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

DD has an interview!!!

I'm so relieved, and excited, and terrified for her!!

thanks Rose!
no worry, usually Imperial gives offers gradually until Jan/Feb.

congrats Lobster! Is it Ox or Cam? Which subject and college?

Lobster, really pleased for your DD! (And you!) Am I right in thinking she's applied to Oxford to read Classics? I was there 10 years ago, reading Classics, so if you, or she, have any questions about the interview itself, or what to do in Oxford when waiting around between interviews, I'd be very happy to chat about it. PM me if that is preferable.

Ah Thankyou Hingle that's really lovely of you, will definitely take you up on it!
Yes, Classics at Brasenose, Oxford.

We weren't expecting to hear until tomorrow at the very earliest so it's a lovely surprise today!

DS has just called to say he has an interview for PPE. Brasenose have said that the invitation will come from another college and that it is under consideration by St Hughs (which we’ve never heard off). I assume this “reallocation” is fairly standard? Like a PP - I’m excited and petrified for him in equal measure!

Awesome stuff Lobster! well done to your dd! and yay itinerant, that’s great news for your ds.

Yes it's fairly standard.

St Hugh's is one of the former women's colleges a little way up the Banbury Road towards Summertown.

DS has PPE interview at Oxford!!

Well done itinerant DS and Lobster DD and Risotto DS.. :)

Well done to Itinerant Lobster and Rosotto DC It’s all moved very fast In the last 24 hours with interview invites.

I work in a Sixth Form: 3 of our 4 Cambridge applicants have heard back now and those 3 all have interviews. We have 4 Oxford applicants and 1 has heard positively today. The others are still waiting (or just haven’t got round to telling me). I really, really want these young people to turn their interviews into offers. Nationally i think it’s an average of 1 offer for every 5 Oxbridge applicants. The students have worked so hard to get to this point, and we have too! I am so excited for them all.

Itinerant St Hughs is 15 minute walk up the Banbury Road. It has some notable female alumni...the college recently voted to remove their portrait of Aung San Suu Kyi. I stayed there earlier this summer with a school visit. Lovely grounds and accommodation and a very hearty breakfast in a nice neighbourhood. The physics and engineering buildings are fairly close.

Hubble that is fantastic news for your DS. I always imagine in another life I would have studied PPE at Oxford.

Thanks all for the congrats and info on St Hughs (although he hasn’t actually heard from them yet). Commiserations to those whose DC have been unsuccessful - but as many have already stated, Oxbridge is just one of many paths for all these smart DC. I only scraped into my own university having been rejected by my two favourites - DH and I often mull over what would have happened if we had taken the other path and concluded we would have been unhappy because we wouldn’t have met each other

Hubble perhaps we can be virtual PPE hand holding buddies over the next couple of weeks?

Definitely itinerant. But wine tonight and a more restful sleep!!!

So many interviews on this thread!

None of mine have gone to St Hugh's but at least two do have good friends re-allocated there who really enjoyed it as a college.

Sorry to intrude but can I ask Lobster what A-levels your dd is doing for classics and other univerisites, extra-curricular she does - i have a dd in year 11 who’s interested in doing classics at oxford !

Hi User, no problem. Shes doing History, French, Maths and English Lit A levels.
She was torn between History or Mfl as a degree choice (start of year 12) and a teacher suggested she look at Classics.
(Latin wasn't offered at her school at GCSE or A level but she'd started teaching herself bits just out of interest in Year 10/11) She persuaded the school to enter her for Latin GCSE as an external candidate. She took the Grammar part in the summer and will take the Literature part alongside A levels next summer.

She went on a 2 week Summer school this summer which was fantastic - would highly recommend if your dd is interested. http://www.jact.org/summer-schools/

Extra curricular stuff - she's been volunteering at our local museum on a Sat afternoon for the past year or so which has been brilliant.

She reads ALOT - has always been into the myths and legends side of Ancient Greece and Rome and has expanded her reading from there.

Most universities require Latin or Greek A level, but there are a few who offer it from beginners level which is what DD has applied for.
Her options were fairly limited which made choosing where to apply a lot easier! She's applied to Oxford, St Andrews, Durham, Bristol and Newcastle.

She's had offers from Bristol (AAA) and Newcastle (AAB) doesn't expect to hear from D or St A for a while yet, but their standard offer is AAA too.

I really hope your DD looks into it - DD is genuinely excited by the subject and can't wait to start learning more.

Happy to help with any more info

Wow, that was longer than expected - and probably very boring for everyone else! Sorry!

Not boring for me Lobster! Useful! DD is also in Y11 also thinking of Classics/ Oxford and has opted for Chemistry/ English/ French/ History, so remarkably similar (same set up too, with no Latin or Greek offered at school). Law is another option for her at the moment, or History or English or MFL (etc) :)

That’s really good - she’s thinking of history, English, and Latin. Is doing Ancient Greek on the side as it isn’t offered at her school - definitely wants to do classics and hates it being called a ‘niche’ subject

Lobster I did the Bryanston summer school - it was superb, and something I was able to bring up in my interviews. I take it then that your DD is applying for course IIA or IIB if she’s not doing Latin or Greek at A-Level? Does that mean she has to take a language aptitude test? I did a practice one of those once, it was quite a lot of fun (although I think I’ve enjoyed it less if there was anything riding in the outcome!)

User I’m delighted to hear there’s going to be more classicists in the world.

Stranger you should tell your DD that Law as a career will always keep, so no need to study it as an undergrad career when they could be enjoying Classics! A friend of mine applied for Law at Oxford, did not get offered a place, and applied the following year for Classics and got in. He’s now a barrister, so it didn’t hinder his career goals.

Itinerant . Ds had a friend reallocated to St Hugh' s from Balliol & is very happy there , it is a little more out of the centre than some , but in Oxford nothing is too far away ( particularly on teenage legs.) The gardens are lovely & it is an attractive and pretty place . DS went for dinner with him in their hall and said the food was nice ( few better compliments from DS) .

One more thing if at all interesting to anyone ( vicarious twice over , Ds has a friend doing Classics at Oxford. ) He did do Latin and Greek at school , but I believe it is a four year course & they do have a specialised entry / aptitude test for those who have not studied before. DS's friend reckoned he had an "easier" time of it for the first 2 or 2 1/2 terms and then those who had not studied before caught up very quickly, so by end of 1st year he was not sure he had any advantage. Not sure if they all do the same course or they split them accordingly. Anyway - in the spirit of helpfulness.

Funnily enough DD's plan is hopefully to go into Law afterwards.
She went to a few Law taster events in Year 10/11 and the advice she took away was to do an undergrad degree in something more interesting and then do Law later.

I'm so pleased there are more classicists out there! I admit I had never heard of the subject before DD mentioned it, and she does tend to have to explain it whenever people ask what she plans to study.
She's resorted to replying with "history and languages" instead which I think is a shame.

Hingle yes she's applied for Course 11a with beginners Latin.
She's hoping she'll be able to do Greek as well eventually.

She did take the language aptitude test. She really enjoyed it, especially the made up language part- said it was like a big puzzle to solve.
I thought she was joking when she said that's what she had to do!

She does love translating, and language in general.