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Higher education

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

Original poster

Oxbridge applicants 2018

999 replies

OhYouBadBadKitten · 31/08/2017 08:54

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 Confused

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voilets · 10/09/2017 17:44

Yes indeed - it is a MLAT she will take on interview day and an HAT she'll do at school. I looked on line - seemed quite easy to understand.

I didn't know about past papers. Wonder what I google for - MLAT tests at Cambridge?

Thanks all for clarification.

ErrolTheDragon · 10/09/2017 18:47

Violets - if it's Cambridge she wants to apply to, the table I linked to has links. Their tests are HAA and MML for history and language. HAT and MLAT is the other place.

voilets · 10/09/2017 20:38

Many thanks for that Errol - yes, I was looking in the wrong place. She told me she had a HAT test so I will tell her she has a HAA mock this week instead. Sure school know.

Found the exam papers now. Good to see. DD seems unfussed which is good as she is usually a perfectionist. I think she is quite open in to just seeing how far she goes in process, knowing there is another uni she really loves the look of. I, on the other hand, am quietly hoping she does give it her best shot so she keeps options open. I trust she will.

whiteroseredrose · 17/09/2017 10:44

Ok. So the UCAS application finally went in on Thursday night.

Last minute tweaks to the PS though as the character counter in Google was different to the one in the application Sad. That was fun!

But it's gone! Whoops all round. Next worry is the PAT test Grin

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 17/09/2017 10:46

dd just needs hers checking by college and she's good to go. I quite like that they are being so thorough, but I'm also an impatient sort.

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Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 18/09/2017 10:26

Bit of a question. dd thinks that someone else at her college may be aiming to apply to the same Oxbridge college in the same subject. Are there any restrictions on how many from the same place can be admitted to a particular college? Will this disadvantage her?

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user918273645 · 18/09/2017 10:43

There are no restrictions on how many from the same place can be admitted to the same college in the same subject. So this should not disadvantage her.

On the other hand.... I probably wouldn't advise it either. In a very marginal case, deciding on the last offers, it could possibly have a slightly negative effect. But much more importantly I think the students will feel like they are in competition with each other, even if in reality they are not. It won't feel good if one gets in and the other doesn't.

BTW it also depends on the size of the college you are applying to. I'm guessing you are talking about one of the bigger colleges, such as Trinity, Churchill etc which take a lot of students for your DD's subject. I would definitely not advise several students from the same school applying for a small nice subject at a small college like Peterhouse - I do think in such a case it would be more likely for the weaker of the two to be pooled rather than given a place, because of wanting to balance intake between different regions/schools/demographics.

user918273645 · 18/09/2017 10:44

niche not nice!

horsemadmom · 18/09/2017 11:15

Two years ago, four people DD1 knew were pooled to the same Cambridge college for the same subject. Three from her school. It was very uncomfortable as it was then head to head competition. Much better to spread out.

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 18/09/2017 12:17

Thanks, that's helpful :) I'm glad to know it won't be an actual disadvantage, but argh. How on earth are they going to sort out between them who applies to which college? I'm going to have to have a chat with dd and see if her college are on top of this.

It is one of the big colleges User.

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whiteroseredrose · 18/09/2017 13:06

There's another thread about asking school for lower predicted grades so that any offer is for lower grades. Does anyone know anything about this?

whiteroseredrose · 18/09/2017 13:07

Just checked that thread. Not an issue apparently.

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 18/09/2017 14:39

that sounds a bit odd whiterose!

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Roseformeplease · 18/09/2017 14:48

I am not an expert, by any means but I would just like to reassure parents who are worried about the process. I am not talking about Cambridge here, just Oxford.,

DS has a confirmed place for 2018 and is having a year off as he was very young when he applied so they asked him to. He has come from the Scottish system so I won't bother with exam results etc as they are so different to the majority.

He is the first one from his school to get in to Oxbridge so didn't really know what to expect.

He wrote his UCAS form and really only wrote about his subject - nothing else. He had 2 sentences on other things (linked / job etc) but it was all about History, even engaging with some arguments and suggesting an opinion. He then sat the HAT Test and sent away an essay done in class.

He was called for interview in early December. We live a very long way away so he was allowed to stay the night before, plus two more nights and was offered a 4th night if travel didn't work out. He got all his meals, bedroom etc. During his time there he had 2 interviews and waited in case there was another but there wasn't. Others had up to 2 further interviews if they got asked to a different college.

