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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

OP posts:
Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 03/10/2017 09:19

I find it quite reassuring that I’m not the only one chewing fingernails! College asked for second choices for their oxbridge colleges as well as first choice, presumably to help them sort out any clashes. Dds second choice is so completely different from her first one. Which in a way is reassuring, that if she were to be offered a pooled college, she wouldn’t really mind.

OP posts:
imoverlyengaged · 03/10/2017 11:23

On college choice, there are seven pupils applying from DD's school and five - including DD - are putting the same college as first choice. Will this reduce their chances of being accepted? They are applying for different subjects. School says no but I am not convinced.

inchyrablue · 03/10/2017 11:49

DD hasn't decided on a college yet. There are two "favourites". She was muttering about not choosing a college, but I've suggested that is a bit daft, since she looked at 6 on open day, and discounted 4 then for various reasons. Obviously, if she applies, gets pooled and given a different one, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Literally in the case of one of the colleges (famous for it's bridge), that she discounted initially because she felt it was too traditional, but which she now thinks might be 'ok'.

toomanytolist · 03/10/2017 12:32

DD's Ucas has gone in and she's had acknowledgement from all 5 on the list. Feels very real all of a sudden!

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 03/10/2017 13:37

imoverlyengaged I’ve asked that question here. If they are different subjects it’s fine as far as I could tell. However, how funny! What has drawn them all to the same college?

cripes toomany. That is real.

Inchy maybe she just needs to toss a coin for the remaining pair?!

OP posts:
imoverlyengaged · 03/10/2017 15:45

@kitten

I think they had a fantastic outreach team - coupled woth a central location and a beautiful (aren't they all?) setting.

horsemadmom · 03/10/2017 16:09

Just my tuppence's worth....DD's College did not post cheering students with matching T-shirts and balloons outside on Open Day. No goodie bags. No water bottles with the college crest. In fact, it was the least rah-rah welcoming. She didn't care. The head tutor for her subject gave a sample tutorial and she was hooked. It turned out to be a very warm and welcoming place when she got there. The Open Day show really doesn't give the whole picture so don't be put off a college if they seem austere or fall in love with one that love bombs you.

inchyrablue · 03/10/2017 16:36

I'm a big fan of coin tossing OYBBK. I like to do it, then decide if I'm upset by the outcome - decision then taken!

HesMyLobster · 03/10/2017 19:49

DD had confirmation from UCAS this morning that school had sent her application.
Followed through the day by emails from each university confirming they'd received her application.
And then this evening she logged onto "Track" for the first time just to see what it was all about and saw that she's received an offer!

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 03/10/2017 20:12

Crikey! That’s amazing Lobster!! Go your dd!!!!

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goodbyestranger · 03/10/2017 22:32

horsemadmom does any Oxford college 'love bomb'? DD has done the gig at your DDs college as a helper and at least three of the other siblings have does the same at their colleges and as far as I'm aware no-one has ever instructed them to 'love bomb'. I'm not sure my DC would agree to 'love bomb', even for free vac res. I think you may be misconstruing what imoverlyengaged means by 'fantastic outreach'.

Newchick · 03/10/2017 22:43

Interesting to read others’ experiences, thank you all

whiteroseredrose · 04/10/2017 06:58

DS has received an offer too! Scary.

itinerant · 04/10/2017 07:14

Offers already!! Wow!! May I ask where and what for

HesMyLobster · 04/10/2017 07:24

Itinerant DD’s is Classics at Bristol.

Just tried to get her to check track again to see if there are any more updates, but she says she doesn’t want to be checking 15 times a day and plans to just check each evening when she gets home.
I’m wondering if I could just ask for her login details . . !

horsemadmom · 04/10/2017 08:26

Hi GoodbyeStranger,
'Outreach' is what happens before they even apply. The Open Day stuff I was referring to involved the Colleges who posted lots of enthusiastic undergrads at the Plodges who were bursting to tell every prospective applicant how fantastic their College is. We saw goodie bags from at least two others etc. DD's College had a handful of quite low-key people who (TBH) seemed a bit annoyed to be there. My point was, don't judge Colleges by the bounciness of the Open Day tour guides. DD's College has been warm and lovely from the moment we collected her keys.

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 04/10/2017 16:53

Lobster, I’ll be the same, our poor dds. So does track not email them with the latest updates then? they have to actually log on each time?

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whiteroseredrose · 04/10/2017 18:56

Itinerant. DS's offer is also from Bristol. Physics.

Hubble25 · 04/10/2017 18:57

Seems people have already had offers from Bristol. Has anybody had an offer from Warwick yet?

itinerant · 04/10/2017 19:30

Thanks and congratulations to your DCs!

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 04/10/2017 19:31

dd has submitted her form. What happens next?

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HeyBells · 04/10/2017 19:45

Str4ngedaysindeed Yay for Natsci and physics! It kind of emphasises how competitive places are when random or not so random DCs from the internet are applying for a limited number. I comfort myself with the thought that if it all goes (relatively) pear shaped there were physics courses at decent unis asking for BBB in clearing this year. Mind you no sign of application going in yet here.

Well done to DCs getting offers already.

user918273645 · 04/10/2017 20:14

There were physics courses at good universities (not just "decent", world leading research) in Clearing for BBB, because physics is relatively under-subscribed and places such as Manchester have hugely expanded their physics intake (taking students away from other places).

Str4ngedaysindeed · 04/10/2017 20:43

I have to say the requirements are high - lowest he has seen is AAA!

user918273645 · 04/10/2017 21:05

But offers are not the same thing as what will be accepted in August. The "top" few universities ("top" according to grades accepted, not necessarily better in terms of research) won't drop grades. A number of highly respected departments doing world leading research will allow dropped grades to fill places in subjects such as physics.

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