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Higher education

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

Original poster

Take a gap year and reapply to Oxbridge?

518 replies

tyngedyriaith · 12/01/2017 19:03

DD has been rejected from Cambridge. People with far worse grades have gotten in. She's disappointed. She mentioned retrying next year if she exceeds the standard offer?

Is it worth it considering Welsh fees are going up next year?

OP posts:
Bobochic · 23/01/2017 20:35

Investigating what those qualities might be is difficult, Basilisk. We are all, as this thread amply demonstrates, shaped by the beliefs and priorities of our own culture(s).

My DSS2, who did not bother to apply to Oxbridge, was accepted at Ginette, Stanislas and a whole roster of the highest ranking French prepas. He is very clever and he is doing exceptionally well at UCL, which is very open to French applicants. Personally, I think there are lots of valuable paths through education and lots of valuable opportunities. Which is something I try to explain to people who ask me about it!

goodbyestranger · 23/01/2017 20:39

Bobo call me simplistic as much as you like but you just need to be clever to have a shot. And possibly receptive to ideas. It's just not this hard is it? You make it sound so exhausting. It really isn't.

Bobochic · 23/01/2017 20:50

How many times do I need to repeat myself, stranger? It is not I going through the process or even encouraging anyone to do so! However, I am on the receiving end of many people who find it (for reasons I have understood because of their very repetitive nature) understandable.

Bobochic · 23/01/2017 20:53

incomprehensible

GiddyGiddyGoat · 23/01/2017 20:54

I do not find your last post understandable Bob Grin.

sendsummer · 23/01/2017 20:55

user yes there will be some research which can be more solitary and does not require much funding and still be productive. Or you can rely on equipment and expertise based elsewhere. Measures of impact are also relative.

Go wherever you will learn most about what interests you, with people who support your interests.. absolutely. However most students who embark on PhDs are actually unsure or naive about what they should be looking for. I am more in the camp that at the start of a research career anything in one's subject can be interesting and productive if done with the right supervisors and infrastructure. A lot of talent gets dried up by the wrong start.
Oxbridge should certainly not be fixated on, it is an exciting place to be at all stages of academia but other places can provide the same buzz.

Bobochic · 23/01/2017 20:55

You seem to think I am volunteering misinformation and charging for it. This is so very far from reality (or anything I have ever claimed) as to be risible...

GiddyGiddyGoat · 23/01/2017 20:58

Right you are Bob.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 23/01/2017 22:21

basilisk - apologies. I shall source a hat asap.

countess - naturally. Where do you think I got my info? Wink Dubious sorts, Pembroke students.

MrsWobble3 · 23/01/2017 22:22

What I don't understand Bobochic is why you get so many people asking you for advice on oxbridge applications. You didn't go there, didn't teach there and have no connections with admissions. And you don't advertise or hold yourself out as a consultant on the topic. Yet still you get constant enquiries. It must be quite tedious for you.

GiddyGiddyGoat · 23/01/2017 22:26

What would happen if next time you are approached, yet again, on this topic you were to say, "Actually I can't help or advise as I have nothing to do with Oxbridge, I didn't go to either Oxford or Cambridge, my dcs didn't apply to or got to either University - so you'd be better asking someone with some sort of relevant knowledge - or looking on the University websites for info." Just an idea.... Imagine the peace and extra time you would have if you were no longer inundated with these enquiries!

AnnaMagdalene · 23/01/2017 22:33

Bags of extra time....

AnnaMagdalene · 23/01/2017 22:37

Oh and could whoever has the sorting hat, let me put in on for a minute. I want to know what house I'm in....

HesMyLobster · 23/01/2017 22:46

I have nothing of any value to contribute,
(stalking oxbridge related threads as have a DD planning to apply this October)

but just wanted to thank you all for the most entertaining read I've seen on here in yonks!

BasiliskStare · 23/01/2017 22:47

Anna , LRD lost it down the back of the sofa

my.pottermore.com/account/login

GiddyGiddyGoat · 23/01/2017 22:51

Good luck to her Lobster. Any questions for us?!

