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Higher education

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

Original poster

Oxbridge again

252 replies

ucasfracas · 16/09/2011 12:05

I know there are threads on this but difficult to trawl through them to get the information I would like.

Anyone who has or knows of DCs who got offers,

What grades GCSE did they have?

What was the offer?

What was the subject?

Did they have to sit a 'special' exam as well and how much did this affect the outcome.

Answers to any/some of these would be gratefully received.Smile

OP posts:
Betelguese · 04/10/2011 17:08

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Yellowstone · 04/10/2011 19:06

funnyperson when Dorothy Wadham was setting up the college she got quite cross about the idea of endowing scholarships for boys from St. Paul's. Her reply was to the effect that she had no interest in London boys, she'd far rather her college provide for students from South Somerset/ East Devon!

It's just as well that that bias wasn't enshrined in the statutes!

Milliways · 04/10/2011 19:17

My DD has been helping with the Freshers this year - can't believe she is now in her 3rd year!

Betelguese - just read your comment about careers, you are so right! DD attended a "Work to change the world" careers fair last year, all about charities etc. She got talking to one of them and now has a job lined up for next year (subject to a 2:1) - and this is not one of the careers she had ever considered before.

We were discussing finances and she has spent so very little in the last 2 years. Her ball gowns have come from Debenhams & TK Maxx sales etc, her clothes are still mainly Primark! She has made so many friends from such different backgrounds, and could not have been happier. Considering she is the first in our family to go to Uni at all, and how worried we were at how she would "fit in" we could not have asked for more of an experience for her.

She is also now an "Access Officer" and has the job of encouraging State school pupils to apply :)

(PS, she told me that one of her friends at another college, who used to get free school meals, gets free college food now - 3 meals a day- because of that. Some colleges bend over backwards to help those from lower incomes.)

funnyperson · 04/10/2011 19:34

Yes I was very impressed with the financial help given at Oxford- for example a £50 card for Blackwells bookshop towards the cost of academic books for every student, £100 on the Bodleian card to help with the cost of food, and almost all the freshers events so far have been free (except the clubs and ice cream).

Some colleges, such as St Johns, even have free printing which must help very considerably. Having said this- it is the richer colleges which are able to help their students the most- precisely the ones which the less well off students might not think of applying to.

Betelguese · 04/10/2011 22:23

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Betelguese · 04/10/2011 22:26

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Betelguese · 04/10/2011 22:29

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Betelguese · 04/10/2011 22:32

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biker101 · 07/10/2011 12:22

Really interested to read this thread especially from those who've been through this before.... Would really appreciate some views. Ds is applying to Cambridge this year. Application is in but now he's been sent this supplementary form - saq. He spent ages over his ps and really put in everything there that he wanted to say. But on the saq there's a space for him to add more about why he wants to go to Cambridge. From your experience does this disadvantage him to leave it blank - it's not a compulsory question. He can't decide if repeating his ps or just elaborating on it would be better/worse than not putting anything there at all. 'Officially' they say it's not a problem to leave it blank but 'official' isn't always what really happens!

Milliways · 07/10/2011 16:30

I have never known anyone to leave it blank. DD had the same issue - had spent ages on the PS and they want more. She used it to expand on her passion for the subject, and put back the bits that had been culled from PS due to word limit. For some people, the course at Cambridge is different to course applied for at other Uni's so PS is general to cover all bases and this is specific to the Cambridge course.

Betelguese · 07/10/2011 18:01

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gelatinous · 07/10/2011 18:27

I've heard that part of the SAQ is genuinely optional and that many people do leave it blank with no detriment to their application.

funnyperson · 08/10/2011 06:27

biker I know nothing about this but UCL sent out a similar thing and someone called it a 'paper interview' which stuck in my mind as a good description.

Isn't this a great opportunity to put in relevant stuff he has to leave out of the PS and perhaps a bit more about his subject - describe a project he did in accurate detail or one of the books he has read -and a bit more about why Cambridge and if there is any particular college he really likes and why. Definitely another opportunity to shine as I see it. Let the others mess up and leave it blank I say, not your DS. Could also stand in good stead if he is sick on the interview day.

kalidasa · 08/10/2011 11:23

In general I'd say personal statements and additional statements are important at universities where they don't interview but not very significant (whatever the school tells you) for courses/universities where they do. I've interviewed in both Oxford and Cambridge and you quite often use the personal statement as the starting point for an initial 'gentle' question ('so I see you enjoyed X book . . . tell me more about Y') but I can't think of any instance where it is significant beyond the interview. I can still remember at least something about most of the interviews I've done whereas I don't think I can recall anything about a single personal statement! Honestly, they are by and large all quite similar and almost everyone at that sort of level has lots of impressive things to say. The work that is sent and any tests that are done as part of admissions are much more important.

One thing I would say is a) obviously, don't lie (because you might be caught out in interview if you haven't read the book); and b) stick to discussing your subject/intellectual interests not your sporting/charity/other endeavours. School teachers and parents care about extracurricular stuff; admissions tutors don't.

Matsikula · 08/10/2011 11:33

I don't like referring to something that's behind a paywall, but there was a useful article in the Times earlier this week. It gave some typical Oxbridge interview questions, but more usefully, explained why they asked them, and what interviewers were looking for in an answer.

I think it went a long way towards demystifying the whole thing and would be useful reading for anyone going up to an interview who is not lucky enough to be prepared to within an inch of their life by teachers who have been through it themselves.

biker101 · 08/10/2011 14:41

Thanks so much for all the feedback. Ds is working on it this weekend and I think has decided to focus in more detail on the actual course itself and style of teaching and why that appeals to him. We'll see how it goes!

Auntiestablishment · 08/10/2011 15:29

Re the Guardian article - Tanya did English IIRC.

I was at Merton at the same time, doing a different subject, and my experience couldn't have been more different. I had a great time, didn't notice academic pressure particularly - work seemed to just do itself in between socialising and clubs/societies - and certainly wasn't afraid of either Oxford as a concept or as a reality. The tribe thing is just silly.

I hope it's not changed as much as has been implied in this thread.

Original poster
ucasfracas · 19/10/2011 15:19

Well the deadline has passed so that is it for this year. Who is giving it a go? DD would not be swayed and I think my main regret is that her application hasn't been sent off yet, would like to put that hurdle behind her (and me!)

OP posts:
redfuchsia · 20/10/2011 08:28

Feeling slightly sad that the deadline has passed and that my DC did not want to give it a go either. Hey ho.

Betelguese · 20/10/2011 16:03

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Original poster
ucasfracas · 21/10/2011 10:58

I'm actually happy that she is happy with her choices and it looks like her application will go off very soon (hoping today).

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kritur · 25/10/2011 20:54

Not been on this thread for ages but just wanted to say when I mentioned the boy in my form had done drama I wanted to stress that this had helped with his confidence. Because he'd done so much drama he was a confident speaker, was able to debate etc. I'm sure he was very impressive at interview.

sandripples · 13/11/2011 12:57

Hi - is anyone getting invitations for interviews in chemical ngineering at Cambridge yet? Not sure if the lack of news means anything! Thanks

Winetimeisfinetime · 25/11/2011 16:17

My ds is really disappointed as he didn't get called for an interview at Oxford :(

Does anyone know if it is possible to get any feedback from the college as to where he went wrong ?

gelatinous · 25/11/2011 20:22

I fear my ds is in the same boat. Not heard for definite, but it seems his subject invites have gone out and he doesn't have an email Sad. I believe it is possible to request feedback from the college, although sometimes they prefer requests to come from the school.