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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:
Figmentofmyimagination · 28/10/2014 08:24

She has texted - two offers today - yay - one from her favourite - Leeds - and one from her reserve choice. Fortunately she wasn't here to hear DH automatically describe her Leeds offer as a "handy safety net"!

Molio · 28/10/2014 08:41

Figment if your DD is being pretty chilled about Oxford I'm sure it's all fine.

cathyandclaire · 28/10/2014 09:48

Well done Figment's DD, fantastic news!
Dd keeps getting messages from a friend in her second year at Oxford, saying Don't do it, the workload is HIDEOUS... all her pics look like she's having some fun though!

Molio · 28/10/2014 10:04

cathy I suggested to DS2 yesterday that his work-life balance might conceivably be wrong (fresher) as his e-mails only mention hockey, rugby, football, real tennis and rowing, nights out and a trip to the Union :)

RatherBeOnThePiste · 28/10/2014 10:08

Oh fab news for the offers!

Yes it is material science, and it came new to her, she's always fancied pure physics, but she was quite enthusiastic when she had a brief look. Am hoping she doesn't forget to talk to her teachers this week as they are rather fab and will be able to advise her. What I don't want is for her to think it would be an easier way in, then regret the choice. In a way I wish this hadn't happened!

AtiaoftheJulii · 28/10/2014 10:19

Rather hopefully she can just think of it as keeping more options open - being considered for materials won't have a negative effect on her physics application.

Figment My dd has a Leeds offer too, which is also her (pretty close) second choice Smile Leeds is a great place to live. My dd2 in y12 fancies it too, which could be handy!

She found out yesterday morning when track came back that she has a Royal Holloway offer too, despite the classics bloke there saying they interviewed.

AtiaoftheJulii · 28/10/2014 10:20

Oops, forgot to send congratulations to her Grin

MrsBartlet · 28/10/2014 10:32

Great news on the offers. Dd still only has 1 offer which she got 3 weeks ago - would rather like to see some more coming in!

dapoxen · 28/10/2014 11:37

Rather/Atia Any student who's a genuine Oxford Physics candidate will get multiple offers from other very good Physics departments. So there's no need to consider a different course at Oxford (unless they've looked at what Materials Science involves in detail, and were already genuinely interested in it). Doing a 2nd choice course simply, or largely, to get into Oxford would be insane.

RandomFriend · 28/10/2014 14:56

Grin at welshpixie and the behaviour of some parents! You must work at DD's school, or at least a similar one. We are, indeed, very stressed with all this work!

I am only trying to keep track of what has to be done when, and if possible get a look at it before it is handed in so as to point out misplaced and missing commas in the essays.

Is anyone else overseeing which pieces of written work will be sent to Oxford. If so, what are you is your DC sending?

Figmentofmyimagination · 28/10/2014 17:40

Random I have no input into the pieces of work she is going to send. She's going to pick them this w/end and discuss them with her teacher on Monday.

Separately, just read email from Durham which landed in my inbox as I was the one who registered DD for last year's open day. Anyway usefully it says most Durham offers won't be sent out till January.

I

AtiaoftheJulii · 28/10/2014 17:45

No, dd has been discussing her pieces of work with her subject tutor, and telling me results of the discussions. She has one of her pieces of English coursework that she might use, then one classics essay. She'll use two classics essays if there are two really good ones, but the English piece got full marks so that would be quite nice to send!

MrsBartlet · 28/10/2014 17:57

Well this is strange. Dd has just had an offer from Exeter for English. The typical offer was AAA until this year when it has changed to a range from AAA - AAB. Dd's offer is conditional on her getting AAA. Does anyone know why they would giver her such a high offer? Her predicted grades are AAA so she could do it but she is applying to Cambridge and Durham and if either of them give her an offer they would be likely to offer A*AA and so Exeter wouldn't get used as an insurance choice which was the whole point of applying there.

AtiaoftheJulii · 28/10/2014 18:01

That seems incredibly high for English - wonder if it's a mistake? Has she been onto the student room to look at other Exeter English offers? If it doesn't change in the near future, she could always email and ask why so high.

MrsBartlet · 28/10/2014 18:03

Hi Atia. She has sent them an email straight away to check in case it is a mistake as it seems odd. I'll get her to look at the student room - good idea!

AtiaoftheJulii · 28/10/2014 18:04

Is she applying for deferred entry? They're often higher I think.

Molio · 28/10/2014 18:08

Figment it's relatively easy to work out who will get an interview for a given subject at Oxford, unless the GCSE grades are very marginal. So while I'd be delighted for DS to get an interview, I'm actually very doubtful that he will. He's very good at his subject but he took his GCSEs a year early and he wasn't quite there, and that may well do for him. I'm assuming your DD was strong at GCSE if she's applied to Durham for English. She doesn't really need to do 'work' for the ELAT either; she just needs to be good, which you say she is. Does she go to a school which gives guidance on the pre-tests or is it one which lets them go it alone?

MrsBartlet · 28/10/2014 18:08

No not deferred entry. Very disappointing really as it feels like they are discouraging her and she was really quite keen.

Molio · 28/10/2014 18:16

Wow that's crazy MrsB. Exeter isn't worth those grades! Even Cambridge isn't asking for two A for English, so there would be no policy reason for Exeter to ask either. If Exeter is seriously asking for two A it will guarantee an empty department for 2015 - it must surely be a mistake? Do let us know their answer :)

Molio · 28/10/2014 18:19

MrsB if they wanted to discourage her they'd reject her. They don't need to be subtle.

Has anyone's DC attempted to submit one of these 'substitute personal statements' for Durham? The main purpose of them seems to be to smoke out Oxbridge applicants, but it all seems very ham fisted.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 28/10/2014 18:20

DD's friend applied to Exeter as her first choice last year, and I know competition is fierce and some. Her offer for English was A* (in English) AA

DontGoToRoehampton · 28/10/2014 18:21

Molio - how is it easy to work out who will get interviews?
Apologies if this has already been discussed - coming to this thread late and in total ignorance of Oxbridge...

cathyandclaire · 28/10/2014 18:23

2A*? Nice to get an offer but that's ridiculous-but after some careful stalking research on the Student Room there are a couple of other freaked out girls who've been offered the same and no one claiming a lower offer.
DD has so far only applied to three so far and Exeter was a possible add on if she didn't get an offer but with those grades she'll definitely stick to Bristol!

MrsBartlet · 28/10/2014 18:26

I will report back when she has heard from Exeter but I suspect it is not a mistake. It will just put them out the running as far as she is concerned. Although having said that we should wait and see what other offers she gets first - they may all be wanting lots of A*s Grin

At least she has AAA from York and I know she would be happy there as I loved it!

Now worried that I don't know anything about a substitute personal statement from Durham. Does that come directly from them?

MrsBartlet · 28/10/2014 18:27

Really cathyandclaire? Yikes! In which case I won't have to worry about long drives to the west country!