OrlandaFuriosa · 23/01/2017 23:15

Anna, not House, you goop, College Grin

HesMyLobster · 23/01/2017 23:17

Thankyou Giddy

Yes, Thousands!

I'll have a little think and come back to you with my top 5!

HesMyLobster · 23/01/2017 23:21

Although, talking of top 5's, what would you all say are your Top 5 tips for a dc thinking about applying?

Sorry to de-rail, but I can't let the opportunity pass by when there are so many experts on one thread!

GiddyGiddyGoat · 23/01/2017 23:24

What subject is dd interested in Lobster?

LRDtheFeministDragon · 23/01/2017 23:33
  1. Look at the course and the way it's taught - does it appeal? Why? Compare it to other courses at other universities.
  2. Think about what you'd enjoy most about studying this subject (and what you'd enjoy least! Thinking of that will help you focus). Does this match up with the course and the way it's taught?
  3. Look at a few related subjects - you could surprise yourself by finding you'd actually prefer (or be better suited to) something you hadn't considered, or which isn't taught at school.
  4. Think about what you've enjoyed most at school (or outside school), and why.
  5. Look at the all the 'environment' sides of university: could you live in this city? On this campus? What will it feel like? Does this college have a nice vibe?

Number 5 matters more than people think. It doesn't mean you should discount somewhere without taking time - obviously you might have misgivings about some detail or other, and still feel you'd like to apply - but it is important and will help you feel relaxed and comfortable as you apply.

Oxbridge isn't always the best course or the best place, and it always surprises me how many people apply and are then surprised by the content of the course or the mode of teaching (this is true of students at other universities too).

For example, if you want to study English Lit because you have a passion for Beowulf, you may be disappointed in the Cambridge Course, which starts in 1300 and requires you to take a special option paper to do Beowulf. If you want to study Physics but hate Chemistry and Biology, probably Cambridge is not for you, because scientists all begin with a broad course called 'Natural Sciences'. If you hate exams and prefer coursework, Oxford may not be great for you.

And so on.

HesMyLobster · 23/01/2017 23:40

I think I may be able to answer that with some confidence for the first time today!
She likes languages and also history, particularly ancient history.

Has been torn about whether to choose between them or try for a joint school's degree.
Then her teacher told her last week to have a look at Classics and she's in love!
So it looks like Classics.

The only problem being she has studied neither Latin, Greek or in fact any Classical subject before.

She insists it's all under control and has a plan.
The first part of which consisted of changing her UNIQ application from French to Classics (deadline is tomorrow) she's promised I can read her revised PS tomorrow so I'm hoping I'll find out "the plan" then!

LRDtheFeministDragon · 23/01/2017 23:45

I'm not a Classicist, but I think most universities welcome people who've not studied the subject before.

I will just say - everyone will tell you Cambridge 'don't do' joint honours degrees, and this is true except that you can sometimes borrow papers from a different degree course. She'd need to check up with the relevant subject to see exactly what's possible (and maybe email admissions).

Otherwise Oxford's ancient History stuff always looks fun to me, and is quite language-y.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 23/01/2017 23:47

On the subject of borrowing, this is from Cam website:

Students studying in the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos are able to combine a modern language with either Classical Latin or Classical Greek in the first and second years (Parts IA and IB). Latin may only be taken by students who have studied to A Level, but Greek may be studied as an ab initio language or post A Level. The usual rules apply that students must offer one language at the post A Level option (Option B) and may offer one language as an ab initio language (Option A).

HesMyLobster · 23/01/2017 23:52

Thankyou LDR, excellent list and a lot to think about.
Your point 3 describes exactly what has happened.
Classical subjects have never been an option at DD's school so Classics had never been on her radar (or mine for that matter) but it does seem like a perfect fit.
She had a go at teaching herself Latin over the summer, just because she was interested. She has had a slight obsession with Greek and Roman mythology since she played Medusa in a school play when she was 10!
Her favourite place in the world in the British Museum antiquities department.
It's the perfect subject for her and she didn't even know it existed!

The question now is, what can she do to make her application competitive even though she hasn't studied the subject before?