typical offer is A star AA”. That’s based on previous years and can change with demand etc.

Your Dd hasn’t applied yet so you don’t know what offer she might get. I think you are confusing these two things, which has led you to believe that your DD is over qualified in some way.

And you are also assuming that every other applicant except your DD will have met only the minimum requirements, when that’s very far from the truth for many courses and institutions. On some courses, the only students with the minimum grades will be those with contextualised offers.

Yes it’s a bit of a cliche. I am not sure how anyone can be spoon-fed Further Maths!

In DD's year, there was more than one child surprised to be refused by Edinburgh and accepted by Oxford or Cambridge...

Hey I was refused by Edinburgh back in the day! Going by this thread, it’s a badge of honour 😆

Just work out which uni and course is the best fit. After you get a good degree from a good uni, no one gives a shit anymore about grades.

@MOrven ah, very helpful post imo. I think you have clarified for me what seemed odd about OP's post, couldn't quite work it out. Makes me wonder how much school/college guidance her DD has had re uni applications.

Very much depends on the school. I’m not sure about all this handhold fluffy spoonfeeding business. A lot of private schools are ruthless places - all about the glory of the school, academic, sporting, artistic achievement etc and if students don’t fit they can turf them out - there’s no responsibility for social inclusion.

I had similar results at school/sixth form and went to UEA in Norwich. Turned out fine, got a First and had a good career. To an extent it’s not where you go, it’s what you do while you’re there.

FWIW I interviewed at Cambridge and chose not to go because I was shy when younger, from a very working-class background, and it felt like too much pressure. I think it was the right decision. Your daughter might be very different to me, but just worth bearing in mind a more relaxed environment can be good for some people and bring more out of them.