Parent of oxbridge candidate-peersupportneeded

[funnyperson]

OK so my DD is applying to Oxford for entry in 2011 and has a 75% chance of getting rejected so I am told by the Oxford website so I reckon a new thread would be helpful for us parents who may end up with joy or grief but in any event need to keep sane enough to support our loved ones. Any tips on maximising chances of success at this stage?

Thank you :) I haven't opened it yet, but I've got my brother to bring it to me tomorrow when he picks me up (kindness for once!) to go home for the weekend - three hours sooner than if I waited until I got home. I've managed to calm down a bit and get a grip - which is all probably a massive overreaction on my part and it'll just be "Oh hello, this is Oxford, we have your forms. Ta muchly." I definitely included everything though, they confirmed that by email already, so hopefully it isn't that.

Congrats to your DD, funnyperson!

It was an offer! An offer!

Completely thrilled :)

Fantastic news! Congratulations!
What an impressively rapid result.

Thank you :) Yes, they were quick, weren't they? I'm glad, it's a relief to have an answer. Just waiting for the college choice now, which apparently won't be until June?! Am hoping that's the final deadline we'll hear by and not the date they use outright, because I don't want to wait that long. Besides, I'm going to turn down my LSE offer now, but I'm not going to do it until I've accepted the Oxford one, which can't be done until I have a college place. I feel bad hanging onto the offer until June when someone else might be waiting to hear from them and could have that place.

I don't know if any previous posters are still watching this thread but anyway, DS2 got an offer from Exeter this week - AAA, as I suspected (he has applied there for pure Politics, not with Philosophy)

Don't know yet which campus it is, it's normally Exeter itself for Politics, but they have one in Falmouth as well & there have been Politics offers for there too this time (according to TSR )(DS2 does not look at TSR at all - ever - just me )

Departmental open day at York tomorrow, Sheffield next week; assume there will be one at Exeter some time, but no inf on their website atm. But if he goes down & likes it, Exeter (AAA) could be his firm & York or Sheffield (AAB) his insurance

any news from anyone else? wondering if fififi's DS has heard from Durham & Warwick?

We have some friends whose son went to do politics last September and he is definitely not on the main Exeter campus.
He's in Cornwall I think but he was very happy about this and enjoying it by all accounts!

thanks, Bearcat

\link{http://www.exeter.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/politics/politics/\the website clearly states Politics is at the Exeter campus though!}

Exeter is a long way from us (we're in Lancs) & Falmouth somewhat further...& no airport there! I can imagine it's a beautiful place to live though.

He liked York today, although the campus is further from the centre than he'd imagined; but still only about 5 mins on the bus, & he could always cycle

Don't see his mum and dad regularly now, but I definitely remember his mum saying he was on a smaller campus, by the sea in Cornwall and wasn't at all bothered that he wasn't on the main Exeter campus.
That's all I know though.
Possibly he's doing some sort of joint politics and ??? Degree. Maybe I didn't take quite enough notice of the exact degree he's doing

For an AAA offer it would definitely be at Exeter. Tough call for your DS. All three universities are great places to be ... and though Exeter is fantastic the campus is a bit of a building site at the momen- and the accommodation is very expensive.

oh by the sea in Cornwall, bearcat? Even better! [swoon]

that's very useful information, Lilymaid, thank you! He's had nothing in the post from Exeter yet; both York & Sheffield sent leaflets about accommodation etc a couple of weeks after making offers, so he'll probably get something from Exeter next week, then he can compare. (I wonder if they'll mention the building site? )

We'll have to factor in travel too, as York & Sheffield are both pretty easy/cheap to get to from here by train.

Ponders - I went to York and highly recommend it tbh. The town centre is very easy to access and the city is a great place to be.

thanks, Northernlurker

I love York! DH & I had a weekend there in November, I would be thrilled if he chose it - but I suspect he will find Sheffield (the city) bigger & livelier, & it is very good for Politics (2nd to Oxford, ahead of LSE & Cambridge , in the Indie top 10 guide)(York is 9th for Philosophy but not in their top 10 for Politics)

There are so many factors to consider. Nightmare!

