Gap year for Oxford but only with AAA?

[Whitlandcarm]

AAA (+A subj not taken)
Is it worth it? For a course with no entrance exam.
A*/A GCSE

[BubblesBuddy]

It absolutely depends on the course. DDs offer was AAA. MFL. The web site for each subject says if they want AAA or above. The PS will determine if she is worth an interview and that is an early deadline of course. Showing you are worth an interview and then nailing the interview will be key. Lots of students do exceed AAA, but they certainly do not all get firsts! As if.

Getting employment with the subjects mentioned will not necessarily be a shoo-in from Oxford either. If she has a top quality place elsewhere, it is probably just as good. History will be much more competitive than Arch and Anth at Oxford. AAA may not be good enough for History.

[marine04]

We were in a similar position. My daughter got 4A*s this year but applied for Cambridge last year and was turned down - she was interviewed and then pooled but not fished. It was a difficult time for us as one of my younger daughters was hospitalised at the interview time with an undiagnosed condition and my older daughter found it hard to focus. Anyway, almost inevitably on results day given those results the question came up about whether to withdraw and give Oxbridge another crack. She decided to stick where she was as she is going to fabulous university that often beats Cambridge in the league tables for her subject. She too was worried that even with high grades there are no shoo-ins for Oxbridge and you can never guarantee a good interview day. Like your daughter she was also worried that she wouldn't get an offer for her current university next year if she turned them down. Her current plan is to get a first then possibly an MPhil or PhD at Oxbridge!
She has friends going to Oxford and it does appear that as long as your predicted grades or grades along with your PS statement are good enough to get you an interview then any offer tends to be around the AAA level anyway.
If she is excited and full of plans for a gap year that would help develop her then it could be worth a shot but I would think she would need a definite plan B that she was happy with for if Oxford rejected her along with her current university. Good luck.

[Lucysky2017]

My view was the grades were nothing like high enough so not worth bothering (and I speak as a parent whose offspring just got AAA). However if she really wants to try and will always regret not doing so go for it - no point in having regrets later but be aware it is probably a small chance and be just as happy with the back up choice too.

[SerfTerf]

I think the point of debate is whether those grades will cut it for a post-offer application with no entrance test.

[Bekabeech]

This advice is odd as I know someone who was pretty much forced to take a gap year before going to Cambridge. And Merton say they are quite happy to take people post results, and with gap years except Maths and beginners Russian.

[Whitlandcarm]

Thank you for the other responses. Her job and volunteering means that she's involved with closely related kind of stuff.

She will email the relevant departments to try and get an insight. It really is a matter of stick or twist !

It's a gamble, as she'd have to pay full uni fees instead of £4.5k which is another factor. Although she could work to offset that slightly, but my husband is dead against it.

Her biggest fear is not getting an offer from her current first choice or 2nd.

Mamacat- are you an oxford tutor or just well aquainted with applicants?

She needs to decide soon so can pull out and sort a replacement for halls etc

[SerfTerf]

Ha, yes, archaeological digs

[senua]

Ah! 'Digs' means excavations, not lodgings. That makes more sense.

[SerfTerf]

If she's going to do it, she'd be well-advised to be quick about signing up for some Autumn digs.

[senua]

As long as she take the attitude that it is only one line on the form, and that she is happy going to one of her other choices, why not.

This. Carpe diem!
Congrats to her on the results.

[Moominmammacat]

Give it a go ... I know a few who have got in with AAB ... and then got a 1st.

[RedHelenB]

I would give it a shot. I got an interview to do History (albeit a long time ago!) with lower grades in hand than they typically asked for and I loved my gap year. Nothing ventured nothing gained!

[Lucysky2017]

I would not bother. There are enough with most A*s who don't get in to make it worth putting off a y ear of your life when she probably won't get in unless she is genuinely exceptional and loves the subject etc.

[SerfTerf]

Elsewhere, presumably blunt.

It's a question of "stick or twist?"

[Bluntness100]

I'm confused, she has the grades, I get, but has she got an offer of a place?

[tropicalfish]

My dc took a gap year and applied to Oxford and got in as a re-applicant, the previous application was for a more competitive subject.
We went to the open day last June and went to talks about admissions and they stressed that they don't like people taking gap years because they feel that academically they will not cope with the high pace of work when they come.
I very much got the impression that personal statement wise you would have to emphasise your continuing application and interest in your subject during your gap year.
Remember the gap year is not just a year, its July to September.
I think its worth a shot. It might be worth contacting admissions and asking them what the statistics are for gap year applicants. We did this, and it was much lower than the other candidates who will have high predicted grades potentially 4 A*s.

[abilockhart]

Sorry for the confusion - she has achieved the grades.

Incidentally it is for Arch&Anth or Classical arch and anc hist

It's worth a shot.

She should use her gap year to beef up her personal statement.

[Needmoresleep]

As long as she take the attitude that it is only one line on the form, and that she is happy going to one of her other choices, why not. Though she should also think a bit about how she would use a year out. Some of DDs friends did very little which they now regret.

[Lowdoorinthewal1]

I got my place deferred a year at point of offer because I was swimming at international level and had a year training abroad full time already organised.

I think it has to be something like that for Oxford- not just because you fancy a gap yah.

[SerfTerf]

Arch & A has a better acceptance rate than many Oxford courses;

public.tableau.com/views/UoO_UG_Admissions2/AcceptanceRate?%3Aembed=y&%3Adisplay_count=yes&%3AshowTabs=y&%3AshowVizHome=no

If she's able to be fairly philosophical about a potential rejection and she'll use the year well, I'd be inclined to lean towards trying it.

[Whitlandcarm]

Sorry for the confusion - she has achieved the grades.

Incidentally it is for Arch&Anth or Classical arch and anc hist

[LadyinCement]

I think the OP's dc has achieved the AAA offer, and is considering trading up institution.

Asking to defer a place after it has been awarded is a no-no unless the student has an incredibly good reason, such as illness. Deferred places are only offered to spectacular students as the college has to be sure that they will be better than the next year's applicants. If you look at the statistics very few deferred places are offered.

[SerfTerf]

I don't think that's the situation Blunt

[Bluntness100]

I think it's worth getting the admission then requesting the deferral.

[LadyinCement]

It might be worth going for a subject with an entrance exam - that way the student can stun the admissions people.