Oxbridge Entry 2015

[Roisin]

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.

Dd is just about there. Her school deadline is tomorrow evening and then the school do their bit before it goes to UCAS. Glad it is done now and she can focus on her work and reading.

So how many other candidates are there at your DD's schools welshpixie/MrsBarlet? (just being nosey!). At DS's school they normally have about 2 or 3 applying to Oxbridge but this year they have 5. I think DS is the only one applying to Cambridge though.

I don't know for Oxbridge specifically, webwiz, but they have about 45 - 50 doing early entry, so Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science as well as Oxbridge. Hence the reason the form has to be in today as the school have a lot of them to deal with.

They have to tell the school which college they are applying to and for which subject as the school likes to make sure that they don't have too many applying for the same subject at the same college as they don't want the girls competing against themselves (IYSWIM!) Dd is the only one applying to do English at Cambridge but I would imagine there will probably be 15-20 applying for Cambridge in total. She has a friend applying for English at Oxford.

web Cambridge stats by school for 2013 entry listed here

www.study.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/apply/statistics/archive/undergraduate_admissions_by_apply_centre_2013_cycle.pdf

Terrible to admit but I could not resist having a look, seems to be ordered by school type then County

Webwiz this year there is 1 other applicant but for Oxford, last year there was none and the year before 1 for Oxford again.

ds1's (non selective, state) school has 250 per year in the sixth form. Last year they got 11 Oxbridge places plus 6 medics, so I guess they know what they're doing. I don't know how many they have on the early entry programme this year, or how many applied last year.

Really interesting figures boys!

That's very impressive Roisin. I doubt any of the state schools here achieve that. Maybe one or two get Oxbridge/medicine in a good year. And these are good schools

So from one extreme to the other MrsBartlet and welshpixie! I was just musing whether its easier to be part of a big group applying rather than being "The Oxbridge candidate". DS certainly feels more comfortable being with a few others applying.

Roisin DS's school has about 80 in year 13 they get a steady trickle of people into Oxbridge and medicine but not in large numbers. It just depends on the year group.

I had a look at that document for a bit boys3 but then found the numbers that don't get in too worrying and had to shut it!

I know what you mean webwiz. Very worrying as they are a self-selecting bunch who will all be very bright. Ds's school had 27 apply and only 9 who got in on that list!

I assume if a school is not listed they didn't get anyone in that year?

mrsrd probably too late to influence the decision but Cambridge and Oxford came 1st and 2nd on a survey of how students settle into uni. They both have a college parents scheme so older students to keep an eye on you at the start and at Cambridge freshers is quite short, which from other threads may actually be helpful for those who dont want to be clubbing all term (although there are clubs for those who want to be clubbing). The application is a stressful process but if your child has applied I thought you'd like to hear that.

DS's school usually gets a couple of Oxbridge offers per year but last year nobody got one and apparently they have never sent a scientist to Cambridge - no pressure then!

We have a similar situation MadameJosephine in that dd's school haven't sent anyone for English for ages.

Mrs B 9/27 is above the average overall success rate and pretty much level with the indie / grammar average.

Yes, I suppose it is. I didn't really think of it like that - I was just feeling bad for the 18 who applied and didn't get in! That was ds's school and he is only in Y9 (and at the moment I can't imagine that he will be an Oxbridge applicant). Dd's school was a similar ratio with 14 applicants and 5 places.

She has just told me that they were told in assembly that there are 70 early entrants, so the teachers have got their work cut out for them to get all those references etc sorted before 15th October.

DS is still faffing about with his personal statement - its too long and he's being resistant to cutting bits out Apparently his English teacher has a reputation for being a personal statement slasher so hopefully he can get DS to lose some of it. I'm glad its going in for the early deadline or he's still be messing with it in January!

We've had tears tonight. I think my d is overthinking it. And getting too many opinions (obv it's ok to get mine!). Hopefully will submit to school tomorrow.

I am joining this thread late - DD is just about to start her personal statement.

Phew! ds has been away on field trip this week; he emailed his nth draft of personal statement to his tutor on Sunday night before he went. His tutor, early entry supervisor and subject specialist are now happy with it; his predictions have been discussed and finalised; and his school reference has been written, discussed and finalised.

Looks like he's ready for a final check through tomorrow, then press the button. Phew!

Decorhate - did she submit today? Hopefully the stress levels will ease now.

No. Sigh. She had done it on iPad which she forgot to bring to school today. They seem happy to wait till next week. They only have 6 doing early entry

Which subject is your dd applying for RandomFriend?

We have another weekend of personal statement faffing ahead - English teacher wasn't in and DS seems unwilling to cull the extra words without someone saying its ok to lose this bit.I may snatch it off him on Sunday evening and just delete the last two paragraphs at this rate.