Dd talented in English lit - Oxbridge help!!

[boredboredboredboredbored]

Hi all, please bear with me as I'm completely new to this board. Dd is 16 so GCSE year she has a talent for English (9s in assessments/ recent mocks for lit & language). She's very passionate about it and finds it just flows out of her brain (as she describes it). After mocks the teachers for top sets used her exam work as an example of what the class should be looking to achieve. She's a focused hard working kid.

So for A-levels she's chosen English lit, history (predicted an 8 at GCSE) and politics. I've never really thought about Universities until recently but with Cambridge & Oxford obviously having the reputations they do have started to delve into entry requirements. I know she'd have to do an ELAT test first.

I guess my question is she's not a straight 8/9 student in her other GCSEs (6/7s for other subjects) would this hold her back?

How do you begin to think about Unis at this stage? As she's got this talent for English I want to encourage her to aim high (I NEVER EVER put any pressure on her), but where do you begin with University selection?

Garghhh sorry about the bold. Typing in the bath oooops!

I’m offering a dif view - I work in publishing and have worked for v prestigious companies. I don’t necessarily want an oxbridge English degree as I find them old fashioned. I interview a range of grads and we like varied backgrounds. Work experience and being easy to get on with count for more than certain unis.

Completely agree re work experience and being 'rounded'. Fortunately we were mean and made DS work through 6th form and on vacations!
Also the work rate at Cambridge was punishing. At the end of it DS had had it with the essay/critical treadmill and turned his back on a Masters etc. Now two years into a career he's thinking about returning (elsewhere) for further study. What I'm saying is, if OP's daughter has a passion and talent, Oxbridge can beat it out of students!