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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Support thread for anyone applying through UCAS this year

999 replies

Lorelai · 02/09/2011 18:34

Following on from a thread in chat I thought I would start this so that we can hold each others' hands through the UCAS process with all its challenges.

Who's with me?

OP posts:
Piffle · 17/11/2011 10:24

Rejected from Cambridge not even an interview
100% average in Maths and Further Maths in yr 12 and 13
Full marks in FSMQ in yr 11
A in Maths A level, predicted A in Further Maths and at least A's in Physics and Chem

Wondering quite what they would like in Maths applicant tbh but he would have chosen Bath over Cambridge I think so I am just hoping he gets a Bath offer

gelatinous · 17/11/2011 10:52

Shock piffle Sad

what on earth do they need for an interview?? Was there any reason given?

ucasfracas · 17/11/2011 10:58

Oh what a shame Piffle, as you say what do they want? Perhaps it is better to get turned down at this stage than after going through all the stress of an interview, cold comfort I know...Sad

Piffle · 17/11/2011 11:03

I know, he has gone in to school with the letter so I can only imagine he will ask the teachers who encouraged him to apply when he was hesitant to do so because of a few B's at GCSES (along with A* and A's) And a C in computing (self taught) at AS and a B in Extended Project...

A team of Oxbridge talent spotters/whatever came to the school last year and initially DS refused to talk as he had written it off due to the B's.
They came and got him and told him only his Maths mattered for Maths Hmm within reason, and giving his Maths and Sciences have always been high, one does wonder...
He really wants Bath, god I hope he gets it

gelatinous · 17/11/2011 11:12

I too thought maths results was all they really cared about for maths. The school may be able to get some feedback for him. I hope Bath get back to him with an offer very soon to cheer him up.

Piffle · 17/11/2011 11:14

is feedback available do you know/think?

adamschic · 17/11/2011 11:18

Piffle, sorry to hear the news. It really makes you wonder. DD got a C at GCSE in an arts subject and she realised that that alone would mean she wouldn't get into some uni's. Didn't even apply for Oxbridge. I know a couple of people who have been rejected after interview who ended up with all A*s at A level. Will see if anyone we know makes it this year. Good luck for that Bath offer.

Good luck Hermonie.

DD got another offer yesterday, she is so pleased. The others aren't so she won't hear anything until next year. Now if I can just get her to knuckle down abit. Grin

adamschic · 17/11/2011 11:20

Meant to say 'Aren't straightforward'.

Piffle · 17/11/2011 11:23

He was told outright that for most subjects and def for Oxford that GCSES mattered and he would not stand a chance at Oxford. But that with Cambridge it was more about AS and A levels and pure mathematical ability

But I do realise that there will be applicants with stunning GCSES and if they have all equal then they have to look there to find the differential

I accept that I guess but would rather he had not had his hopes upped so...

gelatinous · 17/11/2011 11:33

getting accurate advice about what they really are or aren't looking for is very difficult, you can be told different things from seemingly reliable sources.

fwiw ds thought the same regarding GCSE results being more impt. for Oxford and AS UMS scores (for top 3 subjects only) for Cambridge.

I think schools can request feedback from colleges, but I don't know if it's available straight away or if you have to wait until the end of the admissions cycle.

Piffle · 17/11/2011 11:41

I expect school will help him find out if he wants to...
He is going to be circumspect I think/hope, I am just a touch cynical about him being put through the mill but it is life after all and a lesson to be learned from.

Yellowstone · 17/11/2011 12:48

Very sorry for your DS Piffle and will cross my fingers for a Bath offer soon too.

goinggetstough · 17/11/2011 12:56

Fingers crossed here too Piffle for an offer for your DS from Bath. Hope you get some feedback as although it won't change the outcome it is good to know. My DD received feedback but she had an interview first at Cambridge.

sieglinde · 17/11/2011 13:47

Piffle, get the school to contact the college where he applied and find out the reason. Do you know his pre-test score/s? Oxford places HUGE stress on them. They also don't have much respect for A-Levels alone - think them very easy. Sigh.

Piffle · 17/11/2011 14:09

pre test scores?

hermionestranger · 17/11/2011 14:26

Piffle can i ask what type of school DS attends? My cousin was turned down because they had already filled their quota of independent schools for that year! (They told him this, so it's not here say but a direct quote.) He went to Edinburgh in the end and is now studying in Rome for his Phd.

Piffle · 17/11/2011 14:36

A rural state grammar in Lincolnshire

Piffle · 17/11/2011 14:36

semi rural ooops

2B1Gmum · 17/11/2011 15:39

my son is just about to send his UCAS, school have lots of Oxbridge and Medicine so he didn't get a look in until after 2 week half term. Many of his choices interview/invite to visit day for his choice of degree (engineering) including one that does visit day / interview in 2 weeks time so he may have missed that. Would rather any potential interviews were Feb/Mar as he has 3 exams in January and the school told them that they don't have to go BUT Good University Guide says they really should to look genuine - any thoughts?

goinggetstough · 17/11/2011 16:17

IMO going to a department open day or post offer open day are important as it shows our DCs what they are aiming for. It is their chance to look at a department for themselves and to know whether they can see themselves there for three/four years. However, if these open days are all in the run up to Christmas and their exams then I would suggest to my DS to be selective in which ones he chooses. Plus there will surely be, later interview/visit days as the UCAS closing date isn't until January.

webwiz · 17/11/2011 17:16

Sorry to hear about your DS Piffle I think sieglinde is talking about Oxford rather than Cambridge as they have their own test that they use for selection for interview.

Bath makes some early batches of maths offers and then they wait for the Jan 15th deadline so that they have a "gathered field" before they make the rest of them. Hopefully your DS will be in one of the early batches especially with an A* in maths already.

lazymumofteenagesons · 17/11/2011 17:44

DS1 has been invited to a pre-offer visit at Bristol. It does not mention an interview. He is not particularly interested in Bristol and already has an unconditional offer at his 2nd choice. I told him if he doesn't want to go to the visit he should cancel that choice. You have to have a good reason not to go on a pre-offer visit day. If you are abroad on a gap year you can get out of it and they still make the offer. Otherwise they use them to sift out the less serious contenders (like DS1). I think of you go you always get an offer.

lazymumofteenagesons · 17/11/2011 17:45

'if you go' not 'of'

eatyourveg · 17/11/2011 19:03

Yeh! School have finally sent the thing off!

Re post offer days - they are v. important imo. In the past, Aberystwyth have often lowered their offers by one grade for students who have attended. I think they must be organised along the lines of a group interview. Not sure if it will happen this year. RG probably do things very differently though.

mrswoodentop · 17/11/2011 19:11

Goodnews eatyourvegI thought things would be better once the form went but ds1 now fretting about getting an offer ;just had to have the 'what happens if I don't get any offers' conversation againHmm