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.

Beck - sorry about the random half post there - started on tablet and then DD came home and I didn't realise I'd posted. Now I'm on computer which I can manage I think you're right about the pool. The colleges have as I understand it done all their fishing for direct offers and interviews and some are now rejecting those in the pool who haven't been chosen by another college eg. Kings. There seems to be another category of candidate in the pool, held in reserve if the quota isn't filled following interviews this weekend. It seems particularly cruel and it would be good if all the colleges could follow the Kings route rather than leaving people waiting and hoping.

Good luck to those still swimming.

singsong I've heard Girton is great - don't reject it because it's a bit far out - it's still a Cambridge place, and Cambridge (as I discovered when I went to visit for DD's interview) is a small town.

Lebear thanks for that. My DD already "befriended" a boy at her Jesus interview - they've FB'd each other and they're both in. I reckon she's sorted.

IIRC colleges have to put into the pool and take out - so even oversubscribed colleges go fishing, and even undersubscribed put in. Maybe they're allowed to take back what nobody else claims?

I don't think any college is 'undersubscribed' horatio - but there will be some who don't see enough candidates of the required standard, if that's what you mean. But if they are not of the required standard, they wouldn't pool them - they'd reject them.
But other colleges who have more good candidates than they can take can put you in the pool, look around, and then take you back out again - but that's done before you even know you're in the pool - that's what the colleges were doing on Thursday and friday last week - according to that font of all knowledge ' the student room' that is.....

time I'm really sorry, I missed your post on the first skim through. Many congratulations to your DS - it must be such a relief.

Sorry, Beck. Yes, I meant less oversubscribed and yes they only pool those who deserve to get in.

Post has arrived!

DS won't be home to open it until 6pm, but unfortunately the text is partially visible through the envelope window.

Looks like good news...I'm in tears again here!

Any other Oxford updates?

Yay SmallCake ! probably

You would have thought that someone from Oxford could have worked out how to format a letter to ensure confidentiality, away from the prying eyes of every Tom, Dick or mother Postie, wouldn't you?

CakeExpectations - surely it's a crafty compromise?

Post has arrived here from Oxford too. DD not home until 5pm.

Its a rather thin envelope so not sure its going to be good news

She is going to be devastated

Horse

Do please try to see it as "not a good match for each other" rather than "DD not good enough for Oxford" because there is a difference and the former is far more likely.

What are her other choices? Is she holding other exciting offers?

Do the letters arrive by recorded delivery or normal post? Not had anything yet.

Cake Congratulations. Horse fingers crossed for when the envelope's opened, it may not be what you think.

Don't assume bad news yet, Horse; DS's letter is A4, but quite thin.

Ezzie ours came by normal post. The Oxford website says that colleges will either send letters or emails by today. Maybe yours has come by email?

I keep checking emails but nothing there either. The suspense is killing me!

My son received an offer from Trinity College Oxford today , he is very happy. The letter was very thin and not Impressive looking at all so don't be disheartened yet! The offer is A*AA so lower than two of his other offers. He is undecided which he will accept as he is in the very fortunate position to have offers from all 5 he applied to.

Thanks everyone, she came home early and it's a rejection from Trinity

Will wait to see what feed back they give via her tutor. She did badly at AS despite being predicted top marks (and it on course for top marks at A2).

So it might be why she was rejected. If so she is talking about taking a gap year and reapplying next year when her results are through.

Not sure - she hasn't had any other offers yet (Warwick, Edinburgh, Kings and Durham) so too soon to be making those kinds of decisions but at least she is talking.

Good luck to those of you waiting for news, the suspense is a killer and many congratulations to those of you with offers

Horse x

Sorry to hear that, Horse.

You may have hit the nail on the head re AS grades - if so then reapplying next year with DD's A2 results under her belt sounds like a good plan.

Did she fall in love with any of her other choices? DS absolutely loved Durham and so has a tough decision to make now.

Here's some and for you and your DD. Wishing her good luck with whatever she chooses.

Sorry also to hear that horse. Hopefully things will sort themselves out.
Well done to cake and mice
DD has a place at Christchurch college - it came by email. DD's actually not home yet, so we can't quiz her!

Should have said she has an offer - she now needs to get the grades!!

Cake, Mice, and Pretty that's fan news - well done to your DC's.

Horse .

Pretty you're right though - now they need the grades

That's fab news not fan!

Ds got an Oxford offer today. AAA. :) Congratulations to all who also got offers, and onwards and upwards to those who didn't. I'm an Oxbridge reject myself so I know how your dcs feel.

Horse - this is going back a bit, but I was rejected from Oxford in the upper sixth. Was devastated as I had really set my heart on it. But frankly I wasn't mature enough to deal with the whole process and I didn't interview well.

Got my A level results, applied to Cambridge, went there instead (and it was a much better college than the Oxford one that rejected me!)

So, if your DD isn't that bothered, then no worries. But if it was what she really wants, then once she has come to terms with it she can throw her all into A levels and try again. Nothing to lose! Lots of people at Oxbridge do it that way.

Thanks Bumpsadaisie - she is very down at the moment as did have heart set on Oxford but she can start to consider other options now. It's such an intensive period of waiting I think so it's easy for other options to be overlooked.

So did you have to take a gap year or did you just make a late application once your A Levels were through?