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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

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Original poster

Is it too late for Oxbridge?

47 replies

RhodaBull · 24/08/2015 08:31

And on the opposite side of the coin from the "I don't want to go...":

Ds had a rough year 12 - he missed quite a lot of college due to illness, plus was diagnosed with something else. He thought he had messed up his AS Levels and was looking into trying to repeat the year etc.

AS results were 4 As, two 100%, one 97% and one 89%. Given these results (and his GCSEs) he might have a punt at Oxbridge, but he has made absolutely no preparation. His friend, aiming for Cambridge, has done Duke of Edinburgh, masterclasses, written personal statement, attended Oxbridge classes etc etc etc. Ds has a)done none of these and probably more relevant b) has done absolutely no extra reading round the subject of interest.

He could of course apply after A Levels but he might not get A*s and at the moment he looks quite good on paper.

Any advice?

OP posts:

Kez100 · 24/08/2015 11:51

Just want to say - well done that lad!

Dietcokemonster · 24/08/2015 12:00

Oxford also does modern history - he needs to look at the course structures for both to see what he finds most appealing.
The best place to start is with his courses - what has he studied for AS and what is he doing at A2? xxx

mummytime · 24/08/2015 13:54

Modern history is 1500 (roughly) onwards - and I chatted to a Modern History professor at Oxford a few months ago.

Oxford is a larger town, hilly, and the station is in the centre of town more.
Cambridge is flat, smaller, and can seem cut off from the outside world.

I would look at what specific courses offer, what his interests are - quirky is helpful. Is there an academic whose interested in the same kind of things?

For PPE, I think they will want to know you are actually interested in it, not just see it as a way into politics or business (which it is).

He should choose what he is actually interested in.

alreadytaken · 25/08/2015 13:32

Cambridge would certainly interview him and with those AS results he'd stand a chance of getting into some colleges even if he messed up his interview. Oxford place more weight on the percentage of A*s at GSCE and being "the Oxford type" at interview so if he likes the course I'd suggest he try Cambridge. The interview will give him an idea of whether he would like the teaching style.

If he can achieve results like that while ill he's probably perfectly capable of coping with the pressure of short terms and he might even find he likes rowing. I'm told it's not just about height and strength but timing although the first team all seem tall and fit

He needs to have something he can put on his form to demonstrate interest but he can talk about something from his course as long as he goes beyond the syllabus. He also has until December to practise how to talk at interview.

He needs to decide on a course and a college quickly. www.applytocambridge.com/

TalkinPeace · 25/08/2015 14:03

As the OP of the other thread
Yes, of course go for it - because you never know.
If it starts to be too much stress then don't be scared to walk away.
But otherwise, its part of keeping your options open

TheOddity · 25/08/2015 14:21

If he likes philosophy and that kind of stuff, has he considered Classics as well? There is an Oxford course that doesn't require Latin or Greek as a pre entry requirement I think. I only had GCSE Latin and did that course. I was also a bit directionless as I enjoyed all my subjects and the Classics degree has a lot of breadth - language, politics, philosophy, art, history. I really recommend it and it is less competitive to get on despite having a very good reputation and excellent tutors.

Molio · 25/08/2015 15:04

Rhoda his AS grades are fantastic - extraordinary even, given a rocky Y12.

At the risk of some silly person taking me to task for mentioning my DC, a daughter is a recent graduate from Oxford in history, now doing a PhD, and I have a son with exactly your DS's GCSE grades going into his second year for history and one about go up as a fresher, also history. I'm very happy to offer any insight which might help. You can do plenty of properly modern history at Oxford so he shouldn't worry about that. He would certainly get an interview at Cambridge with his grades and he'd be very likely to at Oxford, provided he did a reasonable HAT. The Cambridge offer would be harder to meet, which may be a consideration if he wants a slightly less stressful Y13.

I don't think he needs to worry about suddenly trying to get extra reading under his belt unless there are books he happens to genuinely want to read. As for master classes and other prep - forget it. I wouldn't worry overly about 'passion' either. It's a very common dilemma for able kids - history or PPE. Anyhow, he sounds extremely bright. I'd book in for the September Open Day at Oxford and listen to what they have to say and if it appeals, go for it. I don't know when the Cambridge Open Days are, but I'd try to do that too, because the two universities have a different vibe.

