Oxbridge info/ support thread 2014

[lismore]

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.

Just caught up with you post hatty - fabulous news!

And to answer your question specifically coconutty - yes, 11 A* plus - all important for Cambridge- average AS UMS score of 96% across 4 subjects.

Congratulations to your DD Hatty, that's great news. DS is still waiting... it's very hard.

Coconutty my DS didn't get all As at GCSE - I think it was 7 A and 6 As. Average AS UMS of 97 over 5 subjects.

Crikey. Somewhat surprised they've even pooled DS, then, as he has 4A* out of 8 subjects.

Lancelottie our (state) school does a ridiculous number of GCSEs. I have no idea why - no university that I've heard of requires more than 8. It suited DS1 because he liked every single subject - it's proving a huge burden to DS2 who seems to be taking GCSEs for the sake of it, in some subjects which he really doesn't enjoy

But hey, that's a whole other thread... let's hope we have some news tomorrow.

It did sound rather a lot! DS would have preferred to dump all the 'boring humanities and languages' and just do science plus art, but I'm quite glad they insisted on a bit of rounding.

Thanks to so many for your congratulations for miniWorking - especially nice as I was a lurker on this thread not a participant!

To answer Coconutty's question - my DS has his grades already so it was an unconditional offer. His grades were 11 A at GCSE, 4 As at AS and 3 As at A2 - with a UMS score at A2 of just over 94%. But before that panics those in the pool I should say he was at a very academic private school so what Cambridge might expect from him would be different from children at other schools.

In fact, he got nowhere with an application to Oxford last year so might be helpful to encourage those disappointed this year to say he put all thoughts of university aside and focused totally on his exams (he beat his forecast grades by 2 A*s) - then spent the last few months really working out what subject he wanted to apply for (this changed after he'd done his A2s and realised what he really loved) and then reading around his subject, talking to people who had studied it, or are studying it now - basically doing everything he could to prepare to have a good interview. It paid off and his interviews went really well he felt. I know for some subjects they discourage you having a gap year but for him it's made such a difference to have the time to think about what he wanted to do and to prepare for it with his grades in hand already. And such a relief to know it's done and he is definitely going. So a long way of saying one rejection doesnt have to be the end of your ambition - for my DS it worked out for the best and he's doing a better subject for him.

Having said which - huge good luck to all those in the pool - and dont worry about single sex colleges at all!

Just checking in to add my congratulations to those of you whose DC's have received offers

DD anxiously waiting to hear whether she has an offer for Oxford. We will know tomorrow apparently - not sure whether via email or letter or both. Anyone know?

DS got his letter today - he has an offer! It's such a relief after all the waiting. He has to get A*AA and STEP 11.
Hattie he asked the college to email him yesterday but they wouldn't, just told him to wait til today!
Workingitout - it must be so good knowing your DS is definitely going as he has the grades. Even with an offer, nothing is certain until they meet the conditions.
Good luck to those still in the pool, I hope you get good news soon.
Good luck too to Horsepetal and everyone else waiting for Oxford results.

Great news TT, well done to your DS.
Crossing fingers for those waiting for the Oxford letters tomorrow.

DS in the pool - finding this difficult

FC FuturePerfect. FWIW, Oxbridge doesn't suit everyone. Some people prefer the close academic supervision and small community, others find it infantilising or stifling and prefer more anonymity and independence. It's hard to see that in a 17yo but of all the "Oxbridge rejects" I knew, none now wishes s/he had actually gone.

To add further misery and a twist for those in the pool, a friend of DD in the pool for her subject got a rejection email today - I thought they wouldn't get rejections until after all interviews have taken place. So on the up side, if your haven't had a rejection yet you are still being considered ( is what I would have concluded).

Help, we have no Oxbridge tradition as a family. DD has an offer from Girton but everyone seems scathing about this college because its a way out from Cambridge town centre. Is it really that far and is it really that onorous a journey?

Beck - as I understand it

Girton is a good way out - it's three miles from the centre, up the only hill and back down again. Most colleges are within half a mile, some others are a mile and a half.

How far he would actually have to travel depends on subject - it's popular with vets because it's near the vet school, also not far from Maths and the new Microsoft computing bit (West Cambridge site). Would be more annoying for linguists or historians maybe. What subject?

The community there is consequently excellent and close. They have great accommodation and catering. Well regarded. A proper college.

singsong Girton is great. She'll love it there! Don't worry!

There are buses which connect Girton to the centre and the Sidgwick sites (humanities faculties). It's wonderfully Hogwartsy and has fantastic grounds and a fab little swimming pool on site. All colleges have their upsides and downsides, but once there colleges are a bit like parents - yours have their pros and cons, but you love them because they're yours and wouldn't swap them for another set ;)

hatty - I went to Newnham: it is a beautiful college, gorgeous grounds, and I found it a relief to have it to retreat to after the hustle and bustle of the more well-known colleges with their hordes of tourists.

However, I did spend a lot of time at Queens which is two minutes walk down the road

Thanks ladies. DD doing MFL so in for a long trek every day by the sound of it. Is the route safe for cylists? Can't help fussing, she's my first to be flying the nest!

Route Is v safe for cycling, yes. Huntington Road has good cycle paths (I lived halfway along in second year) and then Grange Road is cycle heaven. Cambridge drivers are few and far between but very used to dodging bikes.

I'm reminded that Girton has lovely grounds. I saw an outdoor Midsummer Night's Dream there.

MML is also relatively low for contact hours outside college in the first year or so (before supervisions are more specialised and more likely to be with someone not at Girton) so there are often several days a week where you wouldn't have to venture out of college. Each college's library is usually pretty good.

Which languages? The reason I ask is that not all colleges have all the MML languages represented, which would give her a hint as to how far she would be going for supervisions. Mine had French and Catalan, so I had to go across town for German supervisions from day one. We also had no French graduate students so our French oral classes were a good trek too.