Thread 19 - Corona Cohort, Enrolling on Year 13, hopefully NOT unlucky for some

[OrangeCinnamonCocktail]

Place holder

Oh I don't know what to tell DS about that vid now, I have sent him the link but should I say still add extra curricular stuff?

He's just starting to write it now.

I think if he's applying for an academic course, I would do as the guy suggests and include it but show how it's relevant and makes him a good candidate. Rather than just saying, "I am a prefect and like playing hockey" or whatever.

I think maybe the issue is that Oxbridge want people passionate about their subject - that is by far the most important thing, and most will also have some extra curricular interests. It is fine if it is gaming, that teaches valuable skills (DS1 mentioned the future of surgical techniques and hand/screen coordination). I didn't make it all the way through the video, but the Cambridge open days kept telling us they don't care how many grade 8s you have. The only relevance for them is it shows you can make effective use of your time and maintain academic focus whilst also maintaining other commitments.

If it helps, for medicine at Cambridge, the PS did not affect whether you got an interview or not, they interviewed around 80% of home applicants, and shortlisted on the basis of whether they believed you could get the grades and your admission test score. I have said before that for the subjects I know, Bristol uses an algorithm, they don't routinely read PS.

He wants to do Law, not sure whether that comes under academic - I acknowledge that this makes me sound stupid but I am doubting myself!

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn

He wants to do Law, not sure whether that comes under academic - I acknowledge that this makes me sound stupid but I am doubting myself!

Just looked at the Admissions Statement for law at Bristol and it says PS may be used to differentiate candidates, offers are based on score calculated 20% GCSE, 40% A levels, 40% LNAT.

In my experience of talking to Bristol academics, PS might be if a number of candidates don't make the grades and they want to decide which ones to let in with slipped grades. For medical schools and Oxbridge, PS is regarded as a weak selection tool because support that students receive in writing it varies massively.

Thanks Monkey.

@MidLifeCrisis007

I've just watched the killer PS video and found myself getting a bit wound up by it! Yes, there are some interesting points, but I don't like the obsessive academic message it gives out and the Oxford tutor's complete dismissal of extra curricular activities.

It's no wonder that Oxbridge graduates are becoming less popular with many employers. The real world wants rounded people who can combine work and play. And someone who was head girl will be an asset in any work place. It's really sad that he's saying that you need to be a total academic anorak to be worthy of a place at any RG university. I know full well that when you emerge from university, employers are very interested in the extra curricular stuff you've done as it shows you can hold positions of responsibilities in clubs/societies, manage your time, get on with people and enjoy yourself at the same time. I would be so sad for my kids if all they did was work while they were at uni!

I sort of agree, and I also think it is v misguided of them to think it wipes out cultural capital/social class disadvantages.

@singingstones

The thing that wound me up was his use of "do you know what you're getting yourself in for". Letting yourself in for! (Or getting yourself into.)

I thought lots of the examples were useful and he did come across as trying to help people not make common mistakes. Tbf he does say at the beginning that his will be a particularly academic slant and not to use it as your only resource. (But looks like this was organised by Seren which is a programme for very bright kids in Wales so makes sense to be more academic and less vocational I guess.) I don't think he's saying you have to be an anorak to be worthy, just that they are looking for people who are right for their very academic courses, so being a non anorak is not in itself an advantage. If you can relate your other attributes to the course, then it will help.

I liked what he said also about being aware that extra and super curricular opportunities are not open to everyone - not just work experience but sport and music provision is not the same everywhere either as they often cost money.

Oh, that explains why he mentioned Aberystwyth and Swansea!

Oh, that explains why he mentioned Aberystwyth and Swansea!

Haha yes I didn't clock that at the time. I was expecting him to say the usual not-Russell-Group-but-just-as-good places like Bath, Loughborough and Lancaster and did think Aber was a bit of an odd choice.

Maybe the problem is that people think that Oxbridge is for clever people. It isn't. At the risk of sounding like a scratched record, it is for clever people who are passionate about their subject. That is why DS1 didn't get in, he was just clever. I think it is fine that Oxbridge want the most academically focused people, there are plenty of other places where very bright kids will thrive. I am very happy for them to say they only want the ones who are really pleased when they get a Physics book or a book by an academic historian for Christmas. I just wish there was a wider view of excellence across the educational offerings and that Oxbridge should not be "best" is should be "most academically focussed".

PCR test was negative. She’s still ill though. So difficult not to worry about the work she’s missing.

Glad she’s negative @zebracat, hopefully she will get better quickly. Can school set her work on teams?