Molio · 25/08/2015 15:11

Dietcoke I'm not sure that the AS and A2 courses are that relevant. Some Oxford colleges (certainly DS3's) actively encourage you away from anything you've studied before, in the first year at least.

alreadytaken I don't think there is an Oxford type. In history at least, I think the tutors welcome diversity.

Original poster

RhodaBull · 25/08/2015 16:01

at rowing. He might be able to cox, though - as long as he didn't fall in!

Thanks for all this encouragement. The passion business is so off-putting. I can't believe that all students, for every course (anywhere, not just Oxbridge) have this burning desire to study something in great depth, and are able to demonstrate that it's been simmering inside since they were a foetus.

OP posts:

TheOddity · 25/08/2015 16:06

Well I certainly didn't have a burning passion for my subject until I got there, that's what they are there to encourage! If you get great grades across the board at school, chances are you're a good allrounder and just have a 'passion for learning'.

SheGotAllDaMoves · 25/08/2015 16:14

rhoda I think it's a rather extraordinary 17 year old with a burning passion for one academic subject above all others.

Sure, there are kids like that. But most very able kids like all sorts of stuff.

Someone who is really into history, might also love English or politics or music...

I think an applicant needs to be very interested in the subject. And could see themselves studying it for three or more years. But there's no need to prove unfailing loyalty .

Chillywhippet · 25/08/2015 18:15

Rhoda - he obviously is interested in ideas (liberalism and survivalism). If he can talk about his interest in ideas, the influence of idears on cultures and history, wouldn't that along the right lines?

mummytime · 25/08/2015 18:38

I think they will be more looking to check he has a genuine interest in the subject. So for History has he read around the subject (including Historical fiction), been to Museums, done local history research.
For Economics - has he even looked at the Economist? Does he know what economist's do? And will he dare to suggest an answer if asked how to solve eg. The Greek debt crisis, and can he argue his point (even if wrong).
For Philosophy - what does he think the subject is? Can he name any Philosophers? Why does he want to study the subject? And "What is the point of studying Philosophy?"
For Politics - does he know about current affairs. What is Democracy, and does it have different meanings for different people?

Etc. etc.

TalkinPeace · 25/08/2015 18:41

I chose my University because two of the lecturers had written my favourite books on the subject.
I still have the books.

My whole career has been in something entirely different

Molio · 25/08/2015 19:01

If he doesn't have maths at AS, advise him to be cautious about PPE (but perhaps he does, at 100%!).

I would also say, don't read anyone else's ps or any sample ps's - just start afresh. Well, that's what mine did and were glad of it. Reading other people's can be a killer, both in terms of originality and (depending on whose you read) confidence. The ps for Oxford and Cambridge isn't much more than a prompt for interview questions anyhow. It matters far more for the other four choices - worth bearing in mind who you're really writing it for and the different purposes it serves.

SheGotAllDaMoves · 25/08/2015 19:51

talkin I put one of my UCCA choices down because a favourite poet was the librarian.

Was I imagining chatting with him over a pint on the union bar?

senua · 25/08/2015 20:06

I can't believe that all students, for every course (anywhere, not just Oxbridge) have this burning desire to study something in great depth, and are able to demonstrate that it's been simmering inside since they were a foetus.

DS didn't. I thought that he was all set to read one subject but then he had a major re-think about two months before he did his UCAS and went for something else.
But he's a clever lad so he managed to cobble together some convincing BS and got in to a decent University. That, or they didn't read his PS and just went on grades.

HocusUcas · 26/08/2015 13:19

Rhoda - PMed

Original poster

RhodaBull · 26/08/2015 13:59

PMd back!

OP posts:

AugustDay · 26/08/2015 15:07

Senua. We have always referred to PS's as BS's in our house.

JeanneDeMontbaston · 26/08/2015 15:20

No, I don't think they do. I don't even think most of them do. I think it's just about showing willing to be interested, and sounding as if you're there for a reason. It could be a really recent interest, or just in one area, couldn't it?

SquirrelledAway · 29/08/2015 10:10

There is a great 30 minute video on how to write a PS from one of the medicine admissions tutors at Imperial - entertaining and full of good advice.

How to write an excellent personal statement

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