Not in the Oxbridge group

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

DD2's college have decided that to be in the group that gets to go on Oxbridge open days, access early help with planning an application etc, a student needs to have at least 7 A*s.

Is this a bit harsh? My DD has less but obtained at a school in special measures. I would expect her to get three As at A level; her A*s were in the subjects she is taking. I would have liked her to at least give an Oxbridge application a bash.

I think there is a lot of misinformation spouted about Oxford.
The Oxford subject talk that we went to said that they seleceted for interview mostly on performance in aptitude tests. GCSEs are a 'back up' source of evidence for students who don't do as well as expected in them.They also said they recognised that some students are talented in one field, whilst others are talented across the board.Both are equally good because they only care about ability in that subject.

Not all subjects have prior aptitude tests! MFL for one. You are selected for interview via the normal Oxford procedure. You do MFL subject tests after you are selected for interview. However this clearly demonstrates why attendance at the SUBJECT open day is vital, or several subject open days if you are unsure re subject. There is time to talk to lecturers. Do not just attend the general open day.

Although DD was not selected as part of the school Oxbridge group she was offered a mock interview by the school. This, it turned out, was a total joke! The person was not from her subject area, was completely off the pace and the whole episode was a total waste of time. Good candidates will be faced with sensible, probing, questions about their subject. Thinking about the answer, justifying it and being able to come up with sensible follow up information is what counts. You will not be asked about a banana! Effectively, DD had no interview practice at all. However, she is outward going and thinks on her feet. This is difficult to prep for.

I think independent schools can be very sniffy about who they think is an Oxbridge candidate. Another successful candidate was ignored too because she only had 5As at GCSE. I think we successfully negotiated the system without help because I read up on everything I possibly could. Believe me, I knew nothing about Oxford applications. Nothing. However, there is brilliant information available and if you have to seek it out yourself, so be it. Don't just send your child off alone to a subject day. Their school has rejected them, so there is no-one else on their side except you! The worst that can happen is that the school says - "told you so" if it all comes to nothing. However if you have a lower academic profile than normal, you have to work very hard to prove yourself. All the stories of people getting in with fewer As and a B at A level represent a minuscule minority. Usually a B at A level is a rejection. I think I read that Medics at Oxford have an average of 10 A* at GCSE, so 4 is not really cutting it. Just do all the preparation you can but be realistic.

My DC is a recent Oxford graduate, state school and received absolutely no help/encouragement to apply. He attended open days and interviews on his own- it's your DC choice which unis to apply for!

millymollymama I think you will find that MFL does have an aptitude test!! www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/tests/tests-students-applying-study-modern-languages-or-linguistics

I am guessing there are a limited number of seats on the bus and that means they have to allocate them fairly.
At our school we do not have an 'Oxbridge group' .There is a 2 night residential to each uni ,and various talks about applying but anyone can go! It is completely self selecting

A relative of mine is a tutor at an Oxbridge college and this sort of thing has him tearing his hair out. They are trying their hardest to get the most talented people they can find who are passionate about their subject and bending over backwards to give a special look to those who have had a more difficult road to achieving excellence, albeit that they are indundated with so many very good and excellent applicants. The last thing they want is schools (albeit with impressive Oxbridge statistics) sniffily screening out applicants that they would actually be really be interested in reaching. Those are excellent GCSE results especially for somewhat difficult circumstances and combined with an interest in Classics make for a strong application. If the school won't help then stuff them and pursue it yourself. Frankly, telling an Oxbridge admissions tutor in those circumstances that a school 'Oxbridge Group' decided it wasn't the right sort of application to be part of the 'Oxbridge Group' selected by the school is more likely to get them going than anything else. But, anything your daughter can do on her own to demonstrate interest in her subject will pay off - whether studying, say, Greek, on her own or reading round the subject or making her own special research into something. It is not a guarantee because it is indeed very, very competitive but Oxbridge will pay attention as will the other top universities that your daughter will no doubt be applying to.

Some kids are 'late bloomers' and universities know this.

Universities need candidates who can get a first. Irrelevant where they are from, or how 'bright' they are.
If they haven't already got a demonstrable work ethic they will not be selected, however much the 'deserve' it.