Stammer & Oxbridge?

[timegate]

Hi,

My DS is doing very well academically. He has 15 A* GCSEs, and is predicted all A stars at A-level in sciences and maths. He takes parts in sports, and is well read in terms of current affairs and politics (his area of interest).

He wants to apply to Oxbridge. However, he has a stammer, and has low levels of confidence and is not well spoken (partly because he is state educated in a low achieving school).

He was very keen on applying to Oxbridge, however he went to a taster day, and has been put off because everyone there in his words was posh, very well spoken, super confident, and a few came across very snobby.

Should I still encourage him to apply to Oxbridge?

Definitely encourage him. I went from my northern state comprehensive. Met some posh people (actually they're just people) and made loads of lovely like minded friends. Yes, you'll get a few stuck up types but you get those people everywhere. Go into it with an open mind and the experience will be fantastic.
Oh, and I also graduated with another northern state schooler who has a terrible stammer. It was a non-issue TBH and definitely didn't hold him back.

Should have said that I was soooo shy as a 17 year old applicant. I gained a lot of confidence from going to Oxbridge ( as well as plenty of techniques for how to fake it when you're quaking inside!).

You should very carefully research all the colleges - they have very different atmospheres. Some are full of over confident posh boys, some are not. But he can find the right fit for him, and definitely encourage him

Bigkids, thanks, I will look into the different colleges.

Thejoys, thank you for sharing your experience, I will share your post with him :)

One thing my students tell me time and time again, is that it is always the loud, posh, super-confident applicants at interview that they never see again.

Encourage him to give it another go.

Coconutty, he hasn't had his AS results yet, he is predicted all A*s

What irregula said about loud, well-spoken types being the ones you never see again is very true. Definitely encourage him to go for it.

Did he not fancy applying for the summer schools? That would have given him more of an idea . I know people who have hated Cambridge and Oxford who I thought would love it so I don't think it's a blanket if you are like this you will/will not like it. There are plenty of other unis though so apply to Oxbridge as one choice then go to some open days and see which uni he has a feel for.

BTW 15 a *s is really wow!

I went to a northern comprehensive school, have a northern accent and a stammer and I went to Oxbridge. Tell him to go for it! Choose college carefully... there were lots of students from northern Comprehensives where I went and I didn't feel out of place. It definitely helps your confidence.