He then had to wait until January. He didn't know how they told him and was assuming e-mail. It turned out to be post so he waited an extra 24 hours. His offer was conditional and then he worked hard and got the results.

On getting the results the college e-mailed him and were very friendly and helpful, offering book lists, advice, support etc with his year off.

The whole experience was very supportive, helpful and positive. I accept that might not be the case if someone does not get in but he had an absolute ball at the interview, meeting people he knew from chatting on Facebook and TSR. He has met people and made friends he still sees and who he has been on holiday with, many of whom did not get in.

It confirmed his love of his subject and he thoroughly enjoyed being able to talk to other enthusiasts.

He says he feels that from what he hears Cambridge is much shorter, more intense and feels less supportive. But then he would.....

So, after being very unsure about the whole thing as parents we actually felt that, even if he hadn't got in, the process was a very worthwhile one.

whiteroseredrose · 18/09/2017 18:01

I thought it sounded odd too kitten. If entry requirements were only one A star why would a Uni ask for two just because of predicted grades. Anyway it looks like it's not true. Someone spoke to an admissions tutor.

HesMyLobster · 18/09/2017 22:58

Thankyou Roses for sharing such a positive experience, and congratulations to your DS, you must be so proud.

I have a question about colleges. How on earth do you choose one, and does it really not matter?

DD has chosen one based partly on numbers of undergraduates doing her (very small) subject, and partly because she liked the photos on their website ConfusedBlush

Is this enough? Should she be thinking more deeply about it?

MrsKnightley · 18/09/2017 23:35

DS chose his because he went for the open day, bumped into a student in the street (stranger) who persuaded him to have a look. He was introduced to the History tutor and really liked him. So, he dumped Plan A College and chose Plan B.

MrsKnightley · 18/09/2017 23:35

Sorry, am Roses under a name change.

ErrolTheDragon · 18/09/2017 23:39

If its a small subject, then the number of students but also fellows at a college (which I'd think would be correlated) sounds like a sensible criterion.

Other factors...some fall in love with the ancient courtyards, while others prefer somewhere a bit newer without tourists. DD's cousin reckoned the distance from the Sainsbury's bakery counter was worth taking into consideration (possibly not too seriously).

But...probably best not to get too attached to their choice as they might be pooled. DD was, and despite having been absolutely clear she didn't want to go to a women's college...when she got the offer you've never seen such a quick 180 degree turn of opinion.Grin

toomanytolist · 19/09/2017 01:20

DD applying for Cambridge engineering here. Errol, I read your threads from last year and they really helped us when we were at the beginning of the process and deciding whether to apply, so thank you!

The PS is - hopefully - in its final stages and DD spent a good chunk of the summer doing lots of maths and physics questions on various recommended sites in preparation for the entrance test for which I've fogotten the acronym. She's getting good support from school who seem to know what they're doing and seems organised.

Despite me stressing from the outset that it's only one of her options I can see how easy it is to get caught up in it. It's the early visits, the number of available visits, the college choice, the conference, the extra form, the exam, the interview etc etc. It just seems so much more than all the others and hence gets so much more attention and discussion. I know how badly she wants to do well and it does worry me.

ErrolTheDragon · 19/09/2017 01:31

Oh, glad it helped someone else! If you have any very specific eng. questions feel free to PM me.

BasiliskStare · 19/09/2017 03:36

Re Colleges - all the advice that DS had , was do not worry too much. He picked one he liked the feel of but as Errol says - a fair percentage of applicants are pooled ( I am talking about Oxford here , so caveat 1. I am not an admissions tutor and caveat 2. Have only had 1 DC go through the whole thing) He had a friend who applied to one particular college and ended up being offered a place at another. He (the friend ) is very happy there now. They all have pros and cons and the teaching is all v similar , plus as you go through the degree , if your college does not have someone who is expert in x , y , z , you will have to get on your bike , bus , shank's pony because you will go to a tutor etc from another college.

BasiliskStare · 19/09/2017 03:39

( vicarious experience - obviously - Oxbridge tutors' knowledge trumps mine in spades)

Hubble25 · 22/09/2017 01:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 22/09/2017 07:14

Welcome Hubble :)

It's difficult isn't it, I keep saying 'what about...' to dd with regards to her PS, but she is adamant that she is happy with it and she can't change a single word. It's difficult, but I know I have to accept that she is a young adult and it's her work. But still....

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