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

Oh gosh Horsemad your poor DD that sounds awful!
DD is off school again today but up and working on a French Essay this afternoon, so definitely feeling better than yesterday,
phew!

Best of luck to your DD. She may get better through will and adrenalin .

DD is clearly stressed about the TSA tomorrow. I don't know what to do to ease things for her. Telling her to not worry just makes it worse.

Inchy - warm bath, boxed set comedy, hot chocolate and snuggly bed with lavender oil.

Realised I sounded a bit negative about my DS's school Hesmylobster, sounds similar to yours, it's a lovely school and very supportive, just not very knowledgable. Hope all those whose children were feeling poorly and/or stressed are doing ok now. My DS and husband have just left for a 2 and a half hour drive home ready for tomorrow. Good luck everyone!

Good luck everyone’s dc tomorrow. Remember it’s just one part of a picture, so if it goes a bit wonky they mustn’t worry.

Yes absolutely, doors may open, doors may close but there’s so much good stuff out there!

Ds is quite relaxed about it amazingly. He's not going to stress he says! He's had another offer from Nottingham and we have the interview in Exeter this weekend so he's being pretty open minded right now ( on the surface anyway - I know Cambridge is his dream!)

He just showed me last year's natsci paper. I didn't even understand the first page 😁😁

Good luck to everyone's DC tomorrow. Let's hope the questions aren't too incomprehensible.

Thank you Hubble. She’s had a good hard swim, battered the piano very hard for a bit, done a past paper, and had a hot shower. She’s much better now.

Good night everyone. Hope the DC sleep well.

Have had a message from DD - she’s happy with how it went and she managed to finish which seems a bonus!
Hope all your DC are happy.

One more hurdle done!

Which paper did your DD take.

Just talked to DS, he took the Oxford PAT paper and was very upset!
He said the questions were very hard, all four of the boys taking this paper felt defeated and frustrated now!

DS has just messaged to say TSA problem solving paper was ok but he thinks he did poorly in his essay. He sounded a bit upset but is cheering himself up by having lunch in town with mates

I just heard from DD (prompted by a text from school to say she wasn't in ). She says it was fine (only doing part one) though she guessed a couple. Either way, I'm glad it is done!

Risotto. DS feels the same. He had been through all the past papers but this one was much harder. He said that friends doing the MAT paper felt the same.

Now we're in the hands of the Gods.

Rose, did your DS also take the PAT? which subject is he applying for?

DS is worrying if he has screwed up his chance for interview. Is the decision for interview offer just/mostly based on PAT results? Or they would take others such as predicated grades, reference, personal statement into considerations?

Risotto sorry to hear he’s not happy. A couple of dc at DD’s school did the PAT and had a very similar reaction apparently so at least it seems as if it was tough for everyone?

From reading the website I think they take everything else into account too for interviews,
it’s not just on the test results.

My DD did the LAT (languages aptitude test) she thinks it went well but doesn’t know anybody else who took it so nobody to compare with!

Hi Risotto. Yes he did the PAT as he's applied to do Physics at Oxford.

Yes, PAT is pivotal from what I understand. We went to a meeting last year where two Oxbridge admissions tutors were speaking.

They suggested that if you do well in your admissions test you get an interview, if not, you probably won't.

Once you get to interview if you fluff it they'll look at the bigger picture i.e. Good GCSEs/AS Levels/ PAT would counter balance a nervous interview.

Hence why DS is upset! But the 'pass mark' is apparently only about 50% and our boys are probably used to doing better than that so they may not really know how well they've done. Fingers crossed anyway!

Thanks Lobster and Rose!

Yes there seems to have different schools of thoughts regarding importance of aptitude test leading to interviews.

Below is shown on the web page of the course (MatSci) that my son is applying to :

Our policy is that normally applicants will be short-listed for interview unless (i) or (ii) below apply:

(i) Their application gives good cause to doubt they are likely to achieve grades equivalent to our 'standard minimum offer'. This is currently set at A*AA in specified subjects at A-level.
(ii) A comparison of their grading or ranking in the short-listing exercise with the maximum number of places available suggests that they would be unlikely to be successful in attracting an offer of a place.

MatSci interviewed 7x% of applicants in past years, as the numbers of applicants and intakes (32) are much smaller. Not sure if this is the reason why they adopt a more “lenient” policy for interviews.

Well I've heard nothing from DS !! I can only assume it went ok - or not - or possibly. Who knows!!!

DS also sat the PAT today and he found it much harder than any of the past papers too. He feels he's definitely out of the running now. No one else from his school took the test, so nobody to share his pain!

He's trying to focus on the positives, including an Exeter interview coming up soon.

Oh we have Exeter on Saturday. When is yours?

Ours is Saturday too!! I'm really hoping it goes well for him after today's PAT... Good luck to your DS