Ponders just back from my Uni inspection roadtrip with DS having visited Exeter and Cardiff.
We both loved Exeter. Yes, there is a lot of building going on but it is a really nice Uni and we were both really impressed with the law department there. Took 4 hours to drive there (plus 19 hour journey back from Middle East to take him!) and 2 hours trying to park! Ended up parking in the town and having a good walk around which is probably the best way to do it. Made the decison that even if DS has a car by then he will not take it!

Had a really good feel about it and think DS is going to firm it next week. They are building a lot of new student accommodation at the bottom of the hill close to the Uni and there is a very popular Weatherspoons pub close by (am hoping that did not sway DSs decision)

at the 19 hour journey for you, mos! But how lovely for you to see him & spend some time with him

Thanks for the Exeter report - DS still hasn't heard from them about Dept Open Days, I hope he hasn't missed them by applying so late - which day was yours? I think if he hasn't heard by the end of this week I'll suggest he emails them to ask. If he does go he'll have to fly down on his own so I'll be spared the parking issue!

Did it look (or did you hear) that the new accom will be complete by the autumn? Is it extra or replacing some older rooms?

It is difficult to look at other universities once one has seen Exeter (despite the building work).
One advantage for law is that Exeter has a long established law department and alumni network - with quite a reasonable number of highly placed alumni. It was also one of the first universities to develop the study of EU law and has good connections in that field.
It is also a lovely place to be for 3 years!

ponders DS just emailed and asked to go and look around as hard to tie in when I was around (half term for him and DD1 and 2 other DC to juggle) I'm not sure he ever got a formal invitation to open day but it turns out there was one there on the day before we went but had not been notified about it so could well been for other departments or a more general one. Pretty sure the sign regarding the new student accommodation said it would be open in the autumn but will check with DS when he comes back from his school trip to Nice.

Lilymaid you are so right, really loved it there and feel quite envious that DS is going to have the opportunities that I didn't have. What I really liked was the fact that the lovely lady showing us round was obviously VERY proud of the univeristy and the law dept (and the view from the roof).

Exeter's new student accommodation is partially replacing old accommodation blocks of Birks, Duryard and Lafrowda that were built in the 1960s. The first part of the new Birks Grange has been open for a couple of years but more is being built - and some will be available this autumn. I think most of this accommodation will be ensuite (not sure about how much is self catering) - as this will recoup the loan costs by being more attractive for conferences and other vacation bookings. Not sure whether there will be any net gain in number of student rooms.
(I picked up much of this information at an alumni day tour of the grounds).

hello all!

just logging in from a cafe in verbier where we are visiting for a few days to see DS who is working out here for a few months in his gap year....sorry to have gone awol from this thread for a bit...

ponders - DS has offer from Durham and Exeter now but still waiting on Warwick. I think he is a little disappointed not to have heard from them - he feels Warwick is best rated for PPE after Oxford and he did get the offer from them last year. I can only think that Warwick realised he was turning them down last August to try for Oxford and feel (quite understandably) that they don't want to be seen to be playing bridesmaid. His school still maintain that the uni wouldn't care about that, although have conceded that the uni might keep records of the people who had accepted them in previous years. School added that if Warwick did wish to make a point then they would have rejected him by now....we shall see.

i read law at exeter many moons ago and it was fab...

funnyp - I see you had questions about Oxford houses...I will revert..

fififi
xx

hi, fififi! Are you skiing or just admiring the scenery? & is DS going to be happy about missing next year's ski season? (DS1 ended up having 3 gap years because he enjoyed his first ski-bunny season so much )

Glad he has an offer from Durham, frustrating about Warwick though. Would it help if he rang them do you think? How does he feel about Durham? I would have been ecstatic if DS had had an offer & wanted to go there; it's a lot further away for you though I think?

DS2 went to Sheffield open day today & loves it - there is a brand new Union apparently, which he was v impressed with (priorities ) it's only 1½ hrs on the train from 20 mins up the road in Yorkshire, & dead cheap too: £12.75 any time day return so he'd be able to pop home for odd weekends easily enough.

