Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

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 Entry 2015

999 replies

Roisin · 01/09/2014 17:45

Do we have a thread already?
ds1 has decided to definitely apply to Oxford to do Biochemistry. He will probably apply to St John's.

OP posts:
Littleham · 22/10/2014 13:27

Thanks welshpixie. I believe dd may be in a similar position.

RandomFriend · 22/10/2014 13:40

RatherBeOnThePist would meeting the rowing coach inspire your DD to work hard, hence increasing the chance that she would achieve the required grades? If so, it is good to go now for that kind of meeting!

RatherBeOnThePiste · 22/10/2014 16:33

She has had a lovely time, and also persuaded the porter to let her have a wander round Balliol as well, have had endless snapchat pics today!

Quenna · 22/10/2014 19:54

DSL had an offer from Bristol today so he is relieved that he has heard from somewhere. AAA. Revising hard for the MAT.

MadameJosephine · 22/10/2014 20:12

That's great quenna. Which course is that for? DS has also applied to Bristol for Maths and computer science

Quenna · 22/10/2014 20:47

maths with statistics i think madame

MadameJosephine · 23/10/2014 18:09

Does he have to go to an offer day? I think DS is under the impression that he has to go to one at bristol before they will offer but maybe that's just for compsci?

Molio · 23/10/2014 18:43

Littleham it has to be an essay written for A2 in the ordinary course of her course. A sheet has to be signed by her teacher to confirm the circumstances. It should not be written especially for Oxford. In the nature of things (given that it's still early on in the A2 course), there usually isn't much choice of which essay to hand in.

Molio · 23/10/2014 18:45

RatherBeOnThePiste all the colleges are very welcoming to prospective applicants or current applicants - they're usually just ushered in.

Molio · 23/10/2014 18:49

Littleham get your DD's helpful teacher to mark an essay quick! That's what DS has done and his teacher was very obliging. I think Nov 10th is the deadline so the teacher has a little time yet, without feeling oppressed.

Littleham · 23/10/2014 18:52

Hmm. An A2 essay written in the ordinary course of her course. That might be a challenge seeing as I don't think she has been set one this term! Halloween Grin She does have AS essays....

Littleham · 23/10/2014 18:57

Yep - great minds think alike. I'm sure she will be happy to help.

AtiaoftheJulii · 23/10/2014 22:22

I didn't think it had to be specifically A2 target than AS? Just recent. Dd's will probably both be AS essays - will make sure she checks.

Molio · 24/10/2014 08:16

History specifies 'A2 or equivalent' Atia though they do say check with the college if that causes an issue. I guess almost all schools would have set at least one essay to be in by the end of October half term; it simply doesn't allow much choice of what to hand in.

AtiaoftheJulii · 24/10/2014 16:49

Ah, guess there are small differences then, dd is going for Classics. We checked last night and it just says "usually normal school work done as part of your course". Phew :-)

Littleham · 24/10/2014 17:26

I know this isn't about Oxford, but thought I would let you know that dd has had an offer from her joint favourite York. Really relieved as it takes all the pressure away! Smile

MadameJosephine · 24/10/2014 18:34

DS just had an jnvite for a visit day to Bristol "with an interview element" on 12 Nov. Its his 4th choice but quite glad it'll be first as he can hopefully use it as a sort of practice interview before the others. Just checking out trains and the fare from here to temple meads is £150 with a rail card! If he gets interviews at all 4 its going to cost me a fortune

Littleham · 24/10/2014 18:50

Try the coach, as Bristol coach station is really central and is much closer to the university than the railway station.

Molio · 24/10/2014 19:20

That's absolutely great news Littleham :) DS is also dead keen on York so the early offer was a huge boost. I'm certain he'd be very happy there even if he gets nothing else. Anyhow, that's fab - I thought her offer wouldn't be many days in coming :)

MadameJ: £150 with a railcard Shock.

welshpixie · 24/10/2014 19:21

Littleham that is great news,as you said it takes the pressure off.

MadameJosephine · 24/10/2014 19:30

Well done to your DD littleham qSmile

I've checked coach fares and they are a bit cheaper but it takes over 10 hours each way Shock so it'll have to be the train

Decorhate · 24/10/2014 20:36

Madamejo if the fares will be a struggle for you to pay, school may be able to help if you qualify for 16-19 Bursury Fund

Littleham · 24/10/2014 22:41

Thanks everyone (although still possible to miss it with a bad exam).

Ten hours each way - nightmare MadameJo! When your ds gets to Bristol, he will need to get a bus or taxi to the university.

MadameJosephine · 24/10/2014 22:42

Thankfully I've got a bit set aside that should cover them, I just got a bit of a shock at how expensive the Bristol ticket was! Really interesting that you can claim money if needed though because i often wonder how some families afford it. We went on a few open days earlier in the year and that cost quite a bit too but we made weekends of them and just didn't have a big family holiday this year

Original poster
Roisin · 25/10/2014 08:17

Where is she travelling from MadameJ? Are those really the cheapest tickets? Sometimes you need to look at split journeys to get the cheap offers. If you wanted to PM me the date of travel and stations, I'll have a look for you and see if there's a better deal to be had.

OP posts: