Oxbridge applicants 2018

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I've hesitated before making this thread as I don't really like the whole making Oxbridge out as a special case when there are lots of amazing universities that are just as good for individual courses. However, it is a different application process with a lot happening by January should they get that far and irl I don't know anyone else's dc applying to talk to them about it. I expect most of us are in that situation. At the moment I rely on dd and the occasional foray into student room to learn what happens next.

So welcome all parents of Oxbridge candidates - a thread to chat over what's to come and to support if our kids find they have to steer in a different direction.

Application forms due in in a few weeks

Yep. Thanks for thread. We're hoping school steer us through this. My DD wants to apply but is very keen on 2 other unis too so she seems to be keeping her options wide.

That's good :) my dd is the same. She isn't sure which she would accept if she were offered places at both. That helps a lot.

Hi Kitten.

DD still hasn't decided whether to apply, but went to the Uni week and also the conference.

My DS1 applied 2 years ago but was always unsure as he preferred a course elsewhere. He didn't get interviewed (1 mark away from cut off) but was relieved in the end I think.

I'll join in too if that's ok - dd is considering Oxford too. She really liked the university and Balliol college in particular but is worried that the English course is too 'old'. She does like other options as well- based mainly on the gig scene 😏
What other Unis are your dd/ ds's considering? We are Cheshire based so dd is mainly looking north of Oxford

of course it's ok Lucy :) dd is considering Warwick and a few in the south. She looked at Durham but really didn't like it.
Hi Raspberry :) it's a big decision isn't it. It kind of feels that if you apply there you are really committed to it, which isn't true at all.

DD's list stretches from Edinburgh to Exeter, so fairly wide ranging!

Dd has her heart set on Cambridge to read French and Russian but is worried that one of her predicted grades wont be good enough

DD applied last year and sat the PAT test. She then got offered 2 interviews. In the meantime she had an interview and got offered a place at another university where the course was more what she wanted, so withdrew from her Oxford interviews. From a personal point of view, I think she would have been stressed by the workload/pressure at Oxford but would have enjoyed the 'college' community. She is still happy with her decision. I would say encourage them to not have their heart set on one particular uni as there will also be others that suit them. Good luck!

Maladicta on TSR there is a thread run by an admissions tutor where people are asking about their grades. Depending on her personality, that might be helpful?

I completely agree Hellsbells, that way lies an awful lot of stress and angst. I'm glad your dd is happy. I think it's really important to keep it low key with friends and family as well. For the past few years I've heard 'so and so applied and didn't get a place'. That seems very unfair to the student. We are keeping it on a need to know basis, no social media good luck messages or anything.

I totally agree about family expectations- dd got 11 A* at GCSE and immediately there was this expectation from the grandparents especially that she would 'go to Oxford'. Dh and I are both secondary teachers and I'm a 6th form tutor so we very much keep things in perspective and are fully aware that Oxbridge is just one option in many fantastic universities
She is really keen on the course at Leeds and we all thought that Birmingham Uni was a lovely campus and could see her thriving there. I would worry about the interview pressure at Oxford rather than the academic side once she was there to be honest.
We are doing both Leeds and Sheffield next Saturday- in the same day! We must be mad!

Good luck with that one Lucycat

With dd I worry about the competitiveness at somewhere like Cambridge, all I read is negative stuff about pressure.

ask a tutor thread doh! Ignore my previous link!

Thanks so much for that Kitten, will show her it when she eventually gets out of bed!

Thanks OhYouBadBadKitten. We didn't tell anyone who didn't need to know - a couple of friends were told as they were sitting the same test and school. I didn't tell any family until she withdraw her application.
Lucycat - we really liked all of the other 3 you have referred to and DD fell in love with Leeds.

Hi all!

Can I join you? DS is applying to do Physics at Oxford so we have the joys of the PAT test coming up. Also Cheshire based so we've been frustrated that all of the preparation courses seem to be in London! Found a tutor thankfully so feeling slightly less 'behind'. Whether he gets in or not DS feels the tutorials are helping towards his Physics A level too.

So now we've started filling in the UCAS form (gulps!) we need to finalise other options...

We both liked Imperial and DS liked Bristol. Durham is another option but DS is less keen. The presentation there was very dull in contrast to Imperial but we hope that's not a reflection of their actual lectures!

Spanner in the works is that Imperial and Bristol offer a year in Europe which is also tempting. More agony!

Then we need to find an option 5! This is going to be a long year!

Welcome Whiterose!
One thing I wasn't aware of until fairly recently, is that they don't have to put down all of their 5 choices before they submit their application form. They can add places later.

Thanks kitten. I didn't know that. We had been planning on a few more open days but shelved it when we thought they were too late.

Takes a lot of pressure off :)

Really like some of the down to earth comments on here so far. Another DD and mum bit worried about pressure and whether somewhere else
would just make her happier.

Durham, Warwick, Newcastle here.

Welcome to the thread Voilets :) that's a nice selection your dd likes.

When does everyone's school/college have deadlines for ucas forms to be completed? dds college want them in at the beginning of October. I think that's going to come round really quickly. Then cambridge applicants have to fill in an extra form - SAQ by the 22nd October.

DS's school want them in first couple of weeks in September for checking I think. Hence current stress.

DD just got in for this year (Cambridge, History) so if I can usefully share recent experiences I am happy to.

What is this Cambridge extra form? Will school alert them? Our school are on ball i think.

Yes please dimsie. How did she impress with her History?

Oh DD knows about form.

Thank you Dimsie, I appreciate that. Well done to your dd :)