(I was going to drive him, but it's a horrible trip by road, min 70 miles via Snake Pass; bad news in winter & at least 2 hours each way, max 90+ miles on M62/M1 . So DD1 & I had a ladies' day at Ikea instead)

Discovered today he's had a letter from Exeter since over a week ago...sigh. Anyway their last dept open day for him is 16th March - flying would be quick, but £140; train 4½hrs each way & £80; driving even longer & about £90 in fuel. If he decided to go there he would very much not be able to pop home, it would be scheduled visits at end of term only, so really not much point visiting, however lovely it is...

Sheffield prob 1st choice, York 2nd, but identical offers so no good for firm/insurance - what is best to do in those circs? Is there any point (this year of all years) in contacting admissions depts now to ask if there's going to be any flexibility come August?

funnyperson most of the Wadham students get together in groups of five or six in December when the letting agents publish students lists of houses to let. Lots rent in Cowley in streets which are almost always impossible for parents to park in... Very central houses are almost all college owned (I don't think by Wadham).

Hello again. Nice to hear the updates. DD has offers from Oxford, UCL, Sussex, York. Fortunate girl. She is going to look round York next week to decide on her insurance. (I daren't say what I think as she will decide the opposite)

Yellowstone isn't Cowley a bit rough? How much would student accmdn in central Oxford be do you think? I am trying to budget beforehand.

Revision is happening atm. Revision interspersed with anxiety. Luckily no panic. Just steady revision. My mum and dad (dd grandparents) are v anxious though, its hard work keeping them calm.

How is everyone else's family?
Not for the first time I wonder why exams are at the best time of year.

funnyperson Cowley is GOOD in comparison to most other places. Just over Magdalen bridge and 10 mins bicycle ride through nowhere particularly dodgy. There are streets there where almost all the houses are student houses. I worried a bit too but the second year has come and gone and it all went well. Seems to be the most popular area for Wadhamites and lots of other colleges too. Tell DD to get sorted in December though to get the best pick of the houses. Rent for a (nice) house shared with 5 others next year in Cowley is £365 each a month for 10 months so presumably a bit more in 2012/13. DD1 always ate Wadham lunches when she was living out: she says they're really good! ( I was reassured to know she had at least one decent meal.. likes decent food/ not a good cook).

Another DD is similar to yours, lucky too: Oxford, UCL, Durham and Bristol but just been rejected from Warwick. No sensible insurance now so it's all quite high risk! Thank God no A*'s required for our lot though, especially, as you say, in the sunshine!

Yellowstone thanks for your really useful post-do you mean she needs to get sorted with second year accommodation in Dec of her first year ?

What has your DD applied for?

I think this year's Oxford offer holders are really so lucky. Some Cambridge offer holders have to get 3 A stars. As these Easter holidays creep on I am having to really try and concentrate on not making any comments at all about revision/appearance (DD has just got new free haircut in latest EMO style)/constant changes of mind about summer plans (DS-whom I would have loved to have gone travelling didnt. DD has three alternative scary plans and constantly changing companions atm.) Because if I mention revision -as in 'do you need a book on genetics?' I get told to keep out of it in a cross voice.

There is, however, a very impressive computer generated multicoloured revision timetable on her wall. To my amusement there is a slot which says 'hang with mum'. Praise the Lord-lets hope she gets the grades.

Hello funnyperson, yes I do mean Dec of first year. Sounds difficult, about seven weeks into their first term. I couldn't fathom how students could make firm enough friends by that stage to be confident of sharing with them for a whole academic year, but it seems to work on the whole.

DD3 has applied for Law.

Third Year Wadham DD has just left for Italy for a week with Wadham boyfriend claiming her Wadmam tutor insists they 'relax'. When I queried whether it had to be on Lake Como I was given pretty short shrift.

Revision vis a vis GCSE DS2 is a nightmare. He's just come in to say can he go to his umpteenth sleepover in as many days and I said no, only four weeks to go and so far no evidence whatever of revision. Apparently I'm horrendously 'tight', all other parents say it's ok....Never had this before, no strategies at all.

How do I manage to do at least one typo in every single post? Without fail.