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.

DS has had the same e-mail but it's a routine one - other DS got it at the same time last year, and didn't get an offer until early Jan. The e-mail actually says Bristol history dept receives a large number of high quality apps, as opposed to has received; in other words it doesn't say this year is anything special. He's got the same from Edinburgh except that Edinburgh said it had 36,000 apps in 2014, which is a bit grim....

One of DD's great mates has been given a provisional interview date at Cambridge subject to her BMAT being up to scratch. I would have thought they'd wait and see.

Stumbled across this thread and its bringing back all the memories of applying to oxbridge myself.

Don't forget everyone, if they don't get in, and are really upset that they didn't, they can work hard for A levels and try again next year when they will be that bit more mature, confident etc.

Lots of people do that (I did back before the dawn of time)

Dd has a Bristol offer, but hers is a small subject. Her English teacher was surprised it was so soon, so I assume that the reputation for taking ages is more due to the more popular subjects.

My DS went to an open day last week with an informal group interview but hasn't heard anything since. His predicted grades are above their standard offer so I'm hoping he'll get an offer soon, I think getting his first offer may give him a little confidence boost before his Cambridge interview

figment must echo what others have said about Durham. DS1 applied to Cambridge last year but also (eventually) got an offer from Durham too. He did end up insuring Durham too. Worth remembering that around 75%-80% of Oxbridge applicants will not get an (Oxbridge) offer. Durham, and the likes of Warwick, UCL, St Andrews etc) will all be aware of this. So even if they did surmise that a candidate may have applied to Oxbridge I can't see it having any impact of their decision making.

figment I agree with the others. Ds1 applied to Dur and Ox last yr. and got early offer from Dur (though is now at Ox). Oxbridge rejects are a high quality bunch of young people and Dur, St A, bristol et al simply can't afford to ignore swathes of highly able candidates on the basis they may or may not have applied to Oxbridge. Doesn't work that way.

ds1 has been invited for interview (Oxford), whoopee. He has 3 other offers already, but I'm not sure that will make him any less nervous! He now has 3 weeks to fret about it. Practice interview with his Head Teacher tomorrow :D

Woohoo Roisin! Congrats to him!

Is that our first Oxford interview?

Well done to Roisin's ds!

Well done too, Roisin's ds!

Fantastic news, Roisin! What college will he be interviewing at?

Fantastic for him, Roisin. Completely appropriate that the thread starter's DS should bag an early/ the first interview :) Much better to get early notice - at least he's certain he's not wasting his time with any interview prep. What sort of school is he at Roisin? Do they send lots to Oxford and Cambridge? Is the HT also a chemist? Just curious as to who gets what help. And is the interview at St. John's? (don't feel obliged to answer that last question if you don't want to!).

I know from last year that the college DS has applied to sends out invites a few minutes earlier than rejections, and lets everyone know quite late. I'm not at all optimistic about an interview, but either way I wouldn't expect news for a couple of weeks.

GraceFox makes the very good point that the term 'Oxbridge rejects' (which I myself used), while accurate, does disservice to the group it describes: Durham, Bristol, UCL etc couldn't maintain their current standards if they didn't welcome those applicants with open arms.

Fantastic news Roisin. Well done to your ds

Well done Roisin's DS! Exciting times ahead

Excellent news, Roisin - how exciting!

thanks all.
Molio, I've sent you a PM, as I don't want to put too much on a public board.

Just heard ds has an interview lined up for English at Cambridge.

Ooo fabulous Grace! Congratulations!

Fab

Fantastic GraceFox!

We had a kerfuffle yesterday, when an official looking envelope arrived for dd2 so she tore it open expecting the rejection but it was an invite to a free poll. Bad timing polling company!

Agree with you Molio - will be quite nice to know soon so she can stop preparing.

Thank you. He hadn't been at all confident. And Littleham! how irritating...

Btw ds heard by email.

Well done to Roisin's DS.

I would be very interested to know the subject and college, and whether the school has a history of sending its students to Oxbridge.

Roisin congrats to your DS.
DD heard this morning she has an invite for Cambridge, it came via email. Just got to book the flights now when I get home.