@Monkey2001

Maybe the problem is that people think that Oxbridge is for clever people. It isn't. At the risk of sounding like a scratched record, it is for clever people who are passionate about their subject. That is why DS1 didn't get in, he was just clever. I think it is fine that Oxbridge want the most academically focused people, there are plenty of other places where very bright kids will thrive. I am very happy for them to say they only want the ones who are really pleased when they get a Physics book or a book by an academic historian for Christmas. I just wish there was a wider view of excellence across the educational offerings and that Oxbridge should not be "best" is should be "most academically focussed".

I think this is a good way of looking at it. DS is very polite (unlike his sister) but I think even he would find it hard to say thank you if he unwrapped a physics book!

Zebracat I hope your dd feels better soon and can get properly stuck in to year 13.

I've resorted to (ultra) light-touch home schooling while dd is refusing to cross the threshold - not that I really have the time, as am supposed to be working - but I'm just setting her things to do when Google Classroom doesn't have anything up. She's just given me a long explanation of what happens in Othello, which has highlighted the bits she's vague on, so we're going over those now.

(Her question: 'But why did they stay in Cyprus if the Turkish ships were lost at sea?' I didn't really have an answer for that, other than the Duke wanted them to, or they were all too traumatised by their sea-crossing to consider going back to Venice too soon...Or the real answer, which was because Shakespeare needed them to for dramatic purposes .)

At the risk of sounding like a scratched record, it is for clever people who are passionate about their subject.

This chimes with what was said in an online session provided by Cambridge NatSci Biology this summer. The chap who interviews for Pembroke said 'we want your PS to be full of how your interest developed, which strands you've followed & how and what currently excites you. We have zero interest in DofE.'.

@icanbewhatiwant The 'how' could be books, TV, MOOC, podcasts etc. They recognise real-life experience opportunities minimal due to covid & cost so not available to all.

It was a good session but DS was put off by the amount of maths. They mentioned maths a lot.

And my nephew who is reading Natsci at Pembroke would have been honestly delighted to unwrap a Physics book at Christmas!

@Monkey2001

Maybe the problem is that people think that Oxbridge is for clever people. It isn't. At the risk of sounding like a scratched record, it is for clever people who are passionate about their subject. That is why DS1 didn't get in, he was just clever. I think it is fine that Oxbridge want the most academically focused people, there are plenty of other places where very bright kids will thrive. I am very happy for them to say they only want the ones who are really pleased when they get a Physics book or a book by an academic historian for Christmas. I just wish there was a wider view of excellence across the educational offerings and that Oxbridge should not be "best" is should be "most academically focussed".

My DD is having a punt at Oxford. Her ‘extra cuticular’ activities, or rather ‘downtime’ are socialising. If her Santa stocking included the latest ‘must have’ eyeshadow palette et al and ‘the most coveted book’ - I know which one she’d be most delighted with

@ProggyMat good luck to her but, depending on the subject, try to make sure that she is not too emotionally invested in the application. It is such an intense process that it really draws you in and most will not be successful. It may help that a lot of people will not have visited - those beautiful places really draw you in. DS1 fell in love with Cambridge, and was lost when he was rejected, but he would have hated writing an essay every week, which is what the medics do at Christ's, so all turned out for the best for him.

@Monkey2001she’s not too emotionally invested - it’s a punt.
She hasn’t visited (or any of her other Uni choices) and as yet still hasn’t decided on a college.
I don’t think ‘subject’ choice increases any applicant’s chance beyond it being a punt - that would be a rather simplistic view, in my book anyway!

Actually @ProggyMat it does. DS1 is reading Chemistry at Oxford. It's one of the less competitive courses - the application to offer ratio is much 'better' than something like PPE.

And he is one who would rather a Chemistry kit in his stocking than an x box!

@proggymat subject competition varies massively. At Cambridge for 2021:

Anglo Saxon, Norse and Celtic Studies 57 applicants, 30 offers.

Architecture 628 applicants, 72 offers

www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/apply/statistics

I wish all the unis had a chart like that.

@Monkey2001 Yes Dd did a summer school at Oxford & feel in love with it. I won’t bore you all with her story. Luckily she loved where she ended up going straight away & would probably agree that it was a better outcome for her personally!

I am currently mentoring some 6th formers who are planning to apply to Oxbridge. Quite dismayed at how little research they have done so far tbh. Excellent academics but fear it’s an indicator of how they will fare...

@BlueMarigold

I wish all the unis had a chart like that.

This year it seems to would-be helpful to have more admissions info, just to manage expectations. I predict worried posts about people awaiting offers etc