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Original poster

Proud Mummy Alert

27 replies

atowncalledalice · 06/01/2009 16:22

DS1 has an offer from Oxford! I am SO proud of him!

OP posts:
ForeverOptimistic · 06/01/2009 16:27

Congratulations!

What will he be studying?

pooka · 06/01/2009 16:27

That's fantastic! Not surprised you are proud.

suwoo · 06/01/2009 16:32

My neighbour has one too. Incidentally what grades does he have to get? The neighbour has to get 3 A's. It used to be that if they really wanted you they only asked for low grades, has this changed or is it just Oxford? Big congratulations to your DS.

Original poster
atowncalledalice · 06/01/2009 16:46

He's reading History and Russian - he wants to be a spy :D

The offer is 3 A's, which I think is pretty much standard. I don't know of anyone who's had an offer much lower than that in the last ten years, but maybe they still do in some cases.

OP posts:
Milliways · 06/01/2009 16:50

Well done!

DD has to get 3 A's for Cambridge as well (but has an unconditional offer as an insurance which is great!).

Original poster
atowncalledalice · 06/01/2009 17:11

Thanks, Milliways, and congratulations to your DD!

OP posts:
SwedesInACape · 07/01/2009 15:08

Very well done atowncalledalice's son.

Could you tell me what grades he got in his GCSEs?

Original poster
atowncalledalice · 07/01/2009 20:12

Thank you

Er, I think he got 8 A*s, an A and a B but would have to check with him! Do you have a DC thinking about Oxbridge?

OP posts:
RachePache · 07/01/2009 20:26

Brilliant. He'll love it. You must be so proud.

(If he wants to be a spy he might need you to stop posting about him on MN though ;))

stillenacht · 07/01/2009 20:27

Well done! Brilliant!

Lucky him and lucky you

SwedesInACape · 07/01/2009 20:59

atowncalledalice - Yes - he is in the lower sixth. Expected to get four A grades at A level (minimum as his year will be the first year of the new A). He got 6As and 4As at GCSE and I'm not sure it is sufficient for Oxbridge as everyone I've asked seems to have 59As at GCSE. Three of his GCSE A grades missed the A very narrowly indeed (1% in two cases and 2% in one case). And his A in French very narrowly escaped a B.

He wants to study medicine and is doing Chemistry, Maths, Biology and Religious Studies. He is going to Cambridge on Saturday to a Medschool day.

RiaParkinson · 07/01/2009 21:04

swedes if you browse the university websites some specify what gcses they have to have

some specify some dont

just look up the subject your dc is interested in - and it tells you

ds got 10A* at gcse but is not confident of OxBridge - his teachers say he should get As but he is

A* has to be over 90% at A level

Original poster
atowncalledalice · 07/01/2009 21:23

I think 6 A*s and 4 As is certainly good enough for Oxbridge! I know admissions tutors certainly take GSCE grades into account, but they aren't the be-all and end-all, especially if his reports are good and his AS grades are up to scratch.

What sort of school does he go to? They are apparently starting to weigh grades against school averages - DS goes to an Independent school, where a string of A*s is probably less impressive than a clutch of As and Bs from a less well-performing school.

OP posts:
SwedesInACape · 07/01/2009 21:33

atowncalledalice - Yes, independent here too (Herts boys' day school). btw I know one boy (about 3 years ago) who got an offer of 3 Es (he got 5 As in the actual exams!).

Sons' school apparently announced in assmembly today how many Oxbridge places they have been awarded and I think it was 14 solid offers and 8 in the pool. Sons' school tends to favour Cambridge - I think for no other reason that a lot of staff and the headmaster are ex Cambridge.

SwedesInACape · 07/01/2009 21:34

Ria - yes thanks for that. Oxford say 5A*s at GCSE for Medicine but I'm not certain I believe them.

twoluvlykids · 07/01/2009 21:34

well done to your ds1!!!

KerryMumbles · 07/01/2009 21:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RiaParkinson · 07/01/2009 21:35

swedes....

You and I need to converse off board!!!

RiaParkinson · 07/01/2009 21:36

WELL done ds1 by the way he is a star!

SwedesInACape · 07/01/2009 21:48

Ria - Please feel free to CAT me.

RiaParkinson · 07/01/2009 22:06

what year is ds in swedes? (sorry op!)

SwedesInACape · 07/01/2009 22:29

Ria Lower sixth - do we have sons at the same school? And I have one in second year.

RiaParkinson · 07/01/2009 22:47

no no no fear not!

Ds has similar aspirations!

SwedesInACape · 08/01/2009 09:16

RiaP - Ahhh. I see. Do CAT me and we can exchange information. That would be good.

snorkle · 08/01/2009 11:36

atowncalledalice - well done to your ds - he must be thrilled. A lad at dc's school had a matriculation offer (2 E's, which he effectively already had from AS results) from Cambridge last year - it's very rare apparently (and only done by a few colleges).

swedes - Medicine is rather more competitive than most subjects even at Cambridge I think, so I would share your concerns. I know a girl with very similar GCSE results to your ds was going to apply last year, but only decided not to as she felt one of her AS module results wasn't high enough. She went on to get 4 grade A A levels (& an extra a at AS) and 4 rejections for medicine from non-Oxbridge universities. The good news is she reapplied this year (non Oxbridge again) and has a firm offer and a couple of interviews I think, so may even end up with a choice. I guess what I'm saying is medicine seems such a lottery anyway: perhaps he should apply to Oxbridge if that's what he really wants so that at least he's tried - the worry is that it's almost a waste of a choice.