Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Higher education

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

Original poster

Oxbridge info/ support thread 2014

527 replies

lismore · 18/10/2013 10:41

Does anyone else with a DC applying for Oxbridge this year feel like having someone to share the highs/ lows/ questions- if so, please join in!
I have a DS who has just applied to Cambridge- our family has no Oxbridge background and he's at a state school which gives absolutely no advice so definitely feel at a bit of a loss how to support him.
I think he's incredibly brave even trying, especially as 80% get rejected unfortunately.

OP posts:
hattymattie · 21/12/2013 16:10

Secrets maybe in the end there'll be an equalling out between the London uni's and the provinces owing the the sheer cost of living there. It would be nice to think that all the brightest weren't mopped up by London and Oxbridge. For us Durham is loads cheaper and DD loved it - it feels cosy and secure to her. We haven't been to Warwick - is it nice?

secretsantasquirrels · 21/12/2013 16:38

Hatty I was thrilled that DS loved Warwick because before he went there he was so fixed on Cambridge that he wasn't interested in anywhere else. They are very well regarded for Maths and he liked everything about the course. Warwick is a campus university and quite modern. Lots of green spaces, very similar looking to Nottingham if you've been there?. He definitely preferred the campus style unis and was woefully unimpressed by the glorious buildings at Cambridge philistine.
I went to Warwick with him but not Durham so I don't know what that's like.

pancakesfortea · 21/12/2013 16:40

I can't believe it's twenty years ago that I was doing this myself. Clueless 17 year old from a bog standard comp applying to Cambridge. I got in and loved it.

I was wary of being a fish out of water, but I really wasn't. There were a lot of privately educated people there but also a lot from state schools. It's a big enough place that you could find plenty of people like you if that's what you want. But actually one of the great things I learned was that posh people are just people, with a similar distribution of nice people and nobbers to the rest of the population. It's a lesson that has stood me in great stead in later life.

Of course one of the things I never realised at the time was that my parents might have been sharing in some of my exams and applications stress. It wouldn't have crossed my mind for a moment! (As a parent myself no, I know better....).

hattymattie · 21/12/2013 16:46

Thanks Secrets - Durham is very small but beautiful as has a castle on a hill with a beautiful cathedral just behind it. The river loops around the hill and most of the Uni is on the other side of the river (although the castle is a hall of residence). Not much shopping but the essentials - but Newcastle is 10/15 mins away by train with mega shopping. The best view of Durham in my opinion is as one passes through on the train as the station is on another hill giving a fab view of the cathedral and castle together. I think in term time the students must outnumber the locals in a big way which I suspect is the same for Warwick.

TheOneWithTheNicestSmile · 21/12/2013 19:57

Sadly Warwick University is actually in Coventry & nowhere near Warwick Sad

PurplePotato · 21/12/2013 21:05

Hatty and Secrets - I went to Durham :) Absolutely loved it there. It's such a beautiful place and I liked that the city is small enough to walk absolutely everywhere. Close to the coast for escapes, and really easy to get to Newcastle for shopping and theatre (I used to go and get cheap tickets to see the RSC).

Original poster
lismore · 23/12/2013 19:11

Twelve days to go....
We've all been busy on pre-Christmas trips to extended family etc. here, with the inevitable quizzing of DS on what his plans for next year are, but now we're back home D-day suddenly seems to be looming larger.

Happy Christmas to all- I hope our DCs (and us!) can relax and enjoy themselves!

OP posts:
Original poster
lismore · 30/12/2013 20:26

Five days to go, all Cambridge decision letters are posted 1st class on Friday 3rd January. I think Oxford is a little later.
Happy New Year!

OP posts:
PurplePotato · 31/12/2013 18:13

Happy New Year Lismore and everyone else!
Just realised DS won't be here on Saturday when the post comes :( We may have to wait until Saturday evening to find out - I'm pretty sure he will want to open his letter himself.

HoratiaDrelincourt · 31/12/2013 18:43

yy Purple - I was boarding in U6 and my dad drove over to school with the envelope so I could open it immediately Grin

PurplePotato · 31/12/2013 19:21

Oooh, maybe I could talk DS into that. He'll be at his Saturday job - suppose it depends if he thinks he can handle disappointment and still keep his customers happy...

BeckAndCall · 03/01/2014 08:19

Good luck for tomorrow everyone's DC. ( and wishing all Oxford applicants a calm few waiting days)

I'm doing the outwardly calm bit here but DD is not hiding it at all - never seen her so nervous. Yesterday she said 'I'm in the pool right now and someone is rejecting my application as I speak!'

And I've done this twice before!! Trying to get a grip.

I've always worked on the basis that a small thin letter is bad news and a big letter is good news. Anyone know any different? The older DC both got small thin letters, so i have no experience of a big fat letter!

hattymattie · 03/01/2014 10:35

somebody said to me that they're all thin from CambridgeGrin

BeckAndCall · 03/01/2014 10:38

That's Hattie! At least I won't panic too early now...!

littlesquid · 03/01/2014 10:52

DD's offer letter last January (Oxford) Was A4, and thick, containing brochures as well as the offer letter. Was fairly easy to guess it was an offer, as I can't think what they would put in the envelope with a rejection (Durham prospectus? Wink ).

Different colleges probably do different things, though.

Bumpsadaisie · 03/01/2014 11:09

Good luck everyone. My letter was very thin and it was an offer. I practically threw up as I opened it. All v character building!

Thank god my DCs are only 4 and 2.

PurplePotato · 03/01/2014 12:33

Feeling a little bit sick here. Glad I'm at work today so I'm not thinking about it. I was awake between 2 and 4am this morning and could hear DS bumbling around - he is doing a good job of appearing not bothered, but I suspect that's not really the case! He has taken a day off work tomorrow so will be hear for Mr Postman Grin

Good luck everyone!

BeckAndCall · 03/01/2014 13:34

My DD is currently obsessing on the student room where there are many like minded DC picking apart every nuance of the Cambridge pooling system. Apparently, if you are pooled you can get a fishing phone call as early as tomorrow afternoon!! So this tension can be prolonged for several days yet

< looks at the clock to see if its too early for gin>

hattymattie · 03/01/2014 14:28

Beck I'm looking at TSR and DD has gone swimming. We're in France so I don't know if we have to wait for e-mail. The college left it rather vague.Confused Confused

BeckAndCall · 03/01/2014 14:31

Oh crikey, Hattie that's nerve wracking!

I did read in the pool notes that there is something different about the procedure for international students - although you may not be international for this purpose of course. The dates on the notifications if you are pooled are different - by the 9th instead of the 6th I think?

Original poster
lismore · 03/01/2014 23:43

Good luck everyone! Fingers crossed for good news....

OP posts:
mindgone · 04/01/2014 01:45

Good luck all! We are just home from a week in the sun (such a lovely change!) and I really think DS has no idea that he should get a letter tomorrow! Confused He seems to think its sometime before the end of jan! I'm so glad he's not stressing about it Grin

funnyperson · 04/01/2014 11:00

Good luck to those waiting. Must be a bit daunting knowing that journalists frequent these sorts of threads and are likely to quote them on national newspapers. There is of course the option to create another thread with a false title for all those going through pooling/rejections/offers etc.

Original poster
lismore · 04/01/2014 11:17

DS has an A*AA offer for Medicine! So very pleased for him!
Good luck to those still waiting for the postman.

OP posts:
mindgone · 04/01/2014 11:20

Rejection here! DS is really fine about it, I'm glad he hadn't pinned all his hopes on it, just applied to see. He has 4 other very good offers (unconditional as he has his grades). Just needs to choose now. Very best of luck to all